Detailed Site Investigation (DSI)

Our professional team will help you to understand the new approach to be compliant with the general environmental duty (GED) which is the centre of the Environment Protection Act 2017.

We provide exceptional advice on how to prevent and minimise the risks of harm to human health and the environment from pollution and waste. We have in-house professionals and well-known subcontractors to assist you with what is required by the authorities and the needs of your project.

A Detailed Site Investigation (DSI) is required when the results of preliminary investigation are insufficient to enable site management strategies to be devised. Potential or actual contamination will need further evaluation as a result of a preliminary investigation and the evidence of elements which are above background levels or exceed the applicable investigation or screening levels.

A DSI helps you to understand the extent of actual or potential contamination and facilitate decision making when further action is required.

The DSI includes (in most cases or according to project’s scope):

• A detailed site history review and the identification of potential pathways and receptors. We provide a description of relevant site features and the surface and subsurface conditions to understand the extent of identified contaminants of concern and the risk they pose to receptors. (This will be show as a qualitative risk assessment or Conceptual Site Model (CSM) depending on the scope of the DSI aligned with regulatory requirements).
• A sampling program based on the risk assessment results. A DSI commonly involves the sampling and laboratory analysis of soil in areas of a site that have been identified as being likely to have been impacted by the storage and release of site characterisation. Other sampling can be required but not limited such as groundwater, surface water, soil vapour, etc., if past land uses indicate contamination may be present. When there is evidence of contaminants migration, additional sampling is recommended covering neighbouring sites or beyond.
• Laboratory testing and analysis conducted according to national and state guidelines. The report presents clear results of the threshold level of contaminants and their categorization.
• The conclusions shows whether the condition of the site poses unacceptable risks to the environment or human health and possible management required (including remediation and further testing).