Evaluation of the Physical Hazards Associated with Two Remedial Alternatives at a Superfund Site

Paul K. Scott, Alex Pittignano and Brent L. Finley

Risk Analysis, 2001, vol. 21, issue 1, 53-62

Abstract: This study presents an evaluation of the risks due to the physical hazards associated with two remedial alternatives for a former chemical manufacturing facility in New Jersey. Both the on‐site and off‐site risk of work‐related fatalities during remedy implementation and the risks of accident or accident‐related fatalities during the off‐site transport of site‐related materials were evaluated. The two remedial alternatives evaluated were on‐site containment and excavation with off‐site incineration. The risk of at least one fatality due to a work‐related accident was estimated for on‐site activities associated with each remedial alternative, and for off‐site incineration. The risks of at least one accident and of one accident‐related fatality were calculated with accident and fatality data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. In addition, the risk of at least one accident that might potentially affect a natural resource (e.g., river, lake, or national park) was evaluated. This evaluation indicates that the risk of a work‐related fatality is over an order of magnitude higher, and the risk of an accident or accident‐related fatality is over three orders of magnitude higher, for the excavation/off‐site incineration remedial alternative than for the on‐site containment alternative. Overall, this study indicates that the physical hazards associated with excavation and off‐site incineration are much greater than those associated with on‐site containment for this site. Therefore, if a choice between the two remedial alternatives were to be made based solely on physical hazards and accident risk, the on‐site containment alternative would be more protective of human health and the environment than the excavation/off‐site incineration alternative.

Date: 2001
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https://doi.org/10.1111/0272-4332.211089

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:riskan:v:21:y:2001:i:1:p:53-62

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