News
BS 10175 – Investigation of Contaminated Land – Code of Practice, Revised Draft
30 July 2010
A Draft of the Revised Version is Now Available for Public Comment
The code makes recommendations and gives detailed guidance on investigation of potentially contaminated land, including how to set objectives and choose a strategy prior to commencing investigations. It covers desk study and field investigation design, sampling and on-site testing, laboratory analysis and reporting.
Comments may be submitted via the BSI Standards website by 6th September.
The Revised EU Waste Framework Directive: A Consultation by Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government
29 July 2010
The main new features of the revised WFD are that it requires Member States:
To apply the “waste hierarchy” as a priority order in waste prevention and management legislation and policy;
To set up “separate collections” of waste for at least paper, metal, plastic, and glass by 2015 where technically, environmentally and economically practicable. This applies to both household and business waste;
To recycle 50% of waste from households by 2020;
To recover 70% of construction and demolition waste by 2020.
Capital Growth showcase event at City Hall on Tuesday 29 June 2010
15 June 2010
Opened by the Mayor of London, this event provided information about the opportunities for organisations to get involved in this exciting campaign. Capital Growth aims to transform London by creating 2,012 new community food growing spaces by the end of 2012 - an initiative run by London Food Link and supported by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and the Chair of the London Food Board, Rosie Boycott. The campaign works with communities to identify suitable patches of land for food growing around London, offering practical support and advice throughout the network of spaces, helping them get discounts on gardening items, free materials, and in some instances funding. Already 500 spaces across London are being supported, benefiting thousands of Londoners, from a floating allotment on the Regent Canal, to 3 raised beds outside City Hall itself.
The event was a great success with an informal mix of speakers, including our local mayor, Sir Steve Bullock, displays and networking designed to give the opportunity to find out more about how community food growing is benefiting London and the ways in which other organisations are already playing a part in the campaign. If you would like to discuss the project in further detail please contact Seb Mayfield, via email at seb@sustainweb.org or by telephone on 020 7837 1228.
Government Agreement for Environmental Policies
17 May 2010
The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition deal includes statements about a range of environmental issues. There would not appear to be any statements on issues directly affecting dealing with contaminated land or of wastes arising from remediation of contaminated sites. The full text of the agreement may be found here.
Capital Growth Networking Events
2 April 2010
Capital Growth recently held network events to celebrate their achievements so far. There were presentations from Capital Growth spaces, Q&A advice sessions, covering subjects such as food growing and working with volunteers. Peter George from GO Contaminated Land Solutions took part in the session on potentially contaminated land. It was a great chance to network, share information and seeds!
Anthrax Concerns at Crossrail
19 March 2010
This week anthrax has been in the news in relation to the London Crossrail project. The concerns are not without foundation as a release of spores killed people during construction of the Metropolitan line in the late 1800s.
2mm bug takes on Japanese Knotweed
10 March 2010
Introduced by the Victorians, Japanese knotweed is a pervasive plant that is costing the UK an estimated £150M a year to control. A Defra working group estimated the cost to control it, across the UK using traditional methods to be £1.56 billion. Japanese knotweed can grow up to a metre a month, finding a way through tarmac, concrete and drains, causing significant damage. Having no natural enemies it has spread widely in the UK along waterways, railways and by human activity such as fly-tipping. "Eradication requires steely determination," says the RHS.
Now the Government is to release an insect to stop the spread of Japanese Knotweed, the bug, called a psyllid, is the latest weapon in the war on this invasive plant. It hopes the bug will act as a natural form of pest control by feeding on sap from its stems, as it does in Japan, thereby causing the plant to die back.
Laboratory tests showed the chosen bug did not eat any other species, including closely related British plants and important crops. The psyllids – or plant-jumping lice, which grow to only 2-2.5mm, will be released initially at two sites, under close supervision.
Environment minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: "These tiny insects, which naturally prey on Japanese Knotweed, will help free local authorities and industry from the huge cost of treating and killing this devastating plant."
Chair of environment and sustainability expert panel at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Ian Nicholson said: "Japanese Knotweed is a big issue for the construction industry, costing millions of pounds each year to manage. The ICE therefore welcomes any advances in providing solutions to this invasive species, provided of course they do not produce any other negative impacts on the environment."
Defra to review Statutory Guidance for the Environmental Protection Act 1990
12 February 2010
Defra has announced the decision to review the Statutory Guidance which underpins the contaminated land regime under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
This decision follows work over the last year to examine the implementation of the current regime and input from a wide range of stakeholders. It is now ten years since the Statutory Guidance was first introduced and Defra believes that there is a strong case for considering where it could be amended to reflect experience in delivering the regime and developments in our scientific understanding.
Over the next few months Defra will be meeting with key stakeholders in the contaminated land sector to discuss where improvements to the Guidance could be made with the aim of formally consulting on proposals to amend the Statutory Guidance later this year. It is envisaged that the act will continue to be implemented as previously during the review.
Given the potential for changes Defra is postponing the publication of it guidance ‘Making Decisions Under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990’.
Fairtrade Fortnight - 22 February - 7 March 2010
12 February 2010
We are not a big company but we try to do our bit with fairtrade tea, coffee and biscuits in the office. We get ours from Traidcraft but there is lots of choice, there are small specialist suppliers and most large supermarkets will have at least one or two fairtrade teas or coffees.
