Site Remediation Market potential grows as funding falls
Even though funding has slowed in the U.S., the need for remediation of contaminated sites grows. Around-the-world there are many more contaminated sites being discovered than are being remediated. In the U.S., Superfund will amass a record backlog of cleanup projects in two years. It will cost an estimated $750 million to remediate these sites, and EPA will not be able to cover the costs. One option is for Congress to provide separate funding for the nine megasites (where cleanups cost more than $50 million each) that eat up 52 percent of the EPA budget. They deprive the remaining 384 long-term cleanup projects already underway of adequate funding. The top priority site of EPA is the former lead smeltering plant in Omaha, Nebraska.
Arsenic contamination has become a high priority in the U.S. New Jersey has adopted a new standard for arsenic that establishes a maximum contaminant level of 5 ppb for arsenic in drinking water effective January 23, 2006. It will be the most stringent arsenic standard in the country. EPA has adopted a national standard of 10 ppb for arsenic in drinking water that will also come into force on January 23, 2006.
Remediation needs are growing worldwide. The war in Iraq has contributed to significant contamination of the soil. Sites of concern include the Midland Al-Doura Refinery Stores north of Baghdad, where 5,000 tons of chemicals, including tetraethyl lead spilled; the Al-Mishraq Sulphur State Company in the north; and pipeline spills caused by insurgent activities.
Substantial investment in remediation is taking place in the European Union. For example, in Italy some 40 sites have been identified as high risk in the Italian National Remediation Plan. Roughly 15,000 sites throughout the country are currently undergoing investigations and cleanups. Regional administrations are compiling inventories of potentially contaminated sites and setting priorities for cleanup. Approximately 500 million euros will come from the Italian Ministry of the Environment to remediate high risk sites around the country. Between 2002 and 2005, a total of 13 billion euros (5.5 billion euros from public funds and 7.5 billion euros paid by polluting industries) will be spent on remediating contaminated sites in Italy.
The Site Remediation and Emergency Response Newsletter provides monthly coverage of the opportunities around-the-world. For more information on this service, click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/remediation.html .
Bob McIlvaine
847-784-0012