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Contaminated Land & Groundwater

Contamination means the condition of land or water where any chemical substance or waste is above background level and can result from current or historic land uses. Contamination can represent, or potentially represent, an adverse health or environmental impact which may require assessment, management and/or remediation to ensure land is suitable for its current or intended use.
  • Identification and Assessment of Contaminated Land
    Contaminated site assessment involves a staged process of investigation and risk assessment undertaken by suitably qualified and experienced consultants. EPA Tasmania provides a list of potentially contaminating activities and the property information request service to assist with site history reviews. EPA Tasmania also supports the planning process, which requires sites to be suitable for their intended use, by providing an assessment report review service for planning authorities where a site with a history of contamination is changing to a sensitive use.
  • Regulation of Contaminated Land
    In Tasmania, contaminated sites are regulated under the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA). Where a pollutant is released into the environment at levels that cause or are likely to cause environmental harm, the person responsible must notify the Director, EPA. The assessment of contaminated sites must be in accordance with the NEPM (Assessment of Site Contamination) 1999 or as varied, which is a state policy.
  • Publications and Useful Resources - Contaminated Sites
    EPA Tasmania has produced information bulletins which cover a range of contaminated land issues. A Property Information Request Form is also available. Links to a number of useful resources have been provided to assist in the assessment and management of contaminated land.

Contaminated Sites Unit
134 Macquarie Street
Hobart TAS 7000
Phone: 03 6165 4599 Fax: 03 6173 0254
Email: Enquiries@epa.tas.gov.au