Newsletter

Horizon Europe – Work Programme 2024 now available 

For the Soil Mission, nine topics with a budget of 134.5 million € are available for project proposals. The call opens on 8 May, the submission deadline is 8 October 2024. Complementary, the EC organises Mission Info Days on 25-26 April 2024 as well as a Missions Brokerage Event on 21-22 Mai 2024, both in online mode.

Horizon Europe Work Programme 

SedNet Working Groups Workshop and Meeting  

SedNet working groups CE and Sediment Quality will be joining forces to host a collaborative workshop from 4–5 June 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. Registration is open until 13 May 2024.  

Link to the Program and Registration

TERRAenVISION conference 2024 – call for abstracts

TERRAenVISION conference takes place from 8–11 July 2024 in Valencia, Spain and covers five themes related to this year’s topic: ‘Nature-Based Solutions to facilitate the transition for living within the Planetary Boundaries’: 

• Nature-based solutions for agriculture and natural areas (soil, water and landscape)
• Nature-based solutions for natural hazards (fire, floods and droughts)
• Nature-based solutions for urban and industrial areas (soil, water and spatial planning) 
• Methodologies: how to measure processes and impact of nature-based solutions 
• Science brokers for transitioning to a climate resilient and circular society.

Call for abstracts is open until 1 June 2024

NORDROCS 2024 - registration now open

NORDROCS conference from 9–12 September 2024 in Uppsala, Sweden aims to share knowledge and foster new relationships between professionals within the field of contaminated sites in the Nordic countries and Europe. It is a joint event by Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway and this year also Iceland. The topics range from PFAS to sediments over soil investigation, indoor air, digital tools, remediation to soil as a resource. 

Link to the program

Link to the registration 

RemTech Europe 2024 - date changed to 16–20 September 2024 

RemTech Europe, International Conference and Exhibition on land and water remediation markets and technologies is scheduled for 16–20 September 2024 (changed from 23–27 September 2024). The first two days of the conference will be fully digital, and streamed. The following three days will be hybrid with in-person platform presentations and broadcast online.

The conference takes place in Ferrara, Italy, is fully in English and participation for all attendees is free of charge.

Link

European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) – Newsletter

ESDAC Newsletter No.163 (March 2024)

EUGRIS News

New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information: 

Eugris News April 2024

Eugris News March 2024

Knowledge Centre Innovative Remediation Solutions (KIS) launched in Antwerp (Flanders; Belgium)

Flanders has created the Knowledge Center for Innovative Remediation Techniques (Kenniscentrum Innovatieve Saneringstechnieken - KIS vzw) with the goal of becoming a leader in addressing and remediating chemical pollution in soil, water, and air. This new partnership led by VITO will operate in a novel field and is primarily tasked with developing, testing, elaborating, and scaling up innovative remediation and purification techniques for Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs, like PFAS) within the domains of water, air, and soil. This knowledge center has been launched by an international event on Tackling PFAS pollution.

Austrian Contaminated Sites Remediation Act: Amendment passes Council of Ministers

An amendment to the Austrian Contaminated Sites Remediation Act passed the Council of Ministers on 31 January 2024 and has been submitted to the National Parliament. According to the Minister of Environment, the main aim is to simplify the financing of soil protection measures.

In future, investigations and remediation measures on derelict and moderately contaminated industrial sites will also be financed from the funds even if they are not classified as contaminated sites according to the law. This would simplify the reuse of previously used land while reducing land take. The burden to remediate contaminated areas on derelict sites could thus be reduced due to these new subsidies, especially if the contamination is not sufficient to classify the area as a contaminated site.

The next step will be the voting in the National Parliament. Tentative entry into force is 1 January 2025.

ECHA launches new chemicals database

ECHA CHEM is ECHA’s new public chemicals database launched in early 2024. Initially, it includes data that companies have submitted in their REACH registrations. Over the coming years, ECHA will gradually transfer the data it makes publicly available from their current location (Search for chemicals) to ECHA CHEM. 

Read more about the new ECHA CHEM database, the timeline for the main releases and their features under this Link.

Geochemical soil atlas of Switzerland

The Geochemical Soil Atlas of Switzerland has been published in December 2023, showing the spatial distribution and most important statistical parameters of 20 elements, as well as the soil parameters pH, organic carbon, nitrogen and texture of the topsoil. The Atlas was established based on a resolution of around one site per 35 km². It represents a snapshot at the time of establishment of the element concentrations in the topsoil. The interpolated maps are used to visualise regions with high or low concentrations, but no site-specific information can be derived.  They primarily represent possible natural pollution. However, diffuse inputs cannot be completely ruled out (e.g. the known influence of fertilisers on the background concentration of Zn and Cd).

