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.

Ambient air quality is the quality of the outdoor air surrounding us, determined by measuring pollutant concentrations in the atmosphere against established standards and guidelines. It reflects the combined influence of natural and human activities, including transport, industry, construction and land use. In Australia, ambient air quality is assessed under the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure (AAQ NEPM), which sets national standards for key pollutants.

A Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP) is an environmental professional accredited under the EIANZ CEnvP Program, demonstrating verified capability, experience, and ethical conduct across environmental consulting and management disciplines. The certification is widely used across Australia to ensure competent practice in impact assessment, contaminated land management, ecology, approvals, and other specialist areas.

A chain of custody (CoC) is a structured, chronological record of the custody, control, transfer, analysis and disposition of environmental samples or materials (e.g., soil, groundwater, vapour, air) that provides traceability, accountability and evidence that the sample analysed is the one collected in the field

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.

Construction loan monitoring is the systematic review of project progress, budget, risks, and contract compliance on a financed construction project, undertaken to inform lenders and stakeholders of financial status and exposure. It provides an evidence-based view of whether works are progressing as planned and whether funds are being used appropriately.

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.

A Development Application (DA) is a formal submission to a local council or planning authority seeking approval to carry out development, including construction, land use changes, demolition, subdivision, or significant site works. It ensures that proposed activities comply with applicable planning laws, environmental constraints, and strategic land-use objectives.

A Dewatering Management Plan (DMP) is a site-specific document that sets out the methods, controls, monitoring, and compliance requirements for managing groundwater extraction during construction, excavation, or land remediation works. It addresses technical, environmental, and regulatory considerations to ensure dewatering is conducted safely and within approval conditions.

A Dust suppression strategy is a site-specific plan that identifies dust risks and describes the mitigation measures, monitoring requirements, and response actions necessary to control dust emissions during construction, excavation, or remediation works. It ensures dust is managed in accordance with environmental regulations, workplace health and safety standards, and project approval conditions.

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.

An EPA Clean-up Notice is a statutory direction issued by an environmental regulator requiring a person, organisation, or site operator to take specified actions to prevent, minimise, or remediate pollution or environmental harm. These notices outline mandatory timeframes, required works, reporting expectations, and compliance obligations.

Encapsulation cell design and construction refers to the engineering, planning, and building of an onsite containment cell that isolates contaminated soil or waste through controlled placement, engineered liners, capping systems, and long-term monitoring frameworks. These cells provide a secure, cost-effective alternative to offsite disposal for suitable contaminants.

An environmental audit is a systematic, independent assessment of a site, activity, or process to evaluate environmental conditions, compliance with legislation, and the adequacy of management controls. Audits are carried out by qualified and accredited professionals, and may be mandatory under state legislation for certain projects or contaminated sites.

Environmental compliance trigger events are predefined conditions or thresholds that, when met or exceeded, require a project to implement additional environmental controls, undertake monitoring, notify regulators, or amend management plans. These triggers are established through regulatory approvals, environmental management plans, risk assessments, or licence conditions.

Environmental drilling is the controlled drilling and sampling of subsurface materials—such as soil, rock, and groundwater—to assess environmental conditions, identify contamination, and support site characterisation for construction, planning, and remediation projects. It is typically performed by licensed or highly trained drilling technicians using rigs suitable for varied site conditions.

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 Incident Management is the structured process of preparing for, responding to, controlling, and reporting environmental incidents—such as spills, unexpected contamination, exceedances, or equipment failures—to minimise environmental impact and ensure legal compliance. This framework is typically outlined within Environmental Management Plans (EMPs), Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMPs), and site-specific emergency procedures.

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.

Event-Based Monitoring is the targeted collection and analysis of environmental data initiated when predetermined events occur—such as heavy rainfall, dewatering activities, excavation milestones, threshold exceedances, or unexpected contamination. It supplements routine monitoring and ensures environmental risks are assessed precisely when they are most likely to occur.

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.

Geotechnical drilling is the controlled drilling and sampling of subsurface materials to characterise soil and rock properties, assess geotechnical stability, and inform the design of foundations, retaining structures, excavations, and remediation works. It supports both engineering design and environmental assessment, particularly on sites with contamination or complex ground conditions.

