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| Environmental Science - Contaminated Land |
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| Contaminated Land arises largely as the result of past industrial processes which have left behind a legacy of many substances including oils and tars, “heavy” metals, organic compounds, DNAPL’s, LNAPL’s, soluble salts and radioactivity. Over the last few years the subject of contaminated land has become one of the most debated issues in the UK. As a result, there is widespread interest in how the problem may be dealt with technically, politically, legally and financially. |
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| We provide integrated and authoritative services on contaminated land issues that face both regulators and the owners of the sites. This is achieved through the application of a multi-disciplinary approach, involving Environmental Science (including Earth Sciences), Bioscience and Policy Solutions. |
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| This expertise and experience ensures that we are able to provide all our clients with bespoke solutions which deal with their problems effectively. |
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| How can we help you? |
| Under the forthcoming legislation Local Authorities will have a responsibility to identify contaminated land in their area, identify who bears the responsibility for its remediation and to decide, following consultation, what remediation is required. Westlakes Scientific Consulting can assist at all these stages. |
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| Our activities cover a number of areas which may be applied to contaminated land problems, including: |
- Groundwater modelling and contaminant transport skills to track and predict the movement of contamination through the ground and into groundwater resources.
- Site sampling and monitoring strategies.
- Site characterisation using state-of-the-art site visualisation tools to characterise the hydrological movement and subsurface structure beneath a site.
- Selection of appropriate site remediation strategies using, for example, Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) criteria.
- Independent review of proposed engineering solutions and remediation strategies.
- Aerial dispersion modelling to track the movement of gaseous and particulate contaminants from a site.
- Bioscience expertise in areas such as biosensors and bioremediation.
- A policy solutions group who are able to develop and interpret risk perception and communication strategies for stakeholders and the public.
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| We offer expertise in both use of established, ready-made software tools that can help to address contaminated land and ground water issues as well as providing the capability to develop custom software applications for addressing specialised needs. |
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| Experience |
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| A risk-based approach to land contamination has been developed for the nuclear industry. The same approach has been adopted by the Environment Agency to deal with the wider issues of non-radiologically contaminated land. For many years we have provided expert modelling skills and advice on the location, characterisation, transport and risk management of radiological and non-radiological contaminants to a range of customers. |
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| In addition, our staff have research experience in the area of contaminated land and risk assessment and the experience to apply this research to the needs of industry, regulators and government. |
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| Case Study: Contaminant transport in groundwater |
| The transport of contaminants in groundwater represents one pathway by which materials may reach a sensitive target and cause harm. Our highly qualified staff simulate the fate and transport of contaminants in both the saturated and unsaturated zone through the expert application of respected proprietary modelling systems, such as MODFLOW and RT3D, and bespoke site, or process, specific models, designed in-house to satisfy a clients objectives. This modelling and assessment expertise is successfully applied to a wide range of contaminants such as chlorinated organic chemicals, heavy metals and radionuclides. |
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| Case study: Risk based remediation |
| We are one of five European partners participating in the European Union and industry funded RESTRAT research and development programme (REstoration STRATegies for radioactively contaminated sites and their close surroundings). The objective - to develop a transparent and generic methodology for ranking restoration techniques as a function of site and contamination characteristics. The success of the methodology has been demonstrated through its application to five real sites ranging from the Drigg Radioactive Waste Disposal Site to contaminated sediments in the Molse Nete River. For each of the sites, the source term, transport pathways and target individuals were identified, characterised, conceptualised and then modeled. The benefit, in terms of reduction of risk, from implementing different remediation strategies at each site (e.g. capping of the Drigg Site, chemical immobilisation at Molse Nete) was then determined, thereby ensuring that the risk management decision is made on the basis of objective and scientifically defensible information. |
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| Customer Base |
- Waste Management Industry
- Nuclear Industry
- Environment Agency
- Ministry of Defence
- European Union
- UK Government (MAFF, DETR, DTI)
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| How can I be assured of the quality of work produced? |
| We are an ISO 9001 accredited company to perform work in the area of contaminated land. We employ a disciplined project management approach from start to finish which ensures that the work we do meets your specifications and is completed to time, cost and quality. |
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| Summary |
| We can provide you with: |
- One-stop chemical and biological sampling on site. Analysis and interpretation of organic and inorganic contaminant results.
- Modelling and interpretation of contaminated land risk assessments.
- Specialist independent advice on risk management strategies including selection of remediation strategies to Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) principles.
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| In conjunction with the International Postgraduate Research Centre operated by Westlakes Research Ltd, we are able to offer specialist training in the use and application of risk assessment and other modelling codes. |
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| Contact |
| For more information about IPPC permit applications or to discuss how we could provide you with the IPPC services you need, please contact: geoscience@westlakes.ac.uk |
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| Alternatively, please contact the Environmental Science Administration Office: esadm@westlakes.ac.uk (Tel: 01946 514094). |
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