Goechemical Soil Atlas

Analysis of sustainable remediation techniques and technologies based on 10 European case studies

10 European case studies were analyzed to identify trends, drivers, and key success factors of how sustainable remediation is being implemented. They show the importance of conceptual site models in remediation strategy discussion and development and the importance of a team-based approach to the work of site managers toward achieving robust progress and agreed endpoints. Stakeholder engagement is also important to making robust sustainability assessments because, in many cases, the comparison made, whether qualitative or semiquantitative, is opinion-based. Positive engagement with regulators as a part of the sustainability assessment process is key to a successful outcome and should be encouraged where possible.

Link to the article 

EPA updated Soil Lead Guidance for CERCLA Sites and RCRA Corrective Action Facilities

EPA updates to guidance for lead in residential soil at CERCLA (also known as Superfund) sites and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act corrective action facilities. EPA is lowering recommended screening levels and strengthening guidance for investigating and cleaning up lead-contaminated soil in residential areas where children live and play. EPA makes cleanup decisions specific to each site, using site-specific factors, including risk factors and community input that can vary from site to site.

Link 

European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) – Newsletter

• ESDAC Newsletter No.162 (February 2024)
• ESDAC Newsletter No.161 (January 2024)

EUGRIS News

New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information:

• Eugris News Feb. 2024

Soil Monitoring Law – Environment Council, 18 December 2023

EU Ministers held a policy debate on a proposal for the EU soil monitoring law. They welcomed the proposal and agreed with the importance of having joint legislative frame focused for soil. They exchanged views on how the proposed soil monitoring framework could help improve soil health within the foreseen timeframe and on the level of ambition in tackling soil contamination. For the public session follow the link to the comments of each EU Member State:

Watch the speakers

EU Taxonomy – Environmental Delegated Act published in 24 EU languages

The EU taxonomy is a cornerstone of the EU’s sustainable finance framework and an important market transparency tool (read more HERE). By December 2023 the subsequent Environmental Delegated Act has been published (find the 24 EU language versions HERE). Through Art. 3 and in particular Annex III the regulation provides for technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which economic activities qualify substantially to pollution prevention and control. Here two (out of six) selected economic activities directly relate to contaminated land management and getting addressed as

• remediation of legally non-conforming landfills or illegal waste dumps (Annex III; Activity 2.3) and
• remediation of contaminated sites and areas (Annex III; Activity 2.4)

The specific activity descriptions are process-oriented and detailed. Moreover, it is also recommendable to read out for the tables on technical screening criteria, introducing a risk-based approach in a comprehensive manner and terminology.

European Mission Soil Week 2023 – event material available

The European Mission Soil Week was held from 21 – 23 November 2023 with discussions on the challenges for making and keeping EU soils healthy. The presentations and recordings are now available under:

Event Material

NOVASOIL

NOVASOIL project highlights the benefits for the society and the environment from the investment in soil health and sustainable management. The main expected outcome is a toolbox for the analysis of suitability of different business cases that promote soil health taking into account among others the reuse of land.

For more information

European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) – Newsletter

• ESDAC Newsletter No.159 (November 2023)

EUGRIS News

New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information:

• Eugris News Dec. 2023

Tackling PFAS pollution: a pro-active and systemic approach & Knowledge Centre Launch: Innovative Remediation Techniques

In the context of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Flemish government would like to invite you to share your expertise on and gain new insights into:

1. Phasing out of PFAS and products containing PFAS,
2. Prevention and reduction of emissions and losses,
3. Monitoring and minimizing the spread of pollution and exposure to the population,
4. Soil remediation and PFAS waste management,
5. Protecting public health and Risk Communication

During the PFAS event on 1-2 February 2024 in Antwerp, Belgium, the region of Flanders would like to create an international forum where expertise and knowledge on PFAS can be exchanged in an inspiring environment, where possibly joint actions can be taken.

Program and registration under this link

Concawe report: Case Studies and Analysis of Sustainable Remediation Techniques and Technologies

The report aims to fill in a recognised gap in the provision of detailed case studies documenting the practical implementation of sustainable remediation, and facilitate further refinement of guidance. Concawe commissioned CL:AIRE to a) gather, prepare and publish ten European case studies that demonstrate sustainable remediation techniques and technologies and b) provide an analysis of the case studies to identify key success factors.

