BSM8620 - REHABILITATION PRACTICE

Module Identifier	BSM8620
Module Title	REHABILITATION PRACTICE
Academic Year	2002/2003
Co-ordinator	Dr John Scullion
Semester	Available all semesters
Assessment	Semester Exam	examination - 1.5 hours	50%
	Semester Assessment	Course Work: 2000 word report	50%

Learning outcomes

Enabling Objectives :

After studying this module you should:

appreciate the extent, type and regional distribution of derelict, contaminated or disturbed land and the uncertainties that exist in estimating these data;

understand how planning policy and the planning system deal with contaminated or derelict land;

recognise the difficulties imposed by uncertainties over liability in redeveloping former industrial sites;

be aware of public funding systems aimed at promoting land improvement;

be able to apply information gained within a desk study to the planning of further site investigation in a safe manner;

be familiar with examples of investigative and risk assessment methodologies;

recognise the importance of health and safety issues in the investigation and remediation of contaminated land;

understand the basis for selection of remediation options and the factors affecting this choice;

appreciate site requirements, reclamation practices and controls, and important management issues as they relate to agricultural, forestry and amenity/conservation end-uses;

be aware of the key procedures in implementing a land reclamation scheme.

Content

This final written Module consists of eight chapters. They begin with an attempt to describe the extent of reclamation problems in Britain. The second chapter deals with planning and funding issues as they affect derelict and contaminated land. The third chapter looks at examples of site investigation and risk assessment in an attempt to bridge the gap between theoretical generalisations and their application in practice.

Chapter four addresses the problem of selecting remediation options for contaminated sites and sets out the many site, contaminant and economic factors which may influence this process on a particular site.

The next three chapters (five to seven) look at some of the reclamation and aftercare issues which relate to the three main 'soft' end-uses of reclaimed land - agriculture, forestry and amenity/conservation. The final chapter deals with the management and implementation of land reclamation schemes at both the remediation and afteruse phases.

In attempting to illustrate the above points in a practical way, case studies have been used to a greater extent in this Module than in previous Modules. Inevitably, this has led to a concentration on particular situations in order to explain broader principles. Some of the detail in the Module may be open to criticism as to its general applicability. You are not expected to agree with every detail but to take the general points made and use your understanding of rehabilitation practice to modify the detail as appropriate for a particular situation.