UK's first Water Protection Zone
4 February 2010
Did you know that the River Dee catchment in north Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire is the first and for the time being the UK’s only water protection zone (WPZ), but recent regulations will allow for future WPZs to protect against pollution.
Within a water protection zone (WPZ) you must comply with the rules that prevent water pollution and protect drinking water quality. In the River Dee WPZ you must get consent from the Environment Agency if you store or use:
500 litres or more of liquid food or drink products, that are not dangerous
200 litres or more of any other controlled substance
50 litres or more of any other controlled substance if stored in a single container.
Controlled substances include; liquid food and drink products, fuel and oil, pharmaceutical products, artificial fertilizer, cosmetics, toxic and harmful or corrosive substances.
Defra consultation on Draft Guidance on the Legal Definition of Waste and its Application
29 January 2010
Defra has launched a consultation on Draft Guidance on the Legal Definition of Waste and its Application, which includes among other things contaminated land. Full details of the consultation can be accessed here.
The aim of the guidance is to help organisations make decisions about the classification of substances as waste.
The Guidance is divided into three parts. The first is a guide to help with making decisions about whether substances or objects are waste; it addresses two key questions: Has the substance or object become waste and when does it cease to be a waste? The second explains the background to and the rationale for the guidance. The third provides detailed guidance on case law bearing on the definition of waste.
The deadline for responses is 12 April 2010.
Soil Generic Assessment Criteria Launched
29 December 2009
The EIC, CL:AIRE and AGS have published “The Soil Generic Assessment Criteria for Human Health Risk Assessment” providing a set of generic assessment criteria (GAC) for 35 contaminants which may be encountered on land affected by contamination. This report will assist contaminated land practitioners in providing accurate human health risk assessments. Details may be found at www.claire.co.uk.
London Brownfields Sites Review (LBSR)
27 October 2009
The London Development Agency (LDA) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) have compiled a comprehensive online mapped database of
The London Brownfields Sites Review (LBSR) online tool could transform redevelopment opportunities in the city. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping and existing Ordnance Survey maps, the tool allows users to overlay additional information. The GIS layers include transport routes, deprivation, social infrastructure, heritage and the natural environment.
Over 2,000 previously developed
The website also has a downloadable Good Practice Guide supplement focusing on planning-related issues.
Access to the interactive brownfield land map can be found at www.londonbrownfieldsites.org.
Capital Growth
5 October 2009
Capital Growth – Sustain held an open event in the Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Rd, London, SE1 7LB, on 13 October 2009 for anyone interested in their exiting project to create 2012 new food growing spaces for London. Peter George was there to meet people wanting to take part and to answer their questions on issues relating to potentially contaminated land.
Castle Climbing Centre
11 September 2009
On completion of this interesting project our client said:
Steve Taylor, director, High Performance Sports Ltd
Health Protection Agency Guide Issued: An Introduction to Land Contamination for Public Health Professionals
25 August 2009
The HPA state "The purpose of this document is to introduce environmental public health practitioners to the process used for dealing with land contamination. The document aims to provide an overview of public health issues surrounding land contamination and the public health risk assessment process. It is hoped that this will be a useful guide to the public health issues surrounding land contamination and the regulatory processes used to examine and mitigate the impacts of land contamination.
This manual is intended to be useful to all those with a public health remit. It is intended that this document will prove a useful reference guide to public health professionals with various levels of experience in this area."
It is available here>>.
Evolve Homes
9 July 2009
We recently completed a desktop study for a new client and this was what they said about our work;
"Also I would like to congratulate you on the report you submitted- excellent."
Danny O'Keefe, director
Contamination Investigation
15 June 2009
An investigation, commissioned by Joseph Rajah on behalf of Bellway Homes was recently completed at the above site. In order to comply with the tight timescale we visited site, dug trial pits, installed boreholes with gas monitors, collected and tested contamination samples and issued our report less than one week after receipt of instruction.
Greenwich Starting Blocks Trust
29 April 2009
We are proud to have sponsored Steve Nelson, who has shed a staggering 47lbs, on his sponsored diet. The money raised is going to support you athletes preparing for the Olympic games in 2012. This is the "before" picture.
The Environmental Industries Commission launches “A Budgetary Stimulus for Green Collar Jobs
3 April 2009
The Environmental Industries Commission launched the report “A Budgetary Stimulus for Green Collar Jobs" on Friday 20 March 2009. The report sets out a series of fiscal recommendations that the Government should adopt in the forthcoming Budget to create an economic stimulus for over 300,000 “green jobs.” Copy available here.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
2 April 2009
It can be expensive to deal with soil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) due to old leaking equipment. Environmental regulators are advising anyone in possession of equipment contaminated with PCBs to register it and arrange to dispose of it safely or have it decontaminated. PCBs are highly toxic man-made chemicals used as coolants in transformers and other electrical items until they were banned from production in the 1980s. The NetRegs PCB page has more details.
Arsenic Contamination
10 March 2009
On a recent project in Oxfordshire the levels of arsenic in the soil were such as to give cause for concern. Rather than remove the material from site, we undertook bio-accessability testing in order to estimate the fraction of the contaminant soluble in the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore available for absorption into the blood stream. Using these test results we were able to demonstrate that there was no significant risk to human health posed by the soil which could therefore be left in place.