A cross comparison analysis focused on the following attributes: site location and type of site (former use); saturated / unsaturated zone impact; targeted contaminants; risk drivers; envisaged land use; objectives for sustainability assessment; remediation options compared; stakeholder engagement; boundary conditions; scope (environmental, economic, social); key constraints / opportunities; and assessment type (qualitative, semi-quantitative etc.). A practical approach for deploying sustainable remediation on operational sites has been proposed.

Download the report here

Ten CL:AIRE Concawe Case Study Bulletins are available to download individually at www.claire.co.uk/concawe.

Introduction to Sustainable Remediation Bulletin

SuRF-UK publishes the bulletin "Introduction to Sustainable Remediation" and introduces the concepts of sustainable remediation and some of the main guidance and tools available on this subject. It is prepared for anyone with an interest in applying sustainability principles to land contamination risk management.

Download the bulletin here

ARAGORN - Achieving Remediation And GOverning Restoration of contaminated soils Now

The EU Horizon Europe project ARAGORN focusses on remediation of persistent contaminants in soil and ecological restoration. It is addressing the critical need for immediate action towards restoration and remediation for polluted soils, by selecting contaminated sites with specific characteristics, assess persistent pollutants interferences and develop site-specific solutions and tools.

ARAGORN uses a multi-dimensional strategy, encompassing scientific research, data collection, site selection, and an in-depth collaboration with stakeholders, particularly site owners. Its ultimate vision is to ensure simplicity and clear guidance for site owners throughout Europe to have restore their polluted soils.

For more information

European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) – Newsletter

• ESDAC Newsletter No.158 (October 2023)

EUGRIS News

New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information:

• Eugris News Nov. 2023

3^rd EU Soil Observatory Stakeholders Forum —EUSO Working Groups Meetings

The third EUSO Stakeholders Forum will take place in two parts:

• Working Groups meetings, 15-17 November (online) and
• European Mission Soil Week, Madrid - Spain, 21-23 November (physical meeting).

The EUSO Technical Working Groups (TWGs) will meet to discuss technical advances on the following topics: Soil Erosion, Soil Carbon MRV, Soil Pollution, Soil Monitoring, Soil data sharing and Soil Biodiversity. The draft agenda is available . Registration to the online TWG meetings is open:

EUSOFORUM TWGs registration link

The European Mission Soil Week is an annual event aimed at promoting the Horizon Europe Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe' (Mission Soil) raising awareness about the importance of soil health, and driving action to protect and restore our soils.

European Soil Mission Week registration link

ENSOr Conference – Call for Abstracts

The 5th edition of ENSOr Conference (Emerging policy challenges on New SOil contaminants) is taking place on 14 and 15th of March 2024 in Brussels, Belgium, on the challenges related to diffuse soil pollution with emerging contaminants.

Abstract submission until 15 November 2023 under this link

European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) – Newsletter

• ESDAC Newsletter No.157 (September 2023)

EUGRIS News

New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information:

• Eugris News Oct. 2023

Translations of EC’s proposal for a Soil Monitoring Law & public feedback

Since 21 September 2023 translations into all EU official languages of the ECs proposal for a EU Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive (Soil Monitoring Law) are now available.

Proposal for a Soil Monitoring Law

A public consultation is ongoing and open for feedback until 3 November 2023:

Have your say for Soil health - protecting sustainably managing and restoring EU soils.

ISLANDR Project

The Information-based Strategies for Land Remediation (ISLANDR) Horizon Europe research activities are designed to provide tools and methods to support: (1) the delineation of polluted soils across Europe, (2) an evidence-based assessment of the risks posed by polluted soils, (3) the promotion of sustainable and risk-based land management practices, (4) the inclusion of a wider valuation approach in financial and investment cases, (5) a closer integration of land contamination and spatial planning decision-making and overall to (6) deliver key policy-relevant findings related to the Soil Strategy, the proposed Soil Health Law, and other areas of policy where soils are crucial.

In order to road-test the project’s findings, seven ISLANDR test areas (ITAs) across Europe have been identified. The ITAs have been selected to cover different land use types, such as urban, peri-urban, rural, agro-forestry, mining, wetlands and coastal areas. The ITAs are characterized by both point and diffuse sources of pollution, as well as by different soil pollution types, such as organic, inorganic, as well as contaminants of emerging concern.

