Site Remediation
Why Remediating Sites to Allow for Future Development is so Important?
Remediation is crucial for removing contamination from sites to protect human health and the environment. By addressing pollutants, we ensure that land can be safely developed without posing risks to people or ecosystems. Effective remediation allows for the sustainable and risk-free use of previously contaminated sites, making them suitable for various purposes, from residential developments to community parks.
Soil and Groundwater Remediation
Contaminated soil and groundwater can pose significant risks to human health and the environment. At Caldera Environmental, we employ advanced techniques to remediate these issues effectively. Our services include:
In Situ Remediation: This involves treating contamination without excavating the soil. Techniques such as bioremediation, chemical oxidation and mix through treatments (such as adding lime to neutralise acidity in soil with a low pH) are used to treat pollutants on-site.
Ex Situ Remediation: This method involves excavating contaminated soil and treating it off-site. It includes processes like soil washing, thermal desorption and stabilisation/solidification.
Landfill Disposal: This method is quite often adopted for contaminants that cant be treated - such as asbestos - and are require to be disposed of in a contained and monitored environment such as a landfill.
Groundwater Treatment: We use methods such as pump-and-treat, in situ chemical oxidation, encapsulation (such as via the use of granular activated carbon - GAC) and bioremediation to strip/polish contaminated groundwater, ensuring it meets safety standards prior to discharge.
Asbestos Management
Asbestos contamination requires specialised handling to prevent health hazards. Our asbestos management services include:
Identification and Assessment: Our team of Licensed Asbestos Assessors (LAA) conduct thorough surveys to identify asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and assess the extent of contamination.
Removal and Disposal: Our team safely removes and disposes of ACM, following strict regulatory guidelines to ensure minimal risk to workers and the public.
Site Remediation: We remediate sites contaminated with asbestos, ensuring they are safe for future use.
Acid Sulfate Soils Management
Acid sulfate soils can cause severe environmental damage if not managed properly. Our services in this area include:
Assessment and Classification: We identify and classify acid sulfate soils to determine the potential for acid generation. Soil samples are analysed for initial pH levels and from this, we can chose certain samples with a elevated reaction (to hydrogen peroxide) for a chromium reducing sulfur (CRS) analysis. The CRS analysis enables us determine the ‘net’ acidity of the soils and whether acid sulfate soils are present on site.
Neutralisation and Containment: We implement strategies to neutralise acid sulfate soils either in situ or on a treatment pad, followed by validation sampling to ensure the treatment has raised the pH of soils. Following this, soils can be removed from site if they are surplus to development.
Soil Classification
The correct and compliant classification of soils is crucial for determining appropriate disposal methods. In NSW, the NSW EPA Waste Classification Guidelines (2014) is utilised to classify soils for offsite disposal at a landfill.
If soils are free from contamination, they may be able to be reused off site under the NSW EPA Resource Recovery Framework for Beneficial Reuse. The process for classifying soils as Excavated Natural Material (ENM) involves sampling soils to be analysed for the laboratory specific ENM analysis, whereas Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM) don’t need sampling as the soils should never have been exposed to contamination in their virgin state - however, sometimes sampling is undertaken as another line of evidence that the soils are virgin.
Excavated Natural Material (ENM): Soils that are naturally occurring and free from contamination.
Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM): Soils that are naturally occurring and have not been mixed with any other materials.
Remediation of Contaminated Soils Surrounding Underground Petroleum Storage Systems (UPSS)
Fuel facilities often face contamination issues due to leaks from underground petroleum storage systems (UPSS). Our remediation services for these sites include:
Site Assessment: Our team of CEnvP conduct thorough investigations to determine the extent of soil contamination around UPSS.
Soil Excavation and Treatment: Contaminated soils are excavated and treated using appropriate methods to remove or neutralise pollutants.
Monitoring and Validation: Post-remediation monitoring ensures that the site meets environmental standards and is safe for continued use. Recent UPSS remediation and validation projects undertaken by Caldera Environmental were undertaken at sites in Newcastle, Sydney, Tamworth and Macksville.
Remedial Action Plans (RAPs)
A Remedial Action Plan (RAP) outlines the strategies and methods for cleaning up contaminated sites. Our RAP services include:
Development: We create detailed RAPs based on site investigations, outlining the most effective remediation methods.
Implementation: Our team oversees the implementation of RAPs, ensuring that remediation efforts are carried out efficiently and effectively.
Validation and Monitoring
After remediation, it's essential to validate that the site meets environmental standards. Our validation and monitoring services include:
Post-Remediation Sampling: We conduct additional sampling and analysis to confirm that remediation efforts have been successful.
Ongoing Monitoring: We provide long-term monitoring services to ensure that the site remains safe and compliant with environmental regulations.
Caldera Environmental has successfully completed numerous remediation projects across various regions, including Brisbane, Newcastle, Northern NSW, Gold Coast, Tamworth, Mid Coast of NSW and Sydney.
At Caldera Environmental, we are committed to providing high-quality remediation services that ensure the safety and sustainability of contaminated sites. Our expertise in soil and groundwater remediation, asbestos management, acid sulfate soils, soil classification for waste disposal, and UPSS contamination allows us to tackle complex environmental challenges with precision and care. By adhering to the NSW EPA guidelines and leveraging our extensive experience, we help clients achieve their environmental goals efficiently and effectively.
For more information about our remediation services and how we can assist with your environmental consulting needs, please visit our website or contact us directly.
