remediation of contaminated sites in a swedish perspective
TRANSCRIPT
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
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
2015-01-27 Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency 3
• 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