Contamination of land has the potential to occur from a range of industrial and other activities. Not all contamination affects the land in such a way that it cannot be productively used for a range of activities. Environmental Site Assessments (ESA’s) are conducted to assess for the potential presence for contamination in the surface and sub-surface environments on a property. The presence of contamination can affect property value or cause undue liability to investors now or in the future. The affect on property value, beneficial use or liability due to the presence of contamination, in most instances, can be addressed through the implementation of remediation works and/or management controls. Assessment of the environmental condition of a property and, if required, remediation and/or management, is usually undertaken in a staged approach as detailed below.

• Preliminary or Stage 1/Phase 1 ESA: Includes site inspection, interviews with relevant personnel, desktop research and historical investigations. Intrusive sampling may also be undertaken where necessary. The purpose of these works is to provide a preliminary environmental assessment, with particular emphasis on the potential for soil and/or groundwater contamination to exist on a property.
• Detailed or Stage 2/Phase 2 ESA: Includes the design and implementation of an intrusive sampling and analytical program to assess for the presence of contamination in surface and sub-surface environments (fill materials, soil, groundwater, surface waters, sediments, air). The results can then be used to assess the risk that identified contamination poses to human health and the surrounding environment. Often additional stages of assessment and intrusive investigations are required in order to appropriately delineate/define the nature and extent of identified contamination on a property and to determine the requirements, if any, for remediation and/or management of the identified contamination.
• Remediation, Validation: Includes preparation & implementation of a remediation action plan or site management plan that establishes the remediation goals for a property, documents in detail the remediation options and the preferred remediation strategy, details all procedures and plans to be implemented during the remediation works, presents a validation sampling and analytical plan for the property that, when implemented after the completion of remediation works, confirms the successful remediation of contamination in accordance with the objectives of the remediation action plan or site management plan.
• Long-term environmental or site management: Includes preparation of a plan of management for a property where contamination is present at levels (existing or remains after remediation) that do not preclude the use of the property for a range of activities. These plans describe the nature and location of the contamination and the how the contaminants will be managed and who is responsible for this management in the short, medium and longer term.

E3 have extensive experience in undertaking all stages of environmental assessment and remediation and are able to undertake any stage of environmental works required on a property. E3 has extensive experience in project management and supervision of contaminated site remediation projects. We offer a broad range of services including assisting our client to assess feasibility of options and to implement the most cost effective approach to site remediation and management.

We have developed environmental assessment, remediation and management strategies for a wide variety of complex sites to achieve exceptional outcomes for our clients and the environment.

Strategic Advice and Expert Witness

E3 also have extensive experience in the provision of high level technical advice and strategic advice to corporate and board level management and to government authorities and departments. E3 also have a number of very senior level scientists that have extensive experience in providing expert advice and as expert witness during litigation matters within a number of courts within NSW and QLD. In these roles E3 have conducted critical assessments, financial modelling, risk modelling, contract review, compilation of reports, preparation of affidavits, provision of expert evidence in court and liaison with regulators.

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