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Soil contamination and soil cleanup: terms and definitions

The relevant terms and definitions relating to soil pollution and soil cleanup policy are explained here.

Soil-use values The cleanup objective for substances (or groups of substances) in the soil below which the level of soil pollution is acceptable given the intended use but at which any change of use must result in a new appraisal.
Diffused soil burden Soil burden extending over large areas, causing relatively slight contamination (up to twice the desired quality standard). In a few cases, there may also be severe pollution.
'Severe case' of soil pollution  Case in which an intervention value is exceeded. Here, management measures are the minimum requirement and the level of urgency should be determined.
Function-based cleanup - general Cleanup method permitted after the Soil Cleanup Policy Innovation (BEVER). Management is still required; new evaluation will follow after changes in use. Function-based cleanup operations may involve both the soil surface and the subsoil.
Function-based cleanup - soil surface Function-based cleanup operations involving the soil surface establish an acceptable level of contamination given the current land use (at the living level). The cleanup objective is linked in this case to the function of the soil, with a distinction being made between four clusters: housing with vegetable garden, housing with garden, infrastructure (metalled surfaces) and nature and public green spaces.
Function-based cleanup - subsoil  In function-based cleanup operations involving the subsoil (deeper than approximately 2 metres), a distinction is made between 'pollution in an immobile situation' and 'pollution in a mobile situation'. In the first case, the subsoil is not cleaned, because diffusion and exposure are limited. By contrast, in the case of mobile pollution, the aim is to remove as much of the pollution as possible and to achieve at least a 'stable end situation'. This is permitted for a maximum of 30 years. The period is so long in order to make it possible to use cost-effective techniques.
Intervention values  Values for the contamination level for each substance or group of substances above which the functional properties of the soil for humans, animals and plants are severely affected (or threatened).
Isolation with after-care ad perpetuam  This technique is used if the other cleanup methods are impossible or extremely expensive (cost calculating includes a financial provision for after-care). For large sites, this is often the only feasible solution.
ISV Investment Budget for Urban Renewal (Investeringsbudget Stedelijke Vernieuwing) under the Urban Renewal Act (Wet stedelijke vernieuwing), in this context primarily the section that is used for soil investigation and soil cleanup.
Multifunctional cleanup This means that, after cleanup, the soil is completely clean and that thereafter every type of soil use is possible and that no supplementary management or after-care is needed. At small sites, multifunctional cleanup is often preferable because this means that the problem will be dealt with permanently and that the costs will be limited.
Further investigation Further investigation establishes the severity of the pollution, the extent, and the urgency of cleanup operations. A cleanup plan is then drawn up, after which the competent government authority issues a cleanup order.
'New case' of soil pollution Case in which the soil has been polluted entirely or largely after 1987. In 1987, the duty of care was added to the Soil Protection Act. This means that new cases of soil pollution must be remediated immediately.
Exploratory investigation The exploratory investigation is the first actual soil investigation at suspect sites. This investigation determines whether the level of pollution justifies further investigation.
Desired quality standards  Values for concentrations of substances (or groups of substances) in the soil below which environmental quality can be considered to be good and below which risks for people and the ecosystem are negligible.
'Urgent case' of soil pollution requiring cleanup Case requiring cleanup after the urgency system has shown that it is urgent on environmental grounds, or for which an urgency order has been issued for social reasons. A time is determined here as a limit for the launch of cleanup operations.
Soil Protection Act budget Budget granted by the Ministry of the Environment under the Soil Protection Act (Wet Bodembescherming) to the competent government authorities for tackling cases of soil pollution for which no private initiative is expected.
   
Source: VROM, 2000, 2001; Regiegroep Bever, 2001.

References


Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium
This page was last changed on November 18, 2005  (version 01).