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SAVE THE DATE!
Next COMMON FORUM Network meeting will be held in
Lima, Perú
22 October, 2019
as a pre-meeting to the 14th ICCL meeting
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Thank you to the COMMON FORUM members and special guests for their participation and for the fruitful discussion during the
meeting in Lëtzebuerg, Luxembourg
on 8 – 10 May, 2019
Presentations and meeting report of the CF meeting and WG Soil as a Resource meeting are available.
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Recent changes / new members of representations within the COMMON FORUM:
From Countries:
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France – February 2019:
- Christian Vincq to temporarily replace Antoine Billard
French Ministry for the Environment, the Energy and the Sea
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Germany – June 2019:
- Markus Raffelsiefen to temporarily replace Andreas Bieber
German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
A warm welcome!
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European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) - Newsletter
ESDAC Newsletter No.117 (April – May 2019) -
https://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/public_path/newsletter/201903.pdf
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UNEP Outlines Integrated Actions to Tackle Soil Pollution in Preparation for UNEA-4
The 3rd session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-3) adopted a resolution requesting
member States and relevant UN bodies to explore ways to address soil pollution in a more
integrated manner. In this resolution 3/6 titled,
‘Managing Soil Pollution to Achieve Sustainable Development’,
UNEA called for a report on the extent and future trends of soil pollution,
considering both point source contamination and diffuse pollution and on the risks and impacts of
soil pollution on health, the environment and food security, including land degradation and the
burden of disease resulting from exposure to contaminated soil.
A progress report by UNEP presented to UNEA-4 highlights the convening of the Global
Symposium on Soil Pollution in May 2018 and details some follow-up activities taken in the
intersessional period to promote such integrated actions. UNEA-4 convened under the theme,
‘Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and
Production,’ from 11-15 March 2019, in Nairobi, Kenya. [
Progress in the Implementation of
Resolution 3/6 on Managing Soil Pollution to Achieve Sustainable Development]
The report also draws attention to a complementary UNEP-led global nitrogen assessment
project funded by the GEF that will focus on the impacts of forms of reactive nitrogen in the
environment, including within soils.
Assessment of the global status and regional trends of soil pollution
The Global Soil Partnership, with the support of its Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils
and the Regional Soil Partnerships, and in collaboration with UN Environment and WHO,
proposes to conduct a detailed study of soil pollution worldwide by collecting basic information
such as policies to prevent, control and remedy soil pollution; the number and extent of polluted
sites; the identification and location of potentially polluting activities. This approach will help to
better understand the problem of soil pollution on a global scale and identify the main knowledge
and legal gaps.
The purpose of this survey is to gather data and information which will help build a global picture
of soil pollution and identify gaps and areas of intervention, will trigger national, regional and
global actions.
With the feedback gained through a questionnaire sent out in March 2019 a quality report is
foreseen that reflects the regional and global status of soil pollution. Findings and
recommendations made in the assessment will be presented in a report at the 5th session of the
United Nations Environment Assembly UNEA-5 (March 2021) where decisions will be made on
future actions to address soil pollution.
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14th meeting of the International Committee on Contaminated Land 2019
The 14th ICCL meeting will be held in Lima, Perú, 23-25 October 2019 hosted
by the Peruvian Ministry of Environment in its capacity as Presidency to
ReLASC - our Latin-American regulatory partner network for
preventing and managing land contamination.
The topics of the 14th meeting are as follows:
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Economic aspects of the management of contaminated sites:
liability, liability transfer and considering the polluter-pays-principle;
management tools, cost-benefit-analyses, innovative strategies for financing
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Sustainably managing mining sites: best practices, prevention and
implementing the precautionary principle; managing heavy metal
contamination
- Challenges and solutions in implementing the UN Minamata Convention
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New policy objectives and responses in Contaminated Land Management:
UN Sustainable Development Goals; Climate change mitigation
The last day of the meeting will be dedicated to workshops or training sessions targeted to
specified actual topics e.g.
- Conceptual Site Models for improving risk assessment and management
- How to consider new/revised toxicity data
- Projects to manage POP Contaminated Sites under the Stockholm Convention
- Emerging Contaminants
The 2nd announcement is online.
Call for contributions to the meeting (presentations, workshop and/or training sessions) is open.
The deadline for the call for presentations is July 31, 2019, for the call for workshops or training sessions September 11, 2019.
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NICOLE Fall Workshop 2019 – Call for Abstract
The NICOLE fall workshop on risk assessment
(European Policy and best practice application) will be held from 7 – 8 November 2019 in
Warsaw, Poland.
The host country for the workshop, Poland, has recently introduced risk-based legalisation. This
presents an ideal opportunity for the network to reflect on the current status of risk assessment
policy across Europe.
- Are risk-based policies becoming more or less common?
- How does this sit alongside the objectives of the EU directives that are relevant to soil and groundwater contamination?
- Do we have examples of progressive risk assessment policy approaches being applied?
