Documentation

If an Environmental Audit, Environmental Audit Desktop, Land Condition Record or Land Quality Statement identifies the potential for contaminated ground to exist beneath the site, it may be necessary to carry out a ground investigation (also known as Phase II). This would provide an assessment of what 'actual' levels of contaminants exist and would inform the owner or potential purchaser of any future liability that may arise as a consequence of owning such a site.

The ground investigation should be designed to address any specific concerns or issues raised by the Environmental Audit, Environmental Audit Desktop, Land Condition Record or Land Quality Statement.

Any ground investigation scope of works would normally include:

• location of subsurface utilities (mainly gas, water and electricity) to allow the positioning of investigative locations;
• progression of boreholes, including installation of groundwater and ground gas monitoring wells;
• chemical analysis of soil and groundwater samples for contaminant testing;
• ground gas monitoring of installed wells after site works;
• provision of site engineer for drilling supervision and sampling of soil and groundwater; and
• the provision of a factual and interpretative report.

The soil and groundwater chemical analysis may target particular contaminates which may be potentially present beneath the site (such as petrol on a petrol station, landfill gas on a landfill site, etc.).

The majority of sites undergoing development today require some form of ground investigation, particularly if the previous use was industrial. A ground investigation can often be combined with geotechnical investigations for foundation design. Sites that are not being developed may also require a ground investigation (for example, during transactions), depending on the specific circumstances.

To allow the client to make an informed decision a ground investigation should include an assessment of:

• where the contamination is present (or is likely to be present) and the types of contaminates;
• the likelihood of contamination representing a risk to the current or proposed use and to other receptors such as rivers and groundwater; and
• the likelihood of regularity or third party action against the site.