Road Reserve Dungog Shire Council Regional Contaminated Land - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Rehabilitation of UPSS within Road Reserve Dungog Shire Council

Regional Contaminated Land Capacity Building Program – Council Roles and Responsibilities 9th February 2017

Or $200k to remove 4 tanks

WHAT THA?

Background

• POEO (UPSS) Regulation 2008 – 1st June 2008
• Prior to commencement of Regulation Dungog

Shire Council made submissions in relation to proposed Regs-

• Cost to proprietors
• Cost of compliance- cost shifting to Councils
• Sought clarification over responsibility for

UPSS on public land

• Motion to LGSA conference that the

Government be lobbied to address these issues.

Background

• May 2011 NSW Environmental Trust approved

pilot program- Derelict UPSS Pilot Program

• 3 years – shared $2m funding with Innocent
• wners scheme and Council Gasworks scheme
• Programs managed by DECC under the

combined Contaminated Land Management Program

• EPA shortlisted 37 Councils based on an

assessment of sensitive environments, use of groundwater, number of potential derelict UPSS.

Background

• October 2011 – Top 5 Councils on list

invited to participate in First Stage of Pilot program

• Dungog, Liverpool Plains, Muswellbrook,

Wellington , Dubbo.

Why Dungog?

• Selected due to high number of UPSS

present under Public Roads.(12 known)

• Dungog had also agitated since 2008 about

impact of UPSS Regs, cost shifting and responsibility for redundant and abandoned tanks.

What did Dungog hope to achieve from Pilot Program?

• Development of tools to assist future UPSS

projects eg breifing notes/scope of work for consultants, standard contract templates.

• Get an understanding of costs involved
• Staff skills capacity building
• Chance to eliminate at least one problem

site.

Stage 1 of the UPSS Pilot Program

• Preliminary investigation of 5 sites within each
• f the 5 council areas.
• Objective to prioritise derelict sites for detailed

investigation and subsequent remediation work

• Passive Soil gas sampling- screening tool to

identify extent of contamination and risk

• Tank inspections –assess access, tank contents
• $10,000 per site – Managed by OEH and funded

by ET.

Results of Stage 1

Sites prioritised

• Investigations carried out in

February 2012

• 5 sites in Dungog Shire
• EPA concluded that Modern

Motors- Dowling street Dungog was the highest priority

• Proximity to waterways
• Possibly 4 derelict tanks within

road reserve as well as several derelict on private land adjacent

• Residential premises adjacent

Progression to Stage 2 of the Pilot

• EPA pre approved progression to Stage 2-

Remediation.

• Condition that this stage managed by Council
• Funding of up to $200K- subject to lodgement

and approval of grant application to ET

• Council concerned that $200K insufficient if

additional tanks found

• EPA funded Ground Penetrating Radar

(Pennoscan) for site

Learnings

• GPR recommended to avoid surprises
• Budget should have contingencies

Remediation Grant application

• May 2012 grant application lodged to Env

trust- EPA assisted

• Remediation grant under Derelict

Underground Petroleum Storage System Pilot Program

• Stage to be managed by Council with

assistance from EPA

• February 2013 grant approved- funding

received in full.

Learnings

• The Environmental Trust

takes a long time to determine grant applications (9 months)

• The provision of 100% of

funding upfront is rare but appreciated.

The Remediation Project

• No experience within Council in relation to

remediation projects

• Decision made to contract the project
• Scope of works developed in consultation

with EPA

• Close communication at all times with

proprietor of Modern Motors

Tender process

• Tender advertised

nationally

• 11 tenders received
• Tendered amounts

varied between $62K- $229K

• Standard cost schedule

simplified comparisons

• Contract awarded to

Robert Carr and associates ($104,000)

Learnings

• Imperative that all tenderers use same

costing schedules for comparisons

• Remediation experts essential to assess

tenders

• Important to look for what isn’t included eg

waste disposal fees, wet weather contingencies.

• Qualifications and experience of tenderers

needs to be analysed

Stage 1 (Pre- work)

• Clarify some unknowns
• Confirm type and size of UST’s and their content
• Establish if any contingencies or variations to scope
• f works was required.
• Integrity testing of tanks
• Consideration of Heritage status of nearby buildings

including dilapidation survey of Service Station

• Soil testing for pre-classification of material to be

excavated.

Stage 1- Remediation Action Plan

• RAP was prepared and submitted in December

2013 having regard to pre work carried out.

• Removal of 4 tanks and supporting

infrastructure

• Excavation of contaminated soil to supporting

bedrock for disposal at a licenced waste facility.

• Backfill with VENM
• Re-establishment of site
• Note: Site no longer used for fuel sales and 6

redundant tanks to remain on private property

Stage 2 - Works

• Remediation works considered to be Type 2

under SEPP 55 notwithstanding location on edge of heritage precinct.

• Permits and plans –safe work method

statements, WHS plans, Pedestrian and Traffic plan, Waste Management plan

• Temporary fencing, underground service

location and redirection (Telstra)

Stage 2 works

• Removal of concrete driveway.
• Excavation of UPSS pit – no space at

working premises to store material- 100tonnes transported to hardstand area at Dungog waste facility

• Removal and cutting of 4 tanks- disposal at

waste facility.

• Sampling of soil in excavated pit

Stage 2 works

• Extreme rainfall whilst awaiting soil test

results filled excavated pit.

• 1000 litres of effluent removed by tanker

disposed of at liquid waste facility

• After soil test results received – excavation

backfilled and compacted with VENM.

• Disturbed area re-concreted by contractor 3

weeks later

Validation sampling results

• Validation samples collected on walls and

base of excavation

• Some contamination ( benzine) remained in

excess of human health and ecological criteria of the NEPM

• Owing to transient use and intended

concrete capping- consultant recommended no further remediation works

Stage 3- Assessment of downgradient impacts

• Objective to determine migration of

contaminants

• Soil samples taken downgradient
• 2 groundwater monitoring wells installed
• Vapour monitoring carried out in subfloor

areas of 2 nearby residences

• Groundwater sampling

Stage 3 – Validation results

• Samples for –
• Soil
• Vapour
• Groundwater
• All within NEPM criteria
• No further down gradient remediation

required.

• Existence of redundant UST’s on private

property noted.

Costs

• Grant $200K
• Total expenditure

$195K

• Consultant $116K
• Re-establish site $35K
• Waste disposal $27K
• Council admin costs

$17K

Challenges

• Starting from scratch with no internal

expertise in remediation projects

• Reliance on external parties – EPA,

Consultant and subcontractors

• Evolving work environment- not all matters

are known upfront

Opportunities

• Development of tools – eg Scope of work

and brief for consultants, template contract documents

• Better understanding of applicable costs
• Development of staff skills
• Enhanced relationship with EPA
• Example of project process for owners of

UPSs (including council)