NICOLE Fall workshop - Call for Abstract information
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Investigation of Pesticides:
Degradation and leaching of bentazone, terbuthylazine and S-metolachlor and some of
their metabolites: A long-term lysimeter experiment
Schuhmann A., Klammler G., Weiss S., Gans O., Fank J., Haberhauer G., Gerzabek M.H. (2019): Plant Soil Environ., 65: 273-281.
The use of pesticides to increase agricultural production continues to be an important topic for
environmental research. Once applied to the field, pesticides can be degraded by the influence of
physical, chemical and biological factors, volatilized, adsorbed by soil colloids and transported
through surface runoff and leaching. Bentazone, terbuthylazine, and S-metolachlor are important
herbicides applied to maize and other crops to control pre-emergence or early post-emergence
broadleaf and grass weeds. The degradation and leaching of those herbicides in the soil-water-plant-system
were investigated using a weighable, monolithic lysimeter.
The leachates were analysed over a five years period. In conclusion, S-Metolachlor and the
metabolites Metoalchlor-ESA, Metolachlor-OA, as well as Desethyl-Terbuthylazin where
detected. Whereas bentazone, terbuthylazine, N-methyl-bentazone, and 2-hydroxy-terbuthylazine
were not detected in leachate. In soil, the metabolisation was detected in varying soil depths.
The importance of analysing both parent compounds and metabolites on a long-term scale was
demonstrated to better understand the environmental fate and transport.
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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 in 2019 prepared by Paul Bardos
(r3 Environmental Technology Ltd) for COMMON FORUM members.
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PFAS Wanted: TOP-assay experience
The Danish Regions are looking for experience on use of the TOP assay on PFAS compounds.
They have been using the method for about a year. In some cases the method works as
expected. But in other the results are strange.
What is your experience with the TOP assay method?
Please contact: nit@regioner.dk
Call for Interest: Organisations interested to host SustRem 2020
Sustainable Remediation of contaminated sites has been continuously evolving in the last decade
as a response to a growing global, public and industry environmental awareness, social pressure
and resource scarcity. During this timeframe, broader, more holistic concepts have now
developed that consider sustainable land management and stewardship.
Under the co-ordinated organisation led by internationally acknowledged entities (NICOLE,
COMMON FORUM, CL:AIRE and various SuRF chapters worldwide - now grouped under the
International Sustainable Remediation Alliance, ISRA), the first SustRem Conference was held in
Denmark in 2009, followed by Austria in 2012, Italy in 2014, Canada in 2016 and Brazil in 2018.
A Call for Interest to host the next Sustainable Remediation conference, likely in 2020/21 is
launched. Potentially interested organisations (Universities, National or international associations
and fora) should submit a Letter of Interest by no later than August 30th 2019, outlining: proposed
conference inspirational values and programme, organising committee, venues and critical
logistical aspects, synergy with other events, expected participation, partnerships and supporting
entities.
Following selection of received applications (to be based upon evaluation of the above aspects),
the successful hosting organisation will be accompanied by standing members of the SustRem
Committee from NICOLE, COMMON FORUM and ISRA, to leverage gained experience and
support consistency towards the planning and delivery of a high quality event.
Expressions of interest can be sent to: Nicola Harries (nicola.harries@claire.co.uk)
Animation on Sustainable Remediation by SuRF-UK
CLAIRE SuRF UK Sustainable Remediation explained in
English, subtitles have also been translated into many
languages including Spanish, Portuguese, French, German,
Turkish, Chinese, Malaysian, Arabic, Hungarian, Indonesian,
Polish and Russian, Japanese.
www.claire.co.uk/surfuk
SOILveR Pilot Call
SOILveR (Soil and Land Research funding platform for Europe) is launching its first pilot call with
overarching theme "Recognizing and caring for soil and land as assets". Two topics were
targeted:
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Topic 1: Emerging contaminants in point sources and as diffuse pollution in soil and groundwater
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Topic 2: Recognizing the value of soil in land use decision
There are 2 submission steps. The deadline for the first step is September 27th, and November
29th 2019 for the second step.
All available information on www.soilver.eu
For further questions, please contact your national contact (see applicants guide) or join an online
/ telephone Q&A session on Friday July 5th 2019, 9.00 – 10.00 hrs. Send an e-mail (before 4th of
July 23.59 hrs.) to info@soilver.eu and you will receive the information to join the meeting.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Emerging Characterization and Remedial Technologies
This is part of a webinar featuring presentations to identify and discuss the emerging science behind
PFAS characterization and remedial technologies. This webinar included a presentation on ‘What are
PFAS?’, and ‘What are the Issues with Them?’ as well as ‘Treatment Technologies for PFAS Site
Management’. To replay the archived webinar, visit
https://clu-in.org/conf/tio/FRTRPresents5_062019/.
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TECHNOLOGY GUIDE (SOIL): BIOREMEDIATION
Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), Australia. 44 pp, 2018
The purpose of this guide is to provide information on bioremediation as a treatment technology
for the remediation of contaminated sites to assist with selection of remediation options. The
document contains information to inform remediation planning and aid compilation of a
remediation action plan. While soil, groundwater, and vapor are all able to be bioremediated,
this document predominantly provides guidance on the application of bioremediation as a
remediation technology to treat contaminated soil. This guide is primarily intended to be
utilized by remediation practitioners and those reviewing practitioner's work; however, it can
be utilized by other stakeholders within the contaminated sites industry, including site owners,
proponents of works, and the community.
