Clear, practical guidance for site owners, developers and environmental managers on recognising a hydrocarbon sheen versus measurable LNAPL in groundwater, when a risk-based duty to notify regulators can be triggered in Australia, and how to manage next steps to reduce transaction, development and compliance risk.
iEnvi completed a Delineation Investigation (DI) at an aerosol and paint manufacturing site in northwest Sydney. The DI installed three groundwater monitoring wells, 13 soil bores and two stormwater points, collecting 8 groundwater, 39 soil and 2 stormwater samples. Findings showed minor soil hydrocarbons (one local exceedance), groundwater elevated dissolved metals likely related to background geochemistry, and isolated vapour-intrusion exceedances — prompting targeted sub‑slab vapour testing and further risk-management recommendations to meet NSW EPA expectations.
The NSW EPA released new Guidelines on the Duty to Report Contamination in July 2015, replacing the 2009 version.