Contaminated land - SLUR

A site classified as "Unverified History of Hazardous Activity or Industry" is a site for which its past or present use is the subject of an unconfirmed report that indicates that it falls within one of the definitions on the HAIL. Assignment to this category does not imply the site is contaminated, but merely that there is a possibility that hazardous substances have been used, stored or disposed of on the site and site contamination may have occurred. The reports could be from an external source or from a general information search carried out by Greater Wellington. A site remains under this category until further information is available that enables it to be transferred to another category.

A site classified as "Contamination Confirmed" is a site where there is evidence that hazardous substances exist above background concentrations AND it is a likely that adverse effects on human health (subject to exposure path) or the environment will occur based on the current or foreseeable site use. This category is for sites that the council holds information on, typically as a result of a site investigation that shows contaminants are present on the site at concentrations that exceed relevant guidelines. A site remains in this category until it is remediated or managed in such a way that it can be transferred to Category IV.

A site classified as "Contamination Acceptable, Managed/Remediated" is a site where there is clear evidence that residues of hazardous substances exist above background concentrations BUT the level of risk of adverse effects on human health or the environment is shown to be acceptable for the particular land use. Either the concentrations are below relevant guideline levels OR remedial or management action has been taken to reduce the risks to an acceptable level. Sites may be placed in this category either because an investigation report has been received that shows the site has contaminants present in environmental media but the concentrations are below relevant guideline values, or the site has previously been registered in Category I or III and further investigation or remediation has been undertaken.

Sites are placed in the "No Identified Contamination" category when an investigation report has been received that demonstrates an absence of contaminants above background concentrations. The investigation will have considered contaminants that could have resulted from the past or present use. Sites would be placed in this category either because the site had not been previously registered on SLUR, but an investigation report has been received, or the site had previously been registered as Category I or II and further investigation was undertaken.

A site classified as "Entered on Register in Error" is a site that has been classified under any other category, but subsequent investigation has found that the site has never been associated with any of the uses on the HAIL and there is no possibility of contamination of the site. This category is used for sites entered onto the SLUR or into the initial registration category as a result of incorrect information. The site is not removed from the register; it remains on SLUR to correctly record the sites history. The reasons for the original entry and reasons for the change to this category are recorded.