1. TRP Chapter 6.8 1 Chapter 6.8 Site selection for hazardous waste treatment facilities

2. TRP Chapter 6.8 2 Site selection and the planning process Site selection National strategy Regional strategy Action Plan To establish need for one or more facilities Environmental impact assessment (EIA) Feasibility study

3. TRP Chapter 6.8 3 Broad considerations for site selection Requires systematic screening to address: Technical and scientific aspects eg geological environmental engineering Economic issues Regulatory factors Public acceptance Siting is not exclusively a technical challenge

4. TRP Chapter 6.8 4 Public resistance to site selection Public is generally concerned about hazardous waste. Other specific concerns: Past experience Anxiety about health & environmental impacts Low confidence in science and technology Mistrust of outsiders Lack of trust in regulatory agencies Concern about effects on quality of life NIMBY

5. TRP Chapter 6.8 5 Public participation Aims to: Promote public awareness of waste management situation in general, hazardous waste in particular Promote public understanding of the need for this facility Inform the public of the stages for this project Communicate with the public to get their views Sucessful siting should: - be understood and accepted by the public - include opportunities for compensation where appropriate

6. TRP Chapter 6.8 6 Preliminary needs assessment Amount of waste generated and any variations in quantity eg seasonal Type of waste Potential for reduction, recycling & recovery Imports and exports Must take account of: data reliability illegal disposal

7. TRP Chapter 6.8 7 Responsibility for site selection Government: Waste management policy & legislation Planning Information to public Regulatory authority: Licensing, inspection & monitoring Assess environmental and health impacts Developer: Select & acquire appropriate site Select appropriate technology Finance, design, build (and operate) facility Local stakeholders must also be involved

8. TRP Chapter 6.8 8 Goals of site selection is technically suitable minimises health risks minimises environmental impacts maximises public acceptability minimises costs Identification of a site which:

9. TRP Chapter 6.8 9 Different approaches to site selection Voluntary approach - where communities compete to host facility Participative or technical approach - where informed decision is reached on best site, despite community resistance

10. TRP Chapter 6.8 10 Voluntary approach Starts with assumption that one or more communities will accept facility - consultation begins early Public & local government are informed of objectives Detailed discussion of project with regional planners, local government and interest groups Overview study of potential sites - results published Candidate sites identified and discussed - citizens committees formed Detailed exploration of specific sites conducted - results published One site is selected The process of securing final approval begins

11. TRP Chapter 6.8 11 Participative (technical) approach Screening and exclusionary criteria formulated Candidate areas chosen, unsuitable areas eliminated, by large-area mapping (scale 1:250,000) Promising areas identified with larger scale maps (1: 25,000) Screening criteria used to evaluate potential host areas Candidate sites chosen Preferred sites chosen and studied One site selected Process of securing final approval begins Starts by identifying a number of potentially suitable sites before involving the public

12. TRP Chapter 6.8 12 Stages in the process Constraint mapping Information sources Exclusion criteria Walk-over surveys Conceptual designs Preferred site investigation Feasibility studies Environmental impact assessment (EIA)

13. TRP Chapter 6.8 13 Constraint mapping Siting criteria include: Physical constraints eg soils, surface water, stability Ecological constraints eg flora & fauna Human values eg recreation, landscape Land use eg agricultural value, development potential Waste disposal suitability eg access, proximity to waste generators

14. TRP Chapter 6.8 14 Information sources Data sources for desk-based screening include: Cartographic authority Government transport and land planning departments Water supply authority Geological institutes Aviation authority Hydrology and meteorology institutes Government ministries Municipalities

15. TRP Chapter 6.8 15 Exclusion criteria Used to remove possible sites from long list Examples - exclude from list if: >2km from public highway located on river flood plain land reserved for other uses <200m from residences <5km from airport inside microwave transmitter exclusion zone located on active geological fault

16. TRP Chapter 6.8 16 Walk-over surveys Essential part of process Enable more realistic assessment of site conditions Take less than a day Do not involve sub-surface investigation Data is recorded eg on checklist

17. TRP Chapter 6.8 17 Conceptual designs Must be developed for each short-listed candidate site Outline drawings only Used for estimating –capacity –costs –extent of engineering work needed –impact on waste collection system –any likely additional resources eg vehicles, transfer stations

18. TRP Chapter 6.8 18 Preferred site investigation Issues to be investigated: Geo-technical conditions including seismic and slope stability Topographic land survey Groundwater and surface water quality and levels Geological and geo-chemical conditions for foundation engineering and earthworks Quantities of soil to be moved Natural ecology Ambient noise levels

19. TRP Chapter 6.8 19 Feasibility report physical & natural environment (see also Environmental Impact Assessment) technical appropriateness economic justification and viability social acceptability legal compliance Feasibility report starts with description of site selection process Demonstrates suitability of site and chosen technology regarding:

20. TRP Chapter 6.8 20 Environmental Impact Assessment EIA is used to: Identify which activities likely to give rise to significant adverse impacts Prompts: appropriate mitigation measures OR rejection of site

21. TRP Chapter 6.8 21 Chapter 6.8 Summary Site selection comprises: Technical and scientific aspects Economic issues Regulatory factors Public acceptance Siting is not exclusively a technical challenge Responsibility is shared: government, regulatory authority, developer, other stakeholders It should be a staged process