Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:6:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 6 (pt 3/4)
Character Range: 16513–19524

using approved standard methods and should be performed by laboratories accredited for those analyses in the particular environmental medium. Field analytical methods should be performed by appropriately skilled personnel using approved standard methods.
  Laboratories should be accredited for relevant analytical procedures by the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA), or by an organisation recognised under NATA's Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) Network, or according to an appropriate standard dealing with laboratory quality assurance.

(14)  Risk assessment
  The initial assessment of human health risks and ecological risks may be undertaken by comparing levels of contaminants on the site with appropriate investigation or screening levels or, if necessary, by undertaking a site‑specific risk assessment. The initial assessment may be followed by a more detailed assessment of human health risks and ecological risks.
  An assessment of human health risks and ecological risks should, if practicable, take into account any additive, synergistic and antagonistic effects of mixing chemical substances.

(15)  Objectives of assessment
  The purpose of site assessment is to determine whether site contamination poses an actual or potential risk to human health and the environment, either on or off the site, of sufficient magnitude to warrant remediation appropriate to the current or proposed land use.  In assessing that risk a balance is to be achieved between:
 • optimising the current or intended use of the site; and
 • adequately protecting human health and the environment.
  The broader objective of assessment is to ensure:
 • that the people of Australia enjoy the benefit of equivalent protection from air, water and soil pollution wherever they live;
 • that the environmental values of water are maintained for future generations;
 • that the capacity of the soil is maintained for future generations; and
 • that there is consistency of approach between jurisdictions to aid government and business decision making.

(16)  Attainment of environmental outcome
  In general, to achieve the desired environmental outcome, the process of the assessment of site contamination should be placed within the context of the broader site assessment and management process.  In particular, in assessing the contamination, the site assessor and others should take into account the preferred hierarchy of options for site clean-up and/or management which is outlined as follows:
 • on-site treatment of the contamination so that it is destroyed or the associated risk is reduced to an acceptable level; and
 • off-site treatment of excavated soil, so that the contamination is destroyed or the associated risk is reduced to an acceptable level, after which soil is returned to the site; or,
  if the above are not practicable,
 • consolidation and isolation of the soil on site by containment with a properly designed barrier; and
 • removal of contaminated material to an