PHASE 1 – DESK-TOP STUDIES

A comprehensive desk-top study should be prepared describing the condition and uses of the site – past and
present – and its immediate environment. A clearly established and understood brief is essential. The general
aim is to establish whether there have been any contaminative uses of the site or nearby land, and whether they
could have adverse impacts on or off the site. All documentary evidence should be referenced and
summarised where appropriate. A ‘conceptual model’ should be developed to clearly interpret the
characteristics and sensitivities of the site and locality, evaluating each threat of harm or pollution due to
contamination. The desk-top study when completed with appropriate informed judgement should enable
suitable site investigations to be designed.

Phase 1 Checklist

1.A Purpose and scope of study ❏

- clearly defined purpose and scope of study
1.B Site location and layout plans ❏
1.C Appraisal of site/vicinity’s development and land-use history from 1840, earlier if appropriate, ❏
examining all available sources including trade directories, planning records and historical
maps both large- and small-scale
1.D A traceable assessment of the environmental setting, to include ❏
- geology, hydrogeology, hydrology
- information from Environment Agency on controlled waters, abstractions, pollution
incidents, water quality classification, landfill sites within 250m etc.
- information on ecosystems (e.g. SSSIs), heritage and other interests (e.g. bathing/fishing
activities) warranting protection
- examination of records available from public authorities
1.E Review of any previous site contamination studies (desk-based or intrusive), monitoring or ❏
remediation works including any for adjacent sites
1.F Informal interviews to establish local knowledge, and site ‘walkover’ including a copy of the ❏
site reconnaissance protocol (References 13 and 14 provide more guidance)
1.G Assessment of current / proposed site use and surrounding land uses ❏
1.H Preliminary (qualitative) assessment of risks ❏
- appraisal of potential contaminant sources, pathways and receptors to identify all pollutant
potential linkages
- conceptual site model
- health and safety issues
1.I Recommendations for intrusive contamination investigation, if necessary ❏

References 12 and 13 provide advice on documentary research and preliminary site inspection of
contaminated land.

CONCEPTUAL MODELS - this is an example involving a potential fuel spillage:

(full conceptual models will be more detailed and include written descriptions)
Storage Housin

Well
Vapour

Floating

Groundwater
Flow
Dissolved Contaminant Plume
POLLUTANT LINKAGES:

Fuel Oil Flowing Underground to Groundwater Polluting Groundwater

Fuel Vapour Migrating Through Ground To Surface Risk To Residents’ Health / Safety
Fuel Oil
Bedroc
Flowing Underground to Domestic Well Residents Drinking Contaminated Water
PHASE 2 – SITE INVESTIGATIONS
Site investigations should characterise as fully as possible the nature, extent and severity of contamination.
Every plausible pollutant linkage should be identified and described, and the risks should be estimated and
evaluated. A clearly established and understood brief is essential. The scope of remedial measures required to
manage these risks, given the likely end-uses of the site, should be fully established. Site investigations must
reflect the findings from the desk-top study and the conceptual model. A properly designed and conducted site
investigation will establish good confidence in the findings of sampling and analysis. References 1, 2 and 3
provide specific advice that should normally be followed. Good practice and strict quality control/assurance
must be observed throughout sample collection, handling and analysis. Where monitoring for landfill gas is
necessary, borehole monitoring may be required for over a number of months. Every precaution by way of
carefully controlled working and re-instatement measures must be taken to ensure that site investigations do
not introduce or mobilise contaminants, or create new pathways. Any visibly contaminated or odorous
material encountered during site investigations should be investigated immediately regarding the nature and
degree of contamination. Laboratories conducting analyses must hold UKAS accreditation for each
contaminant. The results of physical and chemical analyses should be appended to the site investigation report
together with details of test methods, QA/QC data and detection limits.

