phase i - environmental assessment of the former nestlé
TRANSCRIPT
Phase I - Environmental Assessment
of the Former Nestlé Buxton Water
Facility, Buxton, Derbyshire
Prepared for
Alps Group Ltd
On behalf of
Nestlé Waters UK Ltd
Prepared by
Geosyntec Consultants Ltd
1st Floor, Gatehead Business Park,
Delph New Road Delph,
Oldham
OL3 5DE
Project Number GCU0124021
January 2014
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Project Title: Phase I – Environmental Assessment of the Former Nestlé Buxton
Water Facility, Buxton, Derbyshire
Project No: GCU0124021
Report Ref: GCU0124021/Draft Report
Status: Draft (Privileged & Confidential)
Client: Alps Group Ltd
Client Details: 4 Vernon Street
Derby
DE1 1FR
Issued By: Geosyntec Consultants Ltd
Unit 7, 1st floor Gatehead Business Park
Delph New Road
Delph
Oldham
OL3 5DE
Document Production / Approval Record (final documents only)
Name Signature Date Position
Prepared by
Emma Smith
8th January 2014
Hydrogeologist
Reviewed by
Andrew Morgan
8th January 2014
Senior Consultant
Approved by
Jim Wragg
8th January 2014
Director
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LIMITATION
Geosyntec Consultants Ltd (Geosyntec) has prepared this Report for the sole use of Alps Group Ltd and Nestlé Waters UK Ltd (Nestlé) in accordance with the Agreement under which our services were performed. No other warranty, express or implied, is made as to the professional advice included in this Report or any other services provided by us. This Report may not be relied upon by any other party without the prior and express written agreement of Geosyntec.
Unless otherwise stated in this Report, the assessments made assume that the site and facilities will continue to be used for their current purpose without significant change. The conclusions and recommendations contained in this Report are based upon information provided by others and upon the assumption that all relevant information has been provided by those parties from whom it has been requested. Information obtained from third parties has not been independently verified by Geosyntec, unless otherwise stated in the Report.
Where assessments of works or costs required to reduce or mitigate any environmental liability identified in this Report are made, such assessments are based upon the information available at the time and may be subject to further investigations or information which may become available. It is therefore possible that cost estimates, where provided, may vary outside stated ranges. Where assessments of works or costs necessary to achieve compliance have been made these are based upon measures which, in Geosyntec’s experience could normally be negotiated with the relevant authorities under present legislation and enforcement practice, assuming a pro-active and reasonable approach by site management.
COPYRIGHT
© This Report is the copyright of Geosyntec Consultants Ltd. Any unauthorised reproduction or usage by any person other than the addressee is strictly prohibited.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1
1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Project Background .......................................................................................... 3
1.3 Objectives ........................................................................................................... 3
1.4 Scope of Works ................................................................................................. 4
1.5 Information Sources ......................................................................................... 5
2 SITE SETTING .............................................................................................................. 6
2.1 Site Characteristics & Surrounding Land Use.............................................. 6
2.2 Geology .............................................................................................................. 7
2.3 Hydrology ......................................................................................................... 8
2.4 Licensed Abstractions ...................................................................................... 8
2.5 Hydrogeology ................................................................................................... 8
2.6 Soil & Groundwater Quality Information .................................................... 9
2.7 Recorded Environmental Incidents ............................................................... 9
2.8 Site History ...................................................................................................... 10
2.9 Overview of Recent Site Operations ............................................................ 13
3 SITE RECONNISANCE VISIT ................................................................................. 14
4 PRELIMINARY RISK ASSESSMENT (PRA) ......................................................... 15
5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................. 20
FIGURES
Figure 1 - Site Location Plan
Figure 2 - Ariel Photo Image of the Site
Figure 3 - Site Layout and Topography Plan
Figure 4 - Location of Potential Ground Contamination Source Areas
APPENDICES
Appendix A – Selected Envirocheck Report Data, Figures and historical OS mapping
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report presents the findings of a Phase I environmental assessment of potential soil and
groundwater contamination issues at the former Nestlé Waters UK Ltd Mineral Water bottling
facility on Station Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6AQ (the subject Site). Geosyntec Consultants
Ltd (Geosyntec) was appointed by Alps Group Ltd (Alps) on behalf of Nestlé Waters UK Ltd (Nestlé)
to undertake this study so as to minimise the uncertainty faced by a purchaser in relation to potential
ground contamination issues at the Site.
The scope of works completed for the study comprised a desk study review of publically available
database information coupled with a site visit and interviews with Nestlé personnel.
Initial development of the Site in the 1800s comprised rail sidings, a goods/engine shed and associated infrastructure. Since 1987 (northern section) and 1993 (southern area) the 2.53Ha Site has been used as a mineral water bottling plant. The latter was demolished in the summer of 2013 to factory floor slab level.
The Site is underlain by a variable thickness of Made Ground overlying superficial soils of cohesive sandy gravelly clay (with minor peat), beneath which is Shale bedrock. Borehole records suggest the presence of shallow groundwater at around 3-7m below ground level. This is likely to flow south following the topography of the area and could discharge as base flow to the River Wye, or ingress to the principal limestone aquifer which outcrops to the south and is abstracted locally for potable supply.
In summary, the Site setting would be considered to be only moderately sensitive both from a Human Health perspective (on the basis of a future retail, commercial or light industrial site development) and also with respect to groundwater quality as, despite the proximity of a principal aquifer, this should be afforded some protection from Site derived contamination by the low permeability superficial soils which are believed to underlie the site.
Key potential sources of contamination at the Site include:
Components of the made ground (may include asbestos, heavy metals and PAHs);
Localised hydrocarbon contamination;
Potential residues of detergents and other cleaning chemicals.
It is not possible to assess the need for or cost of corrective action to address these ground contamination issues in the absence of intrusive environmental investigation data for key potential source areas at the site. An investigation of the site by Delta Simons was undertaken in January 2011 as a precursor to a potential redevelopment of the site for retail use. It is understood that no reliance is available for this work and comments made in relation to the Delta Simons report should be viewed with that in mind. A further limitation on the usefulness of the Delta Simons investigation is that it was undertaken at a time prior to demolition of the former Nestlé bottling plant. As such access for intrusive sampling of soil and groundwater was restricted to the central section of the site and specifically excluded the key areas of potential concern identified by both this and the earlier study towards the northern and southern site boundaries.
