Introduction to Contaminated Site Management - Dealing with Contaminated Sites: From Theory Towards Practical Application - page 64

for panic, independent of the amount, type and condition of the asbestos, let alone
the risks involved.
For obvious reasons, the credibility of the risk communicator is of the utmost
importance. Stakeholders' participation and intensive communication is crucial, for
the purpose of putting the risks into realistic perspective and of supporting stake-
holders in making the right decisions. Today, consortium building is therefore an
important activity at the start of any contaminated site.
1.8 Approaches Towards Contaminated Site Assessment
and Management
1.8.1 Evolution
Since the discovery of soil contamination in the late 1970s, the approach towards
soil contamination has undergone a major evolution. Several reasons have con-
tributed to this evolution, for example, the growth in understanding of the risks
related to contaminated sites and of procedures for managing the risks. Moreover,
the enormous increase in the number of contaminated sites that have been detected
made more practical approaches necessary. A very important development in many
developed countries is the more integrated approach of contaminated site manage-
ment with spatial planning. And, finally, the public attitude towards the environment
as a whole is constantly evolving. In recent years, the concept of sustainability has
been advocated in many countries for the state of the environment as well as for
activities that impact the environment, including soil quality.
1.8.2 Multifunctionality
In the pioneer years of contaminated site management, contaminated sites were con-
sidered to be an incomprehensible threat beyond human control, and for which the
adage was rather straightforward: eliminate the whole problem in such a way that
every kind of use of the site is possible. This multifunctional approach was advo-
cated in many countries in the world and seemed economically feasible as long as
the number of sites was limited. The advantage of the multifunctional approach was
that no elaborate administrative procedures were needed for keeping an account
of the possibilities for and restrictions on the use of a site. Moreover, no compli-
cated Risk Assessment procedures were needed, since risks were, for all intents and
purposes, reduced to zero. Regulators did not have to bother about acceptable risk
levels.
However, the multifunctional strategy of site management did not free regulators
from aftercare activities and costs. 'Dig-and-Dump', that is, removing the contam-
inated soil from the site and depositing it in landfills, was a popular remediation
technology in the early days of contaminated site management. For contaminated