Module Identifier |
BSM8010 |
Module Title |
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND SITE ASSESSMENT |
Academic Year |
2002/2003 |
Co-ordinator |
Dr John Scullion |
Semester |
Available all semesters |
Assessment |
Semester Exam | examination 1.5 hours | |
Learning outcomes
Enabling objectives :
After studying this module you should be able to:
-
describe the structure of the courts system;
-
describe the legal system for protecting the water environment from pollution;
-
describe the legal system for controlling the handling and deposit of waste;
-
describe how integrated pollution control works to control the pollution of the three media of air, water and land;
-
describe the legal system for the control of minerals development;
-
describe the legal system relating to contaminated land that will be implemented;
-
understand site investigation and assessment `best practice?;
-
understand the limitations of site specific assessment and the application of generic guideline values;
-
understand the ICRCL guideline values and the `target? and `intervention? system used in the Netherlands as a model of `best practice?;
Terminal objective :
To understand the procedures underlying the protection of the environment and site assessment. To appreciate when these procedures will impinge upon your activities. To predict when you will need to seek further specialist advice, and for you to be able to understand this advice.
Module tasks :
You will find it very helpful whilst working through this module to create your own glossary. Note down all the relevant legislation and list all the acronyms.
Content
This module is divided into two sections, namely environmental law and site investigation/ assessment. In the first section basic legal concepts are introduced and the structure of the legal system is explained. The development of law by past precedent is illustrated by the use of actual cases. The legal systems relating to water pollution and waste disposal are described in detail whilst air pollution is covered superficially, mainly to illustrate some important legal points since air has little direct relevance to environmental rehabilitation. The control of minerals development and the law relating to contaminated land are also studied.
The next sections describe the methods and limitations of site investigation and assessment. Risk assessment and its role in site specific assessment is explained. Throughout these sections the limitations and assumptions underlying risk assessment and the derivation of generic guideline values are pointed out to give you a critical appreciation of the limitations of results from site investigations. This is vitally important if informed decision making is required.
Finally the process of site investigation is considered. Current, accepted best practice is described with emphasis on the importance of communication between the data producer and the data user. This topic will be taken up again in Module 7.