How to Tell That Your Land Could Be Contaminated Before Conducting an Assessment
It is usually advisable (or legally required) for developers to conduct site contamination assessments so that they are sure that their chosen location will not pose a health and safety risk to the people who will be living or working there. This article discusses some of the information sources that can help you to determine whether you should request experts to conduct a site contamination assessment before you construct a school.
Survey Results with Local Authorities
The local authorities in your area may have records from baseline surveys of the area where you would like to construct the school. Those survey results may contain information on materials that may not have been deemed to be of concern because the land was being used for a less sensitive purpose, such as a flood plain for storm water in your area.
However, the proposed development that you would like to undertake at that site may render the existing materials at the location to be potentially risky to the children who will be studying at your private school.
The survey results held by the local authorities can therefore be a basis for you to conduct a site contamination assessment in order to measure the magnitude of the risk that is present.
Records of Previous Land Uses
Another way to determine whether you may need a site contamination assessment is by reviewing the records of what that land was previously used for. For instance, it may be necessary to have the site contamination assessment carried out in case there was a chemical industry located at that site in the past. That chemical industry may have discharged potentially toxic substances into the land. A contamination assessment can confirm or rule out the existence of industrial contaminants at your site.
Information About Industrial Activities
This differs from the records of previous land use discussed earlier because the earlier discussion focused on the site itself. Here, you should look at the information available about the different industrial activities that take place in that jurisdiction or municipality. Why is this important? Contaminants can be carried from one location to another. For instance, incorrectly spread industrial sludge may find its way, such as through storm water, from disposal sites to the site where you wish to build a school. Industrial activities within the locality can therefore form a justification for conducting a site contamination assessment.
Weigh the information from the sources above carefully before you voluntarily decide to conduct a site contamination assessment. Contact environmental testing experts for further assistance before you commit yourself to a potentially costly process that may not have been necessary in the first place.