Whilst the nature of a retail, commercial or light industrial developments (most likely site development scenarios) would be expected to mitigate many of the potential human health exposure pathways (e.g. limited soft landscaping minimising exposure to dust or direct dermal contact with contaminated soils) there may still be risk drivers for corrective action at the site where gross contamination is present. In addition there may be additional costs associated with development of the site associated with ground contamination (such as the need for vapour barriers, premiums for
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disposal of soil arisings from service trenches etc) and precautions to protect the health of construction workers. As such it is recommended that consideration be given to the performance of an intrusive site investigation to directly assess:
Soil and shallow groundwater quality in key areas of the Site where hydrocarbons impacts are known or have the potential to have occurred:
Validation of clean-up for the former boiler house/compressor building area (towards the northern site corner);
Foot print of the goods/engine shed structures that were present during the period of the sites use as a rail depot (adjacent to the southern site boundary), and;
The site boundary bordering closest to a former offsite diesel locomotive refueling facility.
General quality of fill materials underlying the site in respect of potential impacts by heavy metals, PAHs, herbicides and asbestos;
Impacts to soil and groundwater quality in respect of chemicals utilised for CIP during operation of the bottling plant. Areas in which bulk storage of these materials was undertaken would be considered to present the highest risk in this regard.
The investigation should also seek to extend the current understanding of key aspects of ground conditions at the site. Specifically, the consistency of soils types and groundwater flow direction across the wider site area are important to understand so that the significance of ground contamination issues can be placed in context. In respect of the latter, it may be possible to utilise elements of the groundwater/groundgas monitoring well network installed by Delta Simons in conjunction with addi8tional sampling locations. The need for remedial works to address ground contamination issues could then be assessed by the performance of a Detailed Quantitative Risk Assessment (DQRA) in line with UK regulatory guidance.
Our budget estimate range to complete the recommended works is £20,000 to £35,000. Geosyntec would be more than happy to provide a detailed cost estimate related to the aforementioned proposed works.
In our experience of similar sites Geosyntec believe that the recommended works will allow Nestlé to be placed in an informed position with respect to soil and groundwater liabilities associated with the Site, therefore allowing the preferred route of either corrective action (if required) or future divesture considerations/allowances to be pragmatically managed moving forward. The recommended further investigation works will also provide additional “value” to the developer with respect to dealing with foreseeable redevelopment planning conditions related to the land contamination risk.
We would also recommend that measures are implemented to remove the fence line and
excavate/validate removal of the grossly impacted soils that are exposed on the embankment in the
northern corner of the site. It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of costs for these works as
it was not possible to ascertain the volume of material requiring removal.
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1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
Geosyntec Consultants Ltd (Geosyntec) was appointed by Alps Group Ltd (Alps) on behalf of Nestlé Waters UK Ltd (Nestlé) to undertake a Phase I environmental assessment of potential soil and groundwater contamination issue at the former Nestlé, Buxton Mineral Water bottling facility on Station Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6AQ (the subject Site). A combined desk study and site audit was undertaken to gather information relating to potential sources of soil and groundwater contamination at the Site. This work has been undertaken in accordance with our proposal (reference 13-08-08vB/JW) which was authorised by Peter Alcock of Alps Group in September 20131.
The overall aim of this study was to inform Nestlé and potential future purchasers of the Site with regards to the potential likelihood, significance and location of ground contamination issues at the Site that can be inferred from its historical use and that of land in the vicinity.
1.2 Project Background
It is understood that Nestlé have retained the services of Alps to assist them in the sale of their former bottling and packaging Site in Buxton, Derbyshire. Site operations were transferred to a new facility and demolition works at the subject Site were completed in September 2013. As such the Site currently comprises an area of brownfield land ready for redevelopment. The future use of the Site is uncertain at this stage although it is understood that retail, commercial or light industrial redevelopment schemes are likely given the town centre setting of the property. The Site location is illustrated by Figure 1. The pre-demolition layout of the site is illustrated by Figures 2 and 3. The location of key historical features is illustrated by Figure 4.
For Nestlé to maximise their returns from a sale of the land, it will be necessary to minimise the uncertainty faced by a purchaser in relation to potential ground contamination issues. Alps have therefore commissioned Geosyntec to undertake this initial Phase I study to collate and assess readily available information so that the likely presence, potential type, extent, magnitude and significance of ground contamination issues can be assessed. In the event that potentially significant ground contamination issues are identified, the necessity for, outline scope and costs of an intrusive soil and groundwater investigation were to be identified.
In addition this report was to consider certain aspects of the building/infrastructure on Site that could represent a potentially significant environmental liability. For example these could be linked to the presence of asbestos containing material (ACM); the potential presence of PCB oils in on-site electrical equipment and/or refrigerants in cooling systems.
1.3 Objectives
The proposed aims of the Phase I source audit were to:
1 Authorisation received via email entitled “Nestle Waters Buxton”, dated 4th September 2013 15:40.
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Provide a description of historical land use and Site operations associated with potentially hazardous materials. Former uses of the subject Site and those on adjacent properties with the potential to have affected the subject Site were to be considered;
Identify areas where potentially hazardous materials are known or are suspected to have been released through spillages or leaks that could have affected the subject Site;
Collate relevant information from which it will be possible to produce a conceptual understanding of potential contamination migration pathways and receptors for the Site. Combine this understanding with that gained regarding potential contamination sources to identify potential pollutant linkages posed by the Site in the context of a future redevelopment;
Identify where currently available data is likely to be adequate for an assessment to be made of the need for and costs of remedial works to render the Site suitable for future development options currently under consideration. Where the data to make these assessments is currently incomplete or absent then the scope and cost of follow-up investigations will be identified, and;
Obtain, collate and present information regarding other aspects of the Sites condition or offsite considerations that may materially affect the costs for redeveloping the Site;
1.4 Scope of Works
The scope of works completed for this Phase 1 study to meet the above objectives comprised the:
Procurement of environmental database information (Landmark Envirocheck report) for the Site and its surroundings, including a set of historical Ordnance Survey plans and geological maps;
Review of the database information and historical maps to identify the potential for sources of ground contamination from past land use that could adversely affect the Site;
Review of Nestlé supplied documentation with regard to manufacturing processes which were undertaken onsite to provide identify possible contaminants that may be present. Collation of information to identify areas where potentially hazardous materials are known or are suspected to have been released through spillages or leaks.
