ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the general scope for the application of risk assessment and risk-based solutions, as pertains to the management of potentially contaminated site problems, and discusses specific practical example situations for the utilization of the risk assessment paradigm. Risk assessment seems to be gaining greater grounds in making public policy decisions in the control of risks associated with contaminated site problems. Contaminated site risk management and site-restoration decisions may generally be formulated quite differently for varying situations or circumstances—such as one that is purely qualitative in nature, through a completely quantitative evaluation. Petroleum fuel contaminants of major health concern include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene—commonly referred by the acronym benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. Preparing brownfield sites for productive reuse requires the integration of numerous and variant elements—including financial issues, community involvement, liability considerations, environmental assessment and cleanup, regulatory requirements, as well as coordination among many stakeholder groups.
