Path 1

MSS025006A

Collect and evaluate groundwater data

MSS025007A

Perform sampling and testing of soils

MSS024008A

Recognise common geological landforms and samples

Path 2

MSS025006A

Collect and evaluate groundwater data

MSS025007A

Perform sampling and testing of soils

MSS025013A

Assist with assessing and monitoring wetlands

1

Confirm scope of site remediation and/or rehabilitation activities with manager

1.1

Locate and review legislative, regulatory, licensing/ approval and planning requirements that apply to the site

1.2

Review background information, site remediation/ rehabilitation management plan and any relevant reports

1.3

Review site remediation/rehabilitation goals and strategies, key stakeholders and their issues and likely constraints

1.4

Review the technical specifications and plans for each activity

1.5

Confirm the roles and responsibilities of the enterprise staff, consultants and contractors involved; the work requirements and timeframe for each activity

1.6

Confirm own role, limits of responsibility and reporting requirements for the coordination of assigned activities

2

Plan and organise activities

2.1

Consolidate schedules of activities, timeframes and milestones on a single planning management framework to enable efficient coordination of each activity

2.2

Use appropriate project management tools to achieve efficient integration and sequencing of activities

2.3

Ensure that forward planning takes into account variables such as seasonal factors, availability of equipment, seeds and plants and site access

2.4

Identify possible/actual clashes and negotiate solutions with other staff, consultants, contractors and/or own manager, as appropriate

3

Liaise with site personnel and community members

3.1

Confirm that staff, consultants and/or contractors understand the timing and technical specifications for their assigned remediation/rehabilitation activities

3.2

Confirm that staff, consultants and/or contractors are aware of hazards and understand site safety procedures and their environmental management obligations

3.3

Provide timely, authorised information to community members about remediation/rehabilitation activities in accordance with enterprise procedures

3.4

Solve problems and address issues/complaints arising from remediation/rehabilitation activities within scope of responsibility

3.5

Refer complex problems, issues and complaints to relevant personnel in accordance with enterprise procedures

4

Monitor progress of activities

4.1

Anticipate risks to progress and notify relevant personnel

4.2

Monitor completion of activities and progress against work requirements and milestones

4.3

Develop solutions in response to problems or unforseen/changed circumstances in consultation with site personnel and/or own manager, as appropriate

4.4

If necessary, negotiate and/or implement adjustments to work programs with site personnel in accordance with enterprise procedures

4.5

Record and store required information for each activity

5

Monitor the effectiveness of activities

5.1

Conduct, or arrange for, site inspections to check if work requirements for each activity have been met

5.2

Conduct, or arrange for, the monitoring of specified environmental parameters to assist with the evaluation of remediation/ rehabilitation activities

5.3

Examine results of regular surveys, inspections and environmental monitoring to identify significant trends in data, performance indicators or non-conformances

5.4

If necessary, clarify any significant remediation/ rehabilitation performance issues with the consultant or contractor involved to ensure details are fully understood

5.5

Seek manager’s advice when challenges are beyond own technical competence or when further input from environmental specialists may be required

6

Report the progress and effectiveness of activities

6.1

Provide regular reports to relevant personnel about the progress and environmental performance of assigned remediation/rehabilitation activities

6.2

Report any instances of potential/actual environmental management non-conformance and incidents and the actions taken in each case

6.3

Report opportunities and recommendations for improved coordination of remediation/rehabilitation activities accordance with enterprise procedures

7

Maintain records of activities

7.1

Ensure all required records are legible, accurate and satisfy enterprise/legislative requirements

7.2

Store records of remediation/rehabilitation activities to enable easy access and review by authorised personnel