ISLANDR project

Decision Support Tool NWE-SMARTX

The decision support tool called NWE-SMARTX. It is an open source application based on artificial intelligence that suggests innovative valorization paths for the materials present on former metallurgical sites and deposits. The valorised materials can be: minerals, metals and eco-catalysts.

• Objective: give technical recommendations for valorisation based on the site and material characteristics
• Content: 5 distinct predictive modules: Geophysics, Metals, Minerals, Excavation and Ecocatalysis

Downlaod the tool after registration under NWE-SMARTX | SPAQUE

Presentation and guidelines on how to use the tool under NWE Regeneratis | SPAQUE

Optimizing Remediation Technologies

To ensure that progress is made toward achieving cleanup standards through active remediation, technology-specific guidance for optimizing 15 selected remedial technologies is presented in a user guide developed by the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC). For each technology, a description, an example performance plot, and a summary of common operational problems and corresponding optimization recommendations are presented.

Optimizing Remediation Technologies User Guide

Geostats2024 – 12^th International Geostatistics Congress

The Geostats2024 – 12th International Geostatistics Congress will take place from 2-6 September 2024 in Ponta Delgada – Azores, Portugal. The registration is now open with an early-bird registration fee under

Registering link

Abstract submission opens on 2 October 2023.

EUGRIS News

New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information:

• Eugris News Sep. 2023

SOILUZIOAK 2023 Congress

The Basque Country organizes SOILUZIOAK 2023 - a unique congress on soil protection on 10 and 11 October 2023 at the Euskalduna Palace in Bilbao.

On 10 October the focus lies on the European soil protection scenario with sessions on the EU Soil Strategy for 2030, the Soil Health Act, the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy and subsequent field trips.

Soil protection given society’s challenges will be the theme on 11 October addressing the cost of the deterioration of this resource for people, their health and the economy, along with its impact on climate and biodiversity.

The Congress will thus contribute to the effective deployment of the Basque Soil Protection Strategy 2030 by means of fostering a collaborative spirit and knowledge sharing.

SOILUZIOAK 2023 Congress.

Basque Soil Protection Strategy 2030

The Basque Soil Protection Strategy 2030, released in June 2022, is available in English under:

Basque Soil Protection Strategy 2030

PROMISCES at the AquaConSoil 2023

The EU-funded PROMISCES project (Preventing Recalcitrant Organic Mobile Industrial chemicalS for Circular Economy in the Soil-sediment-water system) will identify how industrial pollution prevents the development of a circular economy in the EU and detect strategies to overcome the principal bottlenecks. The project aims to enhance the ability to detect and monitor persistent, mobile and potentially toxic iPM(T) chemicals in the soil-sediment-water system and investigate sources of PM substances released from soil, sediments, landfills and wastewater treatment plants and via urban runoff into relevant natural systems. The project implements seven case studies to test novel technologies for the removal of iPM(T)s under real-life conditions in six European countries.

During the AquaConSoil conference in Prague (11 -15 September 2023), multiple presentations by PROMISCES partners will take place.

PROMISCES Work Package 5 organizes a Stakeholder Workshop on 13 September 2023, 11-12:30. The workshop aims to introduce and deliberate on the prototype for a Decision Support Framework (DSF) that addresses the management of iPM(T)s (additional information is available in the attached flyer).

AquaConSoil2023

PROMISCES Project

European Soil Mission Week 2023

The Horizon Europe Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ (Mission Soil), the EU Soil Observatory Stakeholders’ Forum (EUSO), and the EU-funded PREPSOIL project are holding the first edition of the annually European Mission Soil Week. The event will take place on 21-23 November 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

Pre-registering Link

The EUSO Working groups meetings will take place online the week before (15-17 November 2023). Further details and registration guidelines will follow.

EUSO

European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) - Newsletter

• ESDAC Newsletter No.156 (August 2023)
• ESDAC Newsletter No.155 (July 2023)

EUGRIS News

New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information:

• Eugris News Aug. 2023

EJP SOIL Webinar - EU Proposal for a Law on Soil

The recording of the 1 hour EJP Soil webinar from 11 July 2023 with key note speaker Mirco Barbero, Team leader of the Soil and Sustainable Land Use Department of DG Environment, presenting the overview of The EU Proposal for a Law on Soil, is now available.

EJP Soil Webinar - EU Proposal for a Soil Monitoring Law

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ECA Report “EU efforts for sustainable soil management – unambitious standards and limited targeting”

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has published a new special report 19/2023 “EU efforts for sustainable soil management – unambitious standards and limited targeting”:

ECA Report 19/2023

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Mission Soil Topic "Soil Pollution Processes" – partner search

The current call for proposals of Mission Soil is still open and submissions are possible until 20 September 2023.

A project consortium around the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa is still looking for partners for a planned project submission. The project aim is to carry out a comprehensive scenario analysis at the EU level on the impact of key drivers on soil pollution by an integrated modelling system that seamlessly links all three environmental compartments (soil, air, water). Cross-connect with the Soil Mission pillars of soil monitoring and soil literacy.

If you are interested in participating in the project, please contact Ms. Nazaré Couto directly (md.couto@fct.unl.pt).

You are also welcome to forward the request to interested colleagues.

Mission Soil Topic "Soil Pollution Processes"

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NICOLE Foundation

The NICOLE Foundation, established in February 2023, is a private foundation that works with Governments, NGOs, Funders and Volunteers to clean up legacy pollution which poses an immediate and serious threat to ecosystems and people in cases where the polluter pays principle is not achievable.

It relies on the effective partnerships between the stakeholders necessary to address legacy industrial pollution and can be supported either as donors, volunteers or partners.

NICOLE Foundation Webisite

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ReCon Soil Project

The ReCon Soil project (April 2021 – June 2023) sought to further develop the reuse of surplus materials from the construction industry, considering soil function beyond geotechnical characteristics. Several toolkits are available under this link:

ReCon Soil Website

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MIBIREM – Toolbox for Microbiome based Remediation

In the EU-funded MIBIREM project 11 project partners work on the development of tools and methods (toolbox) to enhance bioremediation of organic contaminants in soil and groundwater.

As conventional soil remediation is often not affordable or inefficient, MIBIREM uses biotechnological remediation of contaminated sites. MIBIREM employs the use of living organisms, mostly bacteria, in the removal of contaminants. It will adapt and streamline microbiome science, creating and applying an innovative technological toolbox to identify, analyse, cultivate and upscale microbiomes, while ensuring safety and policy alignment.

MIBIREM Website

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13^th SedNet Conference 2023 - Sediment continuum: applying an integrated management approach

6 - 8 September 2023 – Lisbon, Spain

SedNet Conference 2023 Program & Registration

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AquaConSoil 2023 - Ticketing has opened

11 – 15 September 2023 – Prague, Czech Republic:

 AquaConSoil 2023 Tickets & Topics

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EUGRIS News

New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information:

• Eugris News July 2023

Assessment of the State of Soil Health in Europe: Call for contributions

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) together with the European Environmental Agency (EEA) is looking for contributing authors for the preparation of its Assessment of the State of Soil Health in Europe.

The resulting Science for Policy report will consist of a fully evidenced, spatially organized assessment of pressures affecting soil health, with high relevance to the implementation of the future Soil Health Law. It will also serve as a basis for the European Chapter of FAO's Status of the World's Soil Resources (SWSR) report planned for 2025.

For contribution and important dates, please fill and submit the form until 7 July 2023 under this Link to the call for contributors .

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First meeting of the International Network on Soil Pollution (INSOP) – presentations available

The first INSOP meeting took place online from 13-15 June 2023 to give review of the progress done by the network, discuss and identify the priorities, develop the work plan for 2023-2024. Several presentations are now available:

INSOP 1^st Meeting Presentations

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EUSO Annual Bulletin - 2022 activities

This report presents the activities of the EU Soil Observatory (EUSO) during 2022. Through its five main objectives, the EUSO contributes to improving the monitoring of soils, to creating and sharing knowledge and data about EU soils, in particular producing tailored outputs in support of policy development and to the wider public. EUSO provided extensive policy support to a range of policy areas, notably the upcoming Soil Health Law and the Horizon Europe’s Soil Mission. A key element of the EU Soil Observatory are the six EUSO Working Groups (e.g. Soil Pollution WGs) that aim to discuss policy or technical advances on a particular topic. The report also highlights the developments expected in 2023.

EUSO Annual Bulletin 2022

The 3^rd EUSO Stakeholder Forum will take place in the “2023 EU Soil Week” in Madrid, Spain in the week of 20-24 November 2023.

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LIFE SOuRCE project on remediation of PFAS-contaminated groundwater

LIFE SOuRCE is an European project focusing on the demonstration and evaluation of sustainable on-site remediation technologies for PFAS-contaminated groundwater and lasts from 2021 to 2025. It aims to demonstrate innovative cost-efficient and versatile remediation solutions for PFAS contaminated groundwater through the combination of a set of innovative on-site technologies; surface active foam fractionation (SAFF), anion exchange filters (AEX), electrochemical oxidation (EO) and phytoremediation (PHYTO), demonstrated at two demo sites (landfill in Sweden and industrial site in Spain).

LIFE SOuRCE Project on Remediation of PFAS

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European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) - Newsletter

• ESDAC Newsletter No. 154  (June 2023)
• ESDAC Newsletter No. 153 (May 2023)
• ESDAC Newsletter No. 152 (April 2023)

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EUGRIS News

New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information:

• Eugris News June 2023
• Eugris News May 2023

Mission Soil Manifesto

On 18 April 2023, the European Commission and the European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN) held the launch event of the Mission Soil Manifesto, a key milestone for the success of the EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’. The Manifesto highlights the urgent need for action to protect soil health.

The voluntary document can be signed by representatives of municipalities, regions, private or public companies and organisations, NGOs and philanthropic organisations, schools and education institutions, research institutions and individuals to become “Friends of the Mission Soil”.

EU Mission Soil Manifesto

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French PFAS 2023-2027 action plan

Led by the Ministry of Environment (MCECT), the PFAS 2023-2027 action plan aims to reduce risks at the source, continue the monitoring, accelerate the production of scientific knowledge and facilitate access to information for citizens, published in January 2023. It is only available in French but here is a translation of its summary. It is based on 6 strategic axes:

• Axe 1: Have standards on discharges and environmental threshold values to guide public action;
• Axe 2: Bring to the European level a ‘broad’ ban to eliminate the risks associated with the use or marketing of PFAS;
• Axe 3: Improve knowledge of discharges and impregnation of the media, in particular aquatic environments, to reduce the exposure of populations;
• Axe 4: Reduce the emissions of industrial emitters in a significant way;
• Axe 5: Transparency of available information;
• Axe 6: Integration, in the medium term, in the micro-pollutant plan.).

PFAS Action Plan France

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Environment Agency UK publishes environmental risk evaluation reports for 9 PFAS

The Environment Agency UK has recently published nine environmental risk evaluation reports on the environmental hazards and risks from certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) being made or used in the UK. This work addresses concerns arising from PFAS by providing an informal assessment of the available data to gain a better understanding of the hazards, exposure and risks these substances may pose to the UK environment.

UK Risk Evaluation Reports for PFAS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Draft International & European Standard CEN/prEN ISO/DIS 24212 - comments

ISO 24212 ‘Remediation techniques applied at contaminated sites’ has been released for voting under the ISO/CEN parallel processing. Voting terminates by 4 July 2023.

Given any interest make contact to your national standardisation body.

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REMTECH EUROPE 2023 – Call for Abstracts

RemTech Europe, International Conference and Exhibition on land and water remediation markets and technologies, is scheduled for 18-22 September 2023. The first two days (18-19 September) will be fully digital. The other three days (20-22 September) will be hybrid (Ferrara, Italy and online).

The Call for Abstract is open until 31 May 2023. To submit your abstract and participate to the official sessions of RemTech Expo, please download the Flyer with theCall for Abstract and the official Template.

Sustainathon 2023 is scheduled 18-19 September 2023 for seeing how countries are doing in achieving one or more SDGs. If you know any relevant speaker in your country, please contact the secretariat at sustainathon2023@gmail.com. Registration to the event is already open and free (500 virtual seats available) at this Sustainathon 2023.

For the Remtech Europe Pre-Event ‘Contaminated Megasites’, 25 May 2023, 14:00-18:30 (hybrid; Taranto, Italy) the final program is out as well as the registration Contaminated Megasites.

REMTECH Expo

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EUGRIS News

New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information:

• Eugris News April 2023

ECHA recommends eight substances for REACH authorisation

To protect workers and the environment, ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) recommend that the European Commission adds eight substances, including lead, to the REACH Authorisation List. Once substances are added to the list, companies will need to apply for authorisation to continue using them.

