BTCVSS802 B Environmental Remediation of Contaminated

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MODULE 1
LAWS, REGULATION AND REMEDIATION
Environmental remediation is the removal of pollution or contaminants from water (both ground
water and surface water) and soil. These waste products are removed for the protection of human
health, as well as to restore the environment. Environmental remediation deals with the removal
of pollution or contaminants from environmental media such as soil, groundwater, sediment,
or surface water.

Types of environmental remediation :

Environmental remediation is carried out on various environmental media, including soil,
sediment, groundwater, and surface water. Water remediation includes both groundwater and
surface water, whereas soil remediation includes topsoil, subsoil, and sediment. Soil and water
remediation may be conducted separately or together, depending on the type and extent of the
pollution.

What is the process of remediation?

Remediation refers to the process of reversing or stopping environmental damage. During
remediation, polluted or contaminated soil, sediment, surface water or groundwater is removed to
reduce the impact on the environment.
An action taken to remedy a situation. Remediation is the act of correcting an error or stopping
something bad from happening. When a company that polluted takes steps to clean up the water
supply, this is an example of remediation. The act or process of remedying.

Why is environmental remediation important?

By removing or minimizing pollution, environmental remediation services help residents in the
area benefit from better health; and the same is true of your current and future workforce. A
spectrum of illnesses and injuries can be averted.

Water remediation is the process of removing contaminants from water. Surface water in lakes,
streams, and rivers can be directly contaminated by pollutants released directly into the water or
by runoff from the ground. Groundwater can become polluted by contaminants leaching through
the soil and sediment above it or as the result of industrial practices such as mining or drilling for
natural gas and oil.
Soil remediation refers to strategies that are used to purify and revitalize the soil. Soil
contamination is caused by many of the same factors that cause groundwater contamination. Often,
the soil and groundwater are contaminated from the same source and both must be remediated at
the same time. Soil contamination can result from chemical spills, industrial activity, and the use
of certain fertilizers and pesticides.
Remediation technologies Remediation technologies are many and varied but can be categorised
into ex-situ and in-situ methods. · In-situ remediation methods treat the contamination on the site
without removing soil
· Ex-situ remediation involves excavating soil or sediment and treating it, before returning it to its
original state.
· Excavation
· Pump and treat
· Thermal desorption
·Solidification and stabilization
·Oxidation
· Nano remediation
· Soil vapour extraction
· Bioremediation

The primary legislative acts of concern are the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Toxic Substance
Control Act and the Federal Plant Pest Act.
The removal of environmental contaminants is known as “environmental remediation.” The law
requires companies or organizations that are guilty of contaminating the environment to rectify
the issue. However, they may not be qualified or trusted to spearhead these efforts unsupervised,
so specialists in environmental remediation exist to help coordinate the process. As such,
environmental remediation can consist of large-scale efforts, but it is also possible for individuals
to contribute in smaller ways.

Common Types of Incidents Requiring Remediation

Examples of pollutants include greenhouse gases, toxic chemicals, particulate matter, oil spills,
radioactive contaminants, plastic waste, other forms of trash, and more. These contaminants can
be released into the soil, air, and water (including groundwater) from activities such as mining,
drilling, deforestation, chemical processing, agriculture (using pesticides and fertilizers), and
manufacturing.

What Is the Environmental Remediation Process?

The remediation process often entails the following steps:
Site Assessment: First, specialists will examine the site to ascertain what contaminants are present.
They will map the area and sample materials such as soil and groundwater to evaluate the extent
of the pollution and how much effort will be required to remove it.
Determining Remediation Methods: Next, specialists will determine appropriate cleanup
methods. Environmental remediation techniques include excavation, dredging, oxidation, soil
vapor extraction, thermal desorption, pump and treat, nano remediation, and more.
Selecting Safety Measures: Environmental remediation specialists will also assess what safety
measures will need to be enforced to protect the cleanup crew and community members from
injuries, exposure to toxic chemicals, and prevent wrongful death. Reasoning may be necessary
during or after a remediation operation, so specialists communicate with public officials to inform
them what the remediation process will entail and how it may affect daily life.
Remediating the Area: Environmental remediation specialists will then conduct the actual
cleanup, complying with local and federal regulations.
 Further Evaluation: Once the cleanup is complete, specialists will re-examine the area to
determine if their efforts were successful or if additional remediation is necessary.

HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES 2016

Hazardous Waste Management Rules are notified to ensure safe handling , generation, processing,
treatment, package, storage, transportation, use reprocessing, collection, conversion, and offering
for sale, destruction and disposal of Hazardous Waste.
For the first time, Rules have been made to distinguish between Hazardous Waste and other wastes.
Other wastes include: Waste tyre, paper waste, metal scrap, used electronic items, etc. and are
recognized as a resource for recycling and reuse. These resources supplement the industrial
processes and reduce the load on the virgin resource of the country.

Application. - These rules shall apply to the management of hazardous and other wastes as
specified in the Schedules to these rules but shall not apply to - (a) waste-water and exhaust gases
as covered under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (6
of 1974) and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (14 of 1981) and the rules
made thereunder and as amended from time to time; (b) wastes arising out of the operation from
ships beyond five kilometres of the relevant baseline as covered under the provisions of the
Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958) and the rules made thereunder and as amended from
time to time; 1 (c) radio-active wastes as covered under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act,
1962 (33 of 1962) and the rules made thereunder and as amended from time to time; (d) bio-
medical wastes covered under the Bio-Medical Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998
made under the Act and as amended from time to time; and (e) wastes covered under the Municipal
Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 made under the Act and as amended from
time to time.

PROBLEMS OF UNSCIENTIFIC DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS AND OTHER WASTE

1. Burning or incineration: Emission of toxic fumes, dioxins, furans ,mercury, heavy metals,
air pollution and associated health problems
2. Disposal in water bodies, or in municipal dumps: Toxic release due to leaching in land and water
3. The workers employed in such unscientific practices suffer from neurological disorders, skin
diseases, genetic defects, cancer etc.
4. Need for systematic management in an environmentally sound manner

SALIENT FEATURES OF 2016 RULES

1. The extent of the rules has been expanded by including other waste
2. Waste management hierarchy has been incorporated
3. All the forms under the rules for permission, import/export, filing of annual returns, transportation
etc. have been revised significantly indicating the stringent approach for management of such
hazardous and other wastes with simultaneous simplification of procedure.
4. The basic necessity of infrastructure to safeguard the health and environment from waste
processing industry has been prescribed as standard operating procedure (SOPs) , specific to waste
type, which has to be complied by the stakeholders and ensured by SPCB/PCC while granting such
authorization
5. Procedure has been simplified to merge all the approvals a a single window clearance for setting
up of hazardous waste disposal facility and import of other wastes
 6. The process of import/export of waste under the rules has been streamlined by simplifying the
document based procedure and by revising the list of waste regulated for import/export. Basel
convention (International treaty) – reduce the movement of hazardous waste between nations
7. The import of metal scrap , paper waste and various categories of electrical and electronic
equipments for reuse purpose has been exempted from the need of obtaining ministers permission
8. The basic necessity of infrastructure to safeguard the health and environment from waste
processing industry has been prescribed as standard operating procedure (SOPs)specific to waste
type
9. Responsibilities of State Government for environmentally sound management of hazardous and
other wastes. — (1) Department of Industry in the State or any other government agency authorized
in this regard by the State Government, to ensure earmarking or allocation of industrial space or
shed for recycling, pre-processing and other utilization of hazardous or other waste in the existing
and upcoming industrial park, estate and industrial clusters; (2) Department of Labor in the State
or any other government agency authorized in this regard by the State Government shall,- (a)
ensure recognition and registration of workers involved in recycling, preprocessing and other
utilization activities; (b) assist formation of groups of such workers to facilitate setting up such
facilities; (c) undertake industrial skill development activities for the workers involved in
recycling, pre-processing and other utilization; (d) undertake annual| monitoring and to ensure
safety and health of workers involved in recycling, pre-processing and other utilization.
10. List of processes generating hazardous wastes has been reviewed taking into account technological
evolution in the industries
11. List of waste constituents with concentration limits has been revised as per International standard
and drinking water standard
12. The following items have been prohibited for import: a) Waste edible fats and oil of animals or
vegetable origin b) Household waste c) Critical care medical equipment d) Tyres for direct reuse
purpose e) solid plastic wastes including PET bottles f) waste electrical and electronic assemblies
scrap and g) other chemical wastes especially in solvent form
13. State government is authorized to prepare integrated plan for effective implementation of these
provisions and have to submit annual report to Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate
Change
14. State pollution control board (SPCB) is mandated to prepare an annual inventory of the waste
generated waste recycled recovered utilized including co processed waste re exported and waste
disposed and submit to the Central pollution control board by 30th day of September every year

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF OCCUPIER FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF

HAZARDOUS AND OTHER WASTES?

