Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:2:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2 (pt 3/9)
Character Range: 901483–904645

assessment of contaminated sites, this Schedule takes precedence over the enHealth framework, and documents referenced therein, where there are contradictions. It is to be noted that the enHealth framework has a wider remit than the assessment of contaminated sites only, and some elements of the guidance are not relevant in a contaminated sites context.

The framework followed in this Schedule is illustrated in Figure 1. Detailed guidance for each stage of the process is provided in the body of this Schedule.

All risk assessments should be fully documented in order to ensure transparency, consistency in decision-making and ease of understanding by interested parties.

This means it should be supported with references to policy, scientific literature and other sources, including expert opinion. Jurisdictions may also require that a risk assessment is subject to review and revision should significant new information (that has the potential to change the objectives or outcome of the risk assessment) become available.

Figure 1. Risk assessment framework for contaminated sites

2.3              Fundamentals of the risk assessment approach

    2.3.1          Issues identification
The issues identification stage of a contaminated land risk assessment is fundamental to the production of a useful output. Issues identification is a process of communication between stakeholders in the project, and its scope and complexity depends upon the scale of the project and the issues being dealt with. Issues identification covers both a planning and scoping phase and a problem formulation stage.

     2.3.1.1         Planning and scoping
In the planning and scoping phase, a team of decision-makers, stakeholders and risk assessors identifies the issue (or concern, problem or objective) to be assessed and establishes the goals, breadth, depth and focus of the assessment. The primary product of planning and scoping is a statement, with an explanation of why the assessment is being performed and what it will include and exclude, that is, how comprehensive it will be (NRC 2008).

Stakeholders in a contaminated land risk assessment are likely to be a subset of the following groups:
    * regulators (environment protection agencies)
    * local government (potentially several departments, e.g. planning, development control, road engineering, drainage, traffic, ecological issues)
    * state and territory departments of health
    * landowners
    * land developers
    * tenants, land management companies
    * local residents
    * occupants of neighbouring properties
    * water, sewerage, electricity, gas and telecommunication utilities
    * other interested parties (e.g. non-governmental organisations, local interest groups)
    * local politicians
    * consultants.
The planning and scoping phase should be undertaken before work begins on the risk assessment. The steps recommended are:
    * identify the stakeholders
    * decide which of them it is appropriate to consult at this stage of the project.
Frame the answers to the following questions and discuss them with the stakeholders: