CL:AIRE has recently finished interviewing the first tranche of 2024 applicants for the Gas Protection Verification Accreditation Scheme (GPVS).  There were nine applicants that went forward for interview (three Technician grade and six Specialist grade) with six being awarded GPVS accreditation.  Their details are now displayed on the relevant registers, which are visible here: SGPV Register (claire.co.uk) and TGPV Register (claire.co.uk).

Further information about the GPVS is available here.

The next Gas Protection Verification Accreditation Scheme (GPVS) application window will be opening on 1 July 2024 and closes 31 August 2024.  The application window will be open to Technician Grade and Specialist Grade applicants. For further information visit Becoming an accredited person and What is GPV accreditation? to find out about the competencies required for each grade. 

All candidates will be required to complete an application form and submit additional supporting information. Please ensure that you visit the application page of the GPVS website 0. Document Preparation (claire.co.uk) to understand what supporting information is required to be submitted for each grade.

CL:AIRE continues performing the Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoW CoP) audits following the procedures published on its website (DoW CoP Auditing Procedures).

The audit activities conducted by CL:AIRE in 2023 are now summarised in this report. It provides general feedback on how well the industry met the requirements of the DoW CoP, highlights areas of weakness, and recommends potential improvement measures based on the audit findings.

The 19th Soils in the South East Workshop (SSE19), jointly held by the University of Greenwich, CL:AIRE and ISCOWA on 14 June, was a great success! Delegates were treated to a full day of interesting presentations on matters related to land quality, sustainable management, remediation, wastes, and materials management and reuse. Presentations, panel discussions and networking opportunities were welcomed by returning delegates and new faces.

The EiCLaR project (Enhanced and Innovative In Situ Biotechnologies for Contaminated Land Remediation) has produced its third newsletter that is available for downloading here. It provides updates on the development of the different technologies and project activities.

Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS) has announced registration is now open with a limited number of early-bird free tickets available, as the event returns to the NEC, Birmingham from 11-12 September 2024.

The show unites key industry events, the Contamination & Land Remediation Expo, the Resource & Waste Management Expo, the Energy, Fuels & Decarbonisation Expo, the Water Resource Management Expo, and this year, welcomes a brand-new addition to its event portfolio: the Air Pollution Control Expo.

CL:AIRE is pleased to announce the publication of a new FAQ on defining a Site of Origin under the Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoW CoP).

Key points:

• A Site of Origin can be defined by a specific Planning Permission boundary, a detailed Remediation Strategy, an Environmental Permit Deployment Form, or other regulator-agreed parameters.
• Good practice, as demanded by the DoW CoP, involves considering environmental, social, and economic principles to ensure sustainable remediation and earthworks.
• For large or complex projects, it may be sensible to divide the site based on environmental sensitivities, geographic units, contamination presence, or work package timings.

For comprehensive guidance on defining a Site of Origin, please refer to the full list of FAQs here.

CL:AIRE is pleased to announce the publication of a new FAQ addressing the potential use of the Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoW CoP) for quarry backfilling.

Key highlights:

• The applicability of DoW CoP for quarry backfilling is determined by the specifics of the proposed backfill operation and planning permissions.
• Generally, large-scale quarry backfilling is unlikely to be suitable for DoW CoP and requires an environmental permit.
• There are exceptions where DoW CoP may be applicable for limited backfill activities, such as re-landscaping, habitat creation, and stabilising cliffs, provided all DoW CoP requirements are met.

For full details and to understand when DoW CoP can be used, check out the complete list of FAQs here.

BGS has developed the first national-scale groundwater model in Great Britain. The new model provides a unique tool for simulating groundwater resources at a national scale.  Further information is available here.

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published the second edition of its whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) for the built environment. The second edition builds upon version one extending to cover all buildings and infrastructure throughout the built environment life cycle.  For further information and to download the tool click here.

Ordnance Survey and BGS have teamed up to add a range of geological data products to the OS Data Hub, making it easier for users to access and use geospatial data. Further information is available here.

The European Council has adopted regulations on nature restoration. This law puts measures in place to restore at least 20% of the European Union’s land and sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. Further information is available here.

British Geological Survey (BGS) has released significant updates to its online tool for validating geotechnical data held as AGS files.  The update includes improvements to the tool's user interface and the ability to convert AGS data into MS Excel files. Further information is available here.