Green Remediation: Best Management Practices for Excavation and Surface Restoration
This fact sheet is one of a series describing best management practices (BMPs) for green remediation, which holistically addresses a cleanup project's (1) energy requirements, (2) air emissions, (3) impacts on water, (4) impacts on land and ecosystems, (5) material consumption and waste generation, and (6) long-term stewardship actions. BMPs can be used for sustainable removal or cleanup activities at contaminated sites under Superfund, corrective action, underground storage tank, and brownfield cleanup programs. Many opportunities exist to reduce the negative impacts of excavation, which commonly include soil erosion, high rates of fuel consumption, transport of air-borne contaminants, uncontrolled stormwater runoff, offsite disposal of excavated material, and ecosystem disturbance. Decisions regarding excavation processes and targets affect follow-up land and surface water restoration strategies as well as ultimate land use.