Background
The Service Centrum Grond (Centre for Soil Treatment) was established in 1989 bij the Dutch Ministry of Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM). During the 1990's the SCG performed 4 tasks:
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To stimulate the market for soil treatment. SCG was given a full mandate to subcontract the soil treatment process for site remediations financed with public funds. Thus, major cost efficiencies were achieved, and contractors were guaranteed a steady supply of soil. During this period, approximately 3 Mton of contaminated soil were properly treated. At the end of the 1990's the market was mature and this task was terminated. |
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In the mid-1990's legislation on landfilling was adopted. Landfilling of treatable soil was prohibited. Soil treatability was formalised in an assessment scheme, incorporating both technical and economic criteria. In order to enforce compliance with regulations, SCG was given the task to assess each soil lot opted for landfilling. In the 1995 - 2003 period, appropximately 20 Mton has been properly assessed. |
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To stimulate the reuse market for (untreated) lightly contaminated and treated soil. In the mid-1990's soil quality criteria for reuse were adopted. SCG established several joint ventures with contractors. By employment of strict sampling and chemical analysis procedures under quality assurance schemes, confidence in reusable soil as an environmentally safe product was significantly enhanced. At the end of the 1990's the market was considered mature and this task was terminated. |
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R & D on all (ex-situ) treatment options for both contaminated soils and (aquatic) sediments. This resulted in the validation of soil washing, thermal treatment and landfarming for soil treatment and sand separation, ripening and landfarming as suitable technologies for sediment treatment. Cold immobilisation/stabilisation can be suitable for specific soils on a project basis. In addition, validation of sampling and chemical analysis procedures were succesfully pursued. Other themes dealt with were related to soil environmental properties (e.g. leaching) and QA/QC schemes. This task is carried out up to the present. |
In 1999 the SCG was fully re-engineered. At present the following tasks are performed:
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Assessment of the treatability of both soils and (aquatic) sediments. |
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Consultancy for all public authorities involved with soil and sediment issues. This covers the full range from policy preparation, implementation and evaluation to hands-on advice on specific projects. |
Organisation
The new SCG was customer oriented and offers consultancy
on a project basis. As an organisation, the SCG is small (13.5
full-time positions) and flat (only the Director with his
employees / consultants report to the Board).
The Board consists of nongovernmental and independant members.
The SCG-budget (€ 2,1 million per year) originates from funds
that are available within the context of the
(Soil Protection Act) for site remediation. As a result
the SCG can offer its services for free.
Quality
Quality is at the core of the SCG's activities. An important
objective of the SCG is to increase the (customer's) confidence
in the soil sector. Quality assurance is, a
prerequisite for the users of treated soil:
landfill operations, soil treatment plants and reusers. And
for the confidence of society in the soil sector itself. To contribute
to the trust in quality within the soil sector, the SCG itself
must satisfy the highest demands. Widely recognised knowledge
and experience alone are insufficient for this task. To allow
SCG to optimally fulfil this role, it must be completely independent.
Both of these conditions have been satisfied.
What's more, to enable to assure the quality of its own organisation
and methods, SCG will allow itself to be inspected by independent
certification bodies. The SCG is NEN-EN-ISO-9002 and BRL-9308
certified.
Since 2005
Per 1-1-2005 tasks and personel are housed at Agentschap NL/Bodem+ (Soilplus). Probably the at the end of 2011 the SCG will be terminated.
Contact: Thom Maas, Phone +31 88 602 72 92, thom.maas@agentschapnl.nl.
Articles:
NV SCG
PO Box 93144
2509 AC DEN HAAG
Tel.: +31 88 602 5123
Fax.: +31 88 602 9023
e-mail: thom.maas@agentschapnl.nl
http://www.scg.nl
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