Soil Assessments

How JTA Can Help

JTA can investigate land for potential contamination from domestic, agricultural and industrial land use. Our field investigations are conducted in accordance with the relevant legislative requirements within the EPA Victoria State Environmental Protection Policies (SEPP); and the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 2013 (NEPM).

A Soil Assessment Includes:

• A Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) including a review of the site history and anecdotal material and a site walk through to look for signs of contamination/asbestos
• Depending on the outcome of the PSI, it may be necessary to report the site to the EPA as a known or suspected contaminated site or to consider a Detailed Site Investigation (DSI)
• Soil sampling involved in the PSI or DSI will be conducted in accordance  with the EPA Industrial Waste Resource Guidelines (IWRG)
• Samples collected from the site   are  sent to a NATA accredited laboratory for analysis
• Results from the laboratory analysis   are compared to the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contaminated) Measure (NEPM) Amended 2013 guidelines and the IWRG Soil Hazard Categorisation and Management.  If “total” results exceed a certain limit, the EPA requires that leachability testing be undertaken in accordance with the Australian Standard Leaching Procedure (ASLP) (Australian Standards AS4439.2 and 44396.3) by a NATA accredited laboratory.
• A report detailing the project aim, site history, sampling methodology, laboratory results and recommendations 
• Depending on the outcome of the analysis, further sampling may be required, remediation processes may need to commence or the site may be cleared as clean fill 

The Benefits

• An understanding of the environmental condition of a site
• The ability to make informed decisions on redevelopment options
• Improvement  in the value and environmental condition of  a site
• Peace of mind that you have addressed  all regulatory requirements
• Determination of potential liabilities associated with a site

Your Duty In Relation To Soil Assessments

Since land contamination is part of the overarching Environmental Protection legislation and associated regulations and policies, it is a heavily regulated industry and strictly enforced.  By ensuring you properly classify soil when you are unsure of its contamination status, you are adhering to your legal responsibility and contributing to a better environment.