CRC CARE, in partnership with NSW
Australian Contaminated Land Consultants Association (ACLCA) held
an afternoon seminar, on Friday 1st May 2009 in Sydney, regarding
the latest developments in the assessment and management of
Asbestos Contaminated Sites.
Building on the workshop CRC CARE coordinated in August 2008, the
afternoon seminar was an opportunity to share information on what
guidance had been developed since that meeting.
The seminar was attended by over 115 participants including
contaminated site managers; owners; regulators; auditors; and
industry consultants. The seminar outline the recent
developments relating to asbestos policy and guidance and enable
participants to engage and ask questions of the presenters on their
views towards the various aspects of the assessment, remediation,
testing for, and management (including communication of risk) of
asbestos in soils.
The seminar was supported by four speakers, whose presentations
are available on this page, including:
- Linda Apthorpe - Asbestos In Soil: An Analytical &
Occupational Hygienist View
- Jack Dempsey – Asbestos: NEPM Review update
- John Howell - Management of Asbestos Contaminated Sites in
Western Australia
- Ross McFarland - An auditors perspective
As part of the seminar it was noted that the significant work
undertaken by Dr John Howell, to develop the Western Australian
Department of Health (WA DoH) asbestos guideline, had provided an
excellent framework for the assessment and management of asbestos
contaminated sites; the first of its kind in Australia at this
level of detail.
In recognition of the work undertaken by Dr Howell, the National
Environment Protection Measures (NEPM) variation team has proposed
that the NEPM guidance (for assessment of asbestos contamination)
be closely based on the WA DoH guidelines. Further, that the WA
guidance for management and remediation be taken up into
jurisdictional auditors’ guidelines.
While the WA DOH guideline was not presented in detail at the
seminar, it is due for release shortly and would be made available
at the following web site for people to reference: http://www.public.health.wa.gov.au/2/656/2/contaminated_sites.pm
