Introduction: – Environmental protection authorities – Complex contaminated sites • Complexity: – Main challenges – Dimensions – Complexity graphs • Success factors: – Overview – The 10 golden rules • References

1. Remediation of
Complex Contaminated Sites:
a Practical Guideline
26th IPMA World Congress
Crete, Greece, 2012
Philippe Vallat, Guido Schommer, Lea Meister
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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2. Content
• Introduction:
– Environmental protection authorities
– Complex contaminated sites
• Complexity:
– Main challenges
– Dimensions
– Complexity graphs
• Success factors:
– Overview
– The 10 golden rules
• References
• Authors
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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3. Distinction btw complex and
complicated: the Cynefin Framework
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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4. INTRODUCTION
Remediation of Complex Contaminated Sites: a Practical Guideline
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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5. The environmental protection
authorities in Switzerland
• Federal office for the
environnement FOEN
• Other federal
authorities (e.g. Federal
office for transports,
Federal Department of
Defense, …)
• 26 cantonal authorities
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IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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6. Complex contaminated sites:
e.g. DIB Bonfol
• Landfill exploited 1961-
1976
• 114 000 tons of
hazardous waste
• Surface 20 000 m2
• Remediation:
– Ca. 15 years
– Ca. 300 Mio €
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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www.bci-info.ch

7. Complex contaminated sites:
e.g. SMDK Kölliken
• Landfill exploited 1978-
1985
• 555 000 tons of
hazardous waste
• Surface 70 000 m2
• Remediation:
– Ca. 15 years
– Ca. 600 Mio €
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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www.smdk.ch

8. Complex contaminated sites
Characteristics:
• Problem and solution
are unknown
• XXL project
• Long duration
• Multiple authorities
(e.g. international,
national, regional,
cantonal, communal, …)
• Socio-political
Challenges:
• Technical
• Legal
• High political and social
pressure
• Limited resources
• Limited PM skills
• Limited skills in
complexity
management
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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9. COMPLEXITY
Remediation of Complex Contaminated Sites: a Practical Guideline
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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10. The main challenges
• The contaminated site
– How to keep the general view on the multiple
dimensions?
• The project context
– How to deal with media, social and political scrutiny?
• Time
– How fast shall a decades old problem be solved?
• The role of the authority
– How to decide under high uncertainty?
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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11. Logical levels
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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Global remediation projectGlobal remediation project
Remediation
project
Party responsible
for remediation
Execution
procedure
Authorities
Global remediation project
Remediation
project
Party responsible
for remediation
Execution
procedure
Authorities
Logical level Terminology Content Ownership
Content Remediation project Technical
remediation project
Party responsible for
remediation
Process Execution procedure All the project
dimensions
Authority

12. Paradigm shift: from content (only)
to content AND process
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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13. The 4 dimensions
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
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contaminated sites
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Science &
Technique
Legal Social Management

14. WBS
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IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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Global remediation
Environnement
Water
Soil
Air
Waste
Health
Public health
Comestible
goods
Safety
Land planning
Land planning
Land usage
Constructions
Legal
Vertical
coordination
Neighbour
countries
Confederation
Neighbour
cantons
Districts
Communes
Horizontal
coordination
Environnement
Land planning
Health
Legal procedures
Liabilities
Formal
procedures
Public
procurement
Contracts
Finances
Operation
budgets
Investment
budgets
OTAS fund
Cantonal funds
Cost partition
Communication
Internal
communication
External
communication
Participation
PM
Objectives
Phases, schedule
Budget
Project
organisation
Risk
management
Steering and
follow-up
Information and
documentation

15. Complexity levels
D C B A
Parameter
or variable
Well known and
easily
manageable with
the standard
practices and
procedures of
the authority
Manageable
with the
standard
practices and
procedures of
the authority
Exceeds the
ordinary
capacities of the
organization
Exceeds largely
the ordinary
capacities of the
organization.
High degree of
uncertainty
Needs No particular
need for special
procedure or
special resources
Analysis and
internal
coordination
Working in
projects, relying
on extraordinary
resources and
experts
Working in
projects, with
extraordinary
resources and
expertise.
Innovation
Problem Simple Complicated Complicated Complex
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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16. Complexity matrix (e.g.)
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IPMA World Congress 2012
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Parameter Questions Possible answers
D C B A
TECHNICAL
Total volume or
thickness
What is the volume? < 10'000m3
or < 2m
10-50'000m3
or 2-5m
50-100'000m3
or 5-10m
>100'000m3
or > 10m
Uncertainty What is the uncertainty? < 10% 10-20% 20-50% > 50%
LEGAL
Complexity of
the procedure
Which are the important
legal steps? How are the
decisions taken?
Simple
decision of
one authority
Decision of
executive
authority,
including
internal
consultation
Decision of
executive
authority,
including
external
consultation
More complex
procedure:
legislative,
popular vote
etc.
SOCIAL
Public
reputation of
party respons.
for remediation
How is the party perceived
by the public and by
opinion leaders?
Neutral Disinterest Considered
as «guilty»
Considered
as «victim»
MANAGEMENT
Clarity of
objectives
Have objectives been
defined? How are they
continuously reviewed?
Defined,
understood
Defined,
poorly
understood
Defined,
uncertain
Undefined,
uncertain