Review of available drawings showing underground structures and services;
Review of information regarding the location and condition of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) within the fabric of any remaining Site buildings; and
Undertaking a Site visit in the company of Nestlé personnel to inspect the subject Site area for visual or olfactory indications of contamination.
Based on the aforementioned objectives and the defined scope of works the remainder of this report has been structured in the following manner:
Section 2: Site Setting – The Site setting, geological and hydrogeological conditions; historical land use and that of adjacent properties are reviewed in Section 2;
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Section 3: Site Reconnaissance Visit – This section describes the findings of the Site inspection and provides a summary of relevant information received from the Nestlé representative who attended the visit.
Section 4: Preliminary Risk Assessment (PRA) – Utilising the information collated and reviewed within Sections 2 & 3, a Conceptual Site Model (CSM) is presented highlighting the key potential contaminant source-pathway-receptor linkages that may be present at the site. The possible significance of these linkages is then placed in context through the process of a qualitative risk assessment.
Section 5: Conclusions and Recommendations – This section summarises the conclusions drawn from this study and if sets out recommendations for further works.
1.5 Information Sources
The information used to develop this Environmental Assessment Report has come from the following sources:-
Landmark (Envirocheck) Report: Order Number – 48984679_2_1. Dated 6th September 2013;
Update Report: Works Completed Last Week, unreferenced and undated;
Waste Management Consignment note & Advice Waste Transfer Note, consignment note code OES56001KF001, Dated 19th – 20th August 2013.
Asbestos Report: Refurbishment & Demolition Asbestos Survey Report. Report Reference: CB-9434-13. Date surveyed: 10th to 15th April 2013;
Gas Utility Drawing: National Grid Utility Drawing: Map Reference SK0673. Extract Date 16th March 2013;
Environmental Due Diligence Report: Nestlé Waters UK, Station Road, Buxton. Report Ref: 3143.xxx.xxx.000. Undated;
Site Topography Plan: Topographical Survey. Drawn by Greenhatch Group. Drawing Number: 13935OGL. Rev. 0;
Site Layout Drawing: Site Master plan Drawing (unreferenced and undated);
Drainage Plan: Site Drainage Layout. Drawn by Buxton Nestlé Waters. Drawing Number App_Rev1. Dated 3rd March 2006;
British Geological Survey Map: 1:50,000 Series Sheet 111: Buxton Solid & Drift Edition;
Environmental Assessment Report, Buxton Water, Station Road, Buxton, Derbyshire for Tesco Stores Ltd and Nestle Waters UK Ltd, Delta Simons Project No. 10-3263.032.
Selected components of these information sources are included within Appendix A.
2 It is understood that no reliance is provided with this report and it has therefore only been used for general information where appropriate.
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2 SITE SETTING
2.1 Site Characteristics & Surrounding Land Use
The former Nestlé Waters UK Buxton bottling facility location is illustrated by Figure 1. The Site is located at National Grid Reference 406080, 373820 on the northern side of Buxton town centre. The property is approximately triangular in shape; has an area of approximately 2.53 Ha and is at an elevation of around 300m AOD with modest falls towards the southern Site boundary. There is also an embankment and/or retaining wall running along the eastern Site boundary.
The only buildings remaining on site are small brick structures and are the termination points for gas and electrical supplies. These are located on a grassed area adjacent to the north western Site boundary. It is understood that the principal buildings which formed the former Buxton Water bottling plant were demolished earlier in 2013 to floor slab level. Crushed fill material generated by the demolition works has been used to infill any sharp changes in grade thereby leaving the Site in a safer state. The Site boundary is defined by palisade fencing along with a 1-5metre wide continual strip of grass/landscaping at the periphery of the Site. There is an asphalt surfaced car park in the south western corner of the Site and a network of asphalt surfaced access roads along the spine of the Site.
To the northwest and east, the Site is bound by railway lines and (to the northwest) railway related buildings including an engine shed that previously included diesel refueling facilities for locomotives. Beyond the rail lines, land use is mixed and includes both residential and light industrial/commercial properties. To the south is an Aldi retail store along with the A53 (Station Road) which provides a transportation route to the town centre. The main Site access is via a small side road off the A53 which is shared by the adjacent Buxton Railway Station.
Appraisal of the Landmark report highlights a number of industrial properties within 1 km of the Site where operations require specific environmental licenses. Specifically:
In addition to a discharge consent formerly registered to the Site (for cooling water) there have been 2 other discharge consents (1 type unknown; 1 treated sewage effluent; 1 trade discharge (cooling water)) between within a 250m radius the Site. 1 further trade discharge consent and 1 treated sewage effluent consent have also been permitted for locations between ~250-1000m from the Site;
There are 3 recorded landfill sites between ~650m-750m north of the Site (1 for industrial and commercial waste; 1 for domestic industrial and commercial; 1 unknown);
There are two recorded opencast historical mineral sites (limestone quarries) ~750m to 950m north west of the Site;
There are 11 contemporary Trade Directory entries for potentially contaminative land uses within 250m of the Site (4 of which are active, 7 in-active). Active sites include a printers, electrical engineers, joiners and a garage;
Other significant Contemporary Trade Directory Entries (~250m-500m away from the Site) are reported to include: Garage services; dry cleaners; commercial vehicle dealers; road marking and surfacing equipment and ‘material’ manufactures; damp and dry rot control; and
There is 1 in-active fuel station recorded ~270m east of the Site and 1 active fuel station ~900m south east of the Site.
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In addition, there are two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s) within 1km of the Site, namely Buxton Country Park and Cunning Dale. They are both located approximately 300m to the south west and 400m to the south east of the Site respectively. An area designated as the ‘South West Peak’, located from approximately 341m to the north of the Site is also considered an “environmentally sensitive area” by the Environment Agency.
