An empirical model for estimating remediation costs at contaminated sites

A model for estimating the remediation costs at contaminated sites is developed, in which the predictor variable is a composite of surface, subsurface, and contaminant risk factors. Calibration of the model is performed at 83 sites in an urbanized watershed with diverse surface geology in southeastern Michigan. These test sites exhibited different extents of contamination, including some where only soil was contaminated, and others where soil and groundwater were contaminated. The model was then applied to 79 sites with multiple contamination extents within different watersheds in North America, Europe, Australia, and Africa. The results indicate a very high correlation between the estimated and actual remediation costs at these sites. This model thus has the potential for providing reliable estimates of remediation costs across a broad array of soil and groundwater contamination scenarios, including dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) contamination in sandy soil and lead in clay soil.