SEDIMENT CHARACTERIZATION AT FORMER MGP SITES: COST, TECHNICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY CONSIDERATIONS

摘要

Historical disposal practices and operations at Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) sites may pose significant environmental liabilities. Many former MGP sites were sited adjacent to streams and rivers. As a result, investigations are often conducted at MGP sites to assess the potential for contaminated sediments. Given the current “state-of-the-art” approaches for sediment sampling and analysis, cost can be a major factor in selecting the number of samples, type of sampling design, and types of analytical procedures that should be utilized. Ecological risk assessment considerations also need to be factored in the design of an appropriate sampling program. In cases where sediment contamination is widespread, or where injury to important natural resources such as wetlands or endangered species is suspected, natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) issues can be an important consideration in evaluating sediments, including background contamination levels. This paper provides information that can be used by site managers to develop appropriate sediment sampling programs as part of the environmental investigations at former MGP sites.