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罢丑别鈥�MMO鈥痬ust ensure that sediment sample analysis data submitted in support of marine licence applications is consistent, and in a format that lets us compare separate applications.听听

You should follow the guidance below to ensure that we can process your marine licence application.听听

We also use the鈥�Cefas action levels to decide how suitable it is to dispose of dredged sediments at sea.

Information for marine licence applicants听

You must make sure that your sediment sampling and analysis is undertaken by a鈥�MMO鈥痸alidated laboratory. If a laboratory chooses to sub-contract analysis of samples, the sub-contracted laboratories must also meet the same requirements.

Laboratories validated by the MMO

Below are the laboratories validated by鈥�MMO鈥痜or sediment analysis to inform marine licence applications and validated determinands. Determinands are the specific biological, chemical and physical properties of sediment.

• Yes - determinands validated
• No - determinands unvalidated

Submitting your data听

You must use our results template to submit your sediment analysis data.

Your sediment analysis results should be a single report. The report must also comply with the requirements set out in your Sediment Sample Plan.听听

The laboratory who completed the sampling and analysis work for you must provide a chain of custody evidence in support of the analysis results. This is to prove that the samples have been handled and stored correctly by them.听

Samples taken for chemical analysis, as part of your application, must be stored frozen in glass containers. These containers must be acid cleaned (10% volume-to-volume aqueous nitric acid), and solvent-rinsed (hexane or pentane) before they are used. The integrity of container closure must also be protected (solvent-rinsed aluminium foil) to avoid potential loss of determinands, contamination of samples, or both.听

A temperature of 25掳C should not be exceeded at any stage of storage or transportation. Samples not analysed within 48 hours must be stored at 4掳C (short-term storage, under 1 week). Samples stored for more than 1 week and up to a maximum of 3 months must be kept frozen at -20掳C or below.听

If your report is missing information, we鈥檒l write to you to request the extra information. This is likely to delay the application process.

Using existing data

You may use existing analytical data on the physical and chemical properties of sediments in support of your marine licence application. The information must be from a laboratory that has been validated by the鈥�MMO鈥痑t the time of the analysis. The data must also have been collected within 3 to 5 calendar years from the date you submitted your marine licence application, and we accepted it.听

If the data was collected outside the marine licensing process, you must provide full information on the original analysis of the samples. This should be submitted using laboratory capability statements and laboratory methodological statements. See the section 鈥楲aboratory validation鈥� for more information on these statements.听

We recommend you talk to us before you use existing data. We can help you establish suitability and relevance of the existing data. We鈥檒l also support you to prove that data complies with storage, analysis, and quality control requirements. You can contact us by submitting an enquiry from your account on our . Submitting an enquiry may incur a charge. Find about our fees.

Suitability of material听

Marine licence application chemical analysis results are assessed against Cefas action levels and geological background levels. The action levels are used to determine the contaminant loading of the material and its suitability for disposal at sea.听

Current Cefas action levels were set in 1994 and are provided in the table below:

Information for laboratories

Laboratory validation

Our laboratory validation process is undertaken in consultation with Cefas.听

Laboratories seeking validation are encouraged to engage with the鈥�MMO鈥痓efore applying to be validated. You will need to register for an account on our and then submit an enquiry. Submitting an enquiry may incur a charge. Find out about our鈥�fees. Once validated, a laboratory will be subject to an on-going competence review.听

To become a validated laboratory, the following information must be submitted to the鈥�MMO:听

• Laboratory Capability Statement; and听
• Methodological statements听

You should submit these statements by registering on our and submitting them from your account.听听

罢丑别鈥�MMO鈥痑nd Cefas charge for validating laboratories. Work is charged at an hourly rate of 拢122 for鈥�MMO鈥痵taff and 拢108.32 an hour for Cefas staff. You will be invoiced in arrears.

Laboratory capability statement听

To be validated by the鈥�MMO, laboratories must submit a laboratory capability statement confirming they meet minimum standards.

The capability statement includes:听

• being ISO/IEC 17025 accredited听
• for particle size analysis, successfully participating in the National Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control (NMBAQC) Particle Analysis Size ring test听
• for chemical analysis, successfully participating twice a year in鈥疩UASIMEME鈥�(Quality Assurance of Information for Marine Environmental Monitoring in Europe) over a minimum of 2 years

Methodological statement听

To be validated by the鈥�MMO, laboratories must provide details of methodologies and quality control processes for the sample analyses they perform.听

A laboratory must submit a methodological statement for particle size analysis and for each group of, or individual, determinands where methods differ. This is so the laboratory鈥檚 methods can be validated.

