MAVA NV services

A good ambient air quality is essential in a working environment. A safe working place has to be guaranteed without possible short or long term effects on employees health, in all production environments. Apart from the influence on the working place, production processes also can give rise to the emission of potential air contaminants in a broader environment. MAVA guides you to identify the potential risks of air contaminant emmission.

Until recently, the availability of water was considered unlimited in industrialised countries. Nowadays however, a growing awareness exists for a proper and dedicated water management. This is the result of a continuous increase of the price of water both for the acquiring and draining of water, and of the accompagning legislation. MAVA has definite expertise available to solve every water issue, on a technical level as well as on a legal or administrative level.

By means of the structure planning process, the urban bottlenecks, needs and requirements on the territory of a town, a province or a region are analysed, enabling the drawing up of a vision and direction for the urban planning policy.  This is then finalised by a selection of concrete measures to realise the proposed policy in the coming years. All these points are laid down in an urban structural plan for the town, the province or the region.

Given the risks for soil contamination, the storage of (dangerous) liquids in above or underground tanks is more and more coupled to stringent conditions. A thorough and periodical check of the tanks is essential to allow a problem free exploitation. Our experts have certified several thousands leakproof tanks.

A soil investigation starts with clarifying the history of the site. This allows the identification of the activities which have taken place on the site and which pose a possible risk for soil contamination. Based on these risk locations and a dedicated sampling of soil and groundwater procedure, a first impression of the presence of contamination is obtained. When a contamination is observed which indicates a possible considerable risk for human and/or environment, a further in depth investigation is necessary. This then will charaterize the spread of the contamination, both horizontally and vertically. After a thorough risk analysis, in most cases with the help of scientifically approved models, it can then be decided if a remediation is necessary.

Since 1995, the Flemish decree on the internal company environmental care is effective. As a result, many companies, basically, all class 1 companies except a few exceptions, have to appoint an environmental coordinator.

Certain activities or planning developments are subject to environmental impact assessment. These plans and projects subject to EIA are listed in the Decree of the Flemish government of December 10, 2004, establishing the categories of projects subject to environmental impact assessment (Belgian Law Gazette 17/02/2005). It is based on the precautionary principle and the principle of preventive action. In the environmental impact assessment, the environmental impact on several aspects such as soil, water, human, flora and fauna are studied, discussed and evaluated in a scientifically sound manner.

Many organizations are involved, to varying degrees, with the transport of dangerous goods. This transport should always comply with ADR ( road ), IMDG (sea), or IATA (air). Organisations involved in transport or related activities of loading, unloading, filling or packaging of dangerous goods exceeding in total 50 tonnes per year, need to have a safety advisor available. This mandatory requirement is detailed in directive 96/35 EU. MAVA provides guidance to organizations on how to comply with the ADR, IMDG or IATA regulations.

More and more, the planning situation of your site is a defining factor, not only to obtain your planning permit, but also for the delivery of your environmental permit.  Nowadays, you can be faced with Flemish development plans, SDP’s (special development plans) or regional, provincial or municipal implementation plans (SIP’s).  Not to mention urban structure plans or different adjoining demarcation processes (flood areas, VEN areas, …).

Urban structure and implementation plans, sectoral SDP’s (special development plans), partial studies, strategic projects, … in every town, there is at least one planning process pending. Due to the specific terms and procedures, it is often not easy to find the correct way to proper involvement when your site is part of one of these planning processes. When you are faced with a specific planning process, MAVA can assist you with a thorough analysis and explanation of the consequences for your company. This enables a timely and knowledgeable reaction which will optimise your business interests.