Cleanup, private

Pesticides. Chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides (qv) are often found in feed or water consumed by cows (19,20) subsequently, they may appear in the milk, where they are not permitted. Tests for pesticides are seldom carried out in the dairy plant, but are most often done in regulatory or private specialized laboratories. Examining milk for insecticide residues involves extraction of fat, because the insecticide is contained in the fat, partitioning with acetonitrile, cleanup (FlorisH [26686-77-1] column) and concentration, saponification if necessary, and determination by means of paper, thin-layer, microcoulometric gas, or electron capture gas chromatography (see Trace and residue analysis). 

The central purpose of CERCLA is to provide a response mechanism for cleanup of any hazardous substance released, such as an accidental spill, or of a threatened release of a hazardous substance (Nordin et al., 1995). Section 102 of CERCLA is a catchall provision because it requires regulations to establish that quantity of any hazardous substance the release of which shall be reported pursuant to Section 103 of CERCLA. Thus, under CERCLA, the list of potentially responsible parties (PRPs) can include all direct and indirect culpable parties who have either released a hazardous substance or violated any statutory provision. In addition, responsible private parties are liable for cleanup actions and/or costs as... 

Under CERCLA and similar state hazardous waste laws, liability for contamination at a site is strict, joint and several, as well as retroactive. Anyone who was ever involved with the site—generators of hazardous substances, transporters of materials to or from the site, and any past or present owner—can all be held liable for the costs of cleanup. A fear of perpetual liability kept many private buyers, developers, lenders, and potential future owners of contaminated properties from investing in brownfields sites. 

Cleanup costs for a contaminated site can easily exceed the value of the property, even in areas with high land values. The private sector may be able to recoup its costs through sale or rental of residential projects, commercial space, or industrial facilities. Unfortunately for many public entities, investments in cleanup and redevelopment often burden already limited funding sources, and the types of projects that communities typically undertake (e.g., recreational areas, child care centers, government facilities) do not generate income to offset cleanup and redevelopment costs. 

The cost of cleanup is staggering. This can be seen by the fact that in 1994, the National Academy of Sciences estimated that over a trillion dollars, or approximately 4000 per person in the U.S., would be spent in the next 30 years on clean up of contaminated soil and groundwater [ 67 ]. In many cases, it is hard to find out which companies or parties are responsible for the contamination due to lack of tools to identify the pollution source. Chemical finger printing, state and federal agency records, and private parties history records of handling hazardous substances are seldom sufficient to allow a unique solution for the location of sources and the timing of source releases. Therefore, there... 

However, the effectiveness of state government to compel or encourage private party cleanup of old problem sites appears to have diminished at the same time public attention has been drawn to these problem sites — perhaps even because of that attention. An additional factor which may be responsible for slowdown in the rate of site cleanups seems to be the passage and subsequent slow rate of implementation of Superfund. 

Hungary. The Hungarian petrochemical industry is in the hands of TVK, a state-owned company that is being prepared for privatization. There is also a state-owned oil company, MOL. Hungary is an importer of ethylene via pipeline from Ukraine. TVK and MOL are producers of propylene, and TVK produces polypropylene. Six CPI construction projects were under way in the petroleum, petrochemical, and environmental cleanup areas in early 1999 [13]. 

Iran s petrochemical industry is striving to be a major player in the region. There are eight government-owned petrochemical production companies and three privately owned petrochemical/chemical companies. The major petrochemical products are ethylene and its derivatives, propylene and its derivatives, benzene, toluene, xylenes, pyrolysis gasoline, propane, butane, pentane, ethylbenzene, and styrene, as well as sulfur, ammonia, and its derivatives. In early 1999 there were 21 construction projects in the areas of petrochemicals, petroleum, and environmental cleanup [13]. 

The Secretary of Defense delegated cleanup responsibility to the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Cleanup actions are usually accomplished under contract with private firms, which are monitored by the services. Most cleanup actions are funded through the Defense Environmental Restoration Account (DERA) and the Base Realignment and Closure Account. Defense Department organizations involved with explosives remediation are indicated below. Those involved with unexploded ordnance (UXO) are listed in Chapter 12. 

The Secretary of Defense delegated cleanup responsibility to the Army, Navy, the Air Force, and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Cleanup actions are usually accomplished under contract with private firms, which... 

Biodegradable pesticides can be extremely persistent when present in the soil at unusually high concentrations (6-10), which contributes to an increased risk of surface and ground water contamination. When a business has a major contamination incident, state or federal regulatory agencies can order a cleanup, but such action is more difficult for private farms and residences. The nature of the cleanup is more problematic. Contaminated soil is excavated and removed to a "secure" landfill. The end result is perhaps a cleaner site, but the waste has not been detoxified. 

The problems of hazardous waste extend back many years. What to do with waste already disposed of also became a national issue. The result was the development of a Superfund. Contributions by both government and private industry created a source to cover the cost of cleaning up the worst of the many hazardous waste sites of the past. Industry contributed 75% of the initial 1.6 billion fund. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), passed in late 1980, took action to clean up some hazardous waste sites. The act also addressed liability. It stated that those causing or contributing to a release or threatened release from an inactive hazardous waste site shall have strict, joint, and several liability for cleanup, containment and emergency response activities at the site. Liable parties included generators and transporters of the waste and owners and operators of the disposal site. 

Research projects in sanitary engineering include seeking processes and equipment for improved purification efficiency. One example is the development of large, portable water-treatment systems that are suitable for providing clean water to survivors of natural disasters and the bivouac medical units that treat them. Another example is a nanofiltration system that desalinates ocean water for use on naval ships, especially during times of conflict, and extended private offshore operations such as oil drilling. A related nanofiltration system is necessary for oil-spill cleanup. A third example is the specialized absorbent removal of microcontaminants that may be present in small yet detrimental amounts. These may include elements such as arsenic and lead, industrial solvents, and radioactive particles. 

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