Recent developments in contaminated land remediation in the Federal Republic of Germany: current programmes and future research

Dr. Volker Franzius and Detlef Grimski

Contaminated land in the Federal Republic of Germany is still a serious environmental problem. The latest figures indicate that a total of 143 000 sites suspected of being contaminated have been identified (August 1994). Furthermore, the country has to cope with the problem of contaminated former military sites, following the withdrawal of the former West Group of Soviet Troops (WGT) from East Germany, the partial withdrawal of Allied Forces from West Germany, the reduction of troop numbers of the Bundeswehr and the dissolution of the GDR’s National People’s Army.
In East Germany contaminated land on old industrial sites is not only of environmental concern, but also a very important economic factor with regard to the transfer of former publicly owned enterprises to the private sector as potential private owners are likely to hesitate before investing in contaminated land.
This paper describes current approaches to the problem and the priorities for future research.

3 (1) 1995

Updated: 09-Jun-2005