Glossary

Acid Sulfate Soils (ASS) are soils or sediments containing reduced inorganic sulphur compounds (e.g., iron sulfides) that, when exposed to air or drained, can oxidise and generate sulphuric acid, leading to adverse environmental and structural outcomes.

An acoustic report is a technical document prepared by a qualified acoustical consultant that analyses existing and projected noise and vibration levels, evaluates building or site-related acoustic performance, and provides mitigation recommendations to satisfy planning, building and environmental approvals.

A Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) is a comprehensive document that outlines how environmental risks will be managed during construction activities. It details control measures for noise, dust, vibration, water quality, waste, and ecological protection, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and project-specific conditions.

Contaminated land refers to sites where the soil, groundwater, or surface water contains hazardous substances at levels that pose a risk to human health or the environment. Contamination can result from industrial activities, waste disposal, accidental spills, or historical land uses. In Australia, the identification, assessment, and management of contaminated land are guided by strict environmental legislation and industry standards to ensure safe redevelopment and ongoing site use.

A Detailed Site Investigation (DSI) is a comprehensive, intrusive site assessment that builds on the findings of a PSI. It involves soil, groundwater, surface water, or air sampling to confirm the presence, type, extent, and concentration of contamination. The results are compared against environmental guidelines to assess potential risks to human health and the environment.

Dust and air monitoring is the systematic process of sampling, measuring and analysing airborne dust (particulate matter) and gases to assess exposure risks, validate controls and support environmental and safety compliance.

Environmental Due Diligence (EDD) is a structured investigation and assessment that identifies actual or potential environmental risks—such as contamination, regulatory breaches or legacy liabilities—associated with a property or project prior to acquisition, development or financing.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a structured evaluation of the likely environmental, social and economic effects of a proposed development or activity — including alternatives and mitigation measures — conducted prior to major commitments being made.

Environmental monitoring is the ongoing process of measuring and assessing environmental parameters (e.g. air quality, groundwater, surface water, noise, vibration and dust) to determine whether activities meet regulatory standards and environmental performance objectives. It forms the backbone of environmental management systems for development, infrastructure and industrial operations.

An Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a structured investigation of a site’s environmental condition, identifying potential or existing contamination and assessing risks to human health and the environment. ESAs are typically carried out in stages, with a focus on gathering historical information, conducting site inspections, and collecting soil, water, and air samples for analysis. In Australia, ESAs are a key step in meeting regulatory requirements before land development, sale, or change of use.

Excavated Natural Material (ENM) is soil, rock or natural substrate excavated from the ground that retains at least 98% natural material by weight and meets the chemical, physical and documentation criteria set under the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Order and Exemption.

Friable asbestos is asbestos-containing material that can be easily crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry. This makes it more likely to release dangerous asbestos fibres into the air, posing serious health risks when inhaled. Examples include sprayed coatings, insulation, and certain pipe lagging materials.

A geotechnical investigation is a systematic process of assessing the subsurface conditions of a site—soil, rock, groundwater and geological features—to inform engineering design, environmental risk management and compliance.

A geotechnical report is a document prepared following site investigation and engineering assessment that describes ground conditions (soil, rock, groundwater) and provides recommendations for design, remediation or management of the site.

A groundwater monitoring well is a specialised borehole installed to access an aquifer or groundwater zone so that water levels, hydraulic behaviour and groundwater quality can be routinely measured and sampled for environmental or engineering purposes.

Groundwater sampling is the systematic collection of groundwater at defined locations and intervals to obtain representative data on water levels and chemistry, used to characterise the aquifer, contamination conditions, and inform risk-based decisions.

Hazardous waste is waste that, by its chemical, physical or biological properties—such as toxicity, corrosivity, flammability or ecotoxicity—poses a risk to human health, property or the environment. It is subject to specific handling, transport and disposal regulations under Australian law.

Heavy metals are naturally occurring metallic elements (e.g., lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, chromium, nickel and zinc) that become environmental contaminants when present at concentrations harmful to human health or ecosystems. These substances persist in soils and groundwater and can bioaccumulate in plants and animals.

Non-friable asbestos is asbestos-containing material (ACM) in which the asbestos fibres are bonded or cemented and cannot be easily crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry.

PFAS are a large group of man-made synthetic fluorinated chemicals that resist heat, stains, grease and water — characterised by strong carbon-fluorine bonds, high mobility in soil/groundwater and extreme persistence in the environment.

A Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) is the first stage of a formal site assessment, involving a desktop review of historical land uses, environmental records, and an initial site inspection. The goal is to determine whether there is a potential for contamination that warrants further investigation. PSIs follow regulatory guidelines to assess site risk without intrusive testing at this stage.

A Remediation Action Plan (RAP) is a detailed strategy outlining the steps required to manage and remove contamination identified during a site investigation. It specifies remediation objectives, methods, timelines, and compliance measures to ensure the site meets environmental and regulatory standards. In Australia, RAPs are prepared in line with contaminated land management guidelines.

Soil classification in NSW is the process of categorising soil and waste material according to its chemical composition, physical properties, and contamination levels. This classification is guided by the NSW EPA’s Waste Classification Guidelines and determines the appropriate handling, transport, and disposal methods for soil generated during construction, demolition, and remediation projects.

A UPSS (Underground Petroleum Storage System) is a system of one or more underground tanks, associated piping, valves and ancillary equipment designed to contain petroleum products below ground level, and is subject to specific design, installation, monitoring and decommissioning requirements to manage risk to land, groundwater and human health.

A Validation Report is a formal document prepared following remediation, earthworks or decontamination activities that demonstrates—through sampling, testing and documentation—that the works meet agreed environmental, health and regulatory criteria.