Local “rust belts” and brownfield investments
organised by the
Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises (HAEE)
at the National University of Public Service
29-30 November 2022
The patron of the conference was the Deputy State Secretary for the Environment of the Ministry of Technology and Industry.
During the two-day conference, participants got an insight into the global trends in the remediation of contaminated sites and the framework and developments of Hungarian national programmes. They could learn about the latest technological solutions in pollution measurement and sampling or different remediation procedures. Several remediation results were presented at the event that address environmental and health risks.
The chairman of the first day was Dr. Csaba Ágoston, president of the Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises. He thanked all the supporters in his speech and announced that the Remediation Guide, now available online, has been published to assist company liquidations.
The conference was opened by Dr. Tibor Bíró, Dean of the National University of Public Service, and Rector of the Faculty of Water Sciences. The theme of the conference is also closely related to the activities of the Faculty of Water Sciences since brownfield investments and issues of remediation or water damage prevention are priority tasks for the future generation of engineers, so it is essential that the professional results of the conference would also be implemented in education.
Remediation facing new challenges – coherence with strategies, alignment with EU priority topics, financing options
Zsuzsanna Dócsné Balogh, Managing Director of Trenecon Ltd., highlighted in her presentation the role of brownfield and remediation site management in EU strategies (such as GreenDeal and Fit-for-50). She sees several opportunities for Hungary in these, as we do not yet have any strategy that builds on them and is in line with the funding targets and periods. Such a strategy would also be important for forming urban development strategies. An integrated municipal and water management plan will be eligible for funding under the TOP (Area- and Settlement Development Operational Programme). We are therefore confident that many municipalities will prepare such plans and that they will also include remediation. To follow up on the implementation of the technical tasks, the experience of the remediation grants of the previous years was also evaluated. KEHOP (Environment and Energy Efficiency Operative Programme) projects included, for example, a remediation project of over 10 billion HUF. However, only a small number of projects have been implemented over the last 7 years. Most of the costs were spent on specific remediation investments, i.e., a vast amount of money was spent on relatively few projects. Under the TOP programme, a budget of 85 billion HUF was available for this purpose, but only 0.5 billion HUF was used - the presentation also gave a hint to find out why. Training and communication are also important areas, as remediation is often forgotten in the process of strategy making and decision making.
Upcoming EU regulation, the Soil Strategy for 2030, and revitalising contaminated land
Dietmar Müller-Grabherr, Secretary General of the Common Forum, gave a presentation on the recycling of contaminated sites and the expected future EU regulations connected to this field. The Common Forum recently organised a knowledge-sharing workshop in Athens with NICOLE. Switzerland and Norway also participated in this event in addition to the EU Member States.
The EU Biodiversity Strategy, the Zero Pollution Action Plan, and the draft Soil Strategy for 2030 were also presented. In the latter, Member States will be expected to assess the soil contamination in detail and take pollution prevention measures. The Soil Health Certification System is still under negotiation; many questions remain, e.g., whether it should be legally binding. A guidance document on the safe use of extracted soils is also being developed. The rapporteur also drew attention to the importance of information flow and establishing an appropriate policy framework. It has to be ensured that the EU strategy will be consistent with the revision of the soil health and waste regulations planned in the next year. Soil recycling should be enabled locally; the aim is to reuse the extracted soils.
Tasks in urban planning, connections
Márk Gombos, Head of the Department of the Ministry of Construction and Investment, gave a presentation on the tasks of settlement planning and its connections to other activities. Urban planning is mainly a municipal task carried out in cooperation with environmental and water authorities.
In 2018, the Regional Development and Spatial Planning Act was revised, serving as a basis for municipalities to draw up their own spatial development and planning plans. This plan could also provide the basis for plans for brownfield investment. Buildings on the demolished site must fit in the character of the surrounding buildings, ensuring this is also a municipal responsibility. A good example is the development of Váci Street, which is the result of a decade of work. Urban planning is a difficult task from all sides, as EU and national legislation, and investor and civilian expectations must be met. In the absence of a reliable register of brownfield sites, municipalities were required by law to identify brownfield sites in their settlement’s structural plans. Digitisation is also a major innovation. It has the advantage of making the register uniform. This requires the creation of a geographic database, which is now expected from municipalities so that they can upload their brownfield planning objectives into this.
Reducing the duration of procedures is also an important objective, and digitalisation can also help to achieve this. Governmental and municipal authorities both have set timeframes for the process. The speaker drew attention to the Settlement Plan Regulation, which provides guidance on the structure of the municipal plan, thus standardising planning aspects. A significant regulatory step was in 2020-21 the categorisation of the Rust Belt Action Areas, breaking down tasks into immediate, medium, and long-term. The Rust Belt Commission will decide the classification and implementation.
Remediation activities under the liability of the State
Csaba Tóth, Managing Director of Nitrokémia Zrt. gave a presentation on the state’s responsibility for remediation. There is an overlap of duties between elements and actors of remediation, but the subsurface is the state’s responsibility. However, contamination does not respect either land or liability boundaries. The Civil Code defines what belongs to the ownership of a property, and the National Asset Acct provides for what falls under the jurisdiction of the state. The Constitution also states that everyone has the right to a clean environment, so the legal background is set, but implementation needs to be revised. The “polluter pays” principle already appears in the 1995 Environmental Protection Act, which also explains when the state should enter into the implementation. Environmental burdens and damage are rarely recorded in property deeds, which is a significant problem, and it would be essential to record and show these properties in databases. In the case of compensation for damage, both the owner and the holder of the property are liable. The presentation also addressed the issue of public funding for remediation and the role of the Nitrokémia Zrt., discussing the remediation of the former Alkaloida site in Tiszavasvár as an example.
