New
legislation sets high environmental standards for future industries
and developments. Those wishing to develop must first improve
the quality of their land prior to laying new services or redeveloping.
We now have a legal obligation to clean up the litter labyrinth
of underground services that industry has created over the past
centuries.
Gilmerton
Land Services advises and helps clients dealing with the following
specific issues:
• |
Waste
Fluids: these can collect in abandoned water mains
and in turn can find their way into, and contaminate fresh
water supplies. This is especially true on redundant industrial
sites where oil and chemicals have contaminated the ground
over a long period of time. |
• |
High-pressure Oil-filled Cables: such cables (e.g.
132 kV–400 kV) are becoming increasingly redundant
and difficult to reclaim. The high content of oil contained
within the cores of such cables must be drained in a
clinical manner to prevent spillage and ground contamination
before the cables can be removed from site.
|
|
|
| • |
PCB
Levels: the oil content in above-ground switchgear
and transformers must be analysed for PCB count before
removal from site. |
•
|
Mercury Levels: the mercury content from associated
switches and relays must be disposed of in a safe way
prior to removal from site. |
• |
Asbestos: a hazardous product that was used extensively
in past years. Ground works can expose asbestos water
pipes and asbestos cement pipes. Exposure of this material
in dry conditions releases toxic particles into the surrounding
environment. |
• |
Other Hazardous Materials: materials such as heavy
metals, ash, old landfills etc., all cause health and
safety problems when left uncontrolled, be it above or
below ground level. |
|
