More flexible rules for soil contaminated with pfas Inland

New research by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and Deltares, an independently applied knowledge institute in the field of water and subsurface, shows that it is responsible to give earthmovers and dredgers more space, writes Van Veldhoven. She wants to increase the pfas limit for the land bottom, equalize the rules for soil with those for dredging and increase the maximum for pfas in deep ponds without connection to other waters.

Pfas are harmful, artificial industrial substances. They are used, among other things, to make material water- or grease-resistant. Little information is available about many substances that fall under the heading of pfas. Substances that have been researched appear to be risky for health and nature. For example, PFOA is known to cause liver damage and harm reproduction and unborn children, according to the RIVM. It may also be carcinogenic.

In order not to spread pfas further, strict rules were introduced last year for the movement of contaminated soil. When it turned out that pfas is almost everywhere in the ground, the earthmoving and dredging work almost came to a halt and the construction industry also suffered significant setbacks. Employers and employees from the branches flocked to Malieveld to protest against the rules, which Van Veldhoven had instituted as a precaution. According to her, the new standards have solved “the vast majority of bottlenecks”.

Measurements

RIVM and Deltares have taken measurements in the country to determine how high the concentrations of pfas in the soil are. In this way, new so-called background values ​​have been determined. These are higher than temporary standards that were already set at the end of last year. For PFOA, the new background value when used on land is 1.9 micrograms per kilogram of soil. That was 0.9 micrograms. For other pfas this has been increased from 0.8 to 1.4 micrograms. Land containing less pfas than the background value may be moved.

“These background values ​​do not pose any risks to health or the ecosystem,” says RIVM. The RIVM advice incidentally concerned two specific substances: PFOS and PFOA. Van Veldhoven also applies the PFOS standard to other pfas types.

Satisfied responses

Bouwend Nederland is pleased with the new rules. “I am happy that Stientje van Veldhoven meets the wishes of the business community before the summer. The State Secretary thus responds to our call and provides the sector with maximum clarity, ”said chairman Maxime Verhagen. “I expect to see in the summer that earthmoving will start up again for the most part. That is very welcome for companies that are already struggling because of corona and nitrogen ”, says Verhagen.

Andrea Vollebregt, director of the Vereniging van Waterbouwers, is satisfied that “the interests of the industry are finally being recognized. The order book of many companies in our industry is sparse. This is partly due to the pfas rules ”, says Vollebregt. The Association of Water Builders sees the relaxation of the rules as a first step in the right direction.

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