Required skills

Required skills include:

explaining and correctly applying enterprise site remediation/rehabilitation management plans, procedures and the technical details of specific activities

analysing complex technical briefs and project plans

managing logistics of multiple activities

managing self, time and costs

using project management tools to plan, implement and monitor activities

using systematic, logical problem-solving techniques in response to problems and changed/unforseen circumstances

negotiating changes to timelines, roles, responsibilities and resources

communicating and consulting effectively with enterprise managers, consultants, contractors, stakeholders and community members to achieve outcomes

using enterprise information management systems, project management software

recording complex information accurately

writing recommendations and preparing reports involving complex technical issues

working safely

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

environmental protection/management terminology, concepts and principles

legislative, regulatory, permit, licensing, approval requirements/processes relevant to site remediation/rehabilitation activities

common site remediation/rehabilitation goals, success criteria and strategies

remediation/rehabilitation planning and design principles, including stakeholder engagement

site remediation and rehabilitation methods and techniques relevant to job role

common examples of environmental parameters, analytical tests, and flora and fauna surveys used to monitor the effectiveness of site remediation/rehabilitation

site characteristics, nature of activities conducted at site, environmental management values, environmental issues, risks and impacts

enterprise environmental management plans, procedures, control measures and management actions for site activities

enterprise project management procedures and controls, such as:

project governance requirements

stakeholder management

quality standards

risk management plans

record management and reporting, confidentiality and security of information

quotation, tendering, procurement and contract management procedures, and delegations

financial management procedures

human resource management procedures and industrial agreements

project management principles

interpersonal communication, negotiation and conflict resolution techniques

problem-solving techniques

relevant health, safety and workplace emergency response procedures

Overview of assessment

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

applying a working knowledge of remediation/ rehabilitation principles to analyse complex technical briefs and develop/refine plans

planning and coordinating the efficient implementation of site remediation/rehabilitation activities

supporting, communicating and consulting with site personnel and/or community members to achieve quality outcomes on time and within budget

analysing and solving project management problems

monitoring progress of activities and assisting with the evaluation of outcomes

maintaining accurate records of activities

providing regular information and reports of progress and outcomes of activities

recommending ways of improving the coordination of future activities.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

MSS025014A Perform sampling and testing of contaminated sites.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Resources may include:

enterprise environmental management plans and procedures, and project management tools

background information for environmental sites and remediation/rehabilitation projects/programs

enterprise information management systems.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of plans, records, outcomes and reports associated with remediation/rehabilitation activities that the candidate has coordinated

feedback from manager, other site personnel and community members about the candidate’s ability to effectively coordinate remediation/ rehabilitation activities

questioning/interview to assess understanding of remediation/rehabilitation principles, project management and the candidate’s problem-solving ability

observation of the candidate’s interactions with site personnel and/or community members.

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.

Guidance information for assessment

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

federal legislation, such as:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Australian Heritage Council Act 2003

Native Title Act 1993

state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with:

land use, acquisition, planning and protection

environmental protection

cultural/heritage protection

vegetation management

nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection

water, water management

soil conservation

pollution and contaminated sites

fisheries, forestry and mining operations

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set

standards covering sampling, testing and/or monitoring of air, water and soils

National Environment Protection Measure (Assessment of Site Contamination)

ANZECC Guidelines for the Assessment of Contaminated Soil

Australian government guidelines, such as the Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry (Mine Rehabilitation)

environmental management plan, rehabilitation program plan, and site information about applicable legislative requirements and approval requirements

information about site processes, work schedules and remediation/rehabilitation processes

information about emergency preparedness and response

monitoring/inspection procedures and management actions to prevent/control environmental impacts or risks

procedures for monitoring remediation/rehabilitation program

sampling and in-situ measurement procedures (e.g. water, air, noise and soils)

job hazard analyses

safe work procedures and work method statements

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

Remediation/rehabilitation plans, programs and activities

Remediation/rehabilitation plans, programs and activities may include details of:

site goals and success criteria

regulatory, licensing and approvals requirements

consultation processes and community engagement

characterisation of site to identify materials and/or contamination present, such as:

materials segregation and selective placement

material budget and schedule

identification of limitations to plant growth

initial site assessment, such as :

