Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:9:p7
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 9 (pt 7/12)
Character Range: 320977–324155

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 activities at the site), a site inspection and interviews with current and past owners, operators and occupiers of the site and preparation of a report.

The preliminary investigation should be sufficient to:
    * identify potential sources of contamination and determine potential contaminants of concern
    * identify areas of potential contamination
    * identify potential human and ecological receptors
    * identify potentially affected media (soil, sediment, groundwater, surface water, indoor and ambient air).
The findings of the PSI are used to develop an initial CSM (refer Section 4). The PSI report should clearly identify any significant data gaps and include an assessment of the accuracy of the information collected.

It is not necessary to delineate any contamination at the PSI stage. Limited sampling may be included in a PSI, providing sufficient information is available to compile an appropriate site health and safety plan. Any investigations undertaken, however, are usually confined to areas where potentially contaminating activities have occurred and involve a site history-based sampling plan.

This Schedule provides guidance on the scope of preliminary investigations. Reference may also be made to AS 4482 and more generally to ASTM E1527–05 for information on the various elements which may be included in a preliminary site investigation.
If thorough preliminary investigation shows a history of non-contaminating activities and there is no other evidence or suspicion of contamination, further investigation is not required.

2.2              Detailed site investigation
A detailed site investigation (DSI) is required when the results of the preliminary investigation indicate that contamination is present or is likely to be present and the information available is insufficient to enable site management strategies to be devised. Potential or actual contamination will usually require further delineation. Potential contamination may have been indicated by the presence of underground structures (for example, underground fuel or chemical storage tanks), the presence of fill (for example, ash, odorous material or various types of waste) or staining of soil. Actual contamination may have been detected in the form of contaminants that are not naturally occurring or as elements or compounds that are above background levels or exceed the investigation or screening levels (see Schedule B1 for more information).

The detailed investigation stage should identify the nature of the contamination and delineate its lateral and vertical extent to a sufficient degree that an appropriate level of risk assessment may be undertaken and, if necessary, provide the basis for the development of an appropriate remediation or management strategy.

    3                   Preliminary investigations
The purpose of