2.2 Geology
Utilising the British Geological Survey (BGS) 1:50,000 scale geological maps for Buxton (Sheet No. 111), the available online borehole log information from the BGS web-based portal3, the Delta-Simons report and professional judgment the following geological profile for the Site has established4:
MADE GROUND: comprising Reinforced concrete, asphalt or topsoil overlying engineered hardcore fill and soft-firm light grey/brown ‘shaley’ and gravelly clay. These deposits are recorded as varying in thickness between 0.9m to greater than 5m across the areas of investigation, in the central and southern portions of the Site. Additional observations have also identified the presence of “ash” and “slightly odorous” soils being present in this stratum;
SUPERFICAL DEPSOITS: whilst the Envirocheck Report for the Site and BGS mapping for the area does not identify superficial deposits in the vicinity of the Site, the BGS and Delta-Simons borehole log records indicate the presence of an unconsolidated superficial deposit comprising firm-stiff CLAY, which is laminated in some instances and at least occasionally sandy/gravelly, overlying a thinner layer of discontinuous PEAT deposits. Based on the available data these superficial deposits range in thickness from 1.1-6.6m, and;
BEDROCK: highly weathered SHALE has been encountered in boreholes drilled at the Site. This bedrock is believed to be part of the Carboniferous Bowland Shale Formation, part of the Millstone Grit Series and comprising interbedded Mudstone, Siltstone and Sandstone strata. Competent bedrock was encountered in the three borehole records available for the Site at depths of between 7 and 9.1 metres below ground level. Bedrock is indicated by BGS geological mapping to dip at around 15o to the north. Also shown are SSE and EW trending faults within 300m east of the Site.
The Environment Agency classifications for the following potential geological risks are provided for the site area:
The Site is not within a coal mining area, and has therefore been classed as “highly unlikely” in respect of being affected by subsidence due to historic or current coal mining activities;
The potential for collapsible ground stability hazards, landslide ground stability hazards, and shrinking or swelling clay at the Site is classed as “Very Low”, “Very Low” and “Low” respectively. There is “No Hazard” associated with potential compressible ground stability or running sand ground stability hazards; and
3 Boreholes and trail pits referenced are all within the site boundary (Figure 3) and included borehole reference
numbers SK07SE125, SK07SE121, SK07SE118, SKO7E126, SKO7SEE124, SKO7SEE128, SKO7SE122, SK07SEE119, SK07SE127, SK07SE123, SK07SE127,SKO7SE120 and SK07SE129
4 Demolition crushed material lying on the site surface has been excluded as the profile is representative of the belowground surface characteristics only.
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The Site is located in an area where basic radon protective measures are necessary. The Site is in an intermediate probability radon area, 5-10% of residences in the local area are above the action level.
2.3 Hydrology
The principal surface watercourse in the area is the River Wye which is located approximately 250m south of the Site. The river runs through the centre of Buxton and flows towards the east and south along Ashwood Dale adjacent to the A6 trunk road. A tributary of the Wye, Hogshaw Brook flows south to its confluence with the River Wye and passes within 70m east of the Site.
The Environment Agency database holds the following information for the River Wye:
Current ecological status – Moderate;
2015 predicted chemical quality – Good;
Overall risk – At risk;
Protected Area – Yes.
It is believed that the chemical quality status for this stretch of the River Wye is driven by discharges from the sewage treatment works in Ashwood Dale and is not related to land contamination point source(s). Previous data collated by Nestlé suggest that abstraction between Cunning Dale and Great Rocks Dale may be affecting flows in the River Wye.
The Environment Agency has classified land immediately adjacent to the River Wye as Zone 2 flood risk (extreme risk of flooding from rivers or sea without defences), however, the Nestlé Site is around 10-15m higher than the River Wye to the South and the risk of flooding at this location is considered to be low.
2.4 Licensed Abstractions
There are a number of licensed surface and groundwater abstraction records in the vicinity of the Site. The closest appear to for three individual locations referred to as Points A, B and C that are between 348 to 484m south west of the subject Site. They are registered to the High Peak Borough Council, for general use, variously described as being from surface or groundwater and are located at the Crescent and/or St Anne’s Hotel in Buxton. Three additional licensed abstractions are located in the vicinity of the Site. They relate to a well registered to Buxton Hydro Spring Ltd – bottled Water supply (Eagle St. Buxton, 629m to the south west); the Nestle Waters UK Ltd well located at Lightwood (1.3km to the Northwest) and a Severn Trent potable supply from the Lightwood reservoir (1.4km to the Northwest).
2.5 Hydrogeology
BGS and Delta Simons borehole records indicate that shallow groundwater was encountered during previous intrusive investigations at the Site at depths of between 3.0 to 7m below ground level in the cohesive clay superficial deposits. Insufficient data is available to assess the groundwater flow regime at this horizon although it would typically be expected to follow topography in the area and be towards the River Wye to the south and/or Hogshaw Brook to the east.
The underlying bedrock aquifer designation of the Carboniferous Shale is Secondary A. Secondary A aquifers have permeable layers capable of supporting water supplies at a local rather than strategic scale, and in some cases form an important source of base flow to rivers. These aquifers where formerly classified as ‘minor’ aquifers.
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Regional topography, surface waters potentially receiving base flow from bedrock groundwater and those licensed groundwater abstractions that are within 1km of the Site all suggest groundwater flow in the bedrock beneath the Site would be towards the south west, south or south east. It is therefore possible that deep groundwater passing beneath the site could interact with that in the Monsal and/or Bee Low Limestone Carboniferous Formations which out crop to the south. These groundwater bodies are considered to be more environmentally sensitive and are classified as Principal aquifers (capable of supporting water supply and/or river base flow on a strategic scale). The sensitivity of this groundwater bearing formation also results in the area (from 250m south of the Site) being classified as an inner Zone 1 Source Protection Zone.
