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Checklist A7

Table 71 Likelihood of significant contamination on site

Item No	Questions	Response
Instruction: Items 1–5 can be used to determine the likelihood of significant contamination being present in or on the ground across the total site for the purposes of a rapid evaluation against the LE 01 Site selection requirements: If the construction zone records a YES against any of the questions then nationally recognised strategies for investigation of contamination should be followed, or where such strategies do not exist, a robust site investigation, risk assessment and appraisal should be carried out by a competent contaminated-land specialist covering the requirements of Table 72 as a minimum. If NO is recorded against all questions for the construction zone, then the site may be defined as having no significant contamination and further investigation is not required; in such a case the credit cannot be awarded. This checklist is a simple review and in such instances the option remains for a site investigation, risk assessment and appraisal to be carried out as defined in Table 72 where the client wishes to do so.
1	Is the site registered by the local authority or any other appropriate organisation as contaminated?	Yes	No
2	Does the site have any historical or previous uses that may have caused the site to become contaminated (see LE 01 Site selection – Additional information and also Checklist A7-3 below)? Where this cannot be answered because of a lack of information please tick 'yes', i.e. assume the worst case scenario.	Yes	No
3	Is the site within 250m of landfill (e.g. active, not active, capped)?	Yes	No
4	Is the site known or suspected to be contaminated (e.g. have studies already been undertaken on the site)?	Yes	No
5	Does the local authority or other appropriate organisation possess any information on the site that may give suspicions of contamination? Where this cannot be answered because of a lack of information please tick 'yes', i.e. assume the worst case scenario.	Yes	No

Table 72 Checklist A7-2- Scope of site investigation, risk assessment and appraisal report

Item No	Content	Response
Section 1: Preliminary investigation (desk study and site reconnaissance)
Instruction: Historical research and review of available information from sources such as archives, plans and records from regulatory authorities to discover the past and current activities at a site and in the surrounding area to determine the potential for the presence of contamination. If the preliminary investigation gives cause to believe there may be contamination (or no records can be found) then further more detailed investigations will be required (sections 2 and 3). If not, then the site will not be considered contaminated for the purposes of this BREEAM issue and the credit cannot be awarded. The study must be carried out by a contaminated-land specialist as defined in the relevant definitions; ISO 10381:51ISO 10381-5:2005, Soil quality - Sampling - Part 5: Guidance on the procedure for the investigation of urban and industrial sites with regard to soil contamination gives guidance on what the preliminary investigation should cover. For the purposes of BREEAM it should cover the following as a minimum:
1.1	Purpose and aim of study.	Yes	No
1.2	Site location and layout plans.	Yes	No
1.3	Appraisal of site history.	Yes	No
1.4	Assessment of environmental setting, covering: Geology, hydrogeology, hydrology Industrial activity Location of controlled waters (canals, estuaries, lakes, ponds, rivers, springs, aquifers) Pollution incidents, landfill sites within 250m etc.	Yes	No
1.5	Assessment of current or proposed site use and surrounding land uses.	Yes	No
1.6	Review of any previous site contamination studies (desk-based or intrusive) or remediation works.	Yes	No
1.7	Preliminary (qualitative) assessment of risks: Appraisal of potential contaminant sources, pathways and receptors Conceptual site model Identification of significant contamination.	Yes	No
1.8	Recommendations for intrusive contamination investigation if necessary.	Yes	No
Section 2: Site investigation report
Instruction: The report must investigate each aspect highlighted by the desk study, this comprises exploratory holes constructed using the most appropriate method for the site to investigate the local subsurface strata (see ISO 10381-5:2005 for further information). The report must cover the following as a minimum:
2.1	Site investigation methodology: Methods of investigation Plan showing exploration locations Justification of exploration locations Sampling and analytical strategies.	Yes	No
2.2	Results and findings of investigation: Ground conditions (soil and groundwater) Discussion of soil, groundwater and surface water contamination.	Yes	No
2.3	Risk assessment: As a minimum, based on contaminant pathway receptor model Takes account of severity of consequences and likelihood of occurrence.	Yes	No
2.4	Where applicable, recommendations for remediation based on: Proposed site use Risk assessment findings Technical and financial appraisal.	Yes	No
Section 3: Options for remediation
Instruction: If remediation is deemed necessary following the site investigation, then a site-specific remediation methodology must be produced and followed. Consultation with the regulatory authorities may be required to ensure satisfactory design and implementation of the remediation programme. The report must cover the following as a minimum:
3.1	Detailed outline of the works to be carried out: Type, form and scale of contamination to be remediated Remediation methodology Site plans or drawings Phasing of works and approximate timescales.	Yes	No
3.2	Consents, agreements and licences (discharge consents, waste management licence etc.).	Yes	No
3.3	Site management procedures to protect site neighbours, environment and amenity during works: Health and safety procedures Dust, noise and odour controls Control of surface run-off.	Yes	No
3.4	Details of how the works will be validated to ensure the remediation objectives have been met: Sampling strategy Use of on site observations, visual or olfactory evidence Chemical analysis Proposed clean-up standards (i.e. contaminant concentrations).	Yes	No

Table 73 Checklist A7-3 Previous site uses which can cause significant contamination

Polluting activity	Polluting activity	Polluting activity
A list of the most common polluting activities and types of land contamination can be found in the list below or in Table 1 of the UNEP document: 'Identification and Management of Contaminated sites, A methodological guide'2 UNEP and ADEME, Identification and Management of Contaminated sites, A methodological guide, ADEME editions, Paris, 2005 (http://www.unep.fr/scp/waste/land.htm), UNEP and ADEME, ADEME editions, Paris, 2005 (www.unep.fr/scp/waste/land.htm)
Agricultural uses	Manufacturing of asbestos	Timber and timber products industry
Chemical works	Metal processing	Use as a scrap metal store
Energy industry - Power stations	Paper, pulp and printing industries	Waste disposal
Engineering and manufacturing processes	Petrol stations	Waste management facility
Extractive industry and mineral processing	Premises for dry cleaning	Wood preserving yards
Food processing industry	Production of metal	Works non-specified
Gas works	Production of non-metals and their products	Demolition of buildings for any of the above uses
Glass making and ceramics	Railway land	Mining
Hospitals and cemeteries	Road vehicle maintenance	Waste management
Infrastructure	Rubber industry	Mills
Laboratories	Sewerage treatment	Oil refineries
Landfill	Textile industry