Geoenvironmental Consultants

In The Midlands

Various stages of our services

Our environmental consultants are familiar with the regulatory planning process and the need to submit applications to the local authority and environmental health officer, all in accordance with DEFRA and the Environment Agency’s ‘Model Procedures for the Management of Land Contamination, CLR 11’.

The full staged process usually includes the following:

The study will look into the past and present usage of the site and its geoenvironmental setting, culminating in the development of a Conceptual Site Model to determine potential risks to human health, properties, controlled waters and ecological systems.

If required, consideration will be given to the design of a suitable intrusive investigation targeting the areas and contaminants of concern.

Following approval by the regulatory authorities, an intrusive investigation will be carried out with boreholes and/or trial pits sunk to investigate the nature and condition of the ground and groundwater, where necessary. Samples will be taken for physical and chemical testing overseen at UKAS and MCERTS accredited laboratories.  

A comprehensive report will then be produced comparing the chemical results against the appropriate screening values, whether generic or site specific (when required). Groundwater risk assessments will be carried out in accordance with the Environment Agency Remedial Targets Methodology, and often require liaison and negotiation with the agency before handing over remedial targets and compliance points.
Following a refinement of the preliminary conceptual site model an assessment will be made detailing the geotechnical and geoenvironmental factors affecting the site and if necessary an outline of the remedial options available to mitigate the risk to human health and the wider environment.

Following consultation and approval by all relevant parties of the site investigation report, a remediation report will be produced detailing the scheme to be implemented to bring the site to a condition suitable for its intended use, such that it does not constitute an unacceptable risk to human health, buildings, controlled waters and the wider environment.

Included in the report could be for example, details on the controlled removal of impacted soils/groundwater, on the type of in situ or ex-situ treatment required or on the thickness of cover layer required in soft areas. Soil gas protective measures could also be relevant.
 
Where constructing foundations in contaminated sites requires special consideration, we can provide a Foundation Works Risk Assessment Report for approval by the Environment Agency

We can supervise and independently validate the approved Remediation Scheme and then produce a Verification Report for sign off by the Regulatory Authorities, allowing the final planning conditions to be granted and the development to proceed.

In addition to the above we are also experienced in assessing Waste Disposal Options for contaminated and uncontaminated land, as we are wherever Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) testing is required to determine the soils acceptance for a permitted (licensed) inert, stable non-reactive hazardous (SNRH) or hazardous landfill site.
 
Where soil is being re-used in an activity exempt from waste management licensing, for example in a land reclamation scheme, we can also prepare a Materials Management Plan (MMP) in accordance with the CL:AIRE code of practice for sign off by a Qualified Person (QP) within our team. 

As part of more substantial planning applications, a comprehensive and multi-faceted Environmental Impact Assessment may be required by local authorities under legislation detailed in The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011.

 
These appraisals are designed to provide councils with sufficient information to enable them to accurately assess the risks developments in their area may pose to the environment. In this regard, GIS can prepare the Environmental Statement Chapter relating to Contamination, providing a detailed review of baseline conditions and any projected future impacts that the development may have on human health, the wider environment and/or controlled waters.

Schedule an appointment with our ground consultants in the Midlands.

Call us on 01902 717 653 to book an appointment
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