BROWNFIELDS SURVEY at the LEAVING COURTYARDS, STATIONS and TERMINALS by the REDE FERROVIÁRIA FEDERAL S/A (RFFSA) in the STATE of SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

Abstract

During 40 years of operation, the extinct Rede Ferroviária Federal Sociedade Anônima (RFFSA) operated railways in Brazil, extended for approximately 22,000 km, leaving courtyards, stations and terminals abandoned and contaminated. Due to the environmental liabilities related to the railway’s activities, this study presents an investigation of the current environmental situation of stations, terminals, and courtyards in the state of São Paulo, which previously belonged to RFFSA and now are managed by concessionaires after privatization. The study was carried out by the survey of the current and 1982 rail network of the RFFSA and investigating the environmental infractions committed during the years by the concessionaires. Later, was verified the contaminated sites under the responsibility of the concessionaires and the RFFSA. The mapping of the rail network in 1982 indicated that part of the locations is not found in the declaration of the network that is currently managed by the concessionaires, requiring future studies to identify the environmental situation of these locations. The identified brownfields are mostly in the process of remediation. It is recommended that actions be taken by concessionaires to mitigate possible environmental risks related to the transport and storage of products capable of generating subsurface contamination.