The Environmental Industries Commission is conducting an industry survey on the issue of asbestos in soil as it believes the Part 2A review and the Government's philosophy of industry-produced, non-statutory guidance dovetailing with statutory frameworks offers a significant opportunity.
The lobby group believes there is an opportunity for industry guidance on the investigation, analysis, assessment and remediation of land contaminated with asbestos.
It is circulating its survey to the brownfield, asbestos management and regulatory sectors including health and safety officials.
The EIC says that, while the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 apply as much to asbestos in soil as to asbestos in buildings, there is a plethora of guidance to support their application in buildings but not in soil.
"UK guidance for assessing risks from asbestos in soil has been evolving since the late 1980s," it says.
"Recently, the Environment Agency promised definitive guidance. This work stalled and it now seems unlikely that the work will be finalised and published in its current form."
The EIC has set up a working group to address this lack of guidance and a primary objective will be to develop closer links between the brownfield and asbestos management sectors to assist understanding of what guidance is needed.
