We were appointed by Audi to perform a baseline investigation for the company’s production site in Brussels. The site comprises a total of 49 different cadastral parcels covering a surface of approximately 44 hectares.
At the onset of the baseline investigation, a thorough historical investigation of the site’s past activities, including a review of the municipal archive, was performed in order to determine potentially contaminated areas at the site. The outcome of this historical investigation was presented in an organised summary using our internal Geographic Information System system.
The intrusive field work comprised approximately 170 soil drillings from which approximately 250 soil samples were selected for analytical analysis. Drilling works were executed according to the site-specific health and safety requirements, and in line with the applicable regulatory protocols. In addition, approximately 150 groundwater samples were taken and sent to the lab for analysis.
The outcome of this extensive field investigation was reported according to the regulatory format as a “verkennend bodemonderzoek” or “reconnaissance de l’état du sol,” and was approved by the local environmental authorities.
As part of the assignment, a remediation budget estimate was requested by Audi. In order to provide a consistent approach for each contaminated area, a standard cost-estimation methodology was developed and presented to Audi. Next, the approved methodology was applied for every contaminated area at the site. As a result, an overall liability estimation related to contaminated land issues was delivered to the site management.
Additionally, we provided advice and services for Audi in the framework of soil management related to maintenance works at the site. A plan describing control measures associated with the presence of contaminated soils at the location of the planned maintenance works was submitted to and approved by the local environmental authorities.