How long can it take to restore a contaminated site?
Many sites have become contaminated because of decades of improper handling and storage of waste of various types. It will take many years to restore some of them. Determining the nature of the contamination and its current environmental and health impacts can be very time-consuming. In many cases, adequate historical records do not exist, and scientists must determine the nature and extent of the contamination and its present impacts through extensive assessment and analysis. Many federal contaminated sites are located in remote regions with harsh climates that are difficult to access. It is not possible to work at some locations year round, so this lengthens the time required to remediate these sites.
