Management of polluted sites and soils

The national policy for the management of polluted sites and soils is a risk management policy based on the use of the environment. It involves defining pollution removal methods on a case-by-case basis, taking into account available techniques and their economic costs. The maintenance of residual pollution on a site is linked to its compatibility with the chosen use (industrial, residential...) and, if necessary, accompanied by conditions to control its health or environmental impact.

Concern about soil conditions has grown in recent years, for a number of reasons:

• major changes in the industry mean that many operations are shut down, and sometimes replaced by new industrial activities. These changes often provide an opportunity to take stock of the situation, particularly in relation to the former operator's obligation...