ECHA’s 11th recommendation includes the following substances:

• Ethylenediamine
• 2-(4-tertbutylbenzyl)propionaldehyde and its individual stereoisomers
• Lead
• Glutaral
• 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinopropan-1-one
• 2-benzyl-2- dimethylamino-4’-morpholinobutyrophenone
• Diisohexyl phthalate
• Orthoboric acid, sodium salt.

ECHA recommendation

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ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee backs PFAS ban in firefighting foams

ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment supports the proposed restriction on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams. The draft opinion of the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis is open for consultation until 15 May 2023.

According to SEAC, the proposal is the most appropriate EU-wide measure for addressing identified risks, taking into account the availability of alternatives and the proportionality of its benefits and costs to society.

ECHA's support for ban in firefighting foams

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Technical Bulletin (TB22) on the uses of PFAS to assist with identification of sites of concern

CL:AIRE published a new technical bulletin (TB22) on the uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to assist with identification of sites of concern. It aims to provide an overview of some of the bulk, legacy and/or dispersive uses of PFAS, to act as a guide to site investigations of land by assisting with identification of activities which may lead to PFAS being present at concentrations which could pose a risk to environmental or human health receptors.

CL:AIRE technical bulletin TB22

It follows on from CL:AIRE Technical Bulletin TB19 - Managing Risks and Liabilities associated with PFAS.

CL:AIRE technical bulletin TB19

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SOILveR: POSIDON Coffee break meeting 18 April 2023

SOILveR, the Soil and Land Research Funding platform for Europe, invites for an online coffee break meeting on one of the funded projects: POSIDON (Polluted site decontamination pre-commercial procurement) on 18 April 2023, 11:30 – 12:15 (Zoom).

The POSIDON pilot sites are characterized by clay and sandy soils and the presence of industrial waste (from construction and demolition, slag and ash as filler soils) and mainly polluted by heavy hydrocarbon fractions, PAH, lead and arsenic. Through a number of evaluation phases, Soil-Omic and ERASE have been selected as best-value for money innovative in-situ technologies and tested, in parallel, in two real operational contexts, in Trieste and Bilbao.

Program & registration to the coffee break meeting 18 April 2023

Discussing MEGA-SITES in a European context - CF-Secretariat calling on members to support

RemTech Europe is organising a pre-event for 25-26 May 2023 in Taranto (Southern Italy), which is an industrial park that comprehends the largest steel production factory in Europe as well as a refinery, a port, an industrial and military area with problems and impacts on soil, air, groundwater, surface water, and sediments - a mega site, involving a multitude of site owners, pollutant plumes and environmental impacts.

Marco FALCONI will be organising an interactive exchange to discuss "Sustainable remediation and management of mega sites, experience from Europe and other continents".

The COMMON FORUM Secretariat calls on members and co-creating partners to consider providing their experiences either by a specific presentation or through supporting the CF Secretariat by slides on national/regional case studies, lessons learned and/or conclusions/recommendations. It would be great if you contributed!

Please let CF-Secretariat@umweltbundesamt.at know no later than next 21 April 2023 whether you may support to discuss the issue of MEGA-SITES in a European context.

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ECHA seeks input on proposed PFAS restriction

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) invites interested parties to send in scientific and technical information on the manufacture, placing on the market and use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by 25 September 2023.

Of particular interest is information relevant to the risks, socio-economic aspects, and alternative substances.

ECHA news on input to PFAS restriction

An online information webinar will be held on 5 April 2023 (11:00 to 13:00). Experts will explain the restriction process, the content of the proposal, how to participate in the consultation and answer questions from the participants.

ECHA Webinar Link

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PFAS: forever chemicals — a comprehensive review

In this article the status and the need for their phase out and remediation of contaminated is thoroughly reviewed. As a conclusion it is stated that the substitution of individual PFAS recognized as hazardous by other possibly equally hazardous PFAS with virtually unknown chronic toxicity cannot be a solution. The only answer is a switch to fluorine-free alternatives for all applications in which PFAS are not essential.

SpringerOpen:  "PFAS: forever chemicals"

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EUGRIS News

New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information:

• EUGRIS News March 2023

ITRC Knowledge Map

ITRC has developed a new navigational tool for accessing its expansive library of environmental guidance documents and resources.

The new Quickening Environmental Solutions and Training (QUEST) Knowledge Map is organized by remediation topics related to environmental assessments and remediation – Site Characterization, Advanced Techniques, Conceptual Site Model (CSM) Development, Site Strategies, etc.