See this guide and others that CRC CARE is developing as part of a National Remediation Framework
to provide practical guidance to practitioners and regulators in Australia. The files are
posted near the bottom of
https://www.crccare.com/knowledge-sharing/national-remediation-framework.
MANAGING RISKS AND LIABILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFASs) (2019). CL:AIRE Technical Bulletin 19
CL:AIRE technical bulletins describe specific techniques, practices and methodologies currently
being employed on sites in the UK. This bulletin provides a summary of per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFASs) and highlights approaches to manage risks and liabilities associated with
their impact to the environment.
View or download at https://www.claire.co.uk/component/phocadownload/category/17-technical-bulletins?download=668:tb-19-managing-risks-and-liabilities-associated-with-per-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfass-2019.
STRENGTHENING SOCIAL-ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AT CONTAMINATED SITES TO BOLSTER GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE REMEDIATION VIA A SURVEY
D. O'Connor, D. Müller-Grabherr, D. Hou
Chemosphere, Volume 225, June 2019, Pages 295-303
The Green and Sustainable Remediation (GSR) movement demands informed, integrated, and
holistic management of contaminated sites. As such, GSR may become increasingly relevant
in developing countries such as China, where vast areas of contaminated land require
clean-up. Among other efforts, the World Bank together with China's Foreign Economic
Cooperation Office is facilitating GSR adoption through the development of a guideline
on social-environmental management. However, there are no existing studies that have
considered how the established remediation industry perceives its effectiveness in
addressing the various social-environmental management aspects, or how certain aspects
have rooted. Without this information, it may be difficult to guide social-environmental
practice forward, or introduce GSR into developing remediation markets with any precision.
Therefore, a questionnaire survey of remediation participators was undertaken with principal
component analysis (PCA) applied to the data to help group the various aspects. The PCA
extracted two components for environmental management, ascribed to: (1) on-site/local
impacts; and, (2) widespread impacts, and three social management components, ascribed
to: (1) community inclusion; (2) economic gain; and, (3) health, safety, and welfare. It
was found that the aspects with which the industry are most familiar historically are
generally dealt with more effectively than those that have only recently been introduced
by the GSR movement. In particular, bolstering the management of widespread environmental
impacts and giving greater regard to the economic gain of remediation, may be beneficial.
In developing countries, public engagement is often very limited, necessitating improvement
in remediation policy and guidance.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653519304710?via%3Dihub
IN SITU CHEMICAL OXIDATION: LESSONS LEARNED AT MULTIPLE SITES
Pac, T.J., J. Baldock, B. Brodie, J. Byrd, B. Gil, K.A. Morris, D. Nelson, J. Parikh, et al. Remediation 29(2):75-91(2019)
This paper compiles a detailed set of in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) lessons learned pertaining
to design, execution, and safety based on global experiences over the last 20 years. While the
benefits of a correct application are known, history also provides examples of a variety of
incorrect applications that provide an opportunity to highlight recurring themes that resulted in
failures. This paper combines a thorough discussion of lessons learned through decades of ISCO
implementation throughout all aspects of ISCO projects with an analysis of changes to the ISCO
remediation market. By discussing the interplay of these two themes and providing recommendations
from collective lessons learned, the future of safe, cost-effective, and successful applications
of ISCO can be improved.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/rem.21591
INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND STARTUP OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST REGENERABLE RESIN SYSTEM FOR PFAS REMOVAL
Woodard, S. | RemTEC Summit, February 26-28, 2019, Denver, Colorado
A 200-gpm regenerable ion exchange (IX) resin system was installed in spring 2018 to remove PFAS
from groundwater at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Williamtown. The system includes
pretreatment filtration to remove suspended solids, IX resin to remove fouling agents
(including iron and natural organic matter), specialized IX resins for PFAS removal, and
an in-vessel regeneration process used to strip PFAS from the IX resin. Influent
concentrations to the full-scale system range from 18 to 410 ?g/l. More information:
http://www.defence.gov.au/environment/pfas/williamtown/managementactivities.asp
DEBUNKING MYTHS ABOUT SUSTAINABLE REMEDIATION
Smith, J.W.N. | Remediation 29(2):7-15(2019)
With the recent publication of ISO Standard 18504 and the benefit of a decade's worth of
hindsight on sustainable remediation programs implementation and project delivery, this
paper summarizes myths and misunderstandings that have been stated regarding sustainable
remediation and seeks to debunk them. In dispelling some of the myths about sustainable
remediation set out in this paper, it is hoped that consistent application of
ISO18504/SuRF-UK (or equivalently robust guidance) will facilitate even wider use
of sustainable remediation around the world. This article is Open Access at
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/rem.21587. ISCO18504 document
https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:18504:ed-1:v1:en. See slide for more information
http://seminario.ekosbrasil.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/5_Session-1_Nicola-Harries.pptx.pdf
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See all announcements on COMMON FORUM website
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