Environmental problems associated with manmade strata and their potential management

Abstract

Man-made strata occur throughout the world. Also locally called "fill" or "reclaimed land," most man-made strata were formed by industrial activity. Some strata are inert, well consolidated and properly "engineered" for their intended future use. Many other, however, are polluted, contaminated and potentially unstable owing to poor environmental management and monitoring. Such deposits are often stratigraphically complex and thus require site-specific geologic and geotechnical investigation to ensure ground stability and to avoid release of surface, subsurface and airborne pollutants. We have compared various investigative approaches from Uruguay, Lithuania, Japan and England; and therefore now strongly recommend that national, regional and local governments actively identify the magnitude of problems associated with man-made strata within their various jurisdictions. Based on varying terminology, concepts and political, administrative, legal, historical and geological contexts, we find it desirable to use fewer, but more rigorously defined and internationally agreed terms. Environmental assessments of man-made strata should be expanded throughout the world. It is, however, the more developed nations that currently have the greatest problems and costs associated with redevelopment of man-made strata. But such problems can be avoided in industrializing countries if they adopt best management practices, policies and priorities that strategically implement and enforce sound planning and environmental permitting. These procedures can ensure that man-made strata are suitable for their intended use by developing appropriate site investigation, modeling and remediation design, and by implementing appropriate monitoring and recording processes.