Promise
Optimising Biopile Processes for Weathered Hydrocarbons Within a Risk Management Framework – BIOREM 35
Biopiling is an important technology for treating soils contaminated with weathered hydrocarbons, but its performance continues to be represented by reference to reductions in the hydrocarbon ‘load’ in soils being treated, rather than reductions in the risks posed by hydrocarbon contamination. This has contributed to a lack of investor and, on occasion, regulatory confidence in technology, creating a barrier to securing an established market (CIEF, 2002).
Specifically, the Urban Task Force recently (1999) considered UK brownfield investment to be held back by low confidence in remedial technology, inconsistent technical advice and the absence of publicised successes. Regulatory unease arises because of a perceived absence of the concepts and management of risk within many projects. In the US, the shift to risk-based, objective-led remediation occurred in the early 1990s, forcing a rigour on site investigation, remedial design and technology verification. Securing a similar shift in the UK, albeit with reference to UK pragmatism and without ‘reinventing the wheel’, is now critical to stakeholder confidence in, and the sustained competitiveness of, biopile technology.
To address these issues, the project PROMISE led by Cranfield University, brings together a consortium of problem holders (BP International), service suppliers (Remedios Ltd, TES Bretby), Universities with established research profiles in bioremediation and risk management (Aberdeen, Lancaster Universities) and experts in technology transfer (PERA Innovation Ltd).
