Filling stations and associated contamination : remediation and proposed mitigation measures

Abstract

This study involves a review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) legislation associated with the filling station industry. This is in order to determine if the South African EIA decision-making processes adequately evaluate new filling station developments. An additional objective of this study was to determine whether the local and provincial EIA decision-making structures and the filling station industry effectively evaluate the significance of filling station impacts and impose stringent enough mitigation measures. A comprehensive literature review was undertaken on the various types of hydrocarbon contamination as well as the various hydrocarbon contamination assessment methods. In addition, the methods of remediation were also reviewed. This was in order to determine the ease and practicability of remediation at contaminated sites as well as the associated financial implications. Twenty six case studies were examined to determine the percentage of filling stations sites that are expected to be contaminated and individual analysis of two sites was undertaken to evaluate the success of remediation efforts. This study indicates that a majority of filling station sites are associated with contamination. Remediation however is a long term process which does not fully eradicate contamination. The outcome of this investigation reveals that contamination must be prevented at the outset. Based on this it is determined that the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) needs to pose stricter measures on the filling station industry during the EIA phase of the development. Industry also needs to adopt more stringent mitigation measures during the design stage of projects to ensure protection of the environment.