A planning application was submitted to redevelop and expand an operational petrol station. As part of the application process NIEA and the local council environmental health department requested a contaminated land risk assessment was carried out due to the sites use as a service station with above ground and underground storage of hydrocarbon fuels.
McCloy Consulting carried out a PRA and GQRA for the site and identified levels of contamination (hydrocarbons) in the soil and groundwater underlying the site. The assessment was carried out in accordance with the relevant industry guidance (CLR11) to meet the requirements of planning, and as such, identified a potential risk to the water environment offsite.
As an alternative to onsite remediation or remediation of contaminated soils or groundwater, McCloy Consulting provided a Detailed Quantitative Risk Assessment (DQRA) in order to fully quantify the risks posed to the offsite water environment.
Our team of Hydrogeologists specialise in groundwater pollution assessments and were able to demonstrate that the levels of contamination identified onsite pose no risk to the water environment (or human health). This was achieved by carrying out detailed contaminant transport modelling.
Benefits we brought to the project were:
- Specific expertise in groundwater pollution
- Ability to fully quantify the risks and ultimately avoid the need for further intrusive site investigation
- Our expertise in groundwater contamination resulted in avoiding any costly and unnecessary remediation during redevelopment
If you require a Contaminated Land Risk Assessment report to supplement a planning application, please get in touch with Francis McAuley for advice.