Toxic waste

[Shane]

I was phoned today for advice and to arrange a quote visit.

 

The guy said he had a couple of sycamores which are causing a nuisance.

No TPO, not in a conservation area BUT!!!!!

 

The residents are currently taking legal action against the builders as the site (a former commercial garage for over 90 years) was not de-contaminated properly before the build.

His garden has lead and arsenic levels (allegedly) dozens of times over the recommended maximum. he also said that ALL people who work on the site have to wear full overalls and breathing apparatus.

 

Sounds like the safety issues here are a nightmare. How likely are the trees to have absorbed any of this crap?

 

I've not looked at the trees yet but assume some sort of report would be required - maybe from environmental health or the environment agency before work could be carried out. And what about chipping and disposal?

 

We get rid of our waste at a recycling centre who I guess would be unimpressed at receiving arisings from a lead/arsenic loaded site.

 

Too many issues for my brain to get around - where would you guys begin?

 

For reference the builings are about 5 years old, the guy recons the canopies appear healthy. The readings were in the first 6 inches of soil in his garden.

 

Long bargepoles spring to mind.

[Pedroski]

Shane, you probably need to speak to the Environment Agency to see what they want you to do with arisings. It may be a case of having to have them treated as contaminated waste and being taken away in a big skip. Composting facility will be pi55ed off if you take them there. The trees won't have taken up much in the way of lead as it's not very bioavailable unless the soil is treated with a chelating agent. But they could have taken up a fair amount of arsenic, cadmium and other heavy metals (if present). Is this the former Caffyns site?

Edited February 15, 2012 by Pedroski

[Jesse]

I was phoned today for advice and to arrange a quote visit.

 

The guy said he had a couple of sycamores which are causing a nuisance.

No TPO, not in a conservation area BUT!!!!!

 

The residents are currently taking legal action against the builders as the site (a former commercial garage for over 90 years) was not de-contaminated properly before the build.

His garden has lead and arsenic levels (allegedly) dozens of times over the recommended maximum. he also said that ALL people who work on the site have to wear full overalls and breathing apparatus.

 

Sounds like the safety issues here are a nightmare. How likely are the trees to have absorbed any of this crap?

 

I've not looked at the trees yet but assume some sort of report would be required - maybe from environmental health or the environment agency before work could be carried out. And what about chipping and disposal?

 

We get rid of our waste at a recycling centre who I guess would be unimpressed at receiving arisings from a lead/arsenic loaded site.

 

Too many issues for my brain to get around - where would you guys begin?

 

For reference the builings are about 5 years old, the guy recons the canopies appear healthy. The readings were in the first 6 inches of soil in his garden.

 

Long bargepoles spring to mind.

 

forget the issues for now, have a good look at the trees and see if they have cryptostroma corticale and go from there.

[sloth]

forget the issues for now, have a good look at the trees and see if they have cryptostroma corticale and go from there.

 

May I ask why that would be your first port of call?

[Charlieh]

I would contact FERA, I know in another case of plant material being contaminated on an old mine site, in this case FERA tested plant material to determin the levels of contamination and advised on what should happen to the material. FERA also includes the Govt. Decontamination Services department who will probably be involved already on the site.

[Shane]

Shane, you probably need to speak to the Environment Agency to see what they want you to do with arisings. It may be a case of having to have them treated as contaminated waste and being taken away in a big skip. Composting facility will be pi55ed off if you take them there. The trees won't have taken up much in the way of lead as it's not very bioavailable unless the soil is treated with a chelating agent. But they could have taken up a fair amount of arsenic, cadmium and other heavy metals (if present). Is this the former Caffyns site?

 

No, it's the old Rivili site opposite Bunce's near the station.

There was an old MOT place on the site at the back - apparentlt been a garage since 1900 - when they used to just tip oil, battery acid etc into the ground.

Unbelievable it got through all the planning/testing/env agency etc.

but there we are.

 

Some good advice coming here - thamks everyone.

[WorcsWuss]

May be a long shot but you could contact the builder [or developer or architect] - ask for the MD.

If you come across friendly enough he might help you out with something reference the original reports.

Explain to him that you've been called in to look at the trees and wonder if you're getting fed a line by a busy-body resident looking for something free. The trees look OK but could you get a copy of the original ground surveys & reports from the project.

If he offers them, great, you can see what they found where and whether or not it is a problem. The reports may be flawed [sampling area could be just under the buildings themselves and genuinely clear, not uncommon] but it would explain how they got through. Things were already strict 5 years ago.

If not, then he's either being an awkward git, has something to hide - although if this is the case LABC [or private BC surveyor who handled the project] have a lot to answer for - or somehow, again, building control need to own up to cocking up here as well, nothing was done and he genuinely doesn't have reports. That however is unlikely.

 

To qualify, I work for a contractor and if I was in this builder/developer's position and someone offered me an opportunity to clear myself I'd bend over backwards to help.