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Case A: St Albans sports pitches

England · Evidence date 2026-01-15 · AI draft for senior consultant review

Research prototype — draft technical interpretation for professional review.

Case reconstructed from publicly available planning documents. Independent research prototype; not affiliated with or endorsed by the original report authors. Historical/source-selected criteria require applicability review. This draft provides no regulatory approval, professional sign-off or certified design. Gas, radon, controlled-waters and other specialist decisions may need further expert assessment.

Case evidence and context

Draft contamination interpretation and next actions; flag ground-condition interfaces, no foundation design.

Scope A-F01

7.6 ha sports-pitch parcel, land east of Harpenden Road and north of St Albans; site centre 515258E,210146N. This is a subparcel of the wider Woollam Park scheme.

A02 · source PDF pages 10, 11 · reported_fact

Development A-F02

Three rugby pitches; pavilion and car parking toward southwest; attenuation basin southeast; planting northwest. Wider housing proposal is not the assessed end-use of this parcel.

A02 · source PDF pages 10, 11, 45 · reported_fact

History A-F03

Agricultural use since before 1900. Southwest margin used for grass parking and gravel access for Old Albanian RFC.

A02 · source PDF pages 12, 13 · reported_fact

Mapped ground A-F04

Clay-with-flints over Lewes Nodular/Seaford Chalk; local Kesgrave deposits mapped but not definitively encountered. No significant surface-intersecting fault indicated.

A02 · source PDF pages 13, 14, 23, 24 · reported_fact

Waters A-F05

Chalk reported Principal Aquifer; clay-with-flints unproductive; mapped Kesgrave Secondary A. Factual section reports SPZ Zone 3. Green Cottages abstraction about 60 m northeast; River Ver about 2.6 km southwest.

A02 · source PDF pages 14, 15, 16 · reported_fact

Radon context A-F06

Mapped maximum radon potential 3%-5% of homes above action level.

A02 · source PDF pages 15, 17 · reported_fact

Investigation A-F07

19 August 2025: four window-sample holes and ten pits (including IT01/02). Additional six infiltration pits on 2 December 2025. Borehole logs and strata tables preserve individual depths.

A02 · source PDF pages 18, 19, 20, 69, 88 · reported_fact

Ground observations A-F08

Topsoil generally to 0.30 m. No stratum logged as Made Ground. Rare brick fragments in some topsoil logs; no visual or olfactory contamination reported. Clay-with-flints and chalk vary between holes; individual logs take precedence over generalized continuity.

A02 · source PDF pages 23, 24, 25, 70, 71, 72 · reported_fact

Chemical sampling A-F09

12 general-suite soil samples and three pesticide suites; additional analytical sample IDs cover other suites and deeper geotechnical chemistry. Lab 25-044515, I2 Analytical; received 21 August 2025. All 27 lab IDs and every extracted cell are retained; sample ID is not equivalent to independent sampling location.

A02 · source PDF pages 23, 98, 99, 122, 123 · reported_fact

Water observations A-F10

Seepage at 2.00 m in TP05/06/08. November standing water WS01 2.10 m and WS04 2.08 m; other reported monitoring entries dry. No groundwater chemical certificate supplied.

A02 · source PDF pages 24 · reported_fact

Monitoring A-F11

Three visits: 2 September, 1 October, 11 November 2025 at four wells; raw concentrations, flow and pressure in accompanying table. A reported 0.0 is preserved as recorded, without assigning an unknown instrument detection limit.

A02 · source PDF pages 21, 22, 24 · reported_fact

Screening configuration A-F12

Source selected POS residential at 1% SOM for its general human-health screen, with C4SL/in-house CLEA/SGV/EIC-AGS alternatives. In-house CLEA v1.071: sand, pH7, SOM1%, residential without produce, semi-detached building. General PAH, separate inhalation and BaP surrogate criteria are separate configurations, not interchangeable.

A02 · source PDF pages 25, 131, 132 · source_selected_assessment_configuration

Laboratory QA A-F13

Soil results reported on dry-weight basis; method-specific accreditation codes retained. Chromium III is calculated from total and hexavalent chromium. Pesticide method is listed without accreditation. No field duplicate/blank chain or signed gas instrument sheets supplied in this extraction.

A02 · source PDF pages 124, 125 · reported_fact

Investigation targeting A-F14

WS02/WS04/TP04 target pavilion; IT01/IT02 attenuation basin; remaining August points general pitch coverage. Initial infiltration tests did not achieve usable falling-head rates.

A02 · source PDF pages 19, 20 · reported_fact

Deterministic benchmark comparisons

Historical source-selected criteria; applicability requires review. An exceedance is a screening flag, not confirmed unacceptable risk. Counts are comparisons, not independent samples.

Comparisons
744
Exceedances
0
Inconclusive bounds
0
Coverage, monitoring and limitations
{
  "gas": {
    "visit_rows": 12,
    "concentration_basis": "Reported concentration; source describes peak monitoring, with no separate initial/steady fields.",
    "max_reported_co2_pct": 1.9,
    "min_reported_oxygen_pct": 16.5,
    "automatic_characteristic_situation": null,
    "reason": "Monitoring sufficiency, response zones, temporal pairing, sources and building type need review."
  },
  "unmatched": {
    "soil | Stone Content | %": 27,
    "soil | Moisture Content | %": 27,
    "soil | Total mass of sample received | kg": 27,
    "soil | pH (L099) | pH Units": 24,
    "soil | Total Sulphate as SO₄ | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | Water Soluble Sulphate as SO₄ 16hr extraction (2:1) | mg/kg": 24,
    "soil | Water Soluble SO₄ 16hr extraction (2:1 Leachate Equivalent) | mg/l": 12,
    "soil | Water Soluble SO₄ 16hr extraction (2:1) | mg/l": 12,
    "soil | Sulphide | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | Water Soluble Chloride (2:1) | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | Organic Matter (automated) | %": 12,
    "soil | Total Phenols (monohydric) | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | Speciated Total EPA-16 PAHs | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | Chromium (aqua regia extractable) | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | Magnesium (water soluble) | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | TPHCWG - Aliphatic >EC16 - EC21 EH_CU_1D_AL | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | TPHCWG - Aliphatic >EC21 - EC35 EH_CU_1D_AL | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | TPHCWG - Aliphatic >EC5 - EC40 EH_CU+HS_1D_AL | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | TPHCWG - Aromatic >EC16 - EC21 EH_CU_1D_AR | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | TPHCWG - Aromatic >EC21 - EC35 EH_CU_1D_AR | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | TPHCWG - Aromatic >EC5 - EC40 EH_CU+HS_1D_AR | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | TPH Total >EC5 - EC40 EH_CU+HS_1D_TOTAL | mg/kg": 12,
    "soil | MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) | µg/kg": 12,
    "soil | p & m-Xylene | µg/kg": 12,
    "soil | Alpha-BHC (Benzene Hexachloride) | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Alachlor | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Bifenthrin | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Cyhalothrin (Lambda) | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Gamma-BHC (Lindane, gamma HCH) | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Omethoate | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | 1,3,5-Trichlorobenzene | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | 2,6-Dichlorobenzonitrile | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Dimethylvinphos | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Demeton-O | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Demeton-S | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Endrin Aldehyde | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Endrin Ketone | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Hexachlorobutadiene | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Phosphamidon (Sum) | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | 1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Cis-Permethrin | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Endosulfan sulfate | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Etrimfos | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Fenvalerate (Sum) | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Hexachlorobenzene | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Mevinphos, E+Z | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Pentachlorobenzene | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Pirimiphos-ethyl | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Propetamphos | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Tecnazene | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Trans-Permethrin | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Aldrin | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Azinphos-methyl | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Beta-BHC | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Cis-Chlordane | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Chlorfenvinphos | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Chlorpyrifos | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Chlorothalonil | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Carbophenothion | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Cyfluthrin (Sum) | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Delta-BHC | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Dieldrin | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Deltamethrin | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Heptachlor Exo-epoxide | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Endrin | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Endosulfan I (alpha isomer) | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Endosulfan II (beta isomer) | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Fenthion | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Isodrin | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Methacrifos | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | O,p'-DDD | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | O,p'-DDE | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | O,p'-DDT | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Parathion | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Parathion-methyl | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Pendimethalin | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Phorate | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Phosalone | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | P,p'-DDD | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | P,p'-DDE | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | P,p'-DDT | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | P,p'-Methoxychlor | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Propyzamide | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Trans-Chlordane | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Cypermethrin (Sum) | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Dichlorvos | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Dimethoate | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Diazinon | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Ethion | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Fenitrothion | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Malathion | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Pirimiphos-methyl | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Trifluralin | µg/kg": 3,
    "soil | Azinphos-ethyl | µg/kg": 3
  },
  "limitations": [
    "Unmatched analytes are not passes.",
    "TPH combined C16-C35 bands require an explicit, approved aggregation rule; this smoke test does not create it.",
    "BaP surrogate method applicability is not inferred.",
    "Criteria supplied are historical source configuration, not approved current guidance.",
    "No risk conclusion follows automatically from exceedance or nondetection."
  ],
  "missing": [
    "Current approved final development levels and finished cover distribution",
    "Complete field chain of custody, duplicate/blank data and independent instrument calibration records",
    "Actual groundwater chemical results",
    "Regulator acceptance and any later completed verification"
  ]
}
Guidance used

LCRM1: England planning scope. Develop and update source–pathway–receptor linkages. Use preliminary, generic and detailed assessment proportionately. Generic screening exceedance alone does not establish unacceptable risk. Review scenario, matrix, exposure, chemistry, SOM and sampling coverage before interpreting a comparison.

LCRM2: For relevant linkages consider proportionate options, feasibility, objectives and alternatives. Targeted investigation must name the decision it resolves; do not prescribe blanket excavation from isolated exceedances.

LCRM3: A strategy is not completion evidence. Define performance objectives and applicable criteria, a verification plan with appropriate sampling/inspection and material records, contingencies for unexpected conditions, and a completion report supported by the implemented works. Numerical design requirements need competent selection.

TECH: Gas investigation and protection require specialist assessment against applicable BS8576, BS8485 and CIRIA guidance; radon is a separate BR211 question. Licensed clauses and numerical rules are not implemented. Do not assign final gas class or radon protection from maps alone. Groundwater assessment needs a migration model and compliance point; leachate is not groundwater. Waste classification, WAC, topsoil quality and concrete aggressivity are separate assessments.

AI technical interpretation

Generate a draft from the case evidence, deterministic screening and shared technical guidance for consultant review.

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