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The Principle of ENTRUST is that landfill tax payers (landfill operators) are able to contribute to environmental bodies for approved purposes and those contributions will be credited against their landfill tax liability. The claim for landfill tax credit can only be a maximum of 90% of the total contribution to the approved project and any one taxpayer can only claim a maximum credit of 20% of their total liability. The ten percent contribution has to be provided by the landfill operator can be offset against corporation tax. The enrolment criteria for environmental bodies is that they must be non profit making organisations such as charities, trusts, village hall groups etc. Under the rules the bodies cannot be controlled by a Local Authority or Registered Landfill Operator and cannot provide direct benefit to a contributor. There are a variety of categories of schemes which may be approved for ENTRUST funding. These include:
The three principle exceptions are:
The main benefits to landfill operators are seen as local public relations (i.e. they are seen to put something back into the community), development of new technologies and training. At the beginning of 1999, 1255 bodies had enrolled into the scheme and there are 4,900 approved projects with a total value of £144 million. A number of the approved schemes have involved major land reclamation projects. These include the remediation of colliery spoil heaps in Doncaster and restoration of an old landfill site in Cheshire for re-use for housing development. For Further Information Contact: ENTRUST, Profex House, 25-27 School Lane, Bushey, Herts WD2 1BR Tel: 0181 950 2152 (Manchester Tel: 0161 972 0044 - Glasgow Tel: 0141 561 0390) < CONSTRUCTION SPOIL FROM QUESTIONNAIRE TO WESTMINSTER Many thanks to those who responded to the Construction Spoil Questionnaire. These are being assessed and we will be contacting a number of the respondents in order to obtain further information. This initiative by AGS started from concerns about the effect of the Landfill Tax on development projects and in particular building on potentially contaminated land. However, it is interesting to note that the concerns being expressed in the responses to the questionnaire, together with other material that has been sent in, is not so much about the tax (i.e. interfacing with Customs and Excise) but about problems that are being experienced with the categorisation of construction spoil, the requirements for and the process of obtaining a Waste Management Licence or Mobile Plant Licence for remediation, and the principle of whether projects can be designed to accommodate construction spoil in landscaping, etc (i.e. interfacing with the Environment Agency). In a few cases there appears to have been a discrepancy between the Environment Agency insisting that remediation is required in order to prevent harm (which then should lead to excemption from Landfill Tax) ans Customs & Excise asserting that the site can be developed without remediation and hence Landfill Tax is payable on any spoil taken from the site for landfill disposal. Clearly there are bound to be teething problems in the implementation of any legislation and AGS are keen to provide a voice for members so that issues which need to be addressed can be constructively 'aired' and the very worthy intention to redevelop brownfield sites is not jeopardised. Anybody who has information and has not returned a questionnaire, it is not too late. Let us know about projects which have not experienced problems as well as those that have. We need to obtain a balanced view. CIRIA have recently held three Construction Industry Environmental Forum (CIEF) workshops in association with AGS in order to "explore whether reclaimed construction materials can be considered an asset or a waste with a particular focus on current barriers to the reuse of materials arising from potentially contaminated sites". A number of the respondents to the questionnaire were contacted as to whether they would be prepared to present their experiences to these workshops. In January this year AGS were contacted by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) as to whether we could provide a written submission of evidence to a House of Commons Environment Sub-Committee who were carrying out an inquiry into the operation of the Landfill Tax. This was a logical follow-on to the consultation response to Customs and Excise which AGS prepared in December 1997 on behalf of CIC, Ground Forum and AGS (see AGS Newsletter 28, February 1998). Following the more recent written submission to the House of Commons Environment Sub-Committee, AGS received notification of a request to present verbal evidence to the Inquiry hearing. Duly and with 'knees knocking' Jan Hellings and Roger Clark presented themselves at the House of Commons at the appointed time on 2 February 1999. The proceedings followed a standard inquiry format with our evidence being heard jointly with the Food and Drink Federation. Earlier in the proceedings evidence had been given by the Woodland Trust, The South West England Environmental Trust, The UK Landfill Tax Credit Scheme User Group and The Environmental Services Association. The members of the House of Commons Environment Sub-Committee quite obviously had a firm grasp of the issues associated with the tax and had set themselves the task of ensuring that any future changes to the tax reflect the correct balance between establishing a waste hierarchy (ie. Waste minimisation, reuse, recycling and the various forms of disposal), the protection of the Environment, the needs of industry and the priorities for the