GWSDAT the open source, user-friendly, software application for the visualisation and interpretation of groundwater monitoring data has just released v.3.00.

This new version uses a web-based graphical user interface and is complemented by an online version: www.gwsdat.net. For further information and to download this free software go to www.claire.co.uk/GWSDAT.

CL:AIRE, in association with SiLC, is pleased to be holding a social event on 6 March 2019. It is for CL:AIRE Members, members of SiLC and DoWCoP Qualified Persons. The event will be held in London's West End from 5.30pm at The Glassblower in Piccadilly, after the SiLC Annual Forum.

In early 2019, SuRF-UK will be undertaking a review of the Annex 1: The SuRF-UK Indicator Set for Sustainable Remediation Assessment published in 2011.  It will be publishing a questionnaire in early January 2019 seeking stakeholders views on a variety of aspects within the guidance. This will be an open consultation.  If you would like to be notified when this consultation goes live, please email Nicola Harries. 

CL:AIRE will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary by hosting a one day conference on 14 November 2019 at One Great George Street, Westminster, London.  The conference will feature parallel sessions covering the whole of CL:AIRE's activities on sustainable land reuse.  The first flyer for the event will be released in January 2019. Early enquiries for sponsorship are welcome to Rob Sweeney.

Nicola Harries was fortunate to attend SustRem 2018 last month held in Sao Paulo, Brazil where she presented two papers, one on UK experience and lessons learned on brownfield regeneration and sharing some of the myths about sustainable remediation.

The General Assemblies of the European Standards Organizations CEN and CENELEC have approved a plan to secure BSI’s full membership post-Brexit. This will enable UK industry and other stakeholders to continue their important work shaping and maintaining best practice standards used across Europe and internationally. Further information here.

RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) has recently published a guidance note titled "Environmental Risks and Global Risk Estate" in November 2018.  This guidance is aimed principally at the land and property acquisition, disposal and asset management stages of the property life cycle.

NHBC Foundation supported the preparation of a CIRIA guide entitled, “A guide to small brownfield sites and land contamination”, which was released on 7 November 2018. The guide provides clear, practical advice to help navigate the particular barriers and issues that characterise small brownfield sites.  The guide is available free of charge from NHBC Foundation and has also been linked to the CL:AIRE WALL.

The Environment Agency has decided to withdraw the Soil Guideline Value (SGV) for mercury and the supporting reports following discussions with Public Health England (PHE) about a revised opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The SGV Report, the TOX Report, and the Supporting Information Document for Mercury will remain available for historical reference on the Government and Environment Agency archives and on WALL.

The remaining five members of the BS ISO 18400 series of standards listed below have now been published by BSI. 

This document is the result of the merging of EN 16167:2018 and EN 15308:2016, with minor technical modifications. This document will supersede EN 16167 and EN 15308 after publication.

Draft Standard: prEN ISO/DIS 22475-1 Geotechnical investigation and testing - Sampling of soil, rock and groundwater measurements - Technical principles is now available for review on the BSI web site. This draft International/European standard will replace BS EN ISO 22475-1:2006 when approved.