Sustainable environmental remediation: an application of the community capitals framework

Remediation options for a contaminated site are traditionally identified by taking into account a variety of factors including the type of contaminant, soil properties and geophysical characteristics of the site, and the impacts of the contamination on the environment and on human and non-human biota. Following the introduction of the Sustainable remediation paradigm, the inclusion of socio-economic realities into decision-making for contaminated site remediation is gaining traction. However, integrating social considerations is a complex process since it involves assessing and operationalizing non-tangible aspects and requires a holistic and situated assessment of local particularities through stakeholder participation. Currently, there is a need to develop approaches and tools able to address this complexity. The aim of this study is to test the applicability of the Community Capitals Framework (CCF) for the inclusion of social considerations into environmental remediation. Using a qualitative multi-method research design based on document analysis and semi-structured interviews, this study uses CCF to identify assets relevant to the remediation of a historical NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) contamination of the Winterbeek river (Belgium). For this purpose, it develops a dedicated analysis method able to trace the complex relationships between assets, impacts and capitals. Results show that CCF can find useful application for the identification of community perspectives and resources that may be fruitfully mobilized for sustainable environmental remediation processes. The study also suggests a potential expansion of the theoretical formulation of CCF to include new types of relationships between impacts and assets.