A comparative cost analysis of soil remediation technologies

A database of technical parameters and costs associated with 45 Underground Storage Tank (UST) sites in Tennessee was developed and analyzed. Soil remediation technologies were evaluated to provide a cost comparison of the technologies. A description of the soil technologies that are most commonly used for remediating petroleum contamination is given. The technologies were examined for advantages, disadvantages and limitations, as well as for typical published costs. Analyses included comparing technologies on a basis of average total cost of site cleanup and on a cost per volume basis. The effects of volume and concentration of contaminated soil were examined, and indicated that other site characteristics have more bearing on the total cost of site cleanup. The large differences in geology between eastern, middle, and western Tennessee did not seem to have an effect on total site cleanup costs either. Volatility of contaminant was shown to have a pronounced effect on cleanup costs. Despite a bias of engineers toward equipment intensive designs, it appears that ex-situ bioremediation may have slight cost advantages over soil venting, combinations of technologies, and in-situ bioremediation. This effect may be caused by the simplicity of the typical ex-situ bioremediation treatment. The effect of competition among consultants has caused a steadily decreasing total site cleanup cost since 1988.