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Common Forum Newsletter nr. 49 - February 23th, 2012 |
by Dr. D. Darmendrail |
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Summary
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Dear Colleagues,
Some weeks ago we finalized the work on the alternative proposal of the Soil Protection Directive. I would like to thank our colleagues involved in the task force for their collaboration and commitment. It’s now posted on our website and has created some interest for different stakeholder communities (lawyers, journalists, national elected representatives, industries). This will be presented during the upcoming CF event.
We will now meet on the 26&27 of April, 2012 in Basel, Switzerland. The draft agenda and the registration form are available on the website.
Looking forward to seeing you,
Kind regards
Dominique
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COMMON FORUM MEETING IN BASEL, SWITZERLAND
Spring 2012 Common Forum meeting
will be held
in
Basel (Switzerland) on the 26-27th of April.
See Agenda and registration form on our website.
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ICCL - SURVEY OF THE 10th MEETING IN WASHINGTON, USA
 The 10th ICCL meeting was held in Washington DC, USA, from 4th to 6th of October 2011. The survey for this meeting focused on mining site cleanup and reuse. The results of the survey were the foundation for substantive discussion at the meeting.
The questionnaire, national and regional answers and the synthesis presentation are now available here.
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COMMON FORUM MEMBERS TURNOVER
Last Country representations within Common Forum news:
Sweden - November 2011:
Welcome Kristina Sjodin (Naturvardsverket).
Belgium - Brussels - November 2011:
Welcome Saïd El Fadili (Bruxelles Environnement - IBGE - LeefMilieu Brussels - BIM).
United-Kingdom - February 2012:
Welcome William Pryer (DEFRA - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to replace Tom Coles.
Poland - February 2012:
Welcome Agniezka Pyl (Ministry of the Agriculture).
See also the complete Common Forum Members List
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NEWS FROM EUROPEAN COMMISSION
The implementation of the Soil Thematic Strategy and ongoing activities
Report adopted on 13th February 2012 COM(2012) 46
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/soil/three_en.htm
 This report is supported by a JRC reference report on
'The State of Soil in Europe', EUR 25186 EN, which is available under:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm?id=254
Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "These reports highlight the importance of preserving European soils if we are to safeguard supplies of quality food and clean groundwater, healthy recreational spaces, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. We need to use the resources from our soils more sustainably. The best way to do this would be through a common approach across the EU. The Commission has put legislative proposals on the table, and I hope our new reports will help Council and Parliament move towards action."
A press release is available.
Conference "Soil Remediation"
Brussels, November 10, 2011
The slides of the presentations given at this conference are now on line.
Research Repository
Free online database of environmental research for policy
Research Repository on Science for Environment Policy
Science for Environment Policy are pleased to announce the launch of the Research Repository, an online bank of research results for evidence-based policy making.
The studies featured in the Repository have been carefully selected for policy relevance and quality, and include those that have appeared in the Science for Environment Policy News Alert.
The studies are finely categorised according to a wide range of policy themes and the resource is constantly evolving and expanding to accommodate new research.
Source: Science for Environment Policy, Issue 266
EU ETV pilot programme now officially launched
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etv/index.htm
 The document describing its objectives and methods (the Commission Staff Working Paper on 'The Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) initiative - Helping Eco-Innovations to reach the Market') is now available.
Also available on-line are an information note on the EU ETV, a document on 'frequently asked questions' and the General Verification Protocol of the EU ETV pilot programme, which is the technical reference document.
Result from the EU funded FP7-ENVIRONMENT programme
ISOSOIL project
More information on CORDIS web site
There is an estimated 3.5 million contaminated soil sites in the EU. To be able to remedy the situation efficiently there is an urgent need to monitor and characterise the nature of the contaminants. Contaminant-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) is an ideal tool to achieve this ambitious goal. The principle behind CSIA is ingenious and is based on the percentage of heavy isotopes left in the mixture which react more slowly than the lighter varieties.
The aim of the Isosoil project is to present a complete package of solutions to make CSIA accessible for analytical services.
CSIA has the edge over other methods as results are independent of variables in the environment like dilution and mass transport. Use of the technology also yields high accuracy and gives deeper insight into site-specific processes and quicker conclusions than standard methods currently on offer.
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NEWS FROM ENGLAND AND WALES ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY
Consultation on ‘Pollution Prevention Pays’ Guidance
https://consult.environment-Agency.gov.uk/portal/ho/green/poll/pays
 The Environment Agency has updated the good practice booklet previously known as ‘Pollution Prevention Pays: Getting your site right’. The title is now changed to ‘Pollution Prevention Pays’, as this is what it is most commonly known, which includes updates regarding legal requirements and good practice action points for businesses across England and Wales.
