Management of Contaminated Soil in Engineering Construction

With the advent of legislation prescribing the handling of contaminated soil and ground-water, the typical scope of a modern site investigation includes consideration of both engineering properties of the soil and ground-water and how to manage any contaminated soil and groundwater in a manner consistent with law, protective of human health and the environment, and in the most cost-effective manner possible. Construction in most urban areas and in some rural areas can lead to the discovery of contaminated soil or groundwater. Linear construction features, such as excavation for pipelines, in an urban area are typically adjacent to numerous sites capable of contaminating soil and groundwater at the construction site, as shown in Fig. 30.1. A business, commercial or industrial building may occupy a site that is the former location of a gas station, dry-cleaning facility, or paint manufacturing or distributing center. The innocent-looking warehouse building in a rural town may be the former site of pesticide storage or formulating facility. An environmental investigation is required if new construction requires excavation of soil or dewatering where there is reason to believe contamination may exist. The discovery of contaminated soil initiates what can be a complex legal, regulatory and engineering process if the proposed project is to move forward. The engineer must manage the handling of the contaminated soil in a manner that is consistent with good engineering practice, consideration of the legal and regulatory environment of the project, and the cost efficiency and schedule goals of the client.