Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:9:p6
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 9 (pt 6/12)
Character Range: 318023–321307

(including risk assessment and iterative development of the CSM)
    * coherent presentation and reporting.
The characterisation of site contamination should only be conducted by professional environmental practitioners who are suitably qualified and experienced in the assessment of contaminated sites. For further information on suitable qualifications and experience, refer to Schedule B9.

    2                   Stages of investigation
Source: Davis et al. (2006) and Clements et al. (2009)
Schedule A of the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999 (NEPM) shows the staged site assessment process and indicates that this guideline applies to both preliminary and detailed site investigations.

Many site investigations proceed in multiple stages due to the complexity of site conditions and of contaminant properties and/or the discovery of unexpected contamination. Poorly planned and executed site investigations are likely to result in time delays and additional costs (both during the investigation and any subsequent remediation) and inadequate or misleading data which may result in risks to human health and/or the environment not being addressed.

Site investigation efforts should be purpose driven, adequate in scope and of sufficient quality to meet the purpose of the assessment. They should provide representative site data. In order to achieve these objectives, the recommended procedures are to clarify the purpose of the investigation, develop a CSM, develop DQOs and identify significant data gaps. An SAQP can then be designed and implemented to achieve the desired objective(s).

Depending on the proposed land use and the results of initial site history investigations, the preliminary and detailed investigations may be incorporated into a single phase of investigation. Proponents and site assessors may also wish to adopt an accelerated site characterisation approach whereby rapid and 'real-time' sampling and field analytical methods, and on-site interpretation and iteration of field data, are undertaken in order to expedite the characterisation process. Further information on accelerated site characterisation methods can be found in Clements et al. (2009), and at www.triadcentral.org/tech, as well as on the Environment Canada website at www.on.ec.gc.ca/pollution/ecnpd/contaminassist_e.html .

The CLU-IN website at www.clu-in.org/characterization, produced by the Technology Innovation and Field Services Division of the US EPA, contains a wide range of current information on site characterisation and monitoring techniques for gas/air, soil, sediment and water. The information includes performance specifications, advantages and limitations and indicative costs.
Regardless of the approach taken, the site investigation must cover all the components identified in Section 1, which enable an appropriate level of risk assessment for human health and the environment to be undertaken.

2.1              Preliminary site investigation
Preliminary site investigations (PSIs) usually include a desktop study to collect basic site information and identify the site characteristics (site location, land use, site layout, building construction, geological and hydrogeological setting, historical land uses and