Environmental Site Assessment

A Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), commonly known as a site history investigation, is needed to assess the potential for risks to health and the environment from contamination that may have been caused by site activities. LBW's thorough approach to understanding site history provides a valuable foundation for subsequent stages of investigation.

A Phase 2 ESA involves the intrusive investigation of soil and/or groundwater at the site to confirm the presence or absence of contaminants and to assess whether unacceptable risks to health or the environment could occur for the proposed land use. Several stages of assessment may be needed to adequately understand the severity and extent of contamination and the corresponding risks.

An assessment could be needed to satisfy a council development condition, determine environmental liabilities prior to site divestment or investigate a localised issue within an operating site.

LBW develops investigation scope, specific to the potential contamination issues at the site and sufficient to characterise the risks. We do not use a formula driven approach, which can lead to unnecessary investigation costs.

Remediation

When unacceptable risks to health or the environment are posed by site contamination, remediation might be needed to meet the client's objectives for the site.

LBW believes in a consultative approach with the client and other stakeholders to assess and select an appropriate and pragmatic remedial strategy for the site.

Once the strategy is agreed, LBW develops and documents a detailed remediation plan setting out the objectives, remediation process, project control mechanisms, validation testing requirements and deliverables.

LBW can supervise the remediation process on behalf of the client, providing continuity of project understanding and a single line of environmental management.

Contaminated Land and Water Management

On occasion it is unnecessary, undesirable or unfeasible to remediate a site to remove the contamination. In these cases, LBW assists its clients to manage the health and environmental risks at the site, while remaining focused on the overarching project objectives.

We develop solutions to effectively manage issues posed by contaminated soil and groundwater, which are optimised by careful consideration of issues including: client objectives, technical feasibility, mitigation of risks to health and the environment, regulatory requirements, management requirements and responsibilities, and cost.

Soil Reuse and Disposal

Surplus soil generated by construction activities can pose a significant cost to the party responsible for its disposal off site, particularly if the soils were contaminated by site activities.

The transport and disposal of soil is regulated by the Environment Protection Act 1993, which must be complied with by the responsible party, the waste transport contractor and the receiving site. LBW regularly assesses surplus soils for a wide range of clients and advises them regarding soil reuse at third party sites and disposal to licenced depots.

We can assist you to understand the soil reuse or disposal options early in your project, adding value by enabling a wide range of options and considered decision making.

Contaminated Land and Water Advice

LBW provides strategic advice to its clients on the contamination issues faced on site. A proactive approach to the management of contamination issues can produce substantial project benefits through improved and timely understanding of project constraints and their respective solutions.

Our advice helps clients to control project liability posed by site contamination.

Environmental Due Diligence

Environmental due diligence is a process that can be applied in numerous ways, depending on the objectives of the client. Essentially, to undertake due diligence is to make an assessment of performance against a benchmark.

LBW provides due diligence services to identify and characterise environmental liabilities of a site; work which is often performed prior to sale or lease for the site owner, potential purchaser or leasee.

Our team can also undertake due diligence review of existing operations to assess compliance with statutory, licensing or company policy requirements.Sound environmental due diligence processes can provide significant value to LBW's clients via the timely identification of environmental liabilities, which in turn permits lower risk decision making.

Environmental Auditing

An environmental audit of operations at a specific site or more broadly across a client's operations can be performed by LBW. Whether it be for an internal due diligence process or to assess compliance with statutory, licensing or contractual obligations, LBW seeks to work together with the client to establish the audit objectives and scope.

Reporting of audit outcomes can be tailored to address the client's requirements, usually focusing on compliance/non-compliance and opportunities for improvement.

We have access to a Certified Lead Environmental Auditor (certified with RABQSA International) qualified and experienced to undertake ISO14001 Environmental Management System, Environmental Management and Compliance Audits.

Approvals and Licensing

By applying our experience in liaising with regulatory authorities and our knowledge of relevant environmental legislation and avenues for risk to the environment, LBW can assist with your application for an environmental approval or license in relation to your project or proposed activity.

Monitoring

Whether it be a regulatory requirement via a licence condition or for the client's due diligence purposes, LBW Environment has the experience necessary to obtain and provide your monitoring data in a timely and cost-effective manner. We understand the importance of having reliable data on which to base management decisions or to assess compliance to an environmental licence or contract condition.

LBW believes that data should always be collected for a purpose and accordingly we can review your environmental monitoring program to identify opportunities for improvement. We have added value for our clients by addressing data gaps, enhancing data reliability through improved methodology and removing non-essential elements from monitoring scope.

We have proven experience in undertaking and improving routine monitoring work over periods of several years for the same clients. Our capability includes remote areas.

Management Plans

LBW develops strategies and prepares plans to recommended appropriate methodology for mitigating and managing environmental nuisance or harm on a client project or site. Common issues of nuisance requiring mitigation or management include dust, noise, odours and tracking soil offsite.

We can also develop plans for the effective management of risk associated with contaminated materials during and post construction works.