The Role of Procedure Duration in the Sustainability Assessment of Contaminated Site Management in Italy

Abstract

The European Union (EU) has placed a strong focus on soil contamination and remediation in its Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive soil data at the EU level. To effectively support EU soil management strategies, it is necessary to develop soil-related indicators and standardized datasets across all EU member states. However, the lack of standardized methodologies for estimating the time required for contaminated site remediation is a dilemma in Italy and throughout Europe. This study examines statistical data on the time-consuming nature of the contaminated site remediation process in Italy. In fact, early intervention not only simplifies site remediation but also reduces long-term financial obligations such as monitoring costs and potential legal implications. This study categorized data according to remedial procedures, explored different management phases, and revealed different timescales for completing the procedure. The findings show that processes completed after preliminary investigations are often shorter in time than those completed following conceptual model assessments. In contrast, processes that require corrective measures typically take a longer period of time to complete. Notably, remedial interventions tend to have a shorter duration compared to risk management interventions. Furthermore, procedures that address both soil and groundwater contamination generally require more time compared to those that focus only on soil remediation. This study provides valuable insight into the time-consuming aspects of remediation procedures, recommending potential changes to regulatory frameworks to accelerate site remediation activities.

Unlocking the Potential of Sustainable Smart Cities: Barriers and Strategies

“…Urban areas typically generate significant amounts of waste and utilize products that contribute to negative externalities, thereby exacerbating social and economic challenges. Enhancing natural resource reserves has been proposed as a method to bolster sustainability [10][11][12][13]. This approach underscores the need for cities to address social and economic difficulties sustainably.…”

“…These SSCs are designed to provide sustainable and effective solutions across various domains, including energy management, transportation, healthcare, and governance, with the aim of fulfilling the requirements of urbanization and sustainability objectives. Despite the growing global adoption of the SSC concept in planning documents and national strategies, there remains a degree of reluctance among urban policymakers to implement measures that would transition their cities into smart locales [10,12,14,16].…”