Clarifying main issues and basic principles
Many sites that have been used for industrial or mining activities over long timeframes (decades to centuries) are confronted with severe soil and groundwater pollution. These areas can be considered as megasites.
Most of the megasites require the application of a risk-based approach, which differs from the type of remediation strategies applied in the case of small-scale soil and groundwater contamination. This risk-based approach is the fundamental element of the Integrated Management Strategy (IMS) and the management plan to be established by applying the IMS to megasites.
A preliminary list of stakeholders involved (regulators, site-owners, site managers) should be formed, related to the megasite or the region.
The identification of a megasite should be based on comparing a general description of the site in question with the definition of a megasite. This description can be made using a checklist of existing information containing available data, maps and contamination profiles and expert estimates for the areas lacking data. Later a final check will need to be done before detailed risk assessment and management scenario development.
Output
The output of this step is the identification of the site or region as a potential megasite for which the IMS approach could be feasible. This identification comprises scale, quality and quantity issues.
