Battelle Audits Environmental Management
Over the years, Battelle Geneva has achieved a position of esteem among Italian companies. One of the companies for which Battelle has worked repeatedly is the State Electric Company, ENEL. Most recently, Battelle conducted a review of ENEL’s environmental characterization and risk assessment program.
ENEL adopted an environmental management policy years ago and introduced an environmental management program for all power plants. It recently established plans for environmental characterization and risk assessment as required by a 1999 Italian Law Decree. In this context, and on a voluntary basis, ENEL requested that Battelle conduct a critical examination of its draft documents.
Battelle pulled together an international team familiar with Italian legislation, problems of soil pollution and pollution research, the provisions for risk-based corrective action, and audit conduct. After a first review of characterization plans and the remedial action plan of five sites where large fossil-fired power plants are located, meetings were held with the client’s staff and consultants.
Between coal and oil storage areas, ash storage areas, oil pipelines above and below ground, waste disposal options and even war-time damage done to one of these installations, Battelle has been able to contribute many suggested actions and observations. The final report summarizes them in terms of such areas as additional investigations, clarification, explanation, added requirements, and communication.
Particular relevance was found in Battelle’s expertise in underground pollution transfer mechanisms and hydrogeological constraints. Also valuable was the team’s knowledge of the possibilities offered by methods such as baildown tests, lysimetry, piezometry, and Geoprobe® surveys for analysis, and bioventing, bioslurping, and natural attenuation for remedial work.
For the remedial work, Battelle provided detailed input concerning the possibilities and boundary conditions of bioslurping and related technologies, how to determine in advance of heavy investments what the chances of success would be, what the duration could be, and also what risks arise when changing the level of the water table.
It is extremely important for a highly visible company such as ENEL to obtain consulting of this type. Some of Battelle’s comments were merely designed to make sure that full understanding will be achieved when the company presents its plans to the pertinent administration units in provincial government.
This work has also demonstrated the advances made in environmental care. Many of the hot spots or potential risks arise from periods where environmental legislation was absent or inadequate. ENEL’s newest power station—one of the five included in the audit—scored zero demerits.
For more information contact Dr. Augusto Porta at +41-22-827 2650, portaa@battelle.org.
