LEAP has developed a Carbon Management module which is incorporated within our standard reporting or can be offered as a standalone consultancy service. This considers the carbon cost of recommendations given in the report. The Carbon Management module has been developed to recognise the critical part Soil Management presents in reducing carbon from construction projects, not only in the reduction of contaminated soil movement to landfill, but in value engineering design, and minimising use of carbon expensive materials, both in manufacture and transport.  At LEAP we believe our holistic approach, blending our team of geotechnical and environmental specialists for each project, results in better value engineering, reduced soil movement, and carbon and cost savings.

The DoW CoP is a code of  practice launched by Cl:aire in September 2008 which may be used, under certain circumstances, to enable the re-use of excavated soils on development sites without the need for an environmental agency exemption or environmental permit. It has significantly increased the sustainability of land remediation and development projects and has  become a common approach for the management of excavated materials on development sites. More specifically the  DoW CoP enables:

• the direct transfer and reuse of clean naturally occurring soil materials between sites
• the conditions to support the establishment/operation of fixed soil treatment facilities
• the reuse of both contaminated/uncontaminated materials on their site of origin and between sites within defined cluster projects

The code is designed to ensure that any re-use will not have an adverse impact on the environment, will not pose any unacceptable risks to human health or the environment and is not a sham waste disposal.  An integral part of the process is the development of a Materials Management Plan (MMP).

The Code requires that the re-use details be submitted to the Environment Agency by a registered person known as a “Qualified Person” or “QP”, who themselves has the training and competence to assess the process and the lines of evidence being  put forward to demonstrate compliance with the code.

LEAP is well versed in the DoWCoP process.  We regularly advise on the applicability of the code and whether or not a soil re-use may be treated within the scheme or should in fact be treated as a waste recovery (requiring an environmental permit).

LEAP regularly prepares MMPs and/or assist contractors in preparing their own MMPs.

LEAP has in-house QPs and any of the regional offices is able to provide further information and guidance.

Let us show you how you can develop more sustainably, re-use soils and dramatically reduce waste and landfill tax costs.

LEAP has been at the forefront of DoWCoP and is well placed to help you act within the law and avoid costly pitfalls.

The  National Quality Mark Scheme for Land Contamination Management (NQMS) is a scheme that has been developed by the Land Forum out of a national  government initiative to provide visible identification of documents that have been checked for quality by a Suitably Qualified and experienced Person (SQP).

The aim of the scheme is to provide regulator confidence in the quality of technical reports submitted for approval, thereby allowing submissions to pass more quickly through the regulatory process saving clients time and money.

Reports submitted under the NQMS scheme are allocated a unique number which relates to the project and the SQP and are quality stamped with the NQMS logo.

The initiative is supported in principle by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and a positive response has also been received from individual devolved administrations.

Helen Smith of LEAP was one of the first contaminated land practitioners to be awarded SQP status  and as such LEAP is able  to submit any of its technical reports under the NQMS scheme.  LEAP reports already fullfill the quality requirements of the scheme and as such the additional cost to the client is limited to the administrator fee levied by Cl:aire.

If you would like to hear more about the scheme and how LEAP can use it help your business then why not let us come to you for a lunch time or evening CPD session.  These are provided free of charge.

LEAP frequently speak at industry conferences and training courses across the country.  We also provide continuing professional development (CPD) training for clients and regulators from short lunch and learn sessions to more formal breakfast briefings and full day seminars.

We are currently providing CPD sessions on the following key topics but can modify our offering to suit your company’s individual needs:

• Definition of Waste Industry Code of Practice (DoWCoP) and Materials Management Plans (MMP)
• National Quality Mark Scheme (NQMS)
• CARSOIL and asbestos risk assessment