development of land. Questions ranged from whether the rates of tax are appropriate to the need to reduce fly tipping and the framework for the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. We hope that our evidence will be given due consideration. At least we were not taken to The Tower afterwards for speaking our minds!! The recently published 'AGS Guide to the Selection of Geotechnical Soil Laboratory Testing' has filled a long established void in the geotechnical fraternity's already extensive library of textbooks. The document is arranged into two parts and is presented in a practical A4 ring binder format to allow future additional chapters or updates to be easily accommodated. The contents follow in sequence the processes and procedures required in the selection of soil tests; procurement of testing services; presentation of results as well as the application of laboratory tests to different design problems and solutions. The text is written in a simple, practical manner but still very comprehensively covers a wide range of subject matter. There are numerous tabulations of data, graphical representations, flow charts, summary sheets etc all complementing the more than adequate text. Part 1 establishes the principles and context of soil testing within an overall ground investigation framework. There are chapters describing commonly performed tests and their uses; design of testing programmes; procurements of tests and guidance on the use of test results. There are also chapters on testing and sampling strategies required for contaminated land; testing of weak and weathered rocks; testing of man-made soils; stabilised soil, reinforced earth and geotextile testing as well as some of the more specialised tests that are not commonly available in the commercial environment. Whilst the document concerns itself mainly with current UK practice, there is a very useful chapter summarising the International scene covering soil types and other National Standards and practices. Part 2 clearly identifies the appropriate testing required to assist in the design parameters for a wide range of geotechnical problems and solutions. The figures and tables included visually present in a clear and succinct format all the information required for the design solutions envisaged. The document is well referenced throughout and will be a welcome addition to those entering the industry; the well established consultant, contractor and client, and to a broad spectrum of non-specialists who may have to procure, direct and interpret ground investigations on less than frequent occasions. The AGS Guide complements and supplements the 'Good Practice in Site Investigation' and 'Code of Conduct in Site Investigation' initiatives and clearly demonstrates the AGS's commitment to promote the improvement and quality of all aspects on geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering. John Masters, Geolabs The Guide is available from the AGS - price £40 (Members) and £60 (Non-Members) + 10% p+p for orders send to a non UK address. REPORT OF THE MEMBERSHIP AND PUBLICITY WG MEMBERSHIP
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Contaminated Land Working Group A number of successful events took place during 1998 including a seminar showcasing insurance products available for contaminated sites - featuring all four of the major providers - and a consultation seminar on DD175, held jointly with CIWEM and attended by Members of the BSI Drafting Committee who took away recommendations for changes to the draft. AGS Members also participated in a FOCIL seminar 'Our Brown and Pleasant Land' which ad considered some of the social aspects of the redevelopment of brownfield land. (This will be written up in Ground Engineering.) Guidance Documents: Model Procedures: These will cover all the work done in the field of contaminated land and will therefore be crucial. It is felt that these are too long at present and it is believed that a slimmed down version will be available in the summer. DD175: In addition to the seminar, the AGS submitted formal comments on two occasions (details available on request) and it is believed that the final document will be issued in the summer. ENTRUSTS: the WG has been looking at the role of ENTRUSTS in contaminated land issues (see article elsewhere in this Newsletter). Landfill Tax and Construction Waste: The results of a questionnaire study undertaken during the year have been collated and highlight the variability of Members experiences regarding licensing and the problems being experienced with regard to the Environment Agency. CIRIA have hekd follow up seminars, with assistance from the AGS. Combined Geoenvironmental and Geotechnical SI: A document is in preparation to give guidance to ensure that an investigation undertaken for geotechnical purposes takes account of the needs of contaminated land investigations and vice versa. A technical editor is being sought to edit the draft and it is hoped that publication will take place before the end of 1999. Environment Agency: Since everything done in this area is affected by the attitude of the EA the variability in competence and attitudes of EA officers is of paramount importance. The Executive Committee recently welcomed the new Head of Land Quality, Dr. Mark Kibblewhite to a meeting. His remarks were very encouraging and he has invited the AGS to contribute to current projects and future research. It is hoped that this will result in an improved dialogue with the EA in the coming year. Future Work : A number of documents were due to be published towards the end of the year (ie the Statutory Guidance, Model Procedures, BS 5930, and DD175). Consideration was