PROCEDURE FOR MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS AND OTHER WASTES 4.

Responsibilities of the occupier for management of hazardous and other wastes.- (1) For the
management of hazardous and other wastes, an occupier shall follow the following steps, namely:-
(a) prevention; (b) minimization; (c) reuse, (d) recycling; (e) recovery, utilisation including co-
processing; (f) safe disposal. (2) The occupier shall be responsible for safe and environmentally
sound management of hazardous and other wastes.
The hazardous and other wastes generated in the establishment of an occupier shall be sent or sold
to an authorised actual user or shall be disposed of in an authorised disposal facility.
 The occupier shall transport the hazardous and other wastes to an authorised actual user or to an
authorised disposal facility
The occupier shall give the information for safe storage and disposal of hazardous and other wastes
which is intent to be treated and disposed of by the operator.
The occupier shall take all the steps while managing hazardous and other wastes to-contain
contaminants and prevent accidents and limit their consequences on human beings and the
environment; and provide persons working in the site with appropriate training, equipment and the
information necessary to ensure their safety.

Responsibilities of State Government for environmentally sound management of hazardous

and other wastes. — (1) Department of Industry in the State or any other government agency
authorized in this regard by the State Government, to ensure earmarking or allocation of industrial
space or shed for recycling, pre-processing and other utilization of hazardous or other waste in the
existing and upcoming industrial park, estate and industrial clusters;
(2) Department of Labor in the State or any other government agency authorized in this regard by
the State Government shall,- (a) ensure recognition and registration of workers involved in
recycling, preprocessing and other utilization activities; (b) assist formation of groups of such
workers to facilitate setting up such facilities; (c) undertake industrial skill development activities
for the workers involved in recycling, pre-processing and other utilization; (d) undertake annual
monitoring and to ensure safety and health of workers involved in recycling, pre-processing and
other utilization.
(3) Every State Government may prepare integrated plan for effective implementation of these
provisions and to submit annual report to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
in the Central Government.

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Simply defined, a hazardous waste is a waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of
having a harmful effect on human health or the environment.
Hazardous waste is waste that has substantial or potential threats to public health or the
environment
Hazardous waste is generated from many sources, ranging from industrial manufacturing process
wastes to batteries and may come in many forms, including liquids, solids gases, and sludges
Hazardous wastes are those that may contain toxic substances generated from industrial,
hospital, some types of household wastes. These wastes could be corrosive, inflammable,
explosive, or react when exposed to other materials.
CLASSIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTES
Hazardous wastes are classified on the basis of their biological, chemical, and physical
properties. These properties generate materials that are either toxic, reactive, ignitable,
corrosive, infectious, or radioactive. Toxic wastes are poisons, even in very small or trace
amounts
Hazardous waste is classified into six broad categories

1. RADIOACTIVE WASTES
Radioactive waste is a type of hazardous waste that contains radioactive material. Radioactive
waste is a result of many activities, including nuclear medicine, nuclear research, nuclear power
generation, rare-earth mining, and nuclear weapons reprocessing. Substances that emit ionizing
 radiation is called as radioactive substances and the waste generated from these substances are
termed as radioactive wastes. Although they are categorized as a separate group still they are
studied as hazardous waste due to the harmful effects they cause to living beings . They also persist
in the environment for a long period of time. Half life determines their persistence in the
environment.

