This week’s guest is environmental consulting superstar, Ross McFarland. He shares his thoughts on whether samples we take are actually representative of the site conditions.

Is a 250 ml soil sample that is obtained with all our best intentions, a minute 5 g of which is then analysed, actually representative of a large area or of a large volume of soil? Have you ever stood in front of a massive stockpile of soil and wondered how in the world and from which part of the stockpile you will take samples that are:

1. Representative.
2. In numbers that don’t send your company broke.
3. Don't get you fired in the process.

Turns out that the environmental industry is not the only one grappling with the representativeness of their samples. In this episode we learn that the mining industry has a similar problem, and yet they have managed to develop methods that are demonstrably better at obtaining truly representative samples -- far more so than simply using grab samples as per AS4482 – the method the environmental industry seems to be so fond of.

Join us on a little dive into the science of soil sampling. There is a lot of food for thought in this episode. Ross was unbelievably well informed, impressive and absolutely fascinating, James was his usual charming inquisitive self and Gunnar was for a change surprisingly well behaved (for the most part). That alone would make it a must to listen to, don't you think?

Ross on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/ross-mcfarland-9b740917

This episode was recorded on 18 June 2024.

Listen to Below the Surface and collect CPD points. Get 0.5 points for every hour you spend with us under the Self Education Category

Contact: bts@4pillars.com.au

https://www.linkedin.com/company/below-the-surface-podcast

The necessary disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this Podcast are the speakers’ own. They do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of 4Pillars Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd or any Client, Supplier or other party related to 4Pillars or the speakers.

(c) Gunnar Haid and James Hammond

Get prosecuted by the EPA and found guilty, get fined several hundred thousand Dollars and make $1.5 Million profit out of that whole scenario.

If that sounds too much like fiction and Ocean's 11-ish, then listen into this episode. Many years ago James was involved in a big EPA investigation surrounding the Bowral Landfill.

Gunnar and James talk about

• how James got involved in that investigation
• what happens when you are a key witness in such a high flying case
• how that affects you personally
• how that affects you professionally
• how that affects the brand of your company
• what James learned from that (rather traumatising) experience
• how he and the company came out of that stronger and better (so easy to say in hindsight)

It is an unusually serious subject that the two tackle this time, but they still manage to make it entertaining. As usual one might be tempted to say.

Here is the link to EPA's update and ruling on that case

Here is a link to the some photos of that landfill:

The episode was recorded over a few sessions in May 2024

Listen to Below the Surface and collect CPD points. Get 0.5 points for every hour you spend with us under the Self Education Category

Contact: bts@4pillars.com.au

https://www.linkedin.com/company/below-the-surface-podcast

The necessary disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this Podcast are the speakers’ own. They do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of 4Pillars Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd or any Client, Supplier or other party related to 4Pillars or the speakers.

(c) Gunnar Haid and James Hammond

Bond Villains, Broke Parents and Asbestos in Soils Assessments: A Wild Ride with Pierina Otness

Gunnar and James are back with another high-flying guest on their podcast! Somehow this episode feels very James Bond-ish.

Scene 1: The Asbestos Assessment Authority

Gunnar and James, sit down with none other than Pierina Otness - the undisputed authority on asbestos in soils (ASBINS) assessments.

Scene 2: James vs. James Bond

Gunnar feels that James needs an introduction worthy of 007.

Scene 3: Broke Parents Club

Pierina drops truth bombs: having kids is like investing in a black hole. Your wallet? Empty. Your sanity? Questionable. But hey, at least you’re broke together.

Scene 4: Research Papers and National Guidelines

The gang dives into research papers like treasure hunters. Turns out, the Western Australian guidelines on ASBINS were inspired by ancient scrolls hidden in a dusty library. But Pierina and her colleagues read them all, summarised them and produced a Bible-like guidance document that stands the test of time (and Gunnar is not impressed with the Bible comparison of course).

Scene 5: Pierina’s Masterclass

Consultants, listen up! Pierina spills the beans on how to ace an ASBINS assessment and Gunnar and James find it hard to become worthy Pierina disciples due to a lack of adequate training opportunities.

Scene 6: The Sydney Seduction

Gunnar, ever the smooth talker, tries to woo Pierina to move to NSW. Pierina somehow seems to be able to resist though. How weird.

Executive Summary: Pierina’s Awesomeness

Gunnar and James transform this seemingly mundane topic into an electrifying episode. It’s all thanks to Pierina’s awesomeness. Tune in - you won’t want to miss it!

Remember, dear listeners, asbestos might be hazardous, but this podcast? Pure gold.

Pierina Otness on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierina-otness-a1604355

The episode was recorded on 31 May 2024

Listen to Below the Surface and collect CPD points. Get 0.5 points for every hour you spend with us under the Self Education Category

Contact: bts@4pillars.com.au

https://www.linkedin.com/company/below-the-surface-podcast

The necessary disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this Podcast are the speakers’ own. They do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of 4Pillars Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd or any Client, Supplier or other party related to 4Pillars or the speakers.

(c) Gunnar Haid and James Hammond