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This guideline serves as a good practice guide for planning and carrying out investigations on sites where hazardous substances are present or suspected. It also provides guidance on the principles governing the interpretation of the data obtained and for developing a robust conceptual site model. 

Legal status of the guideline

Compliance with this guideline is a requirement under the Resource Management (National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health) Regulations 2011 (NESCS). 

The 2021 version of the guideline will take legal effect (for NESCS and other legal purposes, such as complying with a rule in a plan or a condition in a resource consent) from 1 June 2021. 

The guideline also represents good practice for contaminated site investigations for other non-regulatory purposes.  

The guideline has been developed through consultation between the Ministry for the Environment, industry and regulatory agencies and other parties to ensure consistency and quality in contaminated site investigation. 

Previous guidance

If you need a copy of the previous versions of this guidance for historical or research purposes, email RMQueries@mfe.govt.nz.