ABOUT
The management of a contaminated site involves a set of studies aimed at identifying, characterizing, and implementing intervention measures to promote its redevelopment and enhancement, allowing its safe use in accordance with the region's current land occupation regulation.
The Management of Contaminated Site is based on a strategy constituted by steps carried out sequentially so that the information obtained in each step is the basis for the execution of the subsequent step.
These steps comprise the following studies and activities:
- Preliminary Environmental Assessment – Phase I
- Confirmatory Environmental Investigation – Phase II
- Detailed Environmental Investigation – Phase III
- Human Health Risk Assessment / Ecological Risk Assessment
- Intervention Plan
- Remediation
- Monitoring
- Rehabilitation of the area for declared use (final approval of the environmental agency)
Preliminary Evaluation
It aims to characterize the current and past activities in the evaluated area to identify the characteristics of the source areas and potential sources of contamination, the chemical substances of interest manipulated, and their potential release mechanisms into the environment.
Site Characterization
The environmental investigation stages aim to qualify and quantify the existing contamination in an area. When contamination is confirmed, studies are carried out to determine the concentration distribution of the chemical substances of interest, the three-dimensional delimitation of the contamination plumes, and the quantification of the masses of the contaminants present in the evaluated media, as well as to characterize the potential mechanisms of transport and exposure scenarios to potential recipients.
Risk Assessment
After completing the environmental investigation stages, a human health risk assessment study is developed. In particular cases, depending on the potential receptors reached, an ecotoxicological risk assessment study is also developed. These studies ultimately determine the maximum permissible concentrations of the different chemicals of concern for a given area and allow for the design of optimized, risk-based remediation solutions.
Restoration
The Rehabilitation Process of Contaminated Site aims at achieving the necessary conditions to obtain a Rehabilitation Term for a given Declared Use based on the execution of an Intervention Plan, which may include the adoption of institutional controls, engineering controls, and/or remediation actions, followed by an environmental monitoring program to prove the effectiveness of the measures adopted.
Deactivation of Enterprises
Prior to the decommissioning – total or partial – or the vacating of undertakings where activities potentially generating contaminated areas were carried out and which are subject to environmental licensing, communication must be made to the environmental agency through the presentation of a Deactivation Plan or a Decommissioning Plan.
ARCHIPEL acts strategically in the search for customized solutions, from the preliminary environmental assessment stage to the investigation stages, in the conception, execution and follow-up of the intervention plan based on the risk assessment to human and ecological health, until obtaining the Rehabilitation Term of the contaminated site.
We also act as an independent technical Second Opinion, carrying out a critical analysis of the entire Environmental Management process of a contaminated area, and providing technical support for decision-making with the stakeholders.
PROJECTS
Environmental investigation in areas of sublease agreement for the passage of pipelines for the transport of ethanol
São Paulo State, Brazil.
2022
Sector: Oil and gas, biofuels
Baseline environmental investigation in areas of interest situated in three terminals and a refinery.
OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED:
- Assessment of the areas' operational history;
- Gathering information from external sources (previous environmental studies, seen from CETESB processes);
- Development of environmental investigation plans;
- Conducting an environmental investigation, identifying remaining contamination, and establishing an environmental baseline scenario;
- Technical support to the client in defining responsibilities regarding environmental management actions in the areas assessed.
Diagnosis of damage and impacts related to environmental aspects resulting from the rupture of a mining tailings dam
Brumadinho/MG, Brazil
2021-2022
Sector: Third Sector, Independent Technical Assistance
Specialized technical consultancy for the collection of primary data of the environmental matrices of interest.
OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED:
- Assessment of the environmental quality of groundwater, surface water, drinking water, air, household dust, soil, and river sediments tests, as well as carrying out ecotoxicological tests on water and sediments and bioaccumulation of metals;
- Physical-chemical characterization of mining tailings;
- Assessment of environmental risks associated with exposure to contaminants from the dam failure;
- Issuing educational newsletters with the aim of informing the affected population about the results obtained;
- Development of a systematized Database with data from the collections and analyses carried out;
- Qualitative identification of the risks to the health of the population, based on the analysis of the probability of exposure to contaminants as well as the associated risk factors and preparation of the respective Human Health Risk Assessment report – Preliminary Study: Tier 1;
- Technical recommendations for the adoption of preventive and protective measures for the affected community.