2. BIOMEDICAL WASTE
Bio-medical waste means “any solid and/or liquid waste including its container and any
intermediate product, which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of
human beings or animals or research activities pertaining thereto or in the production or testing of
biological or in health camps. Biomedical waste or hospital waste is any kind of waste containing
infectious materials. Toxicity and infectivity are the two important characteristics of biomedical
waste. The toxic nature of biomedical waste place them under hazardous waste category.
Biomedical waste is generated from hospitals health centers and research facilities

3. CHEMICALS
Chemicals can be organic synthetic metals acids basic or salts. They are hazardous when they
cause toxicity. A waste stream containing these wastes at levels equal to or greater than threshold
values such streams should be considered hazardous.A hazardous chemical is a chemical that has
properties with the potential to do harm to human or animal health, the environment, or capable of
damaging property. Hazardous chemicals are frequently used in the workplace as raw materials,
solvents, cleaning agents, catalysts, and for a number of other functions. These are normally
classified according to the risk they pose to health and property.
Hazardous chemicals are categorized as follows:
Flammable or explosive (e.g. petroleum, TNT, plastic explosives)
Irritating or corrosive to skin, lungs, and eyes (e.g. acids, alkali, paints, fumes)
Toxic chemicals (e.g. carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, cyanide)

4. FLAMMABLE WASTES
It can be a gas liquid or solid .Organic sludge's plasticizers are some of the examples of flammable
wastes. These wastes are hazardous and needs special management.
they pose to health and property.
A waste that is either solid, liquid, an oxidizing substance or an ignitable compressed gas
Any waste that is flammable and can create fires. Examples of this include liquids with
flashpoints below 140 °F, non liquids with the potential to ignite

5. EXPLOSIVES
Similar to flammables they also need special management method. They are generated from
industrial gases .“waste explosives” include wastes that have the potential to detonate and bulk
military propellants which cannot safely be disposed of through other modes of treatment.
Some common examples of explosive waste include fireworks, ammunition, rocket motors,
propellants from demilitarization efforts, detonators, and airbag inflators. Explosive waste often
comes from businesses in government, manufacturing, and chemical industries.
6. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
In our everyday life we generate a lot of hazardous substances which is disposed off as commingled
waste. They are disposed along with municipal solid waste. Some of the hazardous waste generated
from households include oil paints , nail polish , latex , paints , batteries , cleaning chemicals , e-
waste , pesticides chlorinated and non chlorinated solvents and many more.
Examples include drain cleaners, oil paint, motor oil, antifreeze, fuel, poisons, pesticides,
herbicides and rodenticides, fluorescent lamps, lamp ballasts containing PCBs, some smoke
detectors, and in some states, consumer electronics (such as televisions, computers, and cell
phones).

What is Corrective Action? Corrective action is a requirement under the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) that facilities that treat, store or dispose of hazardous wastes investigate
and clean up hazardous releases into soil, ground water, surface water and air.
Corrective action is an aspect of quality management that aims to rectify a task, process,
product, or even a person's behavior when any of these factors produce errors or have
deviated from an intended plan. Corrective actions can be thought of as improvements to an
organization to eliminate undesirable effects.
For example, putting out a fire in the office is a correction. This action eliminates the problem.
Corrective actions, on the other hand, eliminate the root cause of the problem, preventing future
issues. The corresponding corrective actions, then, address the root cause of the fire, such as fixing
old wiring.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulates hazardous and non-hazardous
wastes. RCRA protects human health and the environment in two ways:
Prevention. Preventing future environmental problems from being caused by waste.
Corrective Action. Cleaning up current environmental problems caused by the mismanagement
of waste.
Hazardous wastes. EPA enforces requirements under the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act regarding the safe handling, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes. EPA and the
states verify RCRA compliance with these requirements through a comprehensive compliance
monitoring program which includes inspecting facilities, reviewing records and taking
enforcement action where necessary. The RCRA compliance assistance program provides
businesses, federal facilities, local governments and tribes with tools to help meet environmental
regulatory requirements.
Contamination of the environment may occur when waste materials are improperly stored, treated,
or disposed resulting in the release of hazardous constituents to the land, air, surface water, or
groundwater. In order to address known or suspected environmental releases at hazardous waste
management facilities, the federal law known as the "Resource Conservation and Recovery Act"
(RCRA) was amended in 1984 to create Corrective Action requirements. The focus of Corrective
Action is upon "solid waste management units" or "SWMUs" which includes any unit at a facility
where solid and/or hazardous waste was or is now managed, regardless of whether such
management was intended.