2.6 Soil & Groundwater Quality Information
At the time of writing, it has not been possible to obtain a copy of any reports relating to the investigation at the Site that included the borehole and trial pit logs which are available online via the BGS database. This intrusive investigation was undertaken in November 1990 in the southerly portion of the Site (Figure 3). It is assumed that the main objective of this investigation was to assess geotechnical conditions within the footprint of the southernmost production building on the former Buxton Water bottling facility. The borehole and trial pit logs do not provide detailed information on land contamination issues nor do they indicate if samples were collected for environmental analysis. However, the borehole and trial pit records do indicate the presence of “ash” and “slightly odorous” soil within the shallow Made Ground deposits.
BGS soil chemistry atlas data for the area in which the Site is located indicate suggest typical background soil quality to comprise:
Arsenic = 15-25mg/kg
Cadmium = <1.8mg/kg
Lead = 150-300mg/kg
Nickel = 15-30mg/kg
The above ranges are below the respective Soil Guideline Values for a sensitive land use such as residential housing with gardens. However, the presence of ash in the Made Ground might lead to more elevated concentrations of heavy metals than those presented above which are likely to reflect the quality of natural soils in the area. Locally elevated PAH concentrations were detected in the soil samples collected by Delta-Simons across the central portion of the site. However, ‘ash’ was not identified as a component of the fill material in the Delta-Simons lithological descriptions and more impacted soil conditions may be present in areas of the site outside of the corridor of land available to Delta-Simons in 2011.
2.7 Recorded Environmental Incidents
A review of the Environment Agency database and the Landmark Group ‘Envirocheck’ report information identified no records of environmental incidents that are attributed to the Site specifically. However, the following incidents were recorded for the surrounding area:
There have been 2 substantiated pollution incidents resulting insignificant impacts to water quality. The first in November 2001 (~700m from the Site) and the second in May 2006 (~250m from the Site).
There have been 7 Local Authority Pollution Prevention interventions between ~200 to 900m away from the Site. All were associated with Air Pollution Controls between 1996 and 1997.
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There have been 4 significant (2 organic waste; 1 detergent spill; 1 miscellaneous) and 19 minor (oil spills to river; solvent leakage; organic waste; chemical spills; unknown) pollution incidents to controlled waters which have occurred between ~170m-1000m away from the Site between 1995-1999.
2.8 Site History
Historical Ordnance survey maps were obtained as part of the Envirocheck report procured for the Site. Selected maps are included as Appendix A to this report.
Key features of each map in relation to development of the Site, surrounding land and the potential for contaminative land use are summarized in the following table.
Table 1: Historical Land Use & Potential Sources of Contamination
1879- The earliest edition of the Ordnance Survey map for Buxton shows the Site to be bordered by railway lines and associated embankments running roughly parallel to the north west and north east facing perimeters. There is an area of excavated ground in the northern corner and the central eastern section of the Site. The latter appears to show a pond at its base. Rail sidings run roughly WSW-ENE through the south western area of the Site. These variously terminate at the ‘Midlands Goods Shed’ located in the central southern section of the Site or at the ‘Midlands Station’ to the west. There are 2-3 other small building structures marked within the Site. They are unlabeled but are considered likely to be related to the railway.
A further Goods shed associated with the London & North Railway station is located on the south western Site perimeter. A coal shed is located in the central section of the southern Site boundary. There is an Engine Shed located around 50m north west of the Site.
The two previously referenced train stations are shown around 50m beyond the south western Site boundary. Beyond the rail lines, land use appears to be primarily fields and woodland to the north west with fields, residential properties and small businesses to the east. To the south, Buxton town centre commences from around 75m beyond the Site boundary. Of note is the Gas Works that was located around 75m south of the southeastern corner of the subject Site.
1898- More extensive railway lines and sidings have been developed. Specifically, a new railway track on an embankment cuts through the middle of the Site (running approximately W-E). A further track runs just slightly west of the Site centre (running NNE-SSW). Additional rail lines and the supporting embankment to the east have been extended over the eastern section of the Site. The smaller of the two goods sheds and the Engine Shed are no longer identified. The largest goods shed remains. The Engine Shed located in the vicinity of the current Aldi supermarket to the south has been extended.
Surrounding land use is broadly similar although the previously identified Engine Shed to the north west of the Site is no longer shown and the Gas Works and two gasometers to the south east are no longer marked. The latter is now labeled as a Laundry.
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1922- The Site remains largely unchanged. There are four new small buildings shown in the central western area of the Site. The large goods shed remains. Surrounding land use remains largely unchanged.
1967- The four small buildings that appeared on the 1922 map are no longer shown.
The Midland Railway Station to the west of the Site has been largely demolished
The large goods shed remains in the south central section of the Site. A large Carriage Shed is now located in the area to the northwest of the site boundary, in which an ‘Engine Shed’ was formerly marked on the 1879 map. Photographs of this structure from the 1970s show it to have facilities for the refueling of diesel locomotives. This offsite fueling facility did not appear (from a fence line inspection) to be present at the time of the site visit in August 2013. Further to the northwest, around 100m from the Site is a printing works. This is still shown as being present on current mapping for Buxton. The Engine Shed to the south of the Site (current Aldi store) is by 1967 identified as a Bus Depot.
The surrounding land is now significantly more built up with extensive residential and commercial land use(s) in all directions around the Site.
1975- The railways running approximately W-E through the middle of the Site and others in the south of the Site have now been dismantled. Embankments remain in the centre of the Site. The rail track running NNE-SSW is no longer indicated. Scrubland replaces the former rail track areas in the south. The large goods shed and carriage shed remain. The Bus Depot remains.
1977-1989 The dismantled railway track running W-E through the Site has now been made into an access road. Rail tracks in the south of the Site have been partially reinstated, this area including the large goods shed just south of the centre of the Site (marked as an ‘Engine Shed’) form the ‘Peak Rail Steam Centre’.
It is understood that a mineral water bottling plant was initially developed at the Site by Perrier-Vittel in 1987. The 1989 mapping shows a new works building in the northern third of the Site (believed to be the Perrier-Vittel bottled water facility). Surrounding land use remains largely unchanged.
1989 - 1990 The bottled water facility building has been extended to the north. The Site remains largely unchanged. The Engine Shed just south of the centre of the Site remains and is marked as the Peak Rail Steam Centre.