The purpose of this guidance is to help small to medium sized businesses, as well as larger businesses, reduce their risk of causing environmental pollution. This consultation is an opportunity to inform the Environment Agency on their proposed changes.
The consultation deadline is the 23rd March 2012.
Source: CL:AIRE e-Alert - January 2012
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NEWS FROM SNOWMAN NETWORK
New SNOWMAN Projects Launched on Theme of Contamination
 SNOWMAN is the European network for Sustainable Management of Soil and Groundwater.
Three projects have been recently launched on the theme of contamination as part of the SNOWMAN network’s 3rd Call. The projects are on the subjects of:
- mercury contamination (ImaHg),
- integrating bioavailability in risk assessment (IBRACS),
- polar polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACMAN).
Source: CL:AIRE
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NEWS FROM NICOLE
NICOLE Technology Award
Call for year 2012 entries on “Innovative solutions for soil monitoring”
The award is open to individuals or groups of people. Entries from junior academics in universities or consultancy are especially welcome. Entries will be judged on innovation, potential contribution to cost savings, technical applicability and plans for communication and market availability, applicable to contaminated land.
Deadline for submission: 1st March 2012
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NEWS FROM CL:AIRE
SuRF-UK Indicator Set Annex to Framework document Published
More information on CL:AIRE web site
 The SuRF-UK Framework are publishing the final agreed set of indicators. This short document supersedes the initially published indicator set published in March 2011 following their further development and refinement through Phase 2 in worked case studies and discussion groups.
The document now describes 15 categories of indicators spread over environmental, social and economic factors that can be used for sustainability assessment in support of remediation decision-making. It describes the factors included in each of the categories, how the categories were developed and how they can be used to support the SuRF-UK Framework and the key principles underpinning sustainable remediation that the framework identifies.
New Case Study Bulletin Published
www.claire.co.uk
CL:AIRE is pleased to announce the publication of Case Study Bulletin 10 (CSB10) - The Development of Risk Based Generic Assessment Criteria (GAC) for Assessment of Chronic Human Health Risks from Exposure to Soil Contaminants which is now freely available to download from the Publications Library area of our website.
This bulletin describes the on-going technical programme of human health risk assessment and toxicological research which Atkins has undertaken since 2003 and which has led to the generation of the most recent set of Atkins Generic Assessment Criteria (GAC), termed ATRISKsoil Soil Screening Values (SSVs) and Water Screening Values (WSVs), for the initial assessment of chronic human health risks from exposure to contaminants within soils and groundwater. The bulletin details the key technical challenges and how GAC should and should not be used.
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EUGRIS CORNER
New documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information. Resources, events projects and news items added on EUGRIS can be viewed at: www.eugris.info/whatsnew.asp. Then select the appropriate month and year for the updates in which you are interested. However, here is a selection of new additions to EUGRIS prepared by Paul Bardos (r3 Environmental Technology Ltd) for COMMON FORUM members.
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DOCUMENTS OF INTEREST
Green and Sustainable Remediation: A Practical Framework
GSR-2. November 2011
ITRC
www.itrcweb.org/guidancedocument.asp?TID=77
 This document assists the remediation industry with the integration of green and sustainable practices into existing site investigation and remediation programs.
Definition of priority areas for soil protection at a continental scale
M.G. Kibblewhite
DOI:10.1111/j.1475-2743.20111.00375x
 The approach described in this article has been developped through presentations and discussions within the European Soil Bureau Network. Resources for achieving better soil protection are limited and need to be effectively targeted. Spatial variability is high for soil types and related quality and for the risk of degradation because of the threats of organic matter decline, erosion, compaction and salinization.
A framework is presented for mapping priority areas for soil protection based on assessing where there is greater risk of anthropogenic hazards, threats and the risk of degradation with soil functions. It is recommender that a set of tests areas is defined according to dominant soil types, and the probabilities of changes to soil properties relevant to soil functions are then estimated.
Source: Soil Action Newsletter - European Portal
“Industry Guidance: Qualitative Risk Assessment for Land Contamination, Including Radioactive Contamination”
Nuclear Industry Group for Land Quality Publishes
December 2011
www.safegrounds.com/NIGLQ.htm
This nuclear industry guidance was developed on behalf of the Nuclear Industry Group for Land Quality, funded as part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's Direct Research Portfolio (www.nda.gov.uk/research).
Further information on the authorship of and background to this document are provided in its Foreword, which also seeks feedback from users, which will be used to inform a future revision.
The purpose of the guidance is to provide a methodology for qualitative risk assessment (QLRA) of land contamination. It covers both non-radioactive and radioactive contamination and considers the full range of receptors within applicable regulatory regimes (i.e. people, the environment and property) from land contamination in its current condition.
The guidance is aimed mainly at land quality management practitioners in the nuclear industry but may also be applicable to potentially contaminated sites in other contexts.
