For more than 20 years, Xerox has conducted a proactive program to identify and clean up contaminated sites around the world. These efforts include a voluntary assessment program, begun in 1985, that resulted in identifying 68 facilities and operations sites that have required remediation. As the sites were identified, the company, where necessary, took immediate measures to ensure the protection of employees, neighbors and the environment from possible adversity.
To accelerate some of the remedial time frames, we concentrated our initial efforts on source areas of contamination. In most instances, source area remedial measures were very successful in achieving their source reduction goals. Many of these sites may now be managed with migration control techniques that limit potential movement and exposure. Today, only 10 of the 68 sites require further remedial or control measures.
In addition to using conventional techniques for groundwater pumping and soil excavation, Xerox has been at the forefront of developing and using innovative remedial technologies. These include techniques that enhance the recovery of contaminants such as High Vacuum 2-Phase Extraction® and bedrock and hydraulic fracturing. In addition, contaminants are converted to less-harmful substances through technologies such as enhanced biodegradation and chemical oxidation.
All Xerox manufacturing operations conform to the requirements of the ISO 14001 Environmental Management system. This approach, along with implementation of spill prevention plans, has resulted in only one new site identified for remediation in more than 10 years. In prior years, Xerox has centrally tracked spill and accidental chemical release information for its operations in North America and Europe but has not included those data in its annual progress reports. Starting with the 2006 report, Xerox began providing information on “reportable” releases, which Xerox defines as accidental releases of substances by Xerox that are required to be reported to a regulatory body. In 2008 Xerox’s North American and European operations identified five reportable accidental spills/releases compared to two releases in 2007. Corrective action was taken in all cases. Preventing further contamination is our goal.
Cumulative Number of Sites Remediated
