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Previous post Brownfield Sites: What Developers Need to Know Next post Five Reasons to Perform a Hazardous Building Materials Assessment Before Every Property Purchase

Contamination Remediation: What Developers Need to Know

Robert B. Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP28 July, 2016 Robert B. Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP

Nobody likes to hear that a potential development site has contamination on it. Nevertheless, it is certainly better to hear this before a purchase rather than after. Unfortunately, developers often rush into a purchase without adequate environmental due diligence, and wind up with unpleasant news on the wrong side of the closing date.

Even in cases where some contamination was expected, the cost to remediate can substantially exceed expectations and jeopardize the project if not investigated adequately prior to purchase.

Smart developers take the time to do appropriate due diligence, whether they’re considering a brownfield site or just an empty tract of land, starting with a Phase I Site Assessment and proceeding as far as necessary to understand the extent and cost to remediate any contamination that may exist on the property.

Here’s what you need to understand about the factors impacting contamination remediation, before making the decision to move forward.

The type of contamination matters

Some types of contamination are relatively simple to clean up, while others can take months or years. For instance, although it gets a lot of bad publicity, petroleum contamination is, all else being equal, one of the simplest forms of contamination to remediate.

Dry cleaning chemicals, on the other hand, are one of the most difficult types. Because they don’t break down easily under oxygenated conditions, these chemicals require the use of extensive products and technologies, and can take months or even years to reduce to acceptable levels.

Landfill contamination is another of the more difficult types of contamination. A site that was previously used for dumping may off-gas chemicals for years after being closed. Even when the site has been sealed by modern techniques, there will be release valves to prevent excessive pressure build-up, which may make the site undesirable for certain types of development.

The geology of the property matters

In addition to the type of contamination, the physical characteristics of the site matter too. For instance, contamination in sandy soil is easier to remediate than in clay soil, especially if the contamination hasn’t reached the groundwater. Often, it can be remediated simply by removing the affected layers. Clay, on the other hand, can form cracks that funnel contamination into deeper layers and onto adjacent properties, greatly extending the extent of the contamination and the difficulty of cleaning it up.

Contamination that has reached the groundwater creates additional problems, and requires careful analysis of which direction the water flows in order to determine the potential extent. In some cases, remediation can be achieved by cleaning up the source and filtering the contaminated water. In other cases, the problem can go deeper and take years to remediate.

The extent of the contamination matters

Site contamination that is contained within the first few feet of soil, within a limited radius is a relatively simple matter to deal with. Contamination that extends into the groundwater and onto adjacent properties is much more complicated.

When considering a parcel of land to invest in, developers cannot afford to skimp on due diligence. Qualified environmental professionals can help you determine whether a property you’re considering is a good candidate based on its contamination status. A Phase I Site Assessment, potentially followed by Phase II and a Contamination Assessment, if necessary, will help prevent unpleasant and expensive surprises.

Previous post Brownfield Sites: What Developers Need to Know Next post Five Reasons to Perform a Hazardous Building Materials Assessment Before Every Property Purchase

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Bob Greene, PE, PG, CIH, LEED AP President As the founder and president of GLE, Bob Greene leads a highly diverse team of architects, engineers, environmental consultants, and construction experts to design fast and effective property solutions. He has served in the architecture, engineering, environmental consulting and remediation, and general construction arenas for over 41 years. Contact

2 comments. Leave new

All of the incentives available for brownfield sites, in one place
1 December, 2016 6:27 pm

[…] We’ve written previously about the pros, cons, and due diligence involved, as well as dealing with contamination and the terminology to know. Now we’ve rounded up all the current incentives available for […]

Reply
Derek Mcdoogle
23 January, 2017 11:35 pm

In your article, you suggested that Some types of contamination are relatively simple to clean up, while others can take months or years. My brother recently bought a piece of land near a lake that he wants to have a house built on. I wonder if there are certain types of contamination that are mostly found on house construction sites.

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