1993 - 2006 Development at the Site has increased significantly and is understood by this time to be owned by Nestlé Waters UK Ltd. The Peak Rail Steam Centre, the access road running W-E through the Site and the former Engine Shed are all no longer identified. The bottled water facility building in the centre/north of the Site has been extended, in part by cutting into the rail embankment that forms the eastern Site boundary. By 1993 it is shown to extend over the majority of the northern third of the Site area and there is now a new building along the southern Site boundary. Surrounding land use remains largely
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unchanged.
2006 - 20135 The Site remains largely unchanged. Surrounding land is generally more densely developed in all directions. A topographic survey of the Site dated 2009 showed the general Site layout to be similar to that on the 1993 plan. Aspects of the Site layout include:
Numerous above ground storage tanks located in close proximity the northern building and adjacent to the eastern end of the southern building footprint;
Air conditioning and compressed air systems were located on the external walls (south-east and northern corners respectively) of the northerly building
Three electrical substations
September 2013
Site is now decommissioned and the buildings demolished to floor slab level.
Based upon the above chronology of onsite and offsite activities the following list of potential contaminants of concern can be generated for historical land use on and offsite:
Ash and clinker material: potentially arising from steam trains/imported for use as rail ballast, typically contains elevated concentrations of heavy metals and PAHs;
Components of the fill material used to infill historical excavations at the Site and to build-up embankments along the eastern edge of the Site and formerly through the centre and along the southern boundary too.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s): from creosote used as a preservative treatment for railway sleepers;
Atrazine, Simazine and other Pesticides: Used as a herbicide on railway siding sites;
Fuel oils/lubricating oils and solvents: Used in the fuelling, servicing and re-conditioning of locomotives. Railway locomotive refueling operations are commonly associated with ground contamination. The facility for this activity at Buxton Station was located around 30m up-gradient of the subject Site. Other onsite potential hydrocarbon contamination sources include materials used in the former Engine shed in the central southern section of the Site.
Asbestos Containing Materials that may be present within Made Ground at the site having been imported or arising from the demolition of earlier building structures at the Site;
Offsite contamination sources include the printing works (organic solvents) and the Gas works although the latter would be expected to be down gradient of the Site.
The potential sources described above exclude those related to the Sites use as a mineral water bottling facility. Potential ground contamination sources associated with that activity are described in below.
5 No historical map data on a 1:2500 scale is available for the site between 1994-2005.
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2.9 Overview of Recent Site Operations
It is understood that the Site was initially developed by Perrier-Vittel in 1987 as a mineral water bottling facility. The Site was subsequently acquired by Nestlé in 1993. This coincided with a substantial expansion of the facility. Site operations were discontinued in December 2012 following development of the new facility. From information provided by Nestlé personnel it is understood that site operations included:
Importation of natural mineral water, spring water and raw materials (plastic, cardboard, labels) for manufacturing;
Cleaning operations. CIP (Cleaning in Place) activities primarily used caustic soda, Peracetic acid, detergents, nitric acid, use of food grade lubricants and greases; and
Packing and transportation of finished product onto lorries for off-site distribution. It is understood that no refueling of delivery vehicles took place at the Site.
The information provided by Nestlé & Alps has also included the following key documents and relevant findings/conclusions:
As part of an internal Nestlé environmental due diligence exercise, a Site walkover was conducted on 19th March 2013 prior to the Site demolition. This exercise identified the following:
o Moderate surface staining of the former goods loading area, indicative of minor oil losses from parked vehicles; and
o Visual evidence of potentially significant oil losses to ground at the rear of the main production building where the plant area (compressors and boiler) was located. It was indicated that the contamination in this area warranted further investigation and potentially decontamination;
An Asbestos survey of the Site was undertaken in April 2013. A refurbishment and demolition survey was completed of the entire Site and confirmed that there were no licensable Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) identified in the area surveyed. 38 items of non-licensed ACM were identified and it was recommended that these items should be removed by a competent person in accordance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. No subsequent post demolition reporting has been provided as part of this assessment which validates the Asbestos removal works as part of the Site decommissioning process. Observations made during the post-demolition Site walkover by Geosyntec in September 2013 did not identify potential ACM materials within the crushed fill material exposed at surface;
Waste management documentation6 has been provided in relation to load of hazardous contaminated soil which was removed from the Site and disposed of at Port Clearance Site, Middlesbrough. The material was classified as “concrete contaminated with oil” with a hydrocarbon concentration greater than 0.6%. The quantity of material was calculated as 14.80tonne and was received at the Port Clearance Site in Middlesbrough on 20th August 2013. The location from which this material originated is understood to be the area of stained soils adjacent to the boiler house in the northern corner of the Site as noted in the Nestlé Site walkover report from 19th March 2013; and
6 Consignment Code: OE5600IKF001, Premises Number OES600, EWC code 170903*, Quantity = 14,800kg and associated waste transfer note: Ticket Number 260532 dated 20/08/2013
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A certificate of completion for the demolitions works from Haas-Tek services in relation to the elements of the projects having been completed in full to a satisfactory standard. In addition, a Site Inspection Form (dated 22/8/13) and handover certificate of the Health and Safety File (Brief Note: CF0213) was also provided. Upon issue of the information (from Foyle Safety) it was confirmed that the project was complete and considered closed regarding the duty of CDM Coordination.
3 SITE RECONNISANCE VISIT
A guided Site tour was undertaken by Jim Wragg and Emma Smith of Geosyntec on the 11th September 2013, in the company of David Stancil of Nestlé to discuss various Site operations that might have led to land and groundwater related environmental liability. Most of the Site observations are aligned with the Site history and conditions described above. However, the following key observations were additionally recorded:
Former Site Operations: It was confirmed onsite that the tanks historically located in the southeastern corner of the Site where utilised for water storage only. It was also stated that the building located in the northern section of the Site undertook most of the cleaning and bottling process, and therefore included most of the possible hazardous substances and operational activities when compared to the other main site building to the south which was predominately utilised as a warehouse. Specifically the periphery of the northern building included a compressor house and boiler adjacent to which there was hydrocarbon stained soils that had been removed as part of the demolition works. In addition there was bulk and smaller container storage for the CIP chemicals.
Stained Soils: surface soils on an embankment adjacent to but beyond the newly installed fence at the northern corner of the Site was noted to be locally stained and to be giving off an odour of weathered hydrocarbons.
