Edition 2.1 - March 2020 DOWNLOAD
Introduction
The systematic clearing of all EO hazards from areas of land is referred to as ‘clearance’ or ‘area clearance’. Clearance is a core activity in the land release process and is conducted when there is direct evidence confirming contamination. Whereas Non‐Technical Surveys (NTS) and/or Technical Surveys (TS) are used in Suspected Hazard Areas (SHA), area search and clearance is required in a Confirmed Hazard Areas (CHA). However, the efficient use of resources in a QM system requires that a pragmatic degree of flexibility be applied to the designation of land as SHA or CHA. The designation of an area or parts of an area should change when new information about the EO hazards present is gathered while work is being conducted. Land may still be ‘reduced’ during area search and clearance when that is agreed with the LMAC. Similarly, it may be necessary to extend the boundaries of the task when evidence indicating a need is discovered during clearance. Clearance requires demining teams working in Lebanon to effectively search for, identify and remove/destroy all EO hazards from an identified area to a specified depth. In addition to clearance requirements set by the LMAC, it is an obligation for all IAs operating in Lebanon to support the collective goal of the community having confidence in the safety of released land. To meet national needs, this NMAS is designed to provide general requirements for clearance that shall be applied in Lebanon. Within this context, community confidence in land release is supported by the adoption of a Quality Management (QM) system that provides assurance with QA and QC processes. Quality Assurance (QA) focuses on the processes involved in land release. It involves the accreditation of approved IAs before operations, then monitoring their operations thereafter to ensure that their procedures and assets are applied appropriately. Quality Control (QC) focuses on the inspection of the final product, the land declared ready for release, before it is formally handed over to its owner(s). Some land is released without clearance being needed. This NMAS focuses on the reliable and comprehensible clearance requirements to be applied to land released after clearance is conducted.