Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
During the Preliminary Investigation all information necessary to obtain a first
indication of the expected contamination of the site is to be gathered. However,
the complexity of the history of the site, its use, as well as the complexity of the
local geological and hydrological situation, will determine the necessary effort.
Additionally, the future use of the site plays a role in the outline of the Preliminary
Investigation and so does the potential necessity to obtain data for legal liabilities.
Therefore the desirable level of detail to be reached in the Preliminary Investigation
might vary from site to site, but can be defined in a limited number of classes to
obtain a more standardized approach. For each of these classes, information is to be
obtained on the following issues:
•
Former use of the site:
◦
Information can be obtained from old maps, former employees, photos, aerial
photos, process knowledge of (old) manufacturing processes, archives, reports
of earlier site investigations, et cetera.
•
Current use of the site:
◦
Information can be obtained from a site visit, interviews with current employ-
ees, neighbours and site owner, et cetera.
•
Future use of the site:
◦
Information can be obtained from the site owner, local or regional authorities,
et cetera.
•
Local geology, soil type and soil characteristics;
◦
Information can be obtained from the national geological survey, soil maps,
reports of earlier site investigations on the site as well as near the site, et cetera.
•
Local hydrology:
◦
Information can be obtained from the national geological survey, reports of
earlier site investigations on the site as well as near the site, et cetera.
•
Financial and juridical aspects:
◦
Information can be obtained from the owner of the site, owner of the buildings
on the site, et cetera.
Obtaining historical information of a site is not only relevant for a specific period.
Often the developments on a site will provide valuable information on the site's his-
tory and the activities that took place over the years. When available, aerial photos
can provide great support, even by coincidentally catching the act of soil contami-
nation, but surely provides information on the site's history over a period of years
when more than one aerial reconnaissance is available.
The purpose of the Preliminary Investigation is that the investigator obtains a
first impression of the site and the contamination that might be present. At first,
this impression will only be a rough “sketch” of potential contaminated locations
on a local geographical map. The Preliminary Investigation probably results in a
vague indication of the area that might potentially be affected by the contaminating
processes that took place on the site.
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