I wonder if anyone could provide some advice on the following issue.
I have an old Mill site which is being developed into flats with some
landscaping.
On site under the former dye house all sorts of nasties have been
found including mercury, laed cadmium but the main problem is
chromium. Very large amounts have been found in trial pits all
around the house and lesser amounts on the periphery of the
building, (between 2000-12000 ppm). The developer has had
leachate testing done and this appears to show slow mobility into
the groundwater with levels not much higher than drinking water
standards in most samples. The area in question will become flats
and there will be mainly car parking and hard standing. However,
some landscaping is planned. Based on the the SPR relationship
the developer plans to do no remediation and leave the heavily
contaminated material in place stating that to remove it would only
cause increased levels of contaminants in the groundwater.
Normally breaking the pathway would suffice but i am concerned at
the levels of contaminants that will be left in situ, (not to mention
that although only slight levels of contamination have been found in
the groundwater contamination is occuring). I had looked at
membranes but as the site is near to a river I am concerned that if
flooding occurs then the membrane could be breached and
contaminats wahed up into the topsoil.
Would this therefore imply that dig and dump would be a better
option here?
Many thanks
Clare
Clare Horton
Authorised Officer (Contaminated Land), Environment & Property Department
4th Floor
St. Nicholas House
Broad Street
Aberdeen AB10 1BX
01224 523781 fax. 01224 647333
This message is not intended to have contractural effect.
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