Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:1:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1 (pt 1/4)
Character Range: 885714–888823

1                   Introduction

1.1              Objectives
The objectives of this revised Schedule B4 guideline to site-specific health risk assessment methodology of the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999 (the NEPM) are to:
    * establish the fundamental principles of risk assessment as they relate to contaminated land decision-making in Australia to ensure protection of human health
    * provide a framework for policy making and undertaking risk assessments that is transparent, logical and compatible with current scientific principles and practice
    * provide a basis for deriving the health investigation levels (HILs) presented in Schedule B7 guideline on derivation of health-based investigation levels
    * provide a guide for deriving site-specific criteria, which may act as clean-up levels.
The intended audience for this Schedule includes policy makers, risk practitioners and regulators.

This guidance is not intended to be used to assess the risks from occupational exposure to substances that may occur in an occupational setting or workplace. These risks are dealt with under work health and safety legislation and associated guidelines.

1.2              Overview of Schedule B4
This document provides an approach to conducting site-specific health risk assessments and the development of response levels at contaminated sites. Due to the complexity of the risk assessment approach, a standard approach to all sites is not practicable and site-specific considerations will often need to be accounted for. This document is intended to provide a guide to assist the decision-making process and, where possible, risk assessment procedures are recommended. The principles and guidelines in this Schedule are intended to assist in determining whether or not remediation is required at a site given the proposed land use, and to aid in decision-making with regard to the end-point for remedial works

1.3              Introduction to quantitative health risk assessment in contaminated land decision-making
The enHealth Committee (enHealth) of the Australian Health Protection Committee (enHealth 2012a) defines risk assessment as 'the process of estimating the potential impact of a chemical, physical, microbiological or psychosocial hazard on a specified human population or ecological system under a specific set of conditions and for a certain timeframe'.

Quantitative (health) risk assessment is a step-wise process used to inform and assist the contaminated land decision-making process by modelling the dose or exposure of humans to observed site contamination. It is used to estimate, in a way that is adequately protective of health, the potential for site contamination to have an adverse effect on the health of those potentially exposed to it (referred to as exposed populations). This is achieved by modelling the dose that an individual may receive through incidental exposure to contaminated soil and/or water as a result of everyday activities. This estimated dose can then be compared against doses that are considered to