being given to holding a major conference for the millennium to feature these developments. BUSINESS PRACTICE WORKING GROUP Business Practice Working Group (BPWG) established formally at the beginning of 1998 as a result of activity on the Code of Conduct for Site Investigation and the need to formulate ways in which the Code can be developed and adhered to by the membership. An aim is to achieve a 95% level of signature to the Code of Conduct and to present a unified face to the wider construction industry by a press release on launch of the Code and corresponding Charter to endeavour to uphold the Code. Currently we have 85% level of signatures. Minor modifications of Code are envisaged to achieve 95% level and the launch is scheduled for May '99. Current detailed consideration is being given to a simple but effective complaints procedure only in relation to the elements contained in the Code. All AGS members will receive a draft document for comment and it is envisaged that the consultation process will continue through '99. It is hoped that a procedure will be in place for the next AGM. The Rules of the Association were amended at the AGM to reflect need for members to sign up to the Code of Conduct. In addition annual Membership Certificates will be issued, these may be used by AGS members in submissions etc. The possibility of AGS promoting a validated register of geotechnical and geo-environmental engineers on behalf of Ground Forum has been suggested. WJR will prepare a paper for consideration on 30th April by Ground Forum indicating the benefits and possible pitfalls of doing this. The paper will be circulated to the Main committee for consideration prior to discussion at Ground Forum. Additionally, the membership will be kept informed of any proposals. Any observations on this possible development are welcome by writing to the Administrator. The Training Working Group was established as a direct result of the approaches made by Andrew Bowden (Geol Soc Engineering Group) and Bill Craig (BGS) to provide training for those involved in the Geotechnical industry. This has resulted in the formation of the Geotechnical Training Coordination Committee (GTCC), a group consisting of representatives from AGS, BGS and Geol Soc. Jim Pickard, Len Threadgold and Rodney Hutchison represent AGS. This group has the following objectives:- "The GTCC exists to encourage and promote the structured training of members of the geotechnical community. As such it is the intention that it will plan and coordinate the training of geotechnical persons by organising (or assisting other organisation to organise) courses leading to an increase in the expertise of the community. The courses are primarily to be for the transfer of knowledge rather than be scientific meetings." The GTCC has now met twice and is in the process of obtaining information on courses, which are currently available through existing providers. The intention is that having gathered together this information, the GTCC will plan courses to fill perceived gaps. There appears to be a great deal of support of this initiative from the industry and we hope to have our first course programme available shortly. Work has continued over the past year on the preparation of the third edition of the document on electronic transfer of geotechnical data. This is now at final draft stage and is intended for publication within the next six weeks. The new edition is designed to be compatible with the previous one in order to minimise disruption when moving from one to the other. Primary developments are the use of "pick lists" for items such as hole types, sample types, contaminant test types, etc. Provision is also being made for the definition and attachment of associated computer files such as trial pit sketches, photographs and text. This recognises the move towards electronic reports. In conjunction with publication of the third edition, the web site is being extended to allow publication of the format on it. It is now accepted that if the format is to achieve wider recognition and wider consolidation as a standard, open access to it must be available. The new edition will therefore be freely available for download from the web site but will also include controls so that users can be recorded for subsequent follow ups. Benefits of using the web site include much greater flexibility. The format can then be upgraded more frequently without having to republish the document and parallel provision can be incorporated for other international requirements. As part of the AGS role in maintaining professional standards it is proposed that the AGS provide a service whereby data providers can submit a data file for checking. If the data file passes the checks the AGS would then add the supplier's name to a register of suppliers accessed via the web site. This would provide a benchmark demonstrating supplier's capabilities. It is hoped that secondary suppliers of data such as consultants would also register a capability. The AGS has been approached regarding establishment of a European standard based on AGS format. This is still at a very early stage and is linked to work done by JLE/LUL in setting up a similar format to handle construction monitoring data. They have had a positive response from CEN and initial discussions have been held with the AGS regarding a common move forward. This could result in substantial international consolidation of the format. Technical papers have also been submitted to a number of forthcoming conferences to widen the exposure to the benefits of a common data file format. A warm welcome to the following new Members:-
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