Background

The Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM is the premier guidance document in Australia for the assessment of site contamination. It addresses a complex area that is particularly subject to new developments in scientific knowledge and technology, as recognised during the original development of the NEPM.

With the high cost of assessment and remediation, it was recognised by NEPC that new scientific and technical information needed to be incorporated into the NEPM. This would serve to minimise overly conservative investigation levels and provide clarification on the site investigation process, and ultimately minimise unnecessary remediation.

In June 2007, NEPC initiated the variation to the Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM. Since that time, the project team has developed a draft varied Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM (including revised schedules) that address the review recommendations endorsed by NEPC in 2006 (a PDF of the review report can be downloaded from here).

The major changes included in the draft varied Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM are:

• new and improved methodologies for deriving Ecological Investigation Levels (Schedule B5A) and Health Investigation Levels (Schedule B4)
• incorporation of Health Screening Levels and Ecological Screening Levels for petroleum hydrocarbons (Schedule B1)
• incorporation of guidance for assessing asbestos impacts (Schedules B1 and B2)
• incorporation of guidance on stockpile sampling (Schedule B2), contaminant leachability (Schedule B3) and bioavailability (Schedule B4)
• incorporation of guidance for assessment of volatile substances (Schedules B1, B2 and B4).

The draft varied Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM also incorporates improved guidance on:

• the site assessment process (Schedule A)
• site characterisation (Schedule B2) including:
  • the role of the conceptual site model and data quality objectives in site assessment
  • collection of appropriate field data for modelling and assessment purposes
  • delineation of the lateral and vertical extent of contamination
  • groundwater assessment methods
• laboratory methods and techniques (Schedule B3)
• community engagement (Schedule B8)
• expected competencies of consultants and auditors engaged in site assessment work (Schedule B9).

The following documents have been released for public consultation:

1.       (Draft) NEPM as varied (incorporating Schedule A)

2.       Impact Statement

3.       The following NEPM Schedules:

Schedule B1: Guideline on investigation levels for soil & groundwater

Schedule B2: Guideline on site characterisation

Schedule B3: Guideline on laboratory analysis of potentially contaminated soils

Schedule B4: Guideline on site-specific health risk assessments

Schedule B5a: Guideline on ecological risk assessments

Schedule B5b: Guideline on methodology to derive EILs

Schedule B5c: Guideline on soil quality guidelines

Schedule B6: Guideline on risk based assessment on groundwater contamination

Schedule B7: Guideline on health-based investigation levels

(plus Appendices B7_A1, B7_A2, B7_A3, B7_A4, B7_A5, B7_B, B7_C)

Schedule B8: Guideline on community engagement & risk communication

Schedule B9: Guideline on competencies & acceptance of environmental auditors

and can be downloaded below.

Additional information can be downloaded from the ASC NEPM Toolbox: here

Submissions have now closed.

 Note: All submissions are public documents unless clearly marked ‘confidential’ and may be made available to other interested parties, subject to Freedom of Information Act provisions.