2011 年 54 巻 3 号 p. 257-277
Monitored natural attenuation (MNA) has the potential for passive remediation of dissolved phase petroleum hydrocarbon impacts in groundwater. The successful application to any groundwater contamination situation is dependent on a number of factors. Soil conditions affect both the physical and chemical aspects of natural attenuation processes. Key soil-related aspects include retention of hydrocarbon, groundwater flow regime and hydrocarbon degradation rate. Risk is another element that needs to be considered, particularly in relation to volatile vapors that could affect human health. Therefore, the risk aspects, both present and future, need to be understood. Finally, the nature and character of the source is a critical aspect that establishes whether monitored natural attenuation can be utilized to manage or remediate dissolved phase hydrocarbons in groundwater. While from a technical standpoint MNA would revolve around primary, secondary and tertiary lines of evidence to demonstrate that natural attenuation is occurring, soil properties, risk and source aspects also need to be considered in decision making. Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE) identified the need for and developed a guidance document for the implementation of MNA strategies in Australia focusing particularly on the technical aspects of the process.
