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Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publications
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Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publications; 1998; v. 14; p. 29-36;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.ENG.1998.014.01.04
© 1998 Geological Society of London

Section 1: Cleanup of contaminated land and groundwater

The legacy of contaminated land in Portsmouth: its identification and remediation within a socio-political context

N. R. G. Walton1 & A. Higgins2

Department of Geology, University of Portsmouth, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth PO1 3QL, UK
Environmental Health Service, Portsmouth City Council, Portsmouth PO1 2AL, UK

The unique situation of Portsmouth with regards to the historical development of large areas of filled and contaminated land is described together with the methodologies which have been developed over the past decade for identifying, investigating and remediating such lands. This happened under the impetus of both Portsmouth City Council's specific strategy for contaminated land and the increasing volume of environmental guidance which has recently been released prior to the introduction of copious new government legislation.

Three typical case histories are presented which show how different approaches to risk evaluation have evolved during the 1990s and demonstrate how Portsmouth has applied these evolving methodologies in a pragmatic way in an attempt to optimize environmental improvements and financial returns whilst minimizing both public and political risks.