Turning over an old industrial site
Jan Erik Kaarø
"Terrible weather! We should have had a southwesterly storm and rain", says research manager Eli Ringdalen, as she squints at the spring sun that makes the blackened Norsk Koksverk (Norwegian Coke Factory) site in Mo i Rana appear almost idyllic.
Eli Ringdalen leads the major survey of the former site of the Norwegian Coke Factory.
Ringdalen leads the biggest study of contaminated soil ever carried out in Norway. SINTEF Molab is turning over and analysing the foundations of Norsk Koksverk in Mo over a period of a year and a half.
500 water samples collected
A week of sampling takes place during each season of the year. April 21st and 22nd this year were also particularly intensive sampling days, in the course of which two and a half tons of water samples were collected from the former industrial site. Bad weather and spring tides would have given the scientists an ideal opportunity to study how contamination is leached out into the Rana Fjord. But even though the weather gods refused to cooperate, the SINTEF researchers believe that the Koksverk site will have few remaining secrets by the time that their studies are completed next May."We are looking for seventeen types of contaminants in all our water samples, as well as for the biological effects of such emissions. In fact, this project is so comprehensive and thorough that we will be able to use its results in surveys of other contaminated sites", says Ringdalen. She points out that the State Pollution Control Authority has drawn up a list of 450 contaminated sites in Norway that require action to be taken.
Former industrial site
As nearest neighbours to the sea, the Koksverk emissions have been "strangling" the Rana Fjord. The Coke Factory was closed down in 1989 and its old buildings have been demolished. However, the soil is still coal-black and in some places there is still a slight smell of sulphur. The analyses of the water samples bring out the reality of the situation even more clearly. The scientists have found large amounts of tarry PAH, as well as heavy metals, mercury and cyanide.The Koksverk studies aim to find out three things; what proportion of the contaminants leach out into the fjord, whether current clean-up measures are having any effect, and whether the area can ever be used as an industrial site again. Soil which has been dug up from the site of Rana Kjemi's new plant will be given special treatment. After it has been sorted, some of the soil will be composted in order to break down the contaminants biologically. The remainder will be sealed into concrete blocks and deposited in an underground rock cavern. This job is being done by the Rana company Øijord & Aanes.