Remediation of contaminated sites within development projects in Uppsala : a study of current working procedure and practices

Abstract: Contaminated sites are commonly remediated as a response to development plans of former industrial areas. General guidance, valid for all types of contaminated sites, is provided by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). This thesis has investigated the working procedure and practice of cleanups within development projects, with the purpose of discussing the applicability of the SEPA guidance for such cleanups, as well as, identifying potential consequences from deviating from the guidance. The study includes twelve cleanups in Uppsala. Material in form of investigative reports and official documents about the cleanups were collected at the Environmental Office at the Municipality of Uppsala. The material was analyzed with the SEPA guidance as reference. The determining factor of how cleanups were performed, was found to be excess of soil within the development projects, due to underground constructions. As a result of this, dig and dump was the prevailing remediation technique in all of the studied cleanups. It is clear that a practice for cleanups within development projects in Uppsala has evolved between the Environmental Operational Authority (EOA) and the Environmental Consultancy Companies (ECC) in Uppsala. The practice is in many ways effective in regards of transparency and consequent superintendence of cleanups. However, it is concluded that there is room for improvements concerning statistical analysis of data and increased use of site specific guideline values for soil that is left or reused on site. Furthermore, the perception differs of how the SEPA guidance should be applied on cleanups within development projects, between the EOA and ECC, but also between ECCs. In addition, it seems as individual preferences, as well as, the time available for investigations, decide the level of investigations, rather than the actual conditions. In conclusion, there is a clear need for a guidance from SEPA that focuses on cleanups within development projects.