Developing Cost Estimates for Environmental Remediation Projects

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• Publisher: International Atomic Energy Agency
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9789201073228
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Mechanical Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

This publication addresses costs arising during individual phases of an environmental remediation project, how they can be calculated, and how they can be structured and documented. It provides the methodology of cost estimation and includes examples of cost estimate models, development plans, cost elements and work breakdown structures. The publication also contains an overview of potentially suitable remediation technologies, which may help the reader to structure the options study.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background

The activities addressed in this publication include the following: mining and processing ores and the close-out of associated facilities; sources of ionizing radiation/production, use, import and export; the transport of radioactive materials; site remediation; and waste management. The facilities discussed in this publication include fuel manufacturing plants; power plants and other reactors; spent fuel processing plants; radioactive waste management facilities; and nuclear and irradiation facilities for medical/industrial research. The IAEA advises that Member States establish a statutory and regulatory framework that emphasizes responsibilities for both activities and facilities mentioned above.

In some cases, past practices and accidents at even the best managed and designed current era facilities may require site remediation. Depending on the nature of the facility, remediation may involve addressing both radioactive waste and non-radioactive waste (which is often referred to as ‘mixed waste’ when combined). Uranium exploration, mining and processing are going on worldwide in over 30 countries; this includes both current and former suppliers as well as new prospects with established resources [1]. Currently, there are millions of tons of mixed waste produced by these activities. In the case of some Cold War era nuclear complexes, highly toxic wastes resulting from weapons production were disposed of in design deficient tanks, unlined trenches, pits, ponds and lagoons, resulting in the contamination of plant infrastructure, soil, groundwater and surface water features. The presence of mixed waste in the environment has led to concerns regarding potential negative impacts on the environment and the health, social and economic well-being of people, especially in communities located near these activities.

Environmental remediation is ongoing or planned in many international and national settings but guiding, overseeing and monitoring the remediation process is often the responsibility of local authorities.

Remediation measures not only have to ensure the safety of humans and the environment with respect to radiological and mixed waste risks, but their benefits (for individual sites and for national programmes as a whole) have to be maximized with the limited funds available. In some cases, a paradigm change is needed, which convinces the involved parties that remediation does not mean just expenditure or even loss of money but represents a strategic investment for ensuring a healthy environment for humans and ecosystems; repurposing formerly contaminated land and infrastructure; and gaining long term benefits. These benefits may or may not be easily quantifiable. However, the cost of remediation alternatives can at least be estimated so that stakeholders can easily compare and contrast the costs from among a selection of alternatives.

Remediation may or may not mean returning a site to the pristine conditions that existed before that site was developed (for example: as fuel manufacturing plants; power plants and other reactors; spent fuel processing plants; radioactive waste management facilities; and nuclear and irradiation facilities for medical/industrial research). According to section 5 of IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 3, Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards [2], “The implementation of remedial actions (remediation) does not imply the elimination of all radioactivity or all traces of radioactive substances. The optimization process may lead to extensive remediation but not necessarily to the restoration of previous conditions.”

In the decision making process, the authorities responsible for managing remediation often develop several site investigation strategies and multiple remediation alternatives so that stakeholders have a choice. In general, each of the remediation alternatives has a unique cost. Cost is typically one criterion used to compare the various remediation alternatives that have been developed. As a result, the estimation of costs is a central element when developing and identifying a preferred remediation solution from among a range of feasible options. Furthermore, the cost of implementing an alternative can end up having an outsized influence on the planning process since a remediation approach used for a single site can become the exemplar approach used for other sites in a national programme. Further on in the remediation project life cycle, cost estimates tend to become more realistic as uncertainties are reduced as the project matures. This publication is dedicated to the cost estimation methodology in the various stages of environmental remediation projects.

1.2. Objective

The present publication provides information on approaches that can be used to estimate remediation costs for all parties involved in environmental remediation, including the following:

— Implementers of environmental remediation projects;

— Regulators and permitting authorities;

— Financing sources and investors;

— O...

Table of contents

• 1. INTRODUCTION
• Appendix I POTENTIAL REMEDIATION OPTIONS
• Appendix IV EXAMPLE WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION COST ESTIMATES
• Appendix V REMEDIATION TECHNOLOGY COSTS
• REFERENCES
• Annex I WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE DICTIONARY
• Annex II COST ESTIMATE CHECKLIST OF A REMEDIATION PROJECT
• GLOSSARY
• CONTRIBUTORS TO DRAFTING AND REVIEW