Torrens Island SA

Senversa have been assisting AGL since 2021 to assess and manage potential impacts from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at the AGL Torrens Island site.

The assessment was triggered by a directive from the South Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in 2017 where all licence holders in the state were required to assess groundwater for PFAS in areas where fire-fighting training had historically occurred. AGL Torrens Island Power Station was one of these sites where fire training had historically occurred and groundwater assessments were subsequently completed to assess for the presence of PFAS in groundwater.

Following a groundwater monitoring event (GME) conducted at the site in May 2021, PFAS were identified in groundwater which prompted EPA to request AGL to enter into a voluntary site contamination assessment proposal (VSCAP), with a restricted scope site contamination audit, for the effective regulation of the site.

Senversa have assisted AGL with the audited VSCAP process which was subsequently entered into between AGL and the EPA in March 2022.

The VSCAP document was prepared by Senversa and endorsed by an EPA accredited site contamination auditor (including the EPA) to address the following EPA assessment goals:

  • Determine the source(s), nature, and extent of the identified site contamination.
  • Identify and assess any potential risks to human health and the environment.

To date, Senversa have completed a preliminary site investigation (PSI) and a staged detailed site investigation (DSI) involving groundwater, sediment, surface water and porewater sampling (including a risk assessment) under the VSCAP to address the above EPA assessment goals.

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