Minimizing the Risk of Contaminated Soils in Pipelining

Mario E. Buszynski

Owners of gas pipelines that use the public roadway for their facilities may encounter contaminated soils when constructing the pipeline. This situation has resulted in increased costs and delays in the construction schedule. The paper outlines a process, similar to a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, that identifies areas of high potential for contamination from various sources. The number and location of potentially contaminated sites are then factored into the route selection process. A case study of a pipeline in southern Ontario, Canada, is used to illustrate the methods described in the paper. Procedures are outlined to effectively manage these situations if they cannot be avoided. Recommendations are made as to the transferability of this process to other jurisdictions.

Keywords: Contaminated soils, environmental assessment, hydrocarbon contamination, preferred route