Methodological approaches to planning remediation actions on military territories contaminated with petroleum products

Abstract

This paper describes the urgent problem of remediation of the subsurface contaminated with petroleum products. A strategy for the control of petroleum contamination of the subsurface, which should be based on risk assessment and management, is proposed. Methodological approaches and factors that need to be taken into account when planning remediation actions are emphasized. On the basis of the ecological and geological substantiation and the analysis of the ecological and economic efficiency of application of modern remedial technologies the offers to planning of remediation actions in the military territories contaminated with petroleum products are developed. The case of subsurface contamination with petroleum products on the territory of the military unit (Kyiv) is described. Taking into account the geological and hydrogeological conditions of the object of research and the conditions of formation of petroleum contamination of the subsurface, the possibilities of applying current remediation technologies are considered on the contaminated site. It seems that all ex-situ remediation methods will be impractical for this site. The first step is to create a monitoring network to assess parameters and control contamination spreading. At the initial stage of remediation, the most effective methods will be removal of mobile petroleum products. The second necessary step is to assess the limits of groundwater contamination with dissolved petroleum products. If the boundaries of contaminated groundwater zone are not changed, then additional remediation actions are not required. In the future, the method of monitored natural attenuation of subsurface contamination should be used based on the risk assessment for human health and the environment.

Keywords

• subsurface
• contamination
• petroleum products
• remediation actions