3. HRA for the management of polluted sites and soils

3.1 Management policy for polluted sites and soils

The management of polluted sites and soils is a necessity to prevent (or reduce) the health impacts associated with historical pollution, particularly with a view to reconverting polluted sites. This contributes to limiting urban sprawl (Grenelle de l'Environnement) and can prove profitable, given the scarcity of available land, particularly in large cities.

Policies for managing polluted sites were introduced in the early 1990s, with the creation of tools for prioritizing and classifying polluted sites, and a policy for managing risks according to use. The circulars and notes of February 8, 2007, published by the French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development (MEDD), further developed these management...