Preliminary Risk Assessments for Land Contamination (3 Lots)

Descriptions

Lot 1 – Metal Mine Assessment (Preliminary Risk Assessment + On Site Near Surface Limited Soil Sampling covering an area approximately 40km2 under Part2A of the Environmental Protection Act, 1990 – Contaminated Land Wales (2006) Regulations). Under Part2A the Council are required to inspect areas of land where ground contamination may exist. An area within the western part of the Borough (generally covering Esclusham Mountain, Ruabon Mountain and the villages of Bwlchgwyn, New Brighton, Coedpoeth and Minera) has potentially been impacted by historic metal mining. The works will meet the requirements of paragraphs B20a (collation and assessment of documentary information, or other information from other bodies) and B20b (site visit for the purposes of visual inspection) of the Statutory Guidance for the Contaminated Land (Wales) Regulations, 2006. It is likely that the On Site Soil Testing will be conducted using equipment such as a Field Portable X-ray Fluorescence (FPXRF) analyser. However, should you consider another piece of equipment to be suitable and it has a proven track record then you may provide details. Please be aware that much of the land is not owned by the Council – due to the size of the area being reviewed there are likely to be many landowners. It is not deemed necessary or feasible to contact any of these landowners for the B20a and b assessment. It is recognised that the B20b element of the works may be compromised by limited access (i.e. only public areas or public rights of way will be visited and only some views from these areas may take in private land). In light of the large area that may have been impacted by metal mines, at this stage the Councils aims and objectives are to:•assess the nature of potential contaminant sources;•assess the spatial extent of the contaminant sources;•develop a conceptual model(s) •zone the land in terms of priority for future assessment;•have recommendations for the next phase of works (specifically identifying areas where more detailed site visits are required (if necessary) and where generic or detailed quantitative risk assessments are required); and•have carried out all assessments in line with current authoritative guidance, mindful that the works are being carried out under Part2A. Lot 2 – Llwyneinion Old Refuse Tip 2 (Preliminary Risk Assessment of privately owned land covering an area approximately 2.2Ha under Part2A of the Environmental Protection Act, 1990 – Contaminated Land Wales (2006) Regulations). This site is close to other former landfills including the Llwyneinion Acid Tar Lagoon and Monsanto Chemical Waste Tip - however, it is not linked in anyway to these sites. However, a landfill situated over the road from this site, known as the Cable Tip, maybe linked to it. It is thought to contain commercial and industrial type waste. The works will meet the requirements of paragraphs B20a (collation and assessment of documentary information, or other information from other bodies) and B20b (site visit for the purposes of visual inspection) of the Statutory Guidance for the Contaminated Land (Wales) Regulations, 2006. Lot 3 – Various Council Owned Sites, generally commencing with educational establishments to begin with (Preliminary Risk Assessment of publically owned land/buildings under Part2A of the Environmental Protection Act, 1990 – Contaminated Land Wales (2006) Regulations) and also establish any liabilities the Council is responsible for. The sites have been identified as having a potential contamination issues due to historical uses and they vary from primary schools, nurseries to playing fields. All properties are currently used/occupied.Should the assessment find that further works are required e.g. a B20c type assessment, then the Council plans to carry these out next financial year.