Phase 2 Checklist

2.A Review of all previous site contamination studies (desk-based or intrusive), monitoring and ❏
remediation works – where available
2.B The brief and objectives agreed between the client and contractor ❏
2.C Site investigation methodology ❏
- clearly defined purpose and scope of study
- fully justified sampling strategy – Reference 4 provides particular advice
- explanations of investigation methods and techniques used
- explanations of the scope and field of application of analytical methods
- scaled, detailed and accurate plans showing exploration locations
- justification of exploration locations
- suitable details of sample collection, handling, preparation and analytical methods
2.D Results & findings of investigation ❏
- full descriptions of surface and intrusive ground investigations including visual, olfactory
and analytical findings, and graphical logs identifying all sampling undertaken
- assessment of ground conditions (soil and groundwater regimes), including made ground,
and the implications for contamination (e.g. arsenic and soil pH)
- sources, spatial distributions and concentrations of contaminants
- evaluation of all potential receptors and migration pathways
2.E Quantitative risk estimation of each pollutant linkage taking account of the severity of ❏
consequences (to human health, groundwater, etc.) and likelihood of occurrence, both present
and future, by the most appropriate:
(1) quantitative risk assessment using models such as CLEA[5], SNIFFER[6] or R&D
Publication 20[7] (risks from soil and water to contamination to controlled waters), or
(2) comparison of measured concentrations with appropriate guideline values, such as ICRCL
Circular 59/83 guideline values, revised Dutch List intervention values (2000 -
groundwater contaminants only), or 1993-1996 US Screening Levels.
The choice and application of guideline values and models must be fully justified in terms of
the reasoning, worked examples, and statements of assumptions and uncertainties.
Assessments must be made by competent and directly experienced assessors. Developers and
their advisors are warned against over-reliance on ICRCL and Dutch List guideline values,
which could result in rejected work.
2.F Review of phases 1 and 2; re-evaluation and clear statement of the conceptual site model and ❏
plausible pollutant linkages in light of quantitative risk estimation
2.G Recommendations for remediation – justification should relate to proposed site use, risk ❏
assessment findings, as well as technical and financial appraisal. Remediation proposals
should reflect the likely future uses of the site and its locality
2.H Recommendations for further investigation – if necessary) ❏
PHASE 3 - REMEDIATION
Remediation should closely reflect the findings of phase 1 and 2 studies conducted as outlined in this note. A
clearly established and understood brief is essential. The aim of remediation is to ensure that contaminants are
removed, treated or contained so as to prevent or minimise harm or pollution. Any visibly contaminated or
odorous material encountered during site investigations should be investigated immediately to establish the
nature and degree of contamination. Remediation method statements tend to involve engineering and
scientific operations requiring specialist expertise. It is often necessary to test and audit the effectiveness of
remediation in order to confirm successful completion. Long-term monitoring and/or after-care maintenance
works may also be required to ensure that remediation continues to be effective, particularly where post-
remediation monitoring of landfill gas is necessary. Where remediation objectives concern controlled waters
full dialogue and consultation should be established with the Environment Agency. It should be noted that
waste management licences may be required from the Environment Agency before certain types of
remediation work can be undertaken.

Phase 3 Checklist

3.A Clearly defined purpose, scope and specific objectives of remediation method statement ❏
3.B Detailed outline of the works to be carried out ❏
- description of ground conditions (soil and groundwater)
- type, form and scale of contamination to be remediated
- site plans/drawings
- phasing of works and approximate timescales
3.C Consents, agreements and licences (discharge consents, waste management licences, etc.) ❏
3.D Site management procedures to protect site neighbours, environment and amenity during ❏
works, should include where appropriate
- health & safety procedures, including site security
- dust, noise and odour controls
- control of surface run-off
3.E Details of how any necessary variations from the approved method statement arising during ❏
the course of the works will be dealt with, including notification to the Council
3.F Details of how the works will be evaluated to ensure the remediation objectives have been met; ❏
should include details on
- sampling strategy
- use of on-site observations, visual/olfactory evidence
- chemical analysis
- proposed clean-up standards

PHASE 4 - VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION REPORTS

Suitable verification that remediation has been carried out effectively in accordance with the agreed scheme
should take place. Validation will normally include post-remediation sampling and analysis to demonstrate
that the required standards have been met. It may require the appointment of an independent expert to
complete the Phase 4 report.

