The management of contaminated sites and the soil remediation industry in Denmark
Michel Schilling
The beginning…
1983 estimate
•500 deposits in Denmark
•Clean up costs: 50 million euro
•Duration: 10 years
Early rise of soil pollution issue in Denmark
Advantages of an early focus on soil pollution
•Preservation of groundwater as drinking water source
•Value of areas being put to use
•Unhindered urban development
•Lower transaction costs for land trading
•Prevention of pollution
•Reducing adverse health effects
•Business advantage for soil remediation industry
1987 estimate
•6,000 polluted sites
•Clean up costs: 1 billion euro
•Duration: 30 years
1993 estimate
•10,000 polluted sites
•Clean up costs: 3 billion euro
•Duration: 50 years
1999 - Danish Act on Soil Pollution
New pollution
Contaminated site
Voluntary remediation
Old pollution
Strict liability
Polluter carry out investigation and
remediation
Public financed investigation
and remediation
Private fuel storage tank
Investigation and
remediation covered by insurance
V1 and V2 mapping of sites
Site with possible pollution sources
V1 – identify underground storage tanks etc. from historical archives
V2 – soil and groundwater samples to decide if the site is polluted or not
If polluted – further investigations, risk evaluation, and clean up
Risk assessment – human health
•Very sensitive use: Kindergardens, private houses
•Sensitive use: Schools
•Non sensitive use: Parking lots
•Pollution content below treshold criteria: soil can be freely used
•Pollution content above treshold criteria and below cut-off criteria: soil can be used with precautions (non-mobile pollutants)
•Pollution content above cut-off criteria: soil should be removed or sealed
Voluntarily based remediation
Havnestaden
Act on Soil Pollution - summarised
New Pollutions:
•Polluter pays principle
•Strict liability
Old Pollutions:
Voluntary remediation
Private fuel storage tanks – mandatory insurance
Public financed remediation –mapping and prioritation
2003 estimate…
55,000 possibly polluted sites
31,000 actually polluted sites
14,000 sites in areas of priority
4,000 groundwater
10,000 human health
Total costs: 1.8 billion euro
…2012 preliminary status
28,000 sites mapped (V1 or V2)
14,000 actually polluted sites (V2)
7,000 sites in areas of priority
2,000 sites need to be remediated
Public access to data on contaminated sites
Administrative set-up
Ministry of the Environment
5 regions•Publicly financed investigation and remediation
98 municipalities•Supervision of industries•Supervision of privately financed investigation and remediation•Supervision of soil transports
Decentral units•Supervision of heavy industries•Planning of use of groundwater resources
Government
Investigation and remediation - public prioritation of ressources
Houses, kindergardens,
playgrounds etc.37%
Drinking water supply26%
Combined risks31%
Other6%
The Danish industry of soil remediation
Insurance7%
Privately financed
25%Regions
47%
Oil industry10%
Municipalities, Value Loss and
Defense11%
Total estimated budget: 130 million euro
Consultants and contractors within soil remdiation
SME’s specialised within this and related fields
Projects requiring know-how and with repeating pattern:
•Soil handling
•Mapping
•Oil storage tank pollutions
Projects requiring expert knowledge:
•Remediation of pollutions with chlorinated compounds
Research and innovation
Export opportunities
Conclusion
