Sustainable Remediation and Management of Contaminated Sites
Remediation isn't merely about restoring a piece of land for compliance purposes; it's about ensuring that the solutions are sustainable, cost-effective, and tailored to the unique attributes of each site.
Where traditional remediation approaches like 'dig and dump' might seem straightforward, they don't always account for the full lifecycle costs of a landfill, or consider the human health risks associated with vehicle emissions and traffic incidents.
Landfill disposal is a quick fix that fails to recognise deeper complexities and can create intergenerational pollution issues if managed incorrectly. It is also incredibly costly.
That’s where HAIL Environmental comes in – we provide deep expertise, innovative techniques for sustainable remediation, and ensure a comprehensive solution tailored to the requirements of your specific situation.
The Challenges of Sustainable Remediation
For your development to proceed, you need to resolve any contaminated land issues identified in the Detailed Site Investigation (DSI) phase. But selecting the right approach and carrying it out properly often comes with inherent complexities.
Here are a few challenges that we regularly encounter:
-
Remediation options might be limited due to the need for swift actions and keeping project development timelines on track.
-
Remediation in itself can have adverse effects. For example, removing soil to landfill is not only expensive, it also entails heavy vehicle movements, carbon dioxide emissions, and serious crash risk. It takes up limited and valuable resources - landfill space, fuel, and often replacement clean fill and topsoil are required. Without careful consideration of these issues, remediation can result in more risks being generated than the contamination itself.
-
For some clients, displacing soil from its origin is more than an environmental or risk issue; it affects the spiritual and cultural ties to the land. In these situations, local remediation solutions that don’t remove soil from the rohe are essential.
Tailored Solutions, Proven Results: How We Can Help
Choosing HAIL Environmental isn't just about hiring a service provider; it's about partnering with experts who genuinely understand the nuances of sustainable remediation.
Here’s why:
-
We are Aotearoa’s most experienced team of contaminated land consultants. Unlike many generalist consulting and project management firms, we only look after one type of work: identifying and resolving contaminated land issues. This enables us to deliver excellent sustainable remediation outcomes for your project.
-
Tight deadlines? Internal staff at capacity? We'll act as your agent, quickly securing the right consents, arranging disposal permits, managing contractors, and undertaking validation sampling & reporting to ensure that your development can proceed in a timely manner.
-
If required, we can formally assess and manage remedial decisions in accordance with the ISO 18504:2017 Soil Quality - Sustainable Remediation standard.
-
From common contaminants to persistent organic pollutants listed on the Stockholm Convention’s POPs list, we can work with almost any hazardous substance, and have a proven track record you can trust.
-
Our team has experience in the design, construction, and monitoring of in situ remediation systems for soil, groundwater, soil vapour, and sediment. We can deliver a wide range of sustainable remediation techniques that treat contaminants locally, instead of removing soil and transporting it to landfill.
-
Sometimes the most cost-effective solution is to manage contaminants on a site through a combination of physical and institutional controls. Physical controls such stabilisation or encapsulation are designed to isolate the contamination, thereby eliminating exposure pathways. They can often be built into a redevelopment project to avoid extensive cleanups or soil removal.
-
Developing a better understanding of site specific risks can often lead to eliminating or reducing remediation requirements, providing clients or future land owners with certainty that they are not at risk.
-
Some solutions (such as implementing physical controls) require ongoing management and monitoring to verify their long term effectiveness. We can look after these ongoing responsibilities on your behalf.
Steps to Resolving Your Contaminated Land Issues
Resolving your contaminated land issues and securing the green light for development involves a series of methodical stages. Clients typically identify the need for remediation as a result of undertaking a detailed site investigation (DSI).
Once you know that remediation is required, here’s how the process works:
-
We start by preparing an assessment of the remediation options that are feasible within your timeframes and for the specific contamination issues that you are trying to mitigate.
-
This document outlines key details such as the remediation methods proposed, timelines, and expected outcomes.
-
Before work can begin, your local council needs to review the remediation action plan and grant consent to proceed.
-
With consent in hand, we will then manage your remediation project - often in collaboration with external contractors and other specialists.
-
Once the remediation work has been completed, we prepare a site validation report to verify that the contamination issues have been adequately resolved.
-
The final stage involves your local council reviewing the validation report and confirming the remediated site's readiness for development.
Why work with HAIL Environmental?
-
Seasoned Experts
Every consultant is an experienced professional. We have over 100 years of combined experience. We know what to expect and how to overcome it.
-
Industry Leading Quality
We have robust internal QA/QC processes, all investigations are designed to meet MfE requirements, and are signed off by a SQEP that is a certified contaminated land specialist under the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) accreditation scheme.
-
Award Winning
We’ve won a range of industry accolades for innovative sustainable remediation techniques, and we’re continually looking for better, more sustainable ways to solve client challenges.
-
Ethical Kaupapa
We take our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship seriously. Click here to learn more.
-
Practical Approach
We are pragmatic and solutions focused. We are here to help enable you to achieve the desired outcome for your project, instead of simply identifying issues and barriers.
-
Collective Model
We operate as a collective that prioritises client results and staff wellbeing over profits.
-
Remediation Expertise
We have the expertise and capability to deliver the most suitable remediation approach to address your contaminated land issues. Where possible, we avoid dig and dump.
-
Nationwide Service
No matter where in the country you are, we’re here to help. You get a dedicated consultant, with support from our wider team throughout Aotearoa.
Results Driven. Client Endorsed.
“HAIL Environmental was nominated by HEB Construction as the Suitably Qualified and Experienced Practitioner (SQEP) for Kiwirail’s Waltham Mechanical Hub Project, playing a key role in contamination investigations, producing DSIs, obtaining resource consents, and developing a good working relationship with Environment Canterbury. Their approach, which considered multiple solutions to determine the most effective way to deal with contaminated materials, has enabled the re-use of approximately 14,000t of material on-site, saving the client in excess of $2.5m - a ‘perfect example of what a collaborative approach should look like.’”
Tim Keyse, Project Manager @ HEB Construction
Our Sustainable Remediation Framework
Each service we provide fits into one of three phases. Combined, we can solve almost any contaminated land issue on your site.
Identify
Establish an understanding of what land use activities have been carried out and if these activities may have resulted in contamination.
-
Understand the potential contamination issues preventing consent from being granted.
-
Quantify the site contamination risks and estimated remediation costs before purchasing a business or property.
Classify
Determine the level of risk and ascertain if it requires remediation or management to enable your project to go ahead.
-
Gain an in-depth understanding of your property’s contamination issues and remediation requirements.
Rectify
Find and implement the best suited solution to the problem using the most sustainable and cost effective methods.
-
Determine the best course of action to fix your contaminated land issues by comparing the options available for your site.
-
Resolve your contamination issues sustainably, with the level of help that suits your needs and budget.
-
Ensure that all relevant needs are addressed and people are kept in the loop with our award winning engagement services.
-
Outsource your compliance monitoring responsibilities to us and free up time to focus on your core business.
-
Get expert consultants at short notice to address pressing issues and help resolve your contamination emergency.
How to get started
Step 1: Get in Touch
Contact one of our consultants below and share more information about your project.
Step 2: Initial Findings
We will review your correspondence and documentation. Then, we will provide a recommended course of action, with a proposal to engage our help.
Step 3: Engage Our Services
If you wish to proceed, we will onboard you as a client and get to work on your sustainable remediation project.
