Guideline to create a clean up plan for contaminated land

Purpose of this guideline

This is a guideline to creating a clean up plan for contaminated land.

It sets out our minimum expectations for the content of a clean up plan. The intended audience of this guideline are:

• those in management or control of contaminated land
• environmental consultants
• contaminated land specialists
• EPA-appointed environmental auditors (contaminated land) who are performing functions in accordance with (Part 8.3 of the Environment Protection Act 2017 (Act)).

Also referred to as remediation action plans, clean up plans detail the actions you would take to:

• remediate contamination so far as reasonably practicable; and
• prevent or minimise the risks of harm to human health and the environment from that contamination.

Use our quick reference checklist:

All contaminated land and groundwater scenarios are different. Clean up plans must be informed by site-specific information.

This guideline does not:

• advise on how to remediate contaminated land
• detail how to select appropriate technologies
• limit what we may require in a clean up plan.
  

A note for environmental auditors

In accordance with section 190(2) of the Act, when carrying out any function under the Act or any other Act, environmental auditors must have regard to this guideline and:

• any other EPA guidelines issued under section 203 of the Environment Protection Act 2017
• any relevant Environment Reference Standard (ERS)
• any relevant compliance code
• any prescribed matter.

Failure to give proper regard to these guidelines may impact your reappointment. For more information, read the Environmental auditor guidelines for appointment and conduct (Publication 865).