Forward-thinking considerations for remediating contaminated rail sites

Railway contamination can stem from derailments or ongoing rail operations. They may be from active spills such as chemicals leaked from a derailed tank car or caused by undetected leaks from a legacy spill decades ago that is undergoing ongoing monitoring and remediation to restore the site. Regardless of the cause or the stage of the remediation process, the goal is always the same: mitigating risks to human well-being and the environment while securing approval for closure or no further action from regulatory agencies. For reasons outside of anyone’s control, this can sometimes take a very long time. Thankfully, solutions exist that have the potential to shorten the remediation period resulting in valuable time and cost savings. 

1. Establish an emergency management plan and conduct emergency drills

The faster you can respond to an emergency, the more likely you can minimize the spill and reduce the impacts. Having an emergency preparedness and response program helps determine procedures to plan for emergency events, prepare for how to respond, and recover and restore operations in the event of a spill. Emergency management plans also help identify potential hazards and risks to prevent emergencies. Emergency response planning for railroads can include staging a derailment, rehearsing the response, and scoring one’s own organization to determine what can be improved. 

2. Align capital improvement plans with remediation plans

Planning for capital improvements can be done in parallel with remediation activities. Railroad facilities often need to replace old infrastructure or improve infrastructure such as stormwater conveyance and treatment systems. Also, having an established soil management program in place to address potential contamination prior to construction will minimize delays and added costs. This can sometimes result in altering the proposed construction plans to minimize remediation and/or disposal costs by reusing the material on site.  At a minimum, knowing the extent of potential contamination and having a plan in place to address it prior to construction can only improve project planning and execution. 

3. Use digital tools to communicate remediation plans to regulators and stakeholders

Digital solutions can be leveraged to depict the location of the site contamination and facilitate better communication to regulators and the public. 3D visualization incorporates geologic modelling, groundwater and soil contamination, and geostatistical analysis. It prioritizes remediation programs and streamlines site decision-making efforts. The faster community stakeholders understand the project, the sooner you can gain acceptance and proceed with the remediation process to closure.

4. Apply new diagnostic tools to understand if compounds are being degraded

Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) is a one example of an emerging assessment tool that uses stable isotopes to determine whether degradation is occurring for compounds of concern (COC). The tool is applied to chlorinated solvents and a selection of compounds found in gasoline (such as BTEX and fuel oxygenates). It distinguishes different sources of the same chemicals and links the source of a compound that may have migrated offsite with groundwater. It also helps support natural attenuation for long-term monitoring programs by demonstrating if the COC is being degraded and not just diluted in the subsurface. Compound-specific isotope assessments are used during in situ remediation treatment. They evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and offer data for optimization or shortened treatment, which may expedite site closure. Other assessment tools include: petroleum hydrocarbon carbon ranges, gas chromatogram flame ionization detector chromatogram patterns, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-ring size distributions and BTEX distributions.

5. Review monitoring program scopes for long-term cost optimization
 

There are ways to decrease the scope of work for remediation projects, thereby saving time. Conducting regular reviews, annually at a minimum, of the remedy scope for ongoing projects helps identify opportunities for cost-efficiency, effectiveness, and reducing long-term monitoring expenses. Taking proactive measures can expedite project closure and lower long-term monitoring and operational expenses.

6. Deploy meaningful stakeholder engagement programs

Conducting a strategic, thorough, and meaningful stakeholder engagement program before, during and after environmental incidents is important in building trust so that the response can proceed without unnecessary delays. As a remediation project progresses, and various data sets are compiled summarizing the impacts to the site and progress of the cleanup. These  statistics are important to share with the public to demonstrate the effort being put in to restore the area following the response.  Transparency about the project progress and proactively addressing feedback can keep a project moving towards its objectives. However, as this information is shared, the questions from the public also increase. So, it is important to have a sound strategy and responses in place to address concerns so that the activities on site are able to proceed efficiently. A strategic and organized feedback process allows you to incorporate the feedback into your plans and gain public acceptance. Recording feedback at public information centers, website bulletins, and open houses are just some of the ways to pull back the curtain and allow two-way communication with stakeholder groups. 

Sustainability 

While time and cost savings are key to a successful rail business, looking for ways to incorporate sustainability into projects is of growing importance in the remediation phase. While not all sustainability opportunities may be feasible, it is important to evaluate options and select ones that meet the site criteria and can help contribute to your organization’s sustainability goals. This could be reducing the mobilization distance for resources to reduce transportation carbon emissions or reducing the amount of water used on site. Environmental restoration is another important factor to consider. After the remediation is complete and the site is remediated, the goal is to have a site on a path towards a  similar or better state than it was before the incident. Looking at the long term, there may be things that can be done to enhance biodiversity. Looking for nature-based solutions to support plant and wildlife habitats can reduce net losses to biodiversity and can help contribute to sustainability statements and metrics, and support commitments companies are making to the public and stakeholders. 

Navigating new and difficult-to-manage emergencies: PFAS, EVs, biofuels / fuel alternatives, wildfires

As commodities being shipped change such as PFAS-containing products, biofuels, and electric vehicles, plans and processes also need to change. With ever-changing regulations and government responses complied with the added complication of climate change, businesses must understand the effect of these emerging issues on derailments and incorporate them into the training cycle for exercises and emergency response plans. 

Planning and prevention are key

You may find yourself in an unavoidable situation that needs immediate attention. And while rapid response is an immediate defensive strategy to any incident, planning and working towards prevention of potential situations can positively impact you. Our team has the tools to educate and focus on preventing incidents in all industries, including the railroad industry. We offer emergency management and response solutions through our dedicated staff known as GHD FIRST (Fast Incident Response Services Team). Our team of Emergency Responders assist companies through the full life cycle of an emergency or natural disaster, from initial planning and response to thoughtful sustainable remediation.

In addition to emergency management, our multidisciplinary team combines expertise in areas of contaminated site assessment, environmental remediation, construction, permitting and digital solutions which offer a holistic approach to remediation and redevelopment initiatives. 

Contact us to learn more about how we can assist with preventing, responding to, and remediating contaminated railroad sites.