Multi-level screening of a proposed hazardous waste treatment and disposal facility site--a case study.

Abstract

A comprehensive environmental assessment (EA) is a pre-requisite before the site for developing a hazardous waste treatment and disposal facility (HWTDF) is selected. However, the resource limitations, especially for developing countries, often dictate that the detailed EA be restricted to those sites, which are constraint free and have low hazard potentials. Thus, a preliminary screening exercise for assessing the suitability of site for developing the HWTDF needs to be carried out to avoid huge costs involved in detailed EA. While screening a HWTDF site, various factors such as present land use, ecologically sensitive areas, geology and hydrogeology of the area, the quality and quantity of wastes, engineered safeguards, and the operational procedures that need to be adopted. are required to be addressed. In this paper, a multi-level screening criteria employing Remote Sensing, Constraint Mapping, Groundwater Pollution Potential Index (DRASTIC Index), and the Site Ranking was used to assess the suitability of a proposed site for the development of HWTDF. The study helped to identify various constraints at the proposed site and their significance on the development of the HWTDF.