Post Demolition Crush Material: A relatively thin layer (less than 300mm) of concrete/brick and demolition material was reported to be present across approximately 25% of the Site. This material included no visual evidence of any Asbestos containing materials or other visual or olfactory evidence of contamination.
Invasive Species: During the Site walkover no invasive species (Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Blossom, Giant Hogweed) where observed, although it must be appreciated this visit was undertaken outside of the main growing season.
Surface/Standing Water: During the Site walkover there was no observed ponding or standing water across any parts of the Site.
Site Utilities: It is understood that underground services have been capped close to the Site boundaries. Nestlé have a plan illustrating the location of water, gas and electrical services at the Site.
Belowground Voids: It is understood that the southern section of the northern building footprint and the eastern section of the Southern building footprint are underlain by relatively shallow voids. The exact dimensions of these voids are currently unknown.
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4 PRELIMINARY RISK ASSESSMENT (PRA)
The Conceptual Site Model (CSM) for the Site, as outlined in Sections 2&3, indicates that historical and recent Site uses have the potential to have used a number of substances which may be hazardous to the environment or human health if released to the environment. In summary these include:-
The former onsite railway works and surrounding sidings (predominately located in the southern portion of the Site):
o Ash and clinker material (Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s);
o Atrazine, Simazine and other pesticides;
o Fuel oils/lubricating oils and solvents, and;
o Asbestos.
The more recent water bottling activities (predominately located in the northern portion of the Site):
o Acids;
o Detergents;
o Food grade lubricants and greases;
o Lubricants, oils and possibly hydrocarbon fuels; and
o Asbestos.
The potential contaminant source areas are spatially represented by Figure 4.
In addition to the identification of these potential contaminants our review of the Site setting also identified the following sensitive receptors (if a potential contaminant was released) in the vicinity of the Site:
Any future onsite construction operative/Site worker;
The surrounding residential dwellings to the west, north and east;
The underlying Shale bedrock aquifer;
The down gradient limestone bedrock aquifer; and the inner Zone 1 Source Protection Zone.
The surrounding SSSI’s and other environmentally sensitive areas
With an appreciation of the potential contaminants onsite and sensitive receptors the technical framework for the management of contaminated land7 has been used to complete a PRA. The guidance states there are three essential elements to any risk:
Contaminant source → pathway → receptor
Each of these elements can exist independently, but they create a risk only where they are linked together, so that a particular contaminant source affects a particular receptor via a particular pathway. This kind of linked combination of source-pathway-receptor is
7 Environment Agency Guidance Document – “Model Procedures for the Management of Land Contamination” - Contaminated Land Report 11. ISBN: 1844322955 Dated September 2004
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described as a potential pollutant linkage. Table 2 discusses each of the identified potential pollutant linkages for the Site.
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Potential Sources of Contamination
Pathway Possible Receptors Risk Rationale
Made Ground: possibly
containing “ash” material
(Elevated PAHs and Heavy
Metals)
Direct dermal contact vapour and dust Inhalation
Onsite construction workers /
future onsite workers/off site
residents
Moderate: No soil quality data to characterise the Made Ground at present. Appropriate management through the construction phase and pathway breaks during development is likely to reduce this risk for retail, commercial or light industrial end use with limited soft landscaping.
Leaching and infiltration to
groundwater
Groundwater Low-Moderate: No soil and groundwater quality information is currently available for the Site by which to characterise leaching of contaminants from the Made Ground. The limited Site investigation data that is available suggests that the cohesive superficial deposits are present which would reduce/prevent vertical infiltration of shallow contamination to the bedrock aquifer.
Asbestos Dust Inhalation Onsite construction workers / future onsite workers/off site residents
Moderate: No soil quality data to confirm the absence of asbestos at present. An asbestos investigation highlighted the presence of Asbestos Containing Materials onsite in the building structures that formed the previous bottling plant. There is no evidence to verify how these materials where removed as part of the Site decommissioning works although no suspected ACMs were noted during the Site walkover. The potential exists or the former railway buildings that were located on site to have included asbestos materials in their fabric. Demolition of these could also have impacted on soil quality.
Herbicides: Atrazine, Simazine and other Pesticides
Direct dermal contact
Inhalation
Onsite construction workers / future onsite workers/off site residents
Low - Moderate: No soil quality data to characterise the possible degree of impact, although may not have been used in the relatively short period between the introduction of these compounds and cessation of the Site as railway land. Appropriate management through the construction phase and pathway breaks during development is likely to reduce this risk especially where retail, commercial or light industrial end use is realised with limited soft landscaping.
Herbicides: Atrazine, Simazine
and other Pesticides
Leaching and infiltration to
groundwater
Groundwater Low-Moderate: No soil and groundwater quality information to characterise the degree of impact, although not likely to have been used extensively on the Site. The potential exists for these compounds to have been used on the railway land to the north over a longer period. The limited Site investigation data that is available suggests that the cohesive superficial deposits are present which would impede vertical infiltration of shallow contamination to the bedrock aquifer.
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Potential Sources of Contamination
Pathway Possible Receptors Risk Rationale
Hydrocarbons: including lubricants, greases, oils and hydrocarbon fuels
Direct dermal contact
Inhalation
Onsite construction workers / future onsite workers / off site residents
Moderate to High: It was noted during the Site visit that hydrocarbon odours emanating from exposed soils with staining on an embankment in the northern corner of the Site. This material is located outside of the current Site fence line but within the property boundary. In addition it is understood that surficial soils were excavated from areas of staining in the vicinity of the nearby Boiler House during the recent demolition works. Whilst duty of care documentation for the secure disposal of this material was obtained, to date no validation investigation data has been provided to indicate that the base or sides of the excavations in this area achieved a satisfactory degree of clean-up. It should be noted that the area in question is currently covered by apparently clean crushed demolition fill thereby minimising exposures to human health. However, if residual contamination remains this could become exposed during a future development of the Site and warrants confirmatory sampling.
