Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:1850:p88
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1850 (pt 88/117)
Character Range: 603354–606387

of public consultation and community engagement (refer Schedule B8) well before the commencement of site assessment works.

    15.2.1       Management of dust and offensive and noxious odours
Environmental concerns regularly encountered on site assessments are dust and odour emissions which may be wind-blown and aggravated by the actions of trucks or other plant on the site. When warranted by the scale of site assessment and specific site conditions, area/boundary monitoring for dust deposition, inspirable and respirable dust and respective contaminants should be undertaken. Protection measures are important to ensure that dust inhalation or noxious or offensive odours do not pose a health risk for site operatives, nor a health risk or nuisance to local residents or passers-by and that concentrations of chemical substances do not exceed any relevant state or territory guidelines.

The traditional methods of dust and odour control include:
    * application of a water spray with the objective to dampen the soil and not to saturate it, as potentially contaminated run-off from saturated soils entering adjacent sites, stormwater systems, or local waterways must be avoided (note: care should be taken when applying water onto soil that has recently been contaminated with volatiles or semi-volatiles, as this can result in a large increase in contaminant emissions from the soil)
    * covering exposed faces with barriers (e.g. synthetic barriers, mulch) to prevent the emission of odours and dust
    * minimising traffic and its speed on exposed contaminated soils
    * the use of ground covers
    * installation of screens to act as windbreaks.
Many sites, particularly those with petroleum hydrocarbons, organic contamination or putrescible wastes, may generate offensive odours or noxious vapours. In such cases, intensive odour control measures should be considered including minimising the exposed surface of the odorous materials at all times, timing excavation activities to minimise off-site nuisance, and by re-covering exposed faces overnight or during periods of low excavation activity. Such odorous materials should not be stockpiled unless closely contained or covered.

When dealing with volatile pollutants an assessment should be made of the need for the regular analysis of atmospheric levels of pollutants on site and at site boundaries to ensure that workers and residents are not being exposed to unacceptable levels of substances (for example, benzene) that may give rise to adverse health effects.

In addition, site boundary and competent community monitoring of offensive odours should be regularly undertaken during assessment of problematic sites. Site work practices relating to odour-generating activities should be promptly amended or stopped and reassessed in response to the results of boundary and community monitoring.

The social impact from the excavation of odorous or noxious materials can often be mitigated by excavating only when the wind direction is such that there will