Improving the Predictability of Petroleum Brownfield Restoration
It’s no secret that the United States has an aging infrastructure problem. The public’s attention is focused on the repair of roadways and bridges, but there is also an ongoing initiative to address the existing infrastructure of legacy underground storage tanks, abandoned gas stations and truck stops, that are designated petroleum brownfields.
As of July 2021, approximately 21 million Americans were living within a quarter mile of a leaking underground fuel storage tank, and as of December 2021, 62,000 leaking underground storage tanks (LUST) remain in need of attention to prevent hazardous substances from leaching into water tables.
State and Federal agencies have economic incentives in place to encourage the restoration of these contaminated sites, but these properties can come with substantial complications and liability. They require a significant investment in time, paperwork and capital to comply with the regulatory requirements associated with disposing contaminated infrastructure and treating soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons.
Recognizing the economic and environmental importance of brownfield redevelopment, Iron Creek Group has designed patented and proven soil treatment technology that mitigates the risks of land revitalization, adding a layer of predictability to brownfield restoration.
The Risks and Rewards of Petroleum Brownfield Remediation
Many LUST brownfields are located near or within towns where developable land is scarce. This has prompted agencies to create programs that offer tax breaks, economic development grants, and more to support redevelopment projects. Revitalizing these properties improves land valuation, increases economic viability, supports environmental efforts and preserves greenspace.
While there are compelling incentives, repurposing a petroleum brownfield is no easy feat. Developers need special teams to dismantle and dispose of the underground storage tanks. After the infrastructure has been removed, the contaminated property needs to be treated to meet regulations.
Currently, there is a range of traditional in- and ex- situ remediation technologies that treat petroleum-impacted soil sediments, but these technologies bring an additional layer of liability to the site.
Traditional remediation equipment is cumbersome and difficult to transport and set up. Once operational, a crew is often needed to monitor the technology around the clock. The treatment contaminated soil is generally noisy and disruptive which can conflict with municipal noise control policies, given that many of these LUST petroleum brownfield sites are in or near towns.
One big barrier to treatment is that these technologies are limited by the type of geological material they can treat, resulting in up to 30% reject waste that needs to be documented and then disposed of via landfill creating long term environmental liability. The hazardous waste and complicated treatment process adds time, expense, and layers of uncertainty to brownfield restoration— detracting from the economic incentive afforded to developers.
New Soil Remediation Technology Lends Certainty to Brownfield Restoration
Adopting new remediation technology can offset the risks of the brownfield remediation phase and introduce certainty and stability to the development. Enhanced Thermal Conduction (ETC) and Tech Zero technologies are designed to make the treatment of petroleum-impacted soil predictable, safer, efficient and more cost effective.
These technologies are capable of guaranteeing timelines and remedial endpoints. Treatment is effective on all soil types, in all environments, and in all weather.
The equipment is mobile and space efficient making it adaptable to site requirements. It takes remediation teams two to three days for the technology to be operational compared to the two to three weeks it takes traditional remediation technologies to be operational.
Once operational, the treatment process is static; there are no moving parts to the technology which means the treatment process is safer for remediation teams and quiet for the surrounding communities.
A unique advantage of these technologies is that both ETC and Tech Zero are engineered to recycle the petroleum from the impacted soil to fuel the remediation process. The petroleum-impacted soil essentially cleans itself with Iron Creek’s design which is beneficial for fuel cost reduction and the sustainability of the treatment process.
ETC and Tech Zero soil remediation technology lends certainty to brownfield restoration by remediating 100% of petroleum-impacted soil and reducing future environmental impact by keeping hazardous waste off of roads and out of landfills. The technology yields healthy soil that complies with the most stringent environmental regulations, making it safe for revegetation and residential use.
Predictable Results Provide Incentives for Brownfield Restoration
There are many benefits to restoring brownfields: better environmental and human health and safety, improved property valuation, greenfield preservation, increased economic opportunities for local communities and more.
Iron Creek Group’s advanced soil remediation technology reforms the current soil remediation process of petroleum brownfields, increasing project certainty, hastening cleanup efforts while offering developers a more predictable outcome. Pairing risk averse remediation technology with economic incentives from state and federal agencies can strengthen the support for LUST petroleum brownfield redevelopments in the United States.
About Iron Creek Group
Serving North America, Iron Creek Group specializes in developing innovative, nimble technology that solves complex environmental issues. Learn how they’re leveraging technology to challenge the existing remediation paradigm by visiting, https://www.ironcreekgroup.com
For questions and further information, please email Ken Bell: ken@ironcreekgroup.com.