Country presentationNetherlands

First Eionet NRC Soil- Adhoc WG Meeting

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Contents

1. Who am I2. Current developments in the

Netherlands policy on contaminated land

3. Preparation of the Integrated environmental law –the soil part

4. Importance of pollution5. Comments on indicator

discussion paper

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Kees Versluijs● RIVM National Institute Public Health and Environment.● Research Institute, supports ministries for Health and Environment.● My current main projects:

– Monitoring progress in the remediation of soil contamination, annual reports to parliament 2000 - 2015

– Developing indicators to monitor the results of the proposed new policy on soil

– Green house gasses from land use, land use changes and forestry

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Current developments in the Netherlands contaminated land policy (1)● Goal 1: Decentralisation of site management: from responsibility

of the central government to local responsibilities.● Goal 2: No delay for sites with acute risks (human, dispersion

with groundwater, ecological). ● Preparation2005-2009: Inventory of sites, criteria for acute risks.● Soil covenant 2009-2015: Selection, investigations and decisions on

all sites with suspected acute risks from soil contamination. Take away acute human risks (not necessarily take away all contaminants).

● Soil covenant 2016-2020 (in preparation): Proceed with remaining sites with acute risks. Manage groundwater-contaminating sources with acute dispersion risks. Organisation of quality management of groundwater (plumes) on a regional basis.

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Preparation of the Integrated environmental law (planned for 2018) - the soil part

● Goal A: Spatial planning for area development is leading, also for the subsurface and applied to create land use of higher values.

● The spatial planning involves integral assessments regarding e.g. the soil-sediment-water system, safety of food and drinking water, water management, infrastructure, social quality improvement and environmental impact assessment.

● The spatial planning aims to connect national, regional and local interests and involves local authorities and stakeholders.

● Made possible because sites with acute risk are largely managed. All remaining sites for which formal decisions were made will be finished according transition rules.

● The management of all other contaminated sites (with potential risks) will be taken up (less enforced) in line with area development.

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Preparation of the Integrated environmental law (planned for 2018) - the soil part

● Goal B: Financial backup for soil remediation from the government and local authorities will be withdrawn.

● The polluter pays where possible for sites with acute risks as well as for sites taken up following spatial planning. The latter involves neccessary measures on immobile pollution and sources of mobile pollution.

● When costs cannot be drawn from a polluter the costs are for the stakeholders

of the projected area development plan.

● The government or local authorities take responsibility for the remaining measures on groundwater quality (i.e. plumes of sites without acute risks).

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Preparation of the Integrated environmental law (planned for 2018) - the soil part

● Goal 1: Decentralisation: from responsibility of the central government to local responsibilities.

● Goal 2: No delay for sites with acute risks (human, dispersion with groundwater, ecological).

● Goal A: Spatial planning for area development is leading, also for the subsurface and applied to create land use of higher values.

● Goal B: Financial backup for soil remediation from the government and local authorities will be withdrawn.

● Upholding goal 2: when a new site with acute risks is discovered or evolved after 2018 the government will take the lead for minimal actions to take away the acute risks. Owners will have an obligation to cooperate. Neccessary follow up according the other rules of the Integrated environmental law.

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Intermezzo: Is soil pollution a minor theme?

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From: Report 2014 of Blacksmith Institute, Green Cross and GAHPGlobal Alliance on Health and Pollution

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Air Pollution gives deposition on land. Soil pollution causes water pollution.Detoriation of land gives dust in windy times and polluted stormwater in rainy times.

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What to do ?(and what to monitor)

Set priorities for • prevention, • investigation, • site

management.On the basis of health and economy.To secure future developments and to protect natural resources.

Identifypollutants and sites

Develop and implement• Jurisdiction, • Financial

management• Spatial planning• Sufficient

investigation methods • Optimal technical

solutions

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Comments on the discussion paper on the indicator● Ad Key observation 2 about Types of sites

– PCS: classes: reported contamination; current or past activity often leading to contamination; sensitive receptor

– CS: site posing risks on its own vs one of a group of less contaminated sites have together adverse impact on a receptor

– RS: completely remediated and contaminants eliminated or just risks eliminated by blocking exposure routes removed

– – Missing: sites with active aftercare

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Comments on the discussion paper on the indicator● Ad Key observation 5 about “Contaminated”

– NL discriminates light contaminated vs seriously contaminated sites as defined by listed Intervention Values for contaminants,

– but evolved to land use specific “Intervention values”

– and priority for acute risks, accounting for › surface area of seriously contaminated land,› volume of seriously contaminated groundwater, › the exposure risks (web based model calculation).

– Additional problem: New or rare contaminants not provided for in the standards lists, i.e. human and livestock medicines, hormonelike substances, nanomaterials, plastic micro-particles, new persistent substances

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