Risk management of chemicals and contaminated land – from planning to verification - Environmental Deterioration and Contamination: Problems and their Management - page 235

2 PHASES OF ENVIRONMENTAL RISK MANAGEMENT
AND DECISION MAKING

K. Gruiz
ERM of chemical substances, products, and contaminated sites includes a series of
assessment, evaluation, interpretation, and decision-making steps in the preparatory
phase, in the planning, investment, and implementation phases as well as after the
completion of the RMO/RR measure. Figure 9.2 shows the general scheme and steps
of the entire management cycle.

1 Initial assessment means the evaluation and interpretation of available data and

information and the results of the first screening-type survey on the problem caused
by chemical substances or contaminated sites. The extent of details and tiers may
vary depending on the nature, aim, and urgency of the case;

2 The detailed and tiered assessment is in an iterative relationship with the prepara-

tion of the initial scheme and the detailed conceptual risk model. The environmen-
tal problem in a wider context (spatially and in time), the impact on the health of
the environmental and human receptors and economic, social, cultural, aesthetic,
and ethical issues are also assessed in this phase;

3 Once the problem has been well understood, the next step is the preselection of

potential RMOs and RR alternatives;

4 A detailed evaluation of the RM options and RR alternatives makes possible the

prioritization of the alternatives and the selection of the best available RM/RR
option;

Figure 9.2 General scheme of environmental management.