Complex Site Remediation
Complex contaminated sites are characterized by multiple, interrelated variables that can compound miscalculations and uncertainties. Our Progressive Remediation Strategies (PROGRESS) approach applies next-generation technology and practices to the remediation of complex contaminated sites.
Remediation hinges on the development of an accurate conceptual site model (CSM) that directly assesses geological heterogeneity and the physical, chemical, and biological processes affecting contaminant behavior and remediation effectiveness. For complex contaminated sites, we develop a process-based CSM, a centralized hub of site-specific information that informs each step of the remediation process and allows decisions, such as remedy selection and design, to be informed by accurate representations of processes that will directly impact performance, cost and schedule. Informed by the process-based CSM, PROGRESS combines advanced site characterization and design optimization techniques with strategic remedy execution to reduce uncertainty and cost through focused, data-driven solutions.
PROGRESS also begins with the end in mind for seamless delivery of regulatory strategy, risk mitigation, cost savings and expedited site closure. We prioritize your objectives by evaluating risk, proactively negotiating for favorable regulatory outcomes and considering passive, low-cost remedies as preferred alternatives to costly remedial actions.
Our unique approach aligns the remediation strategy with your objectives to achieve timely and cost-effective execution. We leverage our wide-ranging capabilities to deliver remediation solutions that end with predictable results, lower cost and expedited delivery — no matter the site.
Identifying the Unknown Through the CSM
An accurate and comprehensive CSM helps identify the unknown or hidden conditions at your site. By reducing uncertainty, remediation efforts can be targeted, thereby driving down costs, increasing efficiency and improving performance. With a better understanding of the subsurface, we can avoid significant surprises or protracted cost creep.
The CSM should be a living model that combines existing and incoming data and serves as the basis for remedy selection, design and optimization. A well-constructed CSM illuminates the path to site closure and informs decision-making by defining pathways between contaminant sources and receptors.
Our approach to the CSM begins with advanced analytical techniques applied to existing data obtained through previous investigations or remediation activities. We also analyze human health and ecological risk, surface features, site operations, and regulatory goals and parameters. We leverage tools and techniques to analyze site data efficiently and holistically and present subsurface conditions and site-specific remedial strategies.
Environmental Sequence Stratigraphy (ESS)
Environmental Sequence Stratigraphy (ESS), an innovative approach for mapping subsurface conditions and contaminant distribution, is a differentiating capability we can apply during CSM development.
Because ESS has been shown to result in more predictable and cost-effective remediation strategies, through the use of stratigraphic interpretation methods originally developed and used in the oil and gas industry for decades, the technique has been adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Air Force as a best practice for developing CSMs for contaminated groundwater sites. ESS analyses produce a thorough and reliable foundation for remediation system design, an application particularly important for complex sites where high failure rates are common.
Because ESS provides better definition of subsurface heterogeneity, it results in a CSM that more accurately depicts contaminant distribution and migration pathways — the “plumbing” that controls groundwater movement and contaminant transport. We can apply this established technique to all phases of groundwater remediation, helping you move your project to site closure in a more cost-effective, predictable manner.
When appropriate, we also employ 3D visualization modeling and other GIS and database tools to efficiently analyze site data and develop remedial strategies. Groundwater flow, contaminant fate and transport, and geochemical models can also be integrated to simulate multiple remediation approaches and accurately predict cleanup time frames, costs and overall effectiveness.
