IMS - A risk-based management approach for megasites, example Bitterfeld megasite, Germany

The management of contaminated megasites requires an integrated risk-based approach to achieve cost-effective risk reduction in compliance with the regulations of the European Water Framework Directive. Megasites are characterized by complex site-specific conditions in which a complete removal of contamination is neither technically nor economically feasible. Previous work regarding the difficulty in managing four exemplary megasites constituted the basis for the development of the Integrated Management System (IMS) tool. This tool facilitates the management of megasites by offering a guideline, which includes all the essential steps for determining an appropriate remediative action plan satisfying the interests of all involved stakeholders. Within this paper, the IMS is presented and applied to the Bitterfeld megasite in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.