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