ITRC QUEST Knowledge Map 

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EmConSoil - 2^nd webinar series on emerging contaminants

• “Microplastic contamination in soil ecosystems – will it affect plant and soil health?”, “pesticide residues across European ecosystems and their hazardous characteristics”;
  23 March 2023, 1 – 2 pm, online
• “PFAS, deal with it! Putting things in perspective”;
  30 March 2023, 12 – 1 pm, online

EmConSoil Webinar registration link

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European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) - Newsletter

• ESDAC Newsletter No. 151 (March 2023)

The Forever Pollution Map of Europe’s PFAS contamination

On 24 February 2023, the Forever Pollution Project by an investigative journalist consortium has published a map showing more than 17,000 sites contaminated by the “forever chemicals” PFAS all over Europe.

An exclusive, monthslong investigation from 18 European newsrooms reveals an additional 22,000 presumptive contamination sites due to current or past industrial activity.

Le Monde: "Forever pollution: Explore the map of Europe's PFAS contamination" 

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Consideration of pathways for immunotoxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

Taken together, there is substantial evidence from both in vitro and in vivo experimental as well as epidemiological studies, supporting that various PFAS, not only PFOA and PFOS, affect multiple aspects of the immune system. Timing of exposure is critical, because the developing immune system is especially vulnerable to toxic insults, resulting in a higher risk of particularly adverse immune effects but also other organs later in life.

Consideration of pathways for immunotoxicity of PFAS

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New Microplastics Guidance

Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council ITRC's Microplastics Team has synthesized the available information on MP into a single comprehensive guidance document, covering everything from ecological effects and mitigation and abatement strategies to environmental distribution!

Microplastic Guidance

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Soil Health Dashboard of the EU Soil Observatory (EUSO)

With the EUSO Soil Health Dashboard, the JRC provides a spatial assessment of where unhealthy soils may be located in the EU – and which degradation processes affect them using a convergence of evidence methodology, which spatially combines datasets to highlight the intensity and location of 15 soil degradation processes. The resulting map indicates areas that are likely to be affected by soil degradation as well as the types of soil degradation with the loss of soil organic carbon (48%), the loss of soil biodiversity (37.5%), and soil erosion by water (32%) being the most prevalent types.

The EUSO Soil Health Dashboard will evolve as new scientific data become available (e.g. Horizon Europe’s Soil Mission projects) and with the implementation of EU and national soil policies, in particular the forthcoming EU Soil Health Law.

EUSO Soilt Health Dashboard

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European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) - Newsletter

• ESDAC Newsletter No. 150 (February 2023)

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EUGRIS News

New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information:

• EUGRIS News February 2023

Soil Mission Calls (2023) are open

Under Horizon Europe, the European Commission funds research and innovation in order to protect and restore soils in Europe and beyond which is in line with the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”.

The call for proposals for 2023 is open until 20 September 2023. This includes 9 topics: Discovering subsoil; prevent & combat desertification; soils in spatial planning; soil friendly practices in horticulture; bringing communities & citizens closer to soil; digital technologies to monitor nutrients/chemical and biological stressors to soils; carbon farming in living labs; Co-creating solutions for soil health in living labs; soil pollution processes.

European Comission: Soil Mission Calls 2023

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ECHA publishes PFASs restriction proposal

The details of the proposed restriction of around 10.000 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are now available on ECHA’s (European Chemicals Agency) website.

The proposal was prepared by authorities in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden and submitted to ECHA on 13 January 2023. It aims to reduce PFAS emissions into the environment and make products and processes safer for people.

ECHA’s scientific committees will now start evaluating the proposal in terms of the risks to people and the environment, and the impacts on society.

A six-month consultation is planned to start on 22 March 2023. An online information session will be organised on 5 April 2023 to explain the restriction process and to help those interested in participating in the consultation.

ECHA PFASs restriction proposal

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NICOLE News

The NICOLE Foundation was officially created on 2 February 2023. After establishing the necessary process steps, the Foundation Board will work on marketing as well as project, volunteers and donors search.

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The NICOLE Spring Workshop 2023 on showcasing the ‘state of the art’ of site characterization and sustainable land management tools and practice will take place on 11 & 12 May in Paris, France. The call for abstracts on presentations and posters on research and development projects, new innovative approaches and case studies as well as learning lessons is open until 17 March 2023.

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EUGRIS News

New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information:

• Eugris News January 2023