The laboratory must detail performance characteristics of the methods within the methodological statement and must meet the minimum performance requirements.听

Laboratories can use methods other than those specified, but they must demonstrate fitness for purpose within the methodological statement. Sediment analysis outputs must be comparable with those obtained using the methods detailed here.听

Laboratories should see the鈥�guidance on physical and chemical determinands for sampling and sediment analysis听

罢丑别鈥�MMO鈥痬ust review methodologies not previously validated, or changes to previously validated methodologies, before analysis outputs are accepted in support of a marine licence application.

Blind Testing Exercise in support of evidence for external Quality Control听

For chemical analysis, where a laboratory does not have sufficient proficiency testing data (i.e. because a method has been newly developed or improved to meet鈥�MMO鈥痳equirements), a one-off blind testing exercise consisting of up to 6 reference materials can be arranged via the鈥�MMO. This is to allow the laboratory to generate sufficient external quality control data. Each blind testing exercise must however be complimented with results from at least one round of鈥疩UASIMEME鈥�(i.e. two sediment materials tested per round).听

Results of the blind testing exercise must be submitted to the鈥�MMO. Z-scores will be derived using the鈥疩UASIMEME鈥痬ethod of calculation and will be evaluated against鈥�MMO鈥痳equirement for proficiency testing. Blind testing is chargeable at an hourly rate of 拢122 for鈥�MMO鈥痵taff and 拢108.32 an hour for Cefas staff. You will be invoiced in arrears.听

On-going Competence Review听

MMO鈥痸alidated laboratories must be fit for purpose. The requirements to demonstrate on-going competence are as follows;

1. United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is to be maintained for the laboratory听

2. United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is to be gained or maintained within 2 years from the date of the Laboratory Validation letter for the determinands and specific methods used for鈥�MMO鈥痬arine licence applications. The determinands and specific methods validated by the鈥�MMO鈥痬ust be added to the Schedule of Accreditation for assessment by鈥疷KAS听

3. The laboratory is required to submit the annual鈥疷KAS鈥痠ssued Schedule of Accreditation,鈥疷KAS鈥疉ssessment Report and鈥疷KAS鈥疘mprovement Action Report (IAR) to the鈥�MMO鈥痺ithin 1 month of the reports being produced听

4. Where the laboratory is issued with improvement actions following the鈥疷KAS鈥痑nnual assessment then the laboratory will be required to rectify the findings within the timescale set by鈥疷KAS鈥痠n the IAR听

5. Where鈥疷KAS鈥痑ccreditation is suspended, or any鈥�MMO鈥痸alidated method is removed from the Schedule of Accreditation, then the laboratory must inform the鈥�MMO鈥痠n writing within 24 hours听

Failure to comply with the expectations of the鈥�MMO, as set out above, would result in the鈥�MMO鈥痺ithdrawing validation and the laboratory will no longer be allowed to analyse marine sediments to inform marine licence applications. All evidence provided to the鈥�MMO鈥痠n support of on-going competence must be submitted via the Marine Case Management System (MCMS) as a sample plan request 鈥榲alidate a laboratory鈥�.听

Sample plans and sediment analysis

The UK is signed up to the听听and听, both of which address preventing marine pollution from disposal at sea.

MMO听licenses disposing of dredged materials at sea and uses guidelines produced by听OSPAR听to regulate this activity. A marine licence to dispose of dredged materials to sea requires the sediments to be characterised to allow the potential adverse environmental effects of disposing of the material to be considered.

The听OSPAR听guidelines recommend a tiered approach to assess the sediments, if sufficient information is not already available from existing sources. The assessments required will depend upon the specific details of the proposed activities, although characterisation of a standard set of physical and chemical determinands within the sediments is often necessary.

Sample plans

Before you apply for a marine licence, a sediment sampling plan must be agreed with the听MMO听in consultation with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas). The sample plan will set out the sample locations as well as the specific biological, chemical and physical analysis requirements.

The sample plan must be requested through the听MMO鈥檚听听as a sample plan request.

If an application for a marine licence is submitted without sediment sample analysis and the听MMO听considers that this evidence is required, the application will be placed on hold and the applicant directed to request a sample plan.

Contact information听

Marine Licensing Team听 0300 123 1032听 marine.consents@marinemanagement.org.uk