Preliminary risk screen assessments (PRSAs) look for possible land contamination. PRSAs relate to a site’s existing or proposed future use.
PRSAs don’t replace environmental audits, they:
- work out whether there’s a need for an environmental audit
- recommend the scope for the environmental audit if it’s required.
A PRSA doesn’t make a conclusion on the suitability of a site for its existing or proposed use. Only an environmental audit can do this.
Only EPA-appointed environmental auditors can perform PRSAs. Environmental consultants may be involved in the PRSA process through preparing assessment reports that are considered by the auditor in the PRSA.
About assessment outcomes
Once a PRSA is complete, the auditor will prepare a statement and report.
Understanding PRSA statements
The statement lets you know whether an environmental audit is needed for the use or proposed use of a site. When an audit is needed, the statement must propose a scope for it.
The PRSA statement also must include:
- all matters set out in the assessment’s scope
- the name of the person who engaged the auditor
- the auditor’s signature and contact details.
Understanding PRSA reports
A PRSA report must contain:
- a review of all relevant information collected during the assessment
- the reasons for the findings in the assessment.
More information on PRSAs will be available in a guideline to be published by EPA in late 2021.
Obligation to provide preliminary risk screen assessment statement
A person in management or control of a site for which a PRSA statement has been issued, must provide a copy of the statement to any person who’s proposing to become the person in management or control of the site.
Preliminary risk screen assessment resources
- Environmental auditor guidelines – Provision of statements and reports for environmental audits and preliminary risk screen assessments (publication 2022)
- Preliminary risk screen assessment statement (Form F1031)
Read next
EPA's role in the environmental audit system
Choosing an environmental auditor
Appointment of environmental auditors
Environmental audit and planning systems
Find preliminary risk screen assessments and environmental audit reports
Reviewed 28 October 2021
