Geoenvironmental & Geotechnical Services
Michael D Joyce Associates LLP offer a comprehensive and flexible range of environmental services. The environmental liabilities associated with contaminated land and property are ever increasing, and it is now more important than ever that the full scope of any hidden liabilities are identified. Our services are complimented by our Specialist in Land Condition (SiLC) accreditation.
Land and Property Ownership, Acquisition and Disposal
Evaluation of contaminated and marginal land for its safe remediation and development, including a staged approach comprising phase 1 and 2 assessments.
Phase 1 and 2 Geoenvironmental Assessments
- Initial Assessment
- Site History
- Geological and Hydrogeological Setting
- Statutory Consultation
- Ground Investigation
- Sampling and Testing of Soils and Water
- Conceptual Site Models
- Flood Risk Assessment
- Risk Assessment and Assessment of Health Hazards
- Source-Pathway-Receptor Linkages
Contaminated Land Assessment
- Initial assessment
- Site history
- Geological and hydrogeological setting
- Statutory consultation
- Ground investigation
- Sampling and testing of soils and waters
- Conceptual site models
- Flood risk assessment
- Risk assessment and assessment of health hazards
- Source-pathway-receptor linkages
- Analysis, design and interpretation reporting
- Remedial works and site redevelopment proposals
- Environmetal audit and due diligence
- Environmental audit and compliance with legislation
- Environmental exposure and liability assessment
- Assessment for property acquisition and disposal
- Acquisition and merger audits
- Due diligence
Landfill and hazardous gases
- Site suitability
- Engineering design
- Licence application and surrender
- Gas and leachate monitoring
- Gas control measures
- Consideration of environmental implications
Sustainability
- Reuse of aggregates and demolition materials
- Minimisation of waste
- Disused quarries and landfill sites
- Old industrial sites
- Opencast workings and mineral resources
- Landscaping and lakes
- Minimisation of pollutant release
- Contract preparation and site supervision
"Specialist in Land Condition" (SiLC)
Anthony Joyce CEng, CGeol is accredited "Specialist in Land Condition" (SiLC); one of the few so far qualified.
The SiLC scheme provides a formal accreditation process for professionals involved in issues of contaminated and brownfield land. It is backed by a number of organisations including the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Prospective candidates are required to have 8 to 10 years relevant experience and to undergo an examination and interview process. A qualified SiLC is authorized to complete and certify Land Condition Records which provide standardized documentation for the handling of information related to brownfield sites.
Property Transactions
An increasingly valuable asset of any company or organisation is the land upon which it stands. However there can be hidden liabilities associated with its past industrial use. Owners, landlords, tenants and prospective purchasers of land should therefore be aware of the quality of that land.
Environmental liability can affect both owner and occupier since legislation in the form of a new contaminated land regime provides for the investigation and enforced remediation of contaminated land. Where remediation is necessary, this can run into millions of pounds and there are examples where land can have a significant negative equity value. However, less obvious are the facts that potential income streams reduce, financing difficulties arise, and that management and production time is lost. Since pollutants can migrate, the influence of neighbouring land should not be overlooked.
It is essential therefore that the risks associated with contaminated land are carefully managed, in much the same way as financial and production risks. The first stage is to quantify the risk by a geoenvironmental assessment carried out by a suitably qualified geoenvironmental engineer. Such an assessment can range from a preliminary site assessment through to intrusive investigation, sampling and full remediation. It should also provide information on other ground related risks such as mining and slope stability. One of the main difficulties is however inconsistency in the approach taken by parties in the assessment of contaminated land.
Land Condition Record (LCR)
In 1999, the Urban Task Force identified the benefits of greater standardization in the handling of information on land contamination. They recommended the introduction of documentation to be known as a "Land Condition Record" (LCR). The stated purpose would be;
"to ensure that during the sale, purchase and redevelopment of land, all parties had access to the same data set and could develop some general agreement between them on the levels of risk associated with that particular site and that particular use".
The LCR contains and summarizes information relevant to land contamination which would normally be obtained during a desk study and/or intrusive investigation of the land, or as part of remediation or redevelopment. To ensure accuracy and consistency the LCR should be completed by a "Specialist in Land Condition". Typically the LCR would include, amongst other things, detailed site information, past and present land use, site history, geology, hydrogeology, mining, existing ground investigation data and regulatory authority information.
Although the use of a Land Condition Record is at present voluntary, it should be used where there are "advantages in providing available information in a consistent and transparent way. It will make clear what information is being transferred and promote confidence in that information". Specific areas of use could include conveyancing, regulatory compliance, environmental regulation, health and safety management, and insurance.
It is important to recognise that the LCR does not include the assessment or evaluation of environmental risk, potential liabilities, potential costs, valuations or recommendations.
Specialist advice will still be required for the assessment of risk as described earlier. LCRs could however be an important development in relation to mergers and acquisitions, and the funding thereof.
If you would like to take advantage of our geoenvironmental and geotechnical services please call our team on 01924 360458.