Development of a contaminated land assessment system based on hazard to surface water bodies

The future of industrially contaminated land is now a major concern for local authorities across the U.K. The enforcement of the 1995 Environment Act early this year will require local authorities to undertake an audit of contaminated land within their boundaries and to establish an action plan for implementation of measures to mitigate health and environmental risks which are unacceptable with respect to statutory and non-statutory guidance. In preparation to meet these obligations, Newcastle City Council (NCC) have initiated a programme of research at Newcastle University to develop a prototype contaminated land assessment system (CLASS) to map contaminated land within the city boundaries. This system has been developed within the framework of the Geographic Information System ARC/INFO. It comprises two main components. First, a comprehensive database for identification and characterisation of contaminant sources, pathways and targets within Newcastle city boundaries. Second, a hazard modelling system to classify each site in terms of its future pollution potential. The CLASS system will provide a valuable tool for NCC in prioritising future actions such as monitoring, site investigation and/or remediation of contaminated sites.