Groundwater Remediation Project Life Cycle

Abstract

Abstract During the past decade, the groundwater remediation project life cycle has been used to characterize the status of an environmental project. If groundwater or soil contamination is suspected, a general process from assessment to closure occurs. In some cases, the project may involve many stakeholders, including landowners, responsible parties, bankers, operators/tenants, consultants, and regulators. In addition, others in the process might include environmental attorneys, realtors, developers, and interested parties such as neighbors and the community. Although the timing and specific activities may vary from site to site, a general phased process occurs. Environmental evaluations of potential leakage or spillage of hazardous substances into the subsurface generally consist of four phases (Phase I through Phase IV). The generalized four‐phase approach reflects the realistic process required to take a potentially impacted property from assessment phase (Phase I) through to the final monitoring and site closure phase (Phase IV). The phases generally proceed in order starting with Phase I. Some sites where soil or groundwater contamination is already suspected or documented might start with Phase II when a site has an underground tank or even Phase III, in the case of visually stained surface soils.