Why it matters

  • The guidelines have been updated in consultation with industry experts to better reflect modern scientific practices and sampling techniques.

  • The guidelines help consultants identify risks to human health and the environment in the design of appropriate sampling and analysis plans.

  • Part 1 Application describes and outlines the processes in developing sampling designs and plans.

  • Part 2 Interpretation provides guidance on statistical analysis methods and the interpretation of sampling results.

Sampling design guidelines for contaminated land

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has produced new guidelines for sampling undertaken in the assessment of contaminated land. The new sampling design guidelines have replaced the previous 1995 sampling design guidelines.

The EPA’s contaminated land guidelines support and build on the nationally consistent approach set out in the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999, to further strengthen contaminated land management by reflecting current industry best practice.

Sampling design guidelines

Thank you for your feedback on the new sampling design guidelines.

The EPA consulted with contaminated land practitioners, site auditors, regulators, planning authorities, landholders, developers and the community. We sought your feedback on the guidelines between 21 September - 29 November 2020 to make sure the new guidelines are easy to use, achieve their purpose and contain up to date and relevant information.

Consultation is now closed

Public consultation on the guidelines is now closed.

Thank you for your feedback on the new sampling design guidelines for contaminated land.

Your privacy

Please note, your feedback on the sampling design guidelines may include ‘personal information', including your name, address, email, internet protocol address and any other personal information contained in your feedback.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (the EPA) must comply with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. Visit the EPA’s privacy page and the Privacy Policy for further information on its online consultation platform.

The EPA may publish all or part of your feedback on its website, on its online consultation platform or in a consultation report. In providing us with your feedback, you consent to the EPA publishing all or part of your submission. If you would like all or part of your feedback to be withheld from publication, please let us know when making your feedback.

When you send us an email or phone number, we will record your details for the purpose of responding to you.

All information held by the EPA is subject to the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009.