17. Complexity graph (e.g.)
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IPMA World Congress 2012
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contaminated sites
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Pollution potential
Dispersion of
hazardous substances
Goods which
need to be protected
Urgency of
remediation
Surroundings and
accessibility
Particular hazards
Technical solution
Uncertainty about
total volume
Total volume
The problemThe solution

18. Structure for defining objectives
Type of
results
Description Time Examples
Outputs Products, goods and
services
short
term
• Realized and documented
investigations
• Communicated decisions
• Executed remediation
Outcomes Effects on the goods
which need to be
protected, on the
concerned (group of)
people
middle
term
• Decreasing or suppressed danger
• Utilization of the good which needs
to be protected
• Satisfaction of the concerned
people
Impacts Effects on the whole
population
middle
and long
term
• Environment quality
• Quality of life
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IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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19. Examples of possible objectives
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
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contaminated sites
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Role
Possible outcomes
Science and
technic
Legal Social Management
Authority Re-establishing
the legal
compliance
Regulatory
compliance
(construction,
health,
environmental,
…)
Confidence of
the population
Deadline for the
remediation
Party
responsible
for
remediation
Reuse of the real
property
Legal security Reputation Costs
optimization /
minimization,
deadline for
remediation
Geological
consultant
New know-how Legal
compliance
(prevent civil
responsibility)
Reputation Economics

20. SUCCESS FACTORS
Remediation of Complex Contaminated Sites: a Practical Guideline
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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21. Key success factors
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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22. The 10 golden rules
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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1. STRUCTURE Identify the relevant themes and dimensions, establish the decision-making
process, the communication and the controlling.
2. RESOURCES Endow the project with enough and dedicated resources, early enough.
3. THE RIGHT PEOPLE Designate a coordinator with high social competences; endow her with
resources, competences and legitimacy. Establish a multidisciplinary and cross-
department project team with all required experts.
4. COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION
Identify and get in contact with the concerned communities and stakeholders:
establish community participation and a culture of dialog.
5. TIME Find the balance between taking time for reflexion and loosing time in
undecision. Avoid quick shots, think in the long term, make sure that the
project progresses continuously.
6. TRUST Establish and nurture trust with the quality and transparency of the project
work and steering. Take good care of interpersonal relationships.
7. STEERING Endorse the project leadership : ensure a structured and transparent process,
manage risks actively, take the necessary decisions.
8. WORK-LIFE BALANCE Look after the work-life balance of the project members: workload, stress,
emotional load and exposure to criticism.
9. COURAGE Assume risks, uncertainties and unknowns, take timely decision, manage the
conflicts.
10. HUMILITY Accept your limits, the unknown and learn from mistakes.

23. Any (toxic) question?
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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24. Authors
Philippe Vallat
Conseil & Formation
Ch. du Couchant 23
CH-1752 Villars-sur-Glâne
Switzerland
complex.leadership@bluewin.ch
http://projetscomplexes.blogspot.com
Twitter: @vallatph
On behalf of the FOEN
Federal Office for the Environment
CH-3003 Bern
Switzerland
www.bafu.admin.ch
Guido Schommer, Lea Meister
reflecta ag
Schwarztorstr. 56
Postfach 530
CH-3000 Bern 14
Switzerland
www.reflecta.ch
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IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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25. References
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Aktualisierung, 3. Aufl., November 2004
Blenko, M., Mankins W., Michael C., et Rogers, P., Decide & deliver: 5 steps to breakthrough performance in your organization. Boston Mass.: Harvard
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Cilliers, P., Complexity and Postmodernism: Understanding Complex Systems, Routledge, 1998
De Meyer, A., Loch, C.H. & Pich, M.T., Managing Project Uncertainty: From Variation to Chaos. MIT Sloan Management Review, Winter, 60-67, 2002
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2004
Fields, J., Uncertainty : turning fear and doubt into fuel for brilliance, New York: Portfolio/Penguin, 2011
Hass, K., Managing Complex Projects: A New Model, Vienna: Management Concepts, 2009
Holland, J. H., Studying Complex Adaptive Systems, Journal of Systems Science and Complexity, 19 (1): 1-8, 2006
INERIS, Plan d’implication des populations concernées par un site pollué, 2008 ; http://www.comrisk.fr/
Johnson, N., Two's Company, Three's a Crowd: Demystifying Complexity Science, Rotman Magazine, Fall 2010
Klein, G., Intuition at Work (ouvrage renommé, The Power of Intuition dans sa version brochée), Doubel Day Publishing, 2004
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Kurtz, C.F, Snowden, D.J., The new dynamics of strategy: Sense-making in a complex and complicated world, IBM Systems Journal, 42(3): 462 – 483, 2003
OFEV, Assainissement des sites contaminés, Elaboration de projets d'assainissement de sites contaminés, 2001
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Taleb, N., Le cygne noir: la puissance de l’imprévisible, Paris: Les Belles lettres, 2008
Wynne, B., Uncertainty and environmental learning. Reconceiving science and policy in the preventive paradigm. Global Environmental Change, 2(2) : 111-
127, 1992
Ph. Vallat et al.,
IPMA World Congress 2012
Remediation of complex
contaminated sites
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