ABSTRACT
Section 1.4.2 in Chapter 1 points out that good land management practice (1) minimizes and mitigates deleterious impacts to the land environment, (2) seeks optimal land use and benefit from the land, and (3) preserves and minimizes depletion of the geoenvironmental natural capital. Probably the most significant agent responsible for degrading the quality of the land and its ecosystems is contamination of the land environment and its receiving waters by pollutants and hazardous substances. In addition, ground contamination by these same pollutants and hazardous substances poses threats to human health, other biotic receptors, and the environment. In this chapter we will be paying particular attention to the various aspects of ground contamination and land management requirements to meet sustainability goals. We repeat again that we recognize that we live in an unsustainable world, and that depletion of nonrenewable resources and threats to renewable resources render sustainability an impossible goal. The preceding notwithstanding, it is nonetheless necessary and important to undertake measures for protection of the geoenvironment and its natural capital and resources. Failure to do so will exacerbate the conditions that have already led to a compromised geoenvironment. As with all the chapters in this book, the actions discussed and proposed in these chapters are in full recognition that one needs to strive for measures and actions that will relieve the negative pressures and stresses on the geoenvironment.