Phase 4 Checklist

4.A Include information as per phase 3 requirements 3.C to 3.F ❏

4.B Details of who carried out the work ❏
4.C Details and justification of any changes from original method statement ❏
4.D Substantiating data – should include where appropriate ❏
- post-remediation sampling, on-site and laboratory testing to demonstrate that the required
remediation has been fully achieved
- sampling and monitoring results for soil and groundwater contaminants and gases
- summary data plots and tables relating to clean-up criteria
- plans showing treatment areas and details of any differences from original method
statement
4.E Confirmation that remediation objectives have been met ❏
4.F Full recommendations for future maintenance, monitoring and reporting to ensure remediation ❏
continues to be effective
Key Documents
All land contamination work should reflect the following guidance and standards:
1. British Standard BS 10175:2001 Investigation of potentially contaminated sites – Code of Practice. This revised
version of BSI’s DD175:1987 contains technical advice on the design and implementation of site characterisation
(including site investigation) activities for contaminated land. [A]
2. British Standard BS5930:1999 Code of practice for site investigations. [A]
3. Environment Agency Technical Report P5-065/TR (2000 – 2 volumes) Technical aspects of site investigation. [B]
4. Environment Agency Technical Report P5-066/TR (2000) Secondary model procedure for the development of
appropriate soil sampling strategies for land contamination. [B]
5. DEFRA (2001) Contaminants in soils – Reports CLR7, CLR8, CLR9, CLR9 TOX, CLR10, CLR10 GV. [B]
6. SNIFFER (January 2000) Report SR99(02)F: Framework for deriving numeric targets to minimise the adverse
human health effects of long-term exposure to contaminants in soil. [C]
7. Environment Agency Technical Report 20 (1999) Methodology for the development of remedial targets for soil and
groundwater to protect water resources. [B]
8. Environment Agency/NHBC R&D Report 66 (2000) Guidance for the safe development of housing on land affected
by contamination. [B]
9. Environment Agency Technical Report P336 (also BR414) Protective measures for housing on gas-contaminated
land. [B]
10. HS(G)66 (1991) Protection of workers and the general public during the development of contaminated land. [D]
11. Construction Industry Research & Information Association (CIRIA) Report 132 (1996) A guide for safe working on
contaminated sites. [E]

Other Important References

All land contamination work should have regard to the following guidance and standards:
12. DoE Report CLR3 (1994) Documentary research on industrial sites. [F]
13. DoE Report CLR2 (1994 – 2 volumes) Guidance on preliminary site inspection of contaminated land. [F]
14. CIRIA Report SP103 (1995) Remedial treatment for contaminated land: Site investigation and assessment. [E]
15. DoE Industry Profiles (1995) (Various titles). These documents provide information on individual industries – i.e.
background, process descriptions, contamination features and sources of further information. A list of the industries
addressed can be viewed at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/landliability/2.htm. [F]
16. Institute of Petroleum (1998) Guidelines for investigation and remediation of petroleum retail sites. ISBN 0-852-
932-162. [G]
17. DoE Report CLR12 (1997) A quality approach for contaminated land consultancy. [F]
18. DoE Report CLR11 (2001) Model procedures for the management of contaminated land. [F]
19. Building Research Establishment (BRE) Report BR212 (1991) Construction of new buildings on gas-contaminated
land. [H]

Publishers:
[A] British Standards Institute – 020 8996 7000.
[B] Water Research Council – 01793 865000.
[C] Foundation for Water Research – 01628 891589.
[D] Health & Safety Executive – 01787 881165.
[E] Construction Industry Research & Information Association – 020 7222 8891.
[F] Dept. of Transport, Local Government and the Regions – 01709 891318.
[G] Portland Press – 01206 796351.
[H] Building Research Establishment – 020 7505 6622.