The AGS Contaminated Land Working Group met for the second time this year on Wednesday 16th May in London. With 24 representatives in attendance the meeting provided a number of geoenvironmental talking points for the group.

Here Vivien Dent, Associate Technical Director at RSK and Contaminated Land Working Group Leader provides a short summary on the top three topics of discussion;

ANTHROPOGENIC SOILS
The Contaminated Land Working Group are currently putting together a guidance note on the description of anthropogenic soils. This guidance will cover materials in the ground which fall outside the British Standard soil descriptions, which will allow a third party to understand what the material is and its implications for contaminant content and source, permeability, gas generation potential etc.

AGS ASBESTOS IN SOIL GUIDANCE
After a discussion, the group have agreed to update the AGS Asbestos in soil guidance note. The update is in its early stages and will possibly signpost other documents and will incorporate some guidance on testing.

GROUND RISK: WHY TAKE THE CHANCE? A LESSONS LEARNT CONFERENCE
This upcoming AGS ground risk conference is a big focus for the group as the afternoon half will focus on geoenvironmental topics. Presentations from Working Group members include Ground Gas Risk – The Risk from Incorrect Characterisation (Gavin Allsopp, NHBC) and Waste Classification for Soils – An AGS Practitioners’ Guide (Bridget Plimmer and Mike Plimmer, Golder Associates and Geotechnical and Environmental Associates).

The event is taking place at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London on Wednesday 12th September and will see Dr Jacqueline Skipper (Senior Partner and Senior Geologist at the Geotechnical Consulting Group) provide a keynote presentation to open the conference. Jacqueline was awarded the Geological Society Engineering Group Award and in 2017 was elected to receive the 18th Glossop Medal and deliver the prestigious 18th Glossop Lecture.

Delegates wishing to register for the event should email ags@ags.org.uk before Tuesday 4th September.

This update was featured in the May/June issue of the AGS Magazine which can be viewed here.