The Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) superseded the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) and Waste Management Licensing (WML) Regulations in England and Wales in 2010, and covers many industrial activities from chemicals to minerals, metals to food and drink. The requirements in Scotland are similar and are regulated under the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012, which came into force in 2013.

As part of the requirement for the application for an environmental permit, a site condition assessment is required to describe the condition of the land and groundwater at the site. This assessment provides a baseline of the condition of the land and groundwater.