NEWS

Workshop on Contaminated Sites Registry: A Step Towards Soil Protection

Oct 11, 2024

Copyright: Ira Djapic Cehic

Soil contamination poses a significant environmental and public health threat, both within the European Union and in the Western Balkans (WB6). To address this issue, the EU4Green project organized a Regional Workshop “Towards a Register for Contaminated Sites” in Skopje, North Macedonia, on October 7-8, 2024. The workshop brought together experts from the Environment Agency Austria (EAA), the European Environment Agency (EEA), the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and representatives and professionals from WB6 economies to discuss best practices for identifying, managing, and creating comprehensive national registries of contaminated sites.

Why is Soil Protection Important for the Western Balkans?

The soils of the Western Balkans have been heavily impacted by over a century of industrialization, mining, and inadequate waste management. These factors have left numerous environmental “hot spots,” contaminated with e.g. heavy metals, industrial waste, and organic pollutants. According to Martha Wepner-Banko, a soil expert from the Environment Agency Austria, soil contamination not only affects ecosystems but also poses serious risks to public health and economic development:

“Soil contamination in the region limits opportunities for future development and presents direct threats to the health of communities and biodiversity. Establishing effective contaminated site registries is a critical first step in addressing this issue.”

Expert Contributions

Several experts played pivotal roles in sharing their knowledge and insights during the workshop:

  • Marco Falconi from ISPRA (Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) presented the Italian approach to contaminated site management. Falconi explained how Italy has developed both national and regional systems for monitoring and managing contaminated sites, which could serve as a model for WB6 countries. His presentation highlighted the importance of structured data collection and long-term strategies for dealing with legacy contamination.
  • Dragana Vidojević, an advisor for soil quality at Serbian Environmental Protection Agency showcased the study on soil decontamination in Serbia, specifically focusing on the creation of a cadaster of potentially contaminated sites. Her insights provided a clear example of how Serbia is approaching the issue, outlining both successes and challenges in managing contaminated land.
  • Heike Brielmann from the Environment Agency Austria (EAA), joining the workshop online, presented examples of emerging contaminants relevant to contaminated sites. Brielmann emphasized the growing presence of new pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals and PFAS chemicals, and the need to incorporate them into national soil management strategies. Emerging contaminants pose unique challenges, as there is still limited data on their long-term environmental impact and remediation possibilities.
  • Rainer Baritz from the European Environment Agency (EEA) discussed the IPA III project and its role in conducting national surveys of potentially polluted sites across the WB6 region. His presentation underscored the importance of cross-border collaboration and comprehensive data collection to enhance soil protection efforts.

Site Visit to OHIS Lindane (HCH) Contaminated Site

As part of the second day of the workshop, participants visited the Organochlorine Chemical Industry Skopje (OHIS) site, which has been severely contaminated by lindane (HCH). The visit was led by Suzana Andonova, National Project Coordinator at the POPs Unit of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning (MoEPP). Lindane, a persistent organic pollutant (POP), has long-term harmful effects on both the environment and human health. The visit provided an opportunity for participants to witness firsthand the scale of contamination, the already initiated remediation measures together with the challenges associated with managing such high-risk sites.

The discussion focused on potential remediation strategies and the importance of developing comprehensive national registers to trigger the management and rehabilitation of contaminated locations like OHIS.

Guidance on Identifying Key Polluting Activities and Contaminated Sites

Prior to the workshop, the “Guidance for Identification of Key Polluting Activities and Contaminated Sites in WB6” was developed as a key document to guide the efforts of the Western Balkans. This Guidance was specifically tailored for WB6 economies (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia) and addresses the major sources of soil contamination in the region, including industrial activities, mining, and poorly managed landfills.

During the workshop, this Guidance was explained in detail, with a focus on practical steps that each country can take to develop systematic inventories of contaminated sites. The document outlines specific high-risk sectors, such as chemical manufacturing, metal processing, and energy production, as well as the types of pollutants commonly found in the region, including heavy metals (arsenic, lead, cadmium), organic contaminants, and emerging threats like PFAS chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Steps for Managing Contaminated Sites

The workshop presented practical actions that WB6 countries can take to develop an efficient system for managing contaminated land. The Guidance for Identification of Key Polluting Activities and Contaminated Sites provides tailored recommendations to address the specific challenges in the region:

  1. Phase 1 – Initial Identification
    This phase focuses on gathering data on known contaminated sites, involving local communities, and leveraging international projects. The aim is to create a preliminary inventory of contaminated locations, which will form the foundation for future remediation actions.
  2. Phase 2 – Comprehensive Registry Development
    After the initial data collection, WB6 countries can move toward systematic assessments and the creation of a centralized database of contaminated sites. This database will be a critical tool for future remediation efforts and land rehabilitation projects.
  3. Strengthening Legal Frameworks
    Many Western Balkan economies currently lack comprehensive legal frameworks that specifically address soil contamination. During the workshop, emphasis was placed on aligning national legislation with the EU Soil Strategy 2030 and the draft EU Soil Monitoring Law and implementing standardized soil monitoring systems. While Serbia has already implemented a law on soil protection, other WB6 economies, such as Kosovo* and Bosnia and Herzegovina, rely on broader environmental laws, limiting the effectiveness of soil management efforts.

Workshop Significance and Next Steps

The workshop provided a crucial platform for cooperation between regional experts, EU partners, and international organizations, such as the Environment Agency Austria and the European Environment Agency (EEA). It allowed WB6 economies to share best practices and refine their strategies for managing contaminated sites while aligning with the EU4Green objective – the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

One of the key outcomes of the workshop was the development of a roadmap for prioritizing the most urgent contaminated sites. The Guidance suggests that high-priority sites should include those with high concentrations of significant contaminants, as well as those located near populated areas or critical infrastructure. The goal is to address high-risk areas first while also planning to establish a legal framework and long-term remediation for less significant contaminated sites.

Furthermore, the EEA IPA III soil project, which will build on the workshop’s results, aims to conduct national surveys of potentially polluted sites in WB6 countries. This project will further enhance data collection and facilitate cross-border cooperation, leading to more informed decision-making and faster progress in addressing soil contamination.

Conclusion

Organized as part of the EU4Green project, the Regional Workshop on Contaminated Sites Registry marks an important step towards the protection of soil, ecosystems, and communities in the Western Balkans. By combining regional expertise with EU resources, WB6 economies are provided with knowledge and tools to make significant progress towards cleaner and healthier environments, aligned with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and the EU Soil Strategy 2030.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.