Drainage

NOAH has special expertise and documented methods for treating heavy metals in general and mercury contamination in particular.

Contaminated Soil

NOAH treats and disposes of all types of inorganic pollutants in condition classes 2-5, as well as hazardous waste. We have a highly robust reception solution for contaminated masses from all over Norway and Scandinavia in general. Langøya is strategically located for shipping large quantities of contaminated masses when projects are large and require efficient logistics. NOAH has agreements with several shipping companies, and we tailor individual reception solutions along the entire Norwegian coast. Our logistics solutions ensure our customers efficient implementation and progress, adapted to the planned cleanup project. In the port of Oslo, we have established our own tipping ramp, which contributes to a very efficient and safe loading of the boats. Additionally, NOAH has a mobile tipping ramp that can be used for large and demanding projects. Transporting contaminated masses by sea relieves traffic in cities and contributes to a highly environmentally friendly logistics solution.

NOAH also accepts smaller volumes of challenging contaminated masses via truck transport. We have our own ferry ensuring that the vehicles deliver the masses to the island at agreed times.

Every year, NOAH receives over 300,000 tonnes of contaminated masses. We treat contaminated masses from demanding cleanup projects in most Nordic countries.

Construction and Demolition Waste

Remediation of old industrial buildings often results in waste fractions with high content of, for example, heavy metals and organic pollutants such as PCBs. NOAH’s hazardous waste treatment plant is unique in a Nordic context and provides a predictable solution for the customer. Typical waste fractions that NOAH receives and treats include concrete, brick, and lightweight concrete. It can also include waste in the form of asbestos, steel structures, and other non-biodegradable plastic/rubber constructions. We are willing to consider waste beyond what has been mentioned.

NOAH’s treatment method on Langøya involves stabilizing and breaking down the pollutants. The methods are well-documented for all types of pollution we receive.

Oil Shale

The oil shale NOAH receives constitutes ordinary waste and is stored in separate cells. The cells are encapsulated with basic sealing materials in layers half a meter thick on all sides, and finally covered on top. The disposal of oil shale is closely monitored and poses no danger to Langøya or surrounding areas.

What is Oil Shale?

Oil shale is an acid-forming type of shale and is the rock that constitutes large parts of the inner Oslo Fjord. Oil shale is the foundation upon which many of our houses are built. Oil shale contains a lot of iron sulfide. It is important that the shale does not come into contact with the oxygen in air and water, as it will weather over time. This means that the iron sulfide oxidizes, leading to the formation of sulfuric acid. In other words, the shale is acid-forming.

The shale may also contain heavy metals, such as zinc and copper, as well as uranium. Uranium is a heavy naturally occurring metal found in the Earth’s crust, with a content of 2.3 – 2.7 mg/kg.

NOAH’s measurement program consists of quarterly water analyzes sent to IFE and NIVA for analysis. Measured amounts of radiation activity are reported annually to the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (DSA).

Uranium has no stable isotopes, hence it is called radioactive. It is common to measure radiation on the most stable forms: 238-uranium, 234-uranium, and 235-uranium. When uranium breaks down, it also produces the gas radon. Radon is found everywhere around us, but mostly in small concentrations. Most people are familiar with this gas, which arises from oil shale in the ground, and one does not want it to occur in large concentrations in and around residential buildings.

The acid-forming process generates heat, and the temperature can build up over time, potentially self-igniting if the temperature reaches a few hundred degrees. Therefore, NOAH covers the oil shale with basic materials with low permeability so that oxygen from air and water cannot reach it. We monitor and analyze our process water for uranium and other heavy metals.