Environmental risk assessment as a new basis for evaluation of soil contamination in Polish law

Abstract

Abstract This paper discusses new regulations on the assessment of soil contamination and the principle rules for remediation of contaminated sites included in the Environmental Protection Act, amended in 2014., as well as in related implementing legislation of 2016. In place of soil quality standards and the requirement to bring soil to the state that meets the standards, the new rules of contamination assessment and new remediation criteria have been introduced, based on environmental risk assessment. Similar rules are becoming increasingly common in many countries. This article provides general knowledge on the principles for the assessment of environmental risks associated with soil contamination, taking into account its two fundamental aspects: human health risk and environmental risk. On this background, the paper presents the principles of the assessment on soil contamination contained in the Regulation 1395 (2016) of the Minister of the Environment, as well as the rules for the choice of remediation method and design of remedial actions that should be basically aimed to eliminate the risk to human health and the environment.