remediation of contaminated sites in a swedish perspective

REMEDEDIATION OF CONTAMINATED

SITES IN A SWEDISH PERSPECTIVE

2015-01-27 Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency 1

Swedish Environmental Protection

Agency

Policy Implementation Departement

Remediation of Contaminated Sites

jeanette.haggrot@swedishepa.se

Contaminated site - definition

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A contaminated site is

• a land and,

• water areas

• groundwater

• buildings and,

• structures

that are polluted to that extent

that they may cause

damage or detriment to

human health or the

environment.

Some history

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• In 1969 – the Environmental Protection Act entered into force

• In 1995 The Swedish EPA made an industry survey. • In 1999 - the Environmental Code entered into force (unifying

all environmental laws) • And also in 1999 the Swedish EPA report ”Method for

inventories of contaminated sites” was introduced. • 2003-2009 knowledge program ”Sustainable Remediation”

• In 2004 the Grants Ordinance was introduced. The Swedish

Environmental Protection Agency makes decision about State funding (40 million EURO/year).

The aim of remediation

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• to reduce the risk of

hazard or inconvinience for

human health or the

environment in a

sustainable way,

and

• to reduce the amounts and

levels of metals and

unatural substances in the

environment

Driving forces for remediation

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• Environmental Quality Objectives

• The Environmental Code – environmental

legislation

• Governmental funding

• Reduced climate impact

• Clean air Natural

acidification only

• A non-toxic environment

• A protective ozone layer

• A safe radiation

environment

• Zero eutrophication

• Flourishing lakes and

streams

• Good-quality groundwater

• A balanced marine environment,

flourishing coastal areas and

archipelagos

• Thriving wetlands

• Sustainable forests

• A varied agricultural landscape

• A magnificent mountain landscape

• A good built environment

• A rich diversity of plant and animal life

PARLIAMENT ( )

Environmental Code

General principles and considerations

Precautionary

principle

• The mere risk of damage

involves an obligation to

take the necessary

measures to combat or

prevent adverse health

and environmental

effects

Polluter Pays Principle

• The operator who causes

or might cause

environmental impact

must pay for the

preventive measures

Environmental Code

General principles and considerations

Burden of proof

• Operator is liable

to prove that the

rules of the code

is complied with

Knowledge requirements

• Operator must have

knowledge about

Environmental effects and

anything that needs to be

known in order to protect

environment

Liability and chapter 10

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• Polluters pays principle

• 1st: Polluter, operator

– After 1969: 100 % responsibility

– 1960-1969: limited responsibility

– before 1960: no responsibility

• 2nd: Property owner

– if no operator are able to fullfill their

responsibility and the property is

purchased after 1998-12-31

– less responsibility than polluter

• 3rd: Local municipalities, state or both

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Environmental Protection Agency 12

Strategy – ”starecase”

Identification

Riskclassification-

prio

Investigations

Remediation

Follow up

Riskassessment – riskreduction nessesary?

Liability study

Remedial alternative

selection process

Konceptual model

Konceptual model

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Generic guideline

values-soils

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• Sensitive land use (KM) -

residential, cultivation and

drinking water

Less sensitive land use

(MKM) - industries, shopping

centers and offices

(mg/kg dw)

Actors of remediation

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Problem owners

- active operator

- former operator

- landowner

- developers

Environmental Courts

- permit applications

- of trials

Environmental Protection Agency

- guidance

- distributor of grant funds

- national prioritizing

- national & international reporting

- international work

County Adminstrative Board (21)

- guidance

- supervision and enforcement

- inventory & investigation

- regional prioritizing

- distributor of grant funds

- planning issues

Municipality (290)

- enforcement

- investigation

- principal responsibility for remediation

- planning issues

SGU och SGI

- supporting activities

- research

- assignments

in remediation

Experts

- universities, colleges &

instituts

- expert consultants

Performers

- consultants

- contractors

Process - remediation at a sawmill with

impregnation of wood

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Operator Authority-enforcement

Remediation goals Ok?

Dialogue about selection of

remediation alternative

Dialogue about selection of

remediation alternative

Apply for permit,

describe how to follow up

Decision about type of remediation

action and precutionary measures etc

Procur performers

Excavation Inspection

Control of excavated masses and

contaminations left in soil

Ok? Representative? Does it meet

remediation goals?

Transportation to landfill or reuse.

Documents to prove masses too

contaminated have been recieved at

landfill with a permit

Ok?

Present situation

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Geographic database

About 80 000 potentially

contaminated sites in the

country

1 000 sites are considered to

constitute very large risk for

humans and environment

(riskclass 1)

7 000 sites are considered to

constitute large risk for

humans and environment

(riskclass 2)

A lot of investigations are in

progress…

Riskclass 1

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About 2 200 prioritezed sites are remediated so

far, through public and private funding

Guidance

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Guiding reports:

• The choice of

remediation measures

• Risk assessment of

contaminated sites

• Generic guideline

values for contaminated

soil

• Calculation programme

for guideline values for

contaminated soil

Further information

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http://www.swedishepa.se/Environmental-objectives-and-cooperation/Swedish-environmental-work/Work-areas/Post-

treatment-efforts-provide-more-clean-land/ (in Swedish: www.naturvardsverket.se)

Publications in English: http://www.naturvardsverket.se/Om-

Naturvardsverket/Publikationer/Publications-in-English/

Introduction to a method for inventory: http://www.naturvardsverket.se/Om-

Naturvardsverket/Publikationer/ISBN/8000/91-620-8093-8/

Environmental Quality Objectives: http://www.miljomal.se/Environmental-Objectives-Portal/

The Environmental code:

http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/108/a/1348

County Administrations:

http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/Sv/Pages/default.aspx