Key Points:
New national rules for assessing site contamination are
now in force which will change how site investigations are
undertaken and human health and ecological risks are assessed for
particular contaminants.
The National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site
Contamination) Measure (NEPM) was originally made
in 1999 and was subject to a five year review process. The NEPM is
the primary national guidance document used by consultants, site
auditors, regulators and industry generally to investigate and
determine the risks posed by contaminated land.
The NEPM is made up of two Schedules. Schedule A contains a
flowchart outlining the recommended general process for the
assessment and management of site contamination. Schedule B
comprises ten technical guidelines about site assessment criteria,
investigation procedures, laboratory analyses, human health risk
assessment, ecological risk assessment, groundwater assessment,
community consultation,