Geotechnical engineering is the field of engineering that analyses and interprets subsurface conditions—including soil, rock, and groundwater—to design foundations, earthworks, retaining structures, slopes, and other ground-related elements of a project. It combines geomechanics, geology, hydrogeology, and material science to ensure structures and remediation efforts are built safely and sustainably.

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.

Landfill gas (LFG) is a gas mixture—primarily methane, carbon dioxide, and trace volatile compounds—produced by the anaerobic breakdown of organic waste deposited in landfills or historical fill material. It can migrate through soil and structures, accumulate in confined spaces, and present fire, explosion, odour, and health risks if unmanaged.

Landfill leachate risks relate to the potential for contaminated water—formed when rainwater or waste moisture percolates through landfill material—to migrate into soil, groundwater, or surface water environments, causing pollution or harm. Leachate often contains a complex mix of organic compounds, heavy metals, nutrients, pathogens, and dissolved solids.

Leachability is the measure of a material’s ability to release contaminants (such as heavy metals, salts or organic compounds) into leachate—the liquid that drains or “leaches” through it—under natural or test conditions. In environmental practice, leachability is assessed through laboratory testing (such as leachate extraction or elutriate tests) to evaluate how pollutants could migrate into groundwater or surface water.

A mould assessment is a structured investigation to detect, quantify and evaluate mould contamination and underlying moisture problems within buildings, structures or materials. The process includes site inspection, air and surface sampling, laboratory analysis and reporting, providing recommendations for remediation, prevention and ongoing monitoring.

A Noise & Vibration Management Plan (NVMP) is a project-specific document that identifies noise and vibration risks and outlines mitigation measures, monitoring requirements, communication protocols, and compliance actions to manage impacts during construction or remediation activities. NVMPs are often required as part of planning approvals, Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMPs), and environmental licence conditions.

Noise management is the process of assessing, controlling, and monitoring sound emissions from project activities to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, planning conditions and community expectations. It includes the preparation of noise impact assessments, ongoing monitoring, and implementation of mitigation measures outlined in an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) or Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan (CNVMP).

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 Property Condition Assessment (PCA) is a structured inspection that records the current condition of buildings, infrastructure, and surrounding assets to identify pre-existing defects prior to nearby construction, excavation, vibration, or remediation activities. PCAs provide evidence-based documentation through written reports, photographs, and (where relevant) monitoring data.

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.

Site remediation is the implementation of physical, chemical, biological, or engineering methods to address contamination and reduce environmental or human health risks to acceptable levels. Remediation may involve removal, treatment, containment, or management measures and must align with relevant legislation, guidelines, and regulatory expectations.

A Site Validation Protocol is a structured procedure that sets out the sampling, analysis, quality assurance, and reporting requirements needed to verify that remediation works have met agreed cleanup criteria and regulatory standards. It ensures validation outcomes are technically sound, repeatable, and compliant with relevant Australian 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.

Technical Due Diligence is a comprehensive review of a site’s physical, environmental, and regulatory conditions to identify risks, liabilities, constraints, and opportunities that may affect property value, development feasibility, or project delivery. TDD integrates environmental science, engineering, planning, and regulatory analysis to deliver a clear risk profile for investors and project stakeholders.

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.

Vibration management is the process of monitoring, assessing, and mitigating vibration levels from site activities (such as piling, compaction, demolition, or blasting) to ensure they remain within regulatory and project-specific limits. It combines technical monitoring, predictive modelling, and control measures to safeguard structures, human comfort, and environmental compliance.

Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM) is natural material excavated from the earth—such as clay, gravel, sand, silt, and rock—that has not been processed, contaminated, or altered by human activity or industrial processes. To be classified as VENM, the material must be demonstrably free from contaminants including asbestos, fill material, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and construction waste.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemical compounds with a vapour pressure greater than 0.01 kPa at 20 °C that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions. In practical terms for environmental site work, VOCs include solvents, fuels, chlorinated hydrocarbons, aromatic compounds and other semi-volatile or volatile chemicals which may persist or migrate in soil, vapour or groundwater pathways.

A Water Quality Sampling & Monitoring Program is a structured plan that specifies the methods, locations, frequency, parameters, and quality assurance measures for water sampling and monitoring to assess environmental impacts and compliance with regulatory limits. It forms a core component of environmental management systems for projects interacting with waterways, groundwater, stormwater, or contaminated land.