The examination is used in disputes concerning waste placement, accumulation of discarded materials and the impact of waste on a site. Describing the objects on the land, assessing their impact and specialist tasks to determine composition, quantity or hazard must be kept separate.
Subject of examination
- Land with accumulated discarded materials and material storage locations
- Traces of impact on soil, water and vegetation
- Documents on the origin, movement and removal of materials
Sample questions for the expert
- Which signs of material placement and impact have been recorded on the site?
- How did the condition of the area change during the period examined?
- What data links the consequences to the deposited materials?
- Which cleaning and restoration works are substantiated by the materials?
The final questions are formulated according to the objects and circumstances of the particular task.
What to prepare
- Documents relating to the land parcel and a plan of the area to be surveyed
- Photographs and video before, during and after material placement
- Inspection records, contracts, consignment notes and removal documents
- Examination reports and calculations for restoration measures
How the examination is conducted
The condition of the area, history of material placement and survey results are compared. The opinion states separately which characteristics are confirmed by documents and visual records, and which require sampling or specialist measurements.
Scope and limitations
A visual inspection does not replace determination of chemical composition or hazard class. Geometric volume, mass and environmental impact require different source data and, where necessary, specialists in the relevant fields.
What the deliverable records
The opinion describes the actual condition of the area, proven consequences and the additional examinations or restoration measures needed.
How to reconstruct the history of material placement and removal
In a dispute about accumulated waste on land, it is important to establish what was present on the site on different dates. A photograph after removal and one before placement show different conditions; they cannot serve as interchangeable descriptions of the same quantity. It is useful to compile a sequence of events linked to a site plan and identify areas accessible for inspection.
Delivery, movement and removal documents are compared with the materials actually described. A consignment note may state mass, an estimate may give geometric volume, while a photograph shows only the exposed surface. These quantities are not converted into one another without explaining the source data. Heterogeneous materials and concealed layers require separate descriptions.
Prepare the following for checking
- A plan showing the boundaries of the surveyed area, storage locations and available reference points.
- Photographs arranged by date, with overall views and details allowing comparison of the same areas.
- Inspection records and work completion records, acceptance and removal documents with any available material identifiers.
- Information on changes to the site: filling, mixing, grading, cleaning or land reclamation.
The presence of deposited items and established soil contamination are separate factual circumstances. The opinion should show which observations support each. When checking cleaning costs, the amount of work needed and the justification for restoration measures are considered separately. Removal expenses alone describe neither the full environmental harm nor the condition of the soil after completion of the work.