Public waste company rejects 3M's plan to clean up PFAS-contaminated soil
The Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM) has declared 3M's soil remediation project (BSP) "non-compliant". The chemical company had a soil remediation expert draw up a plan to clean up PFAS-contaminated soil in the municipalities of Beveren and Zwijndrecht, but will now have to start again.
The BSP is an action plan for the remediation of land around the 3M plant in Zwijndrecht that has been contaminated with the dangerous chemicals PFAS.
The plan was submitted by soil remediation expert ERM on behalf of 3M Belgium. Specifically, it involves the remediation of residential and recreational areas in the current municipalities of Beveren and Zwijndrecht in the vicinity of the 3M site.
A BSP for the so-called Zone 1A in Zwijndrecht, close to the site, has already been declared compliant. The actual remediation work there is scheduled to start in 2025, after the construction of a temporary bridge over the E34 motorway.
Before this work can begin, however, 3M must prepare a new BSP for the much larger residential and recreational area in Beveren and Zwijndrecht. The company submitted the plan at the end of April, followed by a public enquiry and comments from various bodies.
The plan was to excavate the contaminated layer of soil. However, the Health Department disagrees with 3M's distinction between recreational areas and residential gardens. "Children play outside in both areas and the BSP only proposes an active approach in the recreational areas," they say.
That is why the plan has now been declared "non-compliant" by OVAM. "Taking into account the comments, objections and opinions received, as well as its own assessment, OVAM has decided to declare the phased BSP non-compliant," the public waste management authority said.
"Taking into account the comments, objections and opinions received, as well as its own assessment, OVAM has decided to declare the phased BSP non-compliant"
3M must now submit a new BSP and go through all the steps again, including public consultation and comment. The deadline for submission is 15 October.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS
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