In comparing different remedial strategies for a cleanup site, the present value of cost is always a valuable benchmark. But is there a benefit to being proactive? Quantifying this is difficult, but answering these questions can help in selection of a winning cleanup strategy:

Are receptors nearby? If the contaminant fate/transport window is short, there is less impact on receptors.

Are regulatory relationships important?  It’s easier to build a positive relationship with a track record of prevention and compliance.

Been down this road before?  Applying best practices or lessons learned from similar projects can lead to a faster implementation, maybe at a lower unit cost too.

Is time your friend? Some problems do not need aggressive human intervention, but cleanup problems that were “small, cheap, easy” belong to another generation.

Does the corporate reputation matter?  Given enough time, everyone notices a cleanup. Employees, neighbors, contractors all find cleanup projects admirable. It’s good housekeeping, and usually a great photo opportunity.

In our work at ERCI, project delays are often part of the reserve-setting landscape. Not every cleanup can be implemented immediately with an open-ended budget. Instead, prioritization and good capital stewardship play a vital role.