Source: CL:AIRE
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BOOKS AND ABSTRACT PROCEEDINGS OF INTEREST
Mapping the Chemical Environment of urban Areas
April 2011
ISBN: 978-0-470-74724-7
640 p.
More information on Wiley web site
This comprehensive text focuses on the increasingly important issues of urban geochemical mapping with key coverage of the distribution and behaviour of chemicals and compounds in the urban environment. Clearly structured throughout, the first part of the book covers general aspects of urban chemical mapping with an overview of current practice and reviews of different aspects of the component methodologies. The second part includes case histories from different urban areas around Europe authored by those national or academic institutions tasked with investigating the chemical environments of their major urban centres.
21 issues for the 21st Century
Results of the UNEP Foresight Process on Emerging Environmental Issues
February 2012
ISBN: 978-92-807-3191-0
DEW/1235/NA
Download from UNEP web site
This report presents the
identified issues titled: 21 Issues for the 21st Century. These
issues cut across all major global environmental themes
including food production and food security; cities and land
use; biodiversity, fresh water and marine; climate change and
energy, technology and waste issues.
Meanwhile, another cluster of issues were chosen that
essentially cut across sectors and individual themes.
These address questions surrounding such issues as the
governance required to more effectively tackle 21st century
sustainability challenges, including the urgency to bridge the
gap between the scientific and policy communities and the
relevance of social tipping points to sustainable consumption.
The findings of the report, which was coordinated by the
Office of the UNEP Chief Scientist and the UNEP’s Division
of Early Warning and Assessment, are aimed at all sectors of
society committed to realizing a more intelligent, decisive and
forward-looking response to challenges of our times.
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Web Seminar on
US and EU Perspectives on Green and Sustainable Remediation, Part 4
March 06, 2012
US - EPA - Clu-in
Technical workshop 'Microbiological assessment of soil and groundwater'
March 15-16, 2012 - Krakow, Poland
www.theadvocateproject.eu
22nd Annual International Conference on Soil, Water, Energy, and Air
March 19-22, 2012 - San Diego, California, United-State of America
www.aehsfoundation.org
Workshop “Remediation, operative procedures and development possibilities for abandoned mine sites”
March 22-23, 2012 - Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy
www.regione.sardegna.it
European Commission Conference 'Soil remediation and soil sealing'
May 10-11, 2012 - Brussels, Belgium
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/soil/conference_may2012.htm
Battelle's Eighth International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds
May 21-24, 2012 - Monterey, California, United-States of America
www.battelle.org/conferences/chlorinated
17th Annual Contaminated and Hazardous Waste Site Management Course
June 11-15, 2012 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
www.contaminatedsite.com
NICOLE Netwok Meeting
on Water in Contaminated Land Management
The challenge of the preservation of our water resource
June 13-15, 2012 - Baden-Baden, Germany
www.nicole.org
12th International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference of Mine Producing, Geology and Environmental Protection
June 17-23, 2012 - Albena, Bulgaria
www.sgem.org
Summer School on Contaminated Land - "From characterization to remediation"
June 18-22, 2012 - Champs-sur-Marne, France (77)
http://summer-school-soils.univ-paris-est.fr
INSPIRE Conference 2012 - Sharing environmental information, sharing innovation
June 23-27, 2012 - Istambul, Turkey
http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/events/conferences/inspire_2012/
International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology 2012
June 25-29, 2012 - Houston, Texas, United-States of America
www.AASci.org/conference/env/2012
11th Urban Environment Symposium (11UES)
Urban Futures for a Sustainable World
September 16-19, 2012 - Karlsruhe, Germany
www.hues.se
Soilrem 2012 & Siterem 2012
September 24-26, 2012 - Yantai City, China
http://soilrem2012.csp.escience.cn
First European Symposium on Remediation Technologies and their Integration in Water Management
September 25-26, 2012 - Barcelona, Spain
More information on VITO web site
CABERNET2012
3rd International Conference on Managing Urban Land
The conference combines:
- CABERNET 2012,
- the Final conference of the EU project CircUse,
- and the 6th International Conference on Innovative Solutions for Revitalisation of Degraded Areas.
October 2-4, 20102 - Ustron, Poland
More information CirCuse project web site
A&WMA Vapor Intrusion 2012
October 3-4, 2012 - Denver, Colorado, United-States of America
http://vapor.awma.org
28th Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water and Energy
October 15-18, 2012 - Amherts, Massachusetts, United-States of America
www.umasssoils.com
Contaminated Site Management in Europe
October 22-24, 2012 - Nancy, France
www.redoxtech.com
Sustainable Remediation 2012
November 14-16, 2012 - Vienna, Austria
www.sustainableremediation2012.org
See all annoucements on Common Forum website
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