Environmental characterization of the soil and environmental supervision of the excavation activities for the implementation of pipeline structures for the transport of ethanol
São Paulo/SP, Brazil
2020-2022
Sector: Oil and gas, biofuels
Technical consultancy in an area contaminated by hydrocarbons and pesticides to meet the requirements of the Terms of Adjustment of Conduct (TAC).
OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED:
- Evaluation of the quality of the soil in the areas of interest prior to the implementation of the undertaking;
- Environmental supervision of excavation activities, with guidance for the segregation of different types of soil and any identified residues for temporary storage areas;
- Collection of representative samples of excavated soils for chemical characterization in the laboratory;
- Guidance on the proper disposal of excavated soils in accordance with the requirements established in the Conduct Adjustment Term (TAC).
Preliminary Environmental Assessment, Confirmatory Environmental Investigation and Decommissioning Plan
São Bernardo do Campo/SP, Brazil
2019
Sector: Auto parts manufacturer
Vacation of rented property.
OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED:
- Study limitations to the sources operated by the client, exclusively covering the period of their occupation on the site;
- Limitation of customer liability guarantee in the face of environmental liabilities eventually generated by Third Parties;
- Comprehensive and secure planning of decommissioning activities upon the detailed specification of decommissioning procedures;
- Technical support to the client in negotiating with stakeholders. Environmental agency, property owner and neighbors.
Preliminary Environmental Assessment and Confirmatory Environmental Investigation
Diadema/SP, Brazil
2019
Sector: Auto parts manufacturer
Rental of property for the implementation of a new industrial unit.
OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED:
- Comprehensive assessment of operational history since the 1960s;
- An extensive survey of information from external sources (CETESB, City Hall, SABESP, previous occupants);
- Development of a robust initial conceptual model (MCA);
- Conducting assertive environmental research, with the identification of contamination in the property and establishment of environmental baseline scenario;
- Provide technical support to the customer to define contractual responsibilities regarding the environmental management of the area.
Investigation (Phase I+II), HHRA, Intervention Plan, Remediation, Monitoring
São Paulo/SP, Brazil
2015-2019
Sector: former textile industry
Contaminated area revitalization project.
OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED:
- Identification and investigation of former sources of contamination;
- Human health risk assessment (HHRA);
- Conception of the Intervention Plan, with risk-based actions;
- Remediation: excavation of area with BPF oil-free phase, pumping and treatment of area with lubricating oil-free phase;
- Technical and strategic support to the client, for negotiations with interested parties (area owner, environmental agency);
- Obtaining the Rehabilitation Term for the area.
Second opinion, Detailed investigation, HHRA, Remediation, Monitoring
São José dos Campos/SP, Brazil
2010-2014
Sector: Electromechanical industry
Remediation Project.
OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED:
- Critical evaluation of more than 20 years of environmental services carried out on the site, including analysis of the remediation system with unsatisfactory results;
- Detailed investigation of the site and surroundings;
- Mathematical modeling of flow and transport;
- Assessment of toxicological risk to human health;
- Conception of the remediation system, with risk-based actions;
- Complementary remediation measures: implantation and operation of reactive hydraulic barrier;
- Supervision of operation and monitoring of the hydraulic barrier.
Investigation (Phase I+II), HHRA, Intervention Plan, Remediation, Monitoring
Cajamar/SP, Brazil
2007-2011
Sector: Paint factory
Contaminated Area Revitalization Project.
OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED:
- Identification and investigation of former sources of contamination;
- Design of the remediation system, with risk-based actions;
- Remediation: operation of Air Injection and Multiphase Extraction system for free phase and dissolved phase remediation of solvents (toluene, ethylbenzene, 1,2,4 -tri-methylbenzene);
- Technical and strategic support to the client for negotiations with interested parties (future owner of the area, environmental agency);
- Obtaining the Rehabilitation Term for the area.