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Relevant factors for redevelopment 127

Fig. 5.2 Old RADON waste disposal facility, Chisinau, Moldova (to be decommissioned).
Photo by M. Laraia (September 2018).

Lakes and ponds may assist with the restoration of natural habitats or may allow the
establishment of marinas and yacht clubs. In turn, the return of wildlife to the site may
encourage ecological and biological studies: to this end, the availability of biologists
and other environmental specialists who had worked at the former nuclear site may be
a great asset. Large areas of meadows or flat lands may allow the establishment of golf
courses (see Section 7.3.5).

5.10 Project risks

For the purposes of this book we refer here to the risk that a given cleanup project
(including its redevelopment component) may not meet its stipulated targets, for
example, schedule and budget. Identifying and minimizing risks ensure efficiency
(i.e., best use of resources). This is especially significant (as in most cleanup and rede-
velopment projects), when critical achievements depend on external financing,
including predetermined performance-based incentives and contractual requirements.
The assessment of project risks is a key component of the decision-making: too high a
risk may impose a different cleanup or redevelopment alternative.
Experience gained in such projects shows that a range of diverse risks are involved,
namely technical, operational, commercial, and the people side. Risk should therefore
be evaluated holistically. Operational and commercial aspects relate to site conditions,
construction issues, project management, and financial issues. By people side we
mean legal and procurement issues (e.g., liability and indemnification), stakeholder
feelings, and political connections.