protection measures for rare/endangered species and heritage sites

climate

water budget and salt budget

growth media (e.g. harvested topsoils)

remediation/rehabilitation program/activities, such as :

landform design (e.g. placement, height, footprint, drainage, mode of construction, profiles and covers)

management of waste rock, tailings and/or wastewater

removal, containment and/or on/off site treatment of contaminated materials

landform reconstruction, filling of voids/pits and reinstatement of water diversions

topsoil management to preserve soil fertility and biota, treatments and fertiliser use

establishment of vegetation (e.g. controlling weeds, collection and retention of local seeds and propagules, seeding (supply, treatment, spreading and hydro), and hand/machine planting of seedlings, mulching, watering, maintenance and staking/protection)

establishment of fauna communities (e.g. controlling problem animals and constructing habitats)

environmental parameters and monitoring procedures for remediation/rehabilitation program

recording and reporting requirements

Background information

Background information may include:

legislative/regulatory, permit, licence and approval requirements for site

site access protocols and permits

site history, client history and correspondence

site industrial processes and work schedules

records of consultations with stakeholders

maps (road and topographical)

existing databases (e.g. vegetation, topography, soils and regional ecosystem maps)

geological, hydro geological, ecological and meteorological data for site

enterprise environmental management plans for site

emergency plans and safety procedures

enterprise, regulatory or standard methods/procedures for environmental sampling, monitoring or in-field testing

relevant reports, case studies and good practice models for site remediation/rehabilitation

Site personnel and community members

Site personnel and community members may include:

enterprise employees, site and project managers

contractors and subcontractors

suppliers and service providers

consultants (e.g. scientists, planners, engineers and external auditors)

government/regulator representatives and inspectors

community representatives, landowners, traditional owners and community volunteers

Site hazards

Site hazards may include:

solar radiation, dust and noise

air and soil borne microorganisms

chemicals, radioactive and other hazardous materials

cuts, crushing and entanglement from tools or moving machinery parts

manual handling of heavy materials and equipment

heavy vehicle traffic on site

slippery, uneven surfaces

Safety procedures

Safety procedures may include:

identifying hazards, assessing and reporting risks

cleaning, maintaining and storing tools, equipment and machinery

safe operation of tools, equipment and machinery

safe handling, use and storage of chemicals and other hazardous materials

safe manual handling of items

obeying signage and using safety equipment, such as protective barriers

using specified personal protective equipment

Environmental obligations

Environmental obligations of site personnel may include:

sustainable use of resources

duty of care to protect the site’s natural, cultural and heritage values

not polluting, damaging or degrading the site’s natural resources, ecological processes or biodiversity

avoiding introduction or transfer of weeds or plant/animal pathogens in soils

Monitoring strategies

Monitoring strategies may include:

use of transects to collect data across many types of landscape or ages of revegetation

use of point and quadrat sampling along transects

ecosystem function analysis:

landscape and soil analysis (e.g. rainfall, infiltration, run-off, erosion, plant growth and nutrient cycling)

vegetation analysis (e.g. species composition and structure)

habitat and fauna analysis (e.g. use of indicator species, such as reptiles and ants, and soil-litter biota)

use of remote sensing: (e.g. aerial photography and satellite imagery)

Environmental monitoring parameters for remediation/rehabilitation programs

Environmental monitoring parameters for remediation/rehabilitation programs may include:

air quality

quality of surface water and groundwater

residual contamination in soils

surface (and slope) stability

assessment of erosion, measurement of suspended sediment loads in run-off

performance of constructed covers over mine or industrial/mineral processing waste

properties of soil or root zone media, such as chemistry, fertility and water

plant community structural attributes, such as cover, and woody species density and height

plant community composition, such as presence of desired species, condition and abundance

presence of pest species, such as feral animals and weeds

selected indicators of ecosystem functioning, such as soil microbial biomass and ants

return of selected mammals, reptiles, macro-invertebrates, fish and birds to site

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health