1. THEMATIC STRATEGY ON SOIL PROTECTION
Claudia Olazábal
European Commission
DG Environment- Unit Agriculture, soil and forests

2. WHY A THEMATIC STRATEGY on SOIL?
Soil is a non-renewable natural resource
Soil performs CRUCIAL functions for human activities and ecosystems survival
Soils are increasingly degrading or irreversibly lost across the EU => the Community acquis is manifestly not sufficient
There is no specific EU legislation on soil protection -Need for a comprehensive protective approach

3. FILLING THE GAP NATURE legislation WATER SOIL legislation legislation
AIR legislation
NATURE legislation
WATER
legislation
SOIL legislation

4. CONTENT OF THE THEMATIC STRATEGY

5. 4 Pillars of EU soil policy
AWARENESS RAISING
RESEARCH
INTEGRATION
OF SOIL PROTECTION ASPECTS
LEGISLATION
Proposal for a Soil Framework Directive COM(2006)232

6. SOIL THREATS ADDRESSED DIRECTIVE ORGANIC MATTER DECLINE
CONTAMINATION
SEALING
EROSION
ORGANIC MATTER DECLINE
SALINISATION
COMPACTION
LANDSLIDES

7. Objectives – Protection of soil functions
STRUCTURE
Objectives – Protection of soil functions
Precautionary measures
Integration in sectoral policies
Prevention of contamination
Prevention
Identification of risk areas for erosion, organic matter decline, compaction, salinisation, landslides
Identification of contaminated sites within 25 years
Identification
Programmes of Measures
National Remediation Strategy
Measures to limit or mitigate sealing
Action

8. CONTAMINATION
Contaminated site
confirmed presence
caused by man
of dangerous substances
pose significant risk to human health or the environment
taking account current and approved future use of land

9. PREVENTIVE OBLIGATION DIFFUSE AND LOCAL CONTAMINATION
PREVENTION OF SOIL CONTAMINATION – DIFFUSE AND LOCAL CONTAMINATION-A9
To LIMIT
the (un)intentional introduction of dangerous substances
to avoid accumulation
that would hamper soil functions or
cause significant risks to human health or environment
Provision to be read in conjunction with other EU legislation

10. INVENTORY
Obligation for MS to establish an INVENTORY OF CONTAMINATED SITES in 25 YEARS and made PUBLIC
based on AT LEAST the following list of SOIL POLLUTING ACTIVITIES-A11
Seveso installations IPPC installations
Airports Ports.
Former military sites. Petrol and filling stations.
Dry cleaners. Mining installations
Waste facilities Landfills of waste
Water treatment plants Pipelines for dangerous substances.

11. NON Active Installation Active Installation
FIRST STEP-INVENTORY
LOCATE THE ACTIVITIES - 5 YEARS
NON Active Installation
Active Installation

12. INVENTORY- 2nd and 3rd STEPS
On-site Risk Assessment
Soil Chemical Analysis
National references values exceeded

13. NATIONAL INVENTORY CONTAMINATED SITE National Reference values
exceeded
Assessment concludes significant risk for HH and ENV
Assessment concludes NO significant risk for HH and ENV

14. Investigation concluded to determine if contaminated site
INVENTORY – INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVES
15 YEARS
5 YEARS
10%   
Investigation concluded to determine if contaminated site

15. Investigation concluded to determine if contaminated site
INVENTORY – INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVES
15 YEARS
60%             
Investigation concluded to determine if contaminated site

16. Investigation concluded to determine if contaminated site
INVENTORY – INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVES
25 YEARS
100%                     
Investigation concluded to determine if contaminated site

17. NATIONAL REMEDIATION STRATEGY
Obligation to remediate contaminated sites-no deadline fixed– A12
REMEDIATION
actions on the soil aimed at the removal, control, containment or reduction of contaminants, taking account of its current use and approved future use, no longer poses any significant risk to human health or the environment
National Remediation Strategy- 7 years- including:
remediation targets
a prioritisation
a timetable for implementation
public funds allocated

18. SOIL STATUS REPORT- A12
When selling a site where there is or there has been a SOIL POLLUTING ACTIVITY
Buyer or seller provides it to the COMPETENT AUTHORITY and the other party in the transaction a report on the state of the soil
the background history of the site
a chemical analysis
concentration levels posing a risk
OBJECTIVES
Inform the possible buyer – very similar provision in Energy Efficiency Directive
Inform the competent authorities and facilitate and speed up the set up of the inventory of contaminated sites

19. MECHANISM FOR ORPHAN SITES-A13
Set up appropriate mechanisms to fund the remediation of the contaminated sites for which the polluter
cannot be identified
cannot be held liable under Community or national legislation
may not be made to bear the costs of remediation

20. Timetable for the obligations Soil Directive