Soils Protection

The European Commission published a Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection in September 2006, including an impact assessment and a Soils Framework Directive to support the better integration of soil protection into other EU policies, increased research and efforts to increase public awareness.

Discussions are planned for 2007 to agree the content of the Soils Framework Directive across all Member States. Any issues of specific relevance to Northern Ireland are being provided to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to be included in any UK representations to the European Commission.

The following summarises the proposals to be discussed at the Commission in agreeing the Soils Framework document.

• The establishment of a common framework to protect soil on the basis of the principles of preservation of soil functions, prevention of soil degradation, mitigation of its effects, restoration of degraded soils and integration in other sectoral policies.
• The requirement to identify, describe and assess the impact of some sectoral policies on soil degradation processes with a view to protect soil functions.
• The requirement for land users to take precautionary measures when their use of soil can be expected to significantly hamper soil functions.
• An approach to soil sealing (building on or covering the soil) to ensure a more rational use of land and to maintain as many soil functions as possible.
• Identification of areas at risk of erosion, organic matter decline, salinisation, compaction and landslides, and establishment of national programmes of measures.  The extent of areas at risk of these threats will also need to be identified.
• Measures to limit the introduction of dangerous substances into the soil, to avoid accumulation in soil that would hamper soil functions and create a risk to human health and the environment.
• Setting up an inventory of contaminated sites, a mechanism for funding the remediation of sites were the person/s responsible are unknown are unable to pay, a soil status report and establishing a national strategy for remediation of the contaminated sites identified.

When agreed wording is reached by all Member States on the final content of the directive, the Department, in conjunction with Defra will consult with all stakeholders and interested parties.