Download CONtAMiNAtED SitES SERviCES

Contaminated Sites Services
A current chemical release or legacy contamination issue can complicate land transaction, development
and consent application planning for land owners. Golder Associates has the multidisciplinary expertise
and experience to help land owners cost-effectively overcome contaminated land-related hurdles.
Pressures are increasing for custodians
of land to comply with the Resource
Management Act 1991. Buyers are
becoming increasingly well-versed
regarding potential liabilities
associated with contaminated land and
groundwater. City Councils are more
frequently requesting contaminated
land investigation reports prior to
issuing subdivision, earthworks, or
building consents. Regional Councils
have on-going policies of listing
contaminated sites on databases, and
issuing information regarding these
sites to the public on request.
With an increasing number of
‘brownfield’ sites in New Zealand
being developed, Golder Associates
has provided management and
strategic advice for operating facilities,
and has worked to develop remedial
strategies for properties with
contaminated soil and/or groundwater.
Due diligence audits are vitally
important in New Zealand as the
“buyer beware” principal applies and
contamination can hinder property
transactions, diminish property values,
and result in costly remedial works.
Golder Associates combines an in-depth
understanding of the complex
regulatory framework regarding
contaminated sites, with a strong
technical foundation to deliver
effective solutions. Stakeholder
requirements must be understood for
a project to be successful. Economic
sensitivities, specific requirements
of regional or local plans, availability
of disposal sites for contaminated
material, and the concerns of special
interest groups (such as adjacent land
owners) can be factors which affect
decision-making.
Our services include:
Historical Assessment / Investigation
QQ
Desktop studies.
QQ
Council file review.
QQ
Aerial photography analysis.
QQ
Field sampling and testing of soil,
sediment, dust, surface water and
groundwater.
QQ
Geophysical survey and analysis.
QQ
Disposal characterisation.
QQ
Hazardous material (e.g. asbestos
and lead) assessment.
Assessment of Effects on the
Environment
QQ Qualitative assessment of impacts.
QQ Assessment of appropriate land uses.
QQ Quantitative human health risk
assessment.
QQ Quantitative ecological risk
assessment.
QQ Vapour intrusion risk assessment.
Remedial Design
Consultation with stakeholders.
Remedial options assessment.
QQ Assess sustainability of remediation
options.
QQ Remedial action plans.
QQ Monitored natural recovery
assessment.
QQ Encapsulation / containment.
QQ Removal and disposal.
QQ In-situ soil treatment.
QQ
In-situ groundwater treatment.
Ex-situ groundwater treatment.
QQ Health and Safety Plan preparation.
QQ Contract plans and specifications.
QQ
QQ
Remedial Construction Management
QQ Contractor procurement.
QQ Contractor oversight.
QQ Performance monitoring.
QQ Site validation testing and
reporting.
QQ Measurement for payment.
Site Management
QQ Site management plan preparation.
QQ Compliance monitoring
(groundwater or surface water).
QQ Annual site inspection.
Expert Consultancy
QQ Expert witness.
QQ Claim assessment.
Project Experience
Golder Associates works closely
with clients across a diverse range
of sectors, including:
QQ Land developers for industrial,
commercial and residential
subdivision, building, and
earthworks consent applications.
QQ Financial, insurance, real estate
and legal institutions including
due diligence assessments for
land transactions.
QQ Manufacturing including
investigation and remediation of
chemical releases or legacy issues.
QQ Oil and gas including fuel storage
site investigation and remediation.
QQ Government including auditing and
technical support for regional and
local councils.
Recent projects which demonstrate
the wide range of contaminated
sites experience offered are
summarised below.
Due Diligence
Investigation of historical
manufacturing waste landfills: Phase I
and II environmental due diligence of a
manufacturing plant was undertaken
prior to potential acquisition. Soil and
groundwater sampling was completed
to investigate potential discharges from
historic landfills to land, surface water
and potable groundwater resources.
The project included the presentation of
results and the assessment of remedial
options. Consenting requirements were
assessed in context to contractual
obligations under the sale and purchase
agreement to facilitate compliance with
local regulatory requirements.
Site Assessment and Remediation
Planning
Environmental site assessment and
consent applications for development
of former farms: Conversion of former
farm property to residential subdivision
or commercial land use is common
practice. At numerous sites Golder
Associates has undertaken assessment
of the nature and extent of residual
contaminants or buried waste.
Subsequent remediation action plans
(RAPs) have been developed to render
the sites suitable for the proposed
residential or commercial development.
As per the requirements of local
and regional plans, the RAPs and
assessments of environmental effects
have been prepared to support
resource consent applications where
applicable for the controlled discharge
of contaminants to land or water
during remediation. Resource consents
for remediation have been granted on
numerous occasions without requests
for further information. Remedial
works have then been completed as
per the requirements of the consents.
processing facility. Investigation
results were used to assess remedial
options to manage metals
contaminated streambed sediments.
Project role included planning and
implementation of remediation
programme to remove contaminated
sediments, engagement of
remediation sub-contractors, on-site
supervision of sub-contractors to
manage sediment removal and to
ensure that the works were completed
in accordance with RAP and consent
conditions, and that the validation
objectives were achieved.
Site Management / Compliance
Monitoring
Site management plans: For numerous
commercial sites, Site Management
Plans (SMPs) were prepared identifying
mitigation measures to limit risks of
exposure to contaminants. Such
measures include maintenance of site
seals, contingency plans for site
workers if contaminants or asbestos are
encountered during earthworks, and
limitations to off-site transport of
potentially contaminated materials.
International
Remedial Design and
Construction
Throughout Australasia and globally
Golder Associates has experience on
large and small scale contaminated
sites and can collaboratively support
projects in New Zealand. For example,
Australian projects include expert
witness testimony for the Supreme
Court for litigation involving the
contamination of a new mediumdensity residential development by
PCE released from an adjacent former
dry cleaning facility. In Perth, Golder
Associates completed a detailed site
investigation, numerical modelling
program, and an evaluation of
remedial options for a former waste
transfer facility contaminated with
chlorinated solvents, hydrocarbons,
metals and pesticides.
Remediation of contaminated stream
sediments: Streambed sediments and
ecology were investigated following
historical discharge from an industrial
These are just a few examples of our
international expertise. Global project
experience can be accessed through
our electronic discipline network.
Risk Assessment
Vapour risk assessment: Numerous
vapour risk assessments have been
undertaken of sites contaminated
with chemicals such as petroleum
hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents,
brominated solvents. Golder Associates
has extensive experience with vapour
modelling from soil, groundwater and
soil gas measurements to indoor and
outdoor airspaces and experience in
using risk estimates to guide remedial
decision-making.
Engineering Earth’s Development, Preserving Earth’s Integrity.
[email protected]
www.golder.com
Auckland
Tauranga
Nelson
+64 9 486 8068
+64 7 928 5335
+64 3 548 1707
Christchurch
Dunedin
+64 3 377 5696
+64 3 479 0390