Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:2:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2 (pt 2/21)
Character Range: 43573–46674

provided in Section 2.8 and Schedule B6.

Health investigation levels (HILs) have been developed for a broad range of metals and organic substances. The HILs are applicable for assessing human health risk via all relevant pathways of exposure. The HILs are generic to all soil types and apply generally to a depth of 3 m below the surface for residential use. Site-specific conditions should determine the depth to which HILs apply for other land uses. Further detail is provided in Section 2.2 and Schedules B4 and B7.

Interim soil vapour health investigation levels (interim HILs) have been developed for selected volatile organic chlorinated compounds (VOCCs) and are applicable to assessing human health risk by the inhalational pathway.  They have interim status pending further scientific work on volatile gas modelling from the sub-surface to building interiors for chlorinated compounds. Further detail on their use is provided in Section 2.3 and Schedule B4.

Health screening levels (HSLs) have been developed for selected petroleum compounds and fractions and are applicable to assessing human health risk via the inhalation and direct contact pathways. The HSLs depend on specific soil physicochemical properties, land use scenarios, and the characteristics of building structures. They apply to different soil types, and depths below surface to >4 m. Further detail on their use is provided in Section 2.4 and Friebel and Nadebaum (2011a, 2011b & 2011c).

'Petroleum hydrocarbon management limits' ('management limits') are applicable to petroleum hydrocarbon compounds only. They are applicable as screening levels following evaluation of human health and ecological risks and risks to groundwater resources.  They are relevant for operating sites where significant sub-surface leakage of petroleum compounds has occurred and when decommissioning industrial and commercial sites.  Further detail on their use is provided in Section 2.9, including factors to be considered in determining the depth to which they apply.

    2.1.2          Inappropriate use of investigation levels and screening levels
Investigation and screening levels are not clean-up or response levels nor are they desirable soil quality criteria. Investigation and screening levels are intended for assessing existing contamination and to trigger consideration of an appropriate site-specific risk-based approach or appropriate risk management options when they are exceeded. The use of these levels in regulating emissions and application of wastes to soil is inappropriate.

The use of investigation and screening levels as default remediation criteria may result in unnecessary remediation and increased development costs, unnecessary disturbance to the site and local environment, and potential waste of valuable landfill space. Similarly, the inclusion of an investigation and screening level in this guidance should not be interpreted as condoning discharges of waste up to these levels.

2.2              Health investigation levels
The health risk assessment methodology that forms the basis for calculation