Diary of a mineral, waste, and environmental consultant – Jill Gaunt

Here at MPG, we have over 30 years of experience within the planning and permitting of mineral and waste sites.

During this time, we’ve worked on hundreds of projects across the UK, with both major operators – such as Breedon Group Plc – and smaller, independent firms. We’re extremely proud of our wealth of expertise within the sector, and the great work we carry out is all thanks to the people behind the brand.

We live and breathe this specialist sector, so our latest blog series aims to give a flavour of what it’s like to be a mineral, waste, and environmental consultant – the type of work we carry out and, essentially, what a typical week looks like.

Not only do we aim to inspire the next generation of mineral and waste planners with our honest diary entries, but it’s a great opportunity to get to know the MPG team a little better, too!

Next up, we have Jill Gaunt – our minerals, waste, and environmental consultant.

Monday

One of the first things that happens on a Monday is the catch-up meeting – where the team checks in on existing projects and potential new clients. This is a great learning opportunity, as I can discuss the intricacies of the minerals and waste industry with my more experienced colleagues.

Following the morning session, I now have an updated to-do list to crack on with – and today, the priority is some environmental monitoring work. I need to schedule the next site visit and check the results we have got back from the lab.

I check our calendars before booking the sample collection with the lab and making sure we have all the equipment we need. I ask my colleague to label the sample bottles ahead of tomorrow.

I look through the chemical analysis of the water samples for a different site and cross-check the results against the site’s environmental permit – to make sure there aren’t any breaches. In this case there aren’t, so no further action is needed.

A colleague has asked me to update a drawing needed as part of a Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) for a site, as we now have new information from the client. The FPP is required for the environmental permit to be issued before the firm can commence its waste operation.

Tuesday

Most of the preparations for this monthly monitoring visit were done yesterday, so after a quick check of my emails, we grab our PPE and get on the road.

Once we arrive on site, we check in at the weighbridge and start monitoring. This site has different requirements for each borehole, so we double check we’re measuring the right parameter at each location. We measure groundwater level, gas levels, and take water samples.

I see that one of the boreholes has an unexpected groundwater level reading, so I make a note to discuss this with a colleague. We make sure that we’ve got all the data we need before setting off back to the office.

Once we’re back from site, we make sure the water samples are ready for collection the next day and let the lab know which parameters need to be measured once they receive them.

When the samples are ready to go, I transfer the groundwater level and gas monitoring data across to the recording sheet. It was a long drive to and from the site, so it’s home time already.

Wednesday

I have another site visit today – this one is at a dimension stone quarry to attend a compliance monitoring visit with the council’s enforcement officer and the client, along with my director.

We arrive at the site and, together with our client, discuss the agenda that’s been sent so we’re all prepared. Once the officer arrives, we walk the site again with them and answer any questions they have. The monitoring visit with the council goes smoothly.

The client has asked us to visit another of their locations, so we head there next. The client walks us through this new site and explains what they propose to do there. We discuss some initial thoughts on their proposals, highlight the next steps of the application process, and explain what further information would be needed for us to proceed.

After grabbing some lunch in the nearby village, we head back to the office, talking about the potential new work on the way.

We still have a good chunk of time before the end of the day, so I start drafting a response to a request for further information from the council for a different site. Once I have a rough draft of the response, I ask for a quick chat with a senior colleague to discuss some points before sending it.

Thursday

The first thing I do after my morning coffee is get in contact with United Utilities – off the back of the groundwater level data recorded at the site on Tuesday. We want to know if the unexpected recording is due to abstraction pumping in the vicinity of the area or some other mechanism.

Next, I stich together the final version of a pre-application supporting document and EIA screening request I wrote last week. I double-check the accompanying plans and fill out the council’s pre-application request form, before sending the documents to our director for a final proofread ahead of submission.

One of the next steps for the response to the council that I started yesterday, is to contact the sub-contractors to ask them to prepare responses to the specialist consultee comments. One of the consultee comments from the council will require a more detailed response, so I organise a meeting with the relevant sub-contractor so we can agree how to proceed.

Friday

I see that the client has sent through a sketch of their proposals at the second site we went to on Wednesday, so I start my day by preparing the initial master plan for the site.

Once I have the draft ready, I have a quick chat with my director about it to see if there are any potential issues or opportunities that are apparent on the plan, as opposed to on-the-ground observations at the site.

Next, I start a viability appraisal for the proposals – this involves collating information on the designations both at and near the site, and a brief look at local and national policy to see if the proposals would or wouldn’t be supported by the planning system.

Some sub-contractors have sent through their invoices, so I analyse them on behalf of our clients, before heading home after a busy week.

If you’d like to find out more about the people behind the brand at MPG, head over to our team page. And if you have any queries at all, please get in touch with the friendly team, here!