Ask an Expert: What is Green and Sustainable Remediation?

In this month’s feature, BC’s Karina Tipton shares why Green and Sustainable Remediation for project sites is a holistic approach to protecting the environment and human health.

Question: We are about to start a remediation project and are curious about incorporating sustainable practices into the process. What can you share with us about green and sustainable remediation?

Answer: Green and Sustainable Remediation (GSR) balances protecting human health and the environment with overall net environmental, community, and economic impacts. Many state regulations as well as EPA-led remediation projects require GSR. However, beyond meeting a regulatory requirement, there are more benefits to this approach.
When incorporating green and sustainable remediation into a project, you’re facilitating an evaluation of all impacts on the project to support selection of the remedial alternative that’s not only protective, but also has additional benefits as well. GSR can lead to enhanced communication, informed decision-making, and site remedy strategies that are efficient, cost effective, protective of human health and the environment, and provide added value to the community.

After identifying which metrics are appropriate decision-drivers for the responsible party and the local stakeholders, we use several publicly available tools such as Spreadsheets for Environmental Footprint Analysis and SiteWise™ to quantify GSR metrics.

Metrics can range from reduction in carbon by requiring fewer hours of equipment runtime, to water conservation by reusing treated water during a remedy, to preventing habitat loss through thoughtful site redevelopment. Impact reductions such as these can not only save on project costs but can be helpful in conversations with regulators and neighbors.

GSR can be considered and incorporated into every stage in the life cycle of a remediation project:

Investigation

• Identification of risks of impacted media and distribution
• Stakeholder engagement
• Inclusion of sustainable practices in work plan and field implementation

Remedy selection

• Balance appropriate remedy with considerations such as water use, energy use, waste generation, climate resiliency, and community impacts

Remedial design and construction

• Specification of GSR techniques and implementation considerations, including metrics
• Performance monitoring of construction practices

Operations and maintenance

• Continual sustainability improvement and remedial process optimization of the system as site conditions change and technologies advance

Site closure

• Exploration of reuse
• Collection of best practices and lessons learned to be shared and leveraged

While GSR can fit into any part of the project lifecycle, the earlier in the process it is incorporated, the better. But it is never too late to consider!