Leaching and infiltration to groundwater
Groundwater
Moderate: No soil and groundwater quality data is currently available to characterise the degree of impact. The longevity of the Site’s use for railway sidings and related operations would suggest that hydrocarbons have to the potential to been used extensively across the Site. There is also the previous operation of a diesel locomotive refueling facility up-gradient of the Site. Finally it is understood that the water bottling works included boiler and compressor plant with the potential to have generated at least localised soil and shallow groundwater contamination by hydrocarbons. As for other potential impacts to groundwater quality at the Site, the risk of this impacting a wider environment is reduced by the presence of cohesive superficial deposits which should impede vertical infiltration of shallow contamination to the bedrock aquifer.
Caustic Soda/ Acids / Detergents and Solvents
Direct dermal contact
Inhalation
Onsite construction workers / future onsite workers
Moderate: These substances would have been in the bottling plant cleaning process as part of ‘Cleaning in Place’ operations. It is assumed that residues from this process would have been discharged to drain. Any spillage in the vicinity of the areas in
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Potential Sources of Contamination
Pathway Possible Receptors Risk Rationale
Leaching and infiltration to groundwater
Groundwater
which these materials were stored in bulk or significant breaches in the site drainage system would therefore be of potential concern in relation to impacts by these substances. However, the substances listed are typically readily neutralised or degraded in the soil and groundwater systems. It has not been possible to obtain information regarding the location, integrity or spillage records associated with the tanks which contained these substances during the operational phase of the Site where larger scale releases could conceivably have occurred.
Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls
Direct dermal contact Onsite construction workers / future onsite workers
Low: Current evidence suggests that the substations onsite were only constructed in the 1980-1990’s and therefore unlikely to contain PCB’s. In addition the volume of PCB’s is likely to be relatively small and unlikely to impact the underlying groundwater. Leaching and infiltration to
groundwater Groundwater
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5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This study has comprised a Phase I environmental assessment of the former Nestlé Buxton Water bottling facility off Station Road in the centre of Buxton (subject Site). The Site is being considered for divestment with likely future mixed use redevelopment.
The overall aim of this Phase I exercise culminating in this report was to identify potential issues of historical or current land use, on or adjacent to the subject Site, that could have led to a material impact on soil or groundwater quality and which may need to be addressed by a future development of the Site. Where issues of potential concern have been identified, a preliminary risk assessment has been untaken to qualitatively appraise potential pollutant linkages at the Site.
The 2 Ha, approximately triangular Site is located at the northern edge of Buxton town centre. The site slopes gently to the south and is bordered to the northwest by an embankment and rail line. To the east are further rail lines and sidings leading to Buxton Station. Initial development of the Site in the 1800s comprised rail sidings, a goods/engine shed and associated infrastructure. Since 1987 (northern section) and 1993 southern area, the Site has been used as a mineral water bottling plant. The latter was demolished in the summer of 2013 to floor slab level.
The Site is underlain by a variable thickness of Made Ground overlying superficial soils of cohesive clay (with minor peat), beneath which is Shale bedrock. Limited BGS borehole data suggests the presence of shallow groundwater at around 5m below ground level. This is likely flow south following the topography of the area and could discharge as base flow to the River Wye, or ingress to the principal limestone aquifer which outcrops to the south and is abstracted locally for potable supply.
In summary, the Site setting would be considered to be moderately sensitive both from a Human Health perspective (subject to the nature of the end use development) and with respect to groundwater quality as, despite the proximity of a principal aquifer, this should be afforded some protection from Site derived contamination by the low permeability superficial soils which underlie the site.
Key potential sources of contamination at the Site include:
Ash and asbestos in the made ground (heavy metals and PAHs);
Localised hydrocarbon contamination;
Potential residues of detergents and other cleaning chemicals.
In the absence of intrusive environmental investigation data for the site, it is recommended that consideration be given to the performance of an intrusive site investigation to directly assess:
Soil and shallow groundwater quality in key areas of the Site where hydrocarbons impacts are known or have the potential to have occurred. These include:
The area of the former boiler house/compressors where surface staining was noted during the site inspection in March 2013. It is understood that this material was excavated during the demolition works later in 2013. However, no validation sampling has been completed to document the magnitude or extent of residual contamination in this area;
The foot print of the goods/engine shed structures that were present during the period of the sites use as a rail depot, and;
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The site boundary bordering closest to the former offsite diesel locomotive refueling facility.
General quality of fill materials underlying the site in respect of potential impacts by heavy metals, PAHs, herbicides and asbestos. The potential for groundgas to be generated by the degradation of organic material in the Made Ground and natural soils (peat horizon) should also be assessed in a more rigorous fashion than the single monitoring event undertaken by Delta Simons;
Impacts to soil and groundwater quality in respect of chemicals utilised for CIP during operation of the bottling plant. Areas in which bulk storage of these materials was undertaken would be considered to present the highest risk in this regard.
The investigation should also seek to extend the current understanding of key aspects of ground conditions at the site. Specifically, the consistency of soils types and groundwater flow direction across the wider site area are important to understand so that the significance of ground contamination issues can be placed in context. The need for remedial works to address ground contamination issues could then be assessed by the performance of a Detailed Quantitative Risk Assessment (DQRA) in line with UK regulatory guidance.
Our budget estimate range to complete the recommended works is £20,000 to £35,000. Based upon your approval Geosyntec would be more than happy to provide a detailed cost estimate related to the aforementioned proposed works.
In our experience of similar sites Geosyntec believe that the recommended works will allow Nestlé to be placed in an informed position with respect to soil and groundwater liabilities associated with the Site, therefore allowing the preferred route of either corrective action (if required) or future divesture considerations/allowances to be pragmatically managed moving forward. The recommended further investigation works will also provide additional “value” to the developer with respect to dealing with foreseeable redevelopment planning conditions related to the land contamination risk.
We would also recommend that measures are implemented to remove the fence line and excavate/validate removal of the grossly impacted soils that are exposed on the embankment in the northern corner of the site. It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of costs for these works as it was not possible to ascertain the volume of material requiring removal.
o0o
Geosyntec Consultants trust the information and discussion contained in this report meets all your immediate requirements. Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned if you have any further comments or questions about any aspect of the work.
Respectfully submitted
On behalf of Geosyntec Consultants
Mr. Jim Wragg Project Director