Brownfield Dialogue – the new Austrian initiative to enhance revitalization
Sabine Rabl-Berger, Environmental Expert at the Austrian Environment Agency, presented the "Brownfield-dialogue" initiative. One of the goals of the Austrian Sustainable Development Strategy is to reduce land use. There is a very high demand for land, but the amount of available brownfield land varies from region to region, so brownfield land cannot meet this demand alone. One of the biggest problems is that if it is known where these areas are situated, defining responsibilities and funding can be easy. The project is aimed to help this by raising awareness, promoting dialogue and cooperation between stakeholders, and exchanging experiences. Several tools are used to develop dialogue: organising webinars, creating a website, organising regular online meetings for regional planners, and organising brownfield-related conferences.
Environmental Burdens of Remediation – Remediation Guide
Csaba Markó, Technical Director of KSZGYSZ, and Dr. Beáta Kispál, Liquidation Commissioner, gave a presentation on the environmental burdens arising during the liquidation process and the guidelines prepared by KSZGYSZ on behalf of the ministry responsible for environmental issues to help manage them. The guide, which deals not only with technical and financing issues but also with procedural questions, is also available on the website of the HAEE (Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises). Besides the Guide a package of proposals has been made for legislative changes for the ministry. The tasks of liquidators is also important to understand the issues. Beáta Kispál provided detailed insights on the procedural and financial framework of liquidation, the process of remedying environmental burdens and damages, and the transferability of the remediation obligation.
Experience of public authorities
Dr. Szabolcs Cserkúti, Head of Nature Conservation and Waste Management Division of Pest County Government Office, gave a presentation on the authorities’ experiences in environmental damage detection and remediation. Environmental investments can transform brownfield sites and rust belts into value-added areas. The speaker used a case study to illustrate the problems of remediation and their possible solutions during the remediation process. The management of abandoned waste is generally the easier case. At the same time, remediation is the more difficult, as realistic costs can only be calculated based on a proper fact-finding process. Without this - usually the case - the buyer of the property does not know what costs he is taking on when he buys the property.
Foreign remediation examples
Dr. Gábor Raska, MRICS, Head of Business Unit at denkstatt Hungary Kft., presented examples from French, German, and Dutch liquidation cases. In France, all manufacturing activities that may have an impact on the environment require a permit. If a company goes out of business, an environmental review is mandatory, with the involvement of a specialist, during the liquidation process. The environmental authority checks professional compliance. A specific guide is available to assist liquidators.
In Germany, it was impossible to keep track of changes in the ownership of industrial sites and thus to enforce the polluter's liability for environmental damage, so in the case of sites that had been idle for decades, the state was involved. In 1974, a comprehensive law on environmental emissions came into force, under which the operator is now obliged to remedy the damage caused.
In the Netherlands, there is dedicated legislation dealing with environmental damage in the event of liquidation. Certain activities are subject to a permit, and it must be proved that there is no environmental damage in the case of liquidation. The responsible party is the liquidator, and the competent authority is the environmental authority. International standards were also discussed, in particular ISO 14015 and US standards, which can be used to carry out damage assessment tasks effectively in Hungary. He stressed that the databases used in Hungary, such as OKIR, which are free and available online, work very well compared to those used in neighboring countries (although their shortcomings are also known).
Remediation strategy and regulation - trends and plans
Nikoletta Keszthelyi, Deputy State Secretary for Environmental Protection of the Ministry of Technology and Industry, presented the strategic and legislative background of remediation. It is based on the National Environmental Protection Programme. The 5th National Environmental Protection Programme up to 2026 is currently being debated in Parliament. The National Environmental Remediation Programme, included in the Programme from the beginning, was launched in 1996, and HUF 336 billion has been spent on 3381 remediation actions at around 1,000 sites. Most of these actions were carried out under the Rail Sub-Programme. EU funding of HUF 50.55 billion was spent on remediation in 11 areas. The 2021 Urban Housing Programme in rust belt action areas will provide new housing in the designated areas.
Sections
On the afternoon of the first day, presentations continued in two sections. In the "A" session, case studies were introduced with the moderation of Gergely Hankó, Executive Director of the HAEE, while in the "B" section, the presentation of remediation technologies was led by Csaba Markó, Professional Director of the HAEE.
Case Studies
Development of a brownfield into a Bosch Campus in Budapest
Hartwig Bayersdorf, Contaminated Sites Manager at the Bosch Group, presented the development of the Bosch Campus on a brownfield land. The site was previously a textile factory for many years. They visited the site together with denkstatt Hungary Kft., which was in a very poor state. A site risk assessment was carried out, and the first tests revealed that the soil was contaminated with a wide range of chemicals. In 2016 they started excavating the site and found asbestos in many places. Bosch usually thinks in greenfield investments, but they spent €7.8 million on remediation here. The problem was mainly caused by contaminated soil, but contaminated water also had to be pumped out and removed. After the clean-up, they set up one of their state-of-the-art training centres, the Bosch Budapest Innovation Campus, where young engineers from all over the world come to learn.
Case studies based on the experience of rail site remediation
Zoltán Lénárt, Environmental Expert of MÁV Zrt., gave a presentation on the environmental obstacles of railway investments. On the environmental side, in the case of railway investments, it is good to know the environmental damage in the area where the investment is taking place, as both the designer and the contractor must be prepared for the problems. Previous pollution by the Hungarian Railways is not always known, so it often only comes to light during construction. As the landowner is the railway company, it has to deal with the remediation of the area. The first case presented the difficulties of determining the liability, followed by examples of utilisation of unused areas from abroad. The question whether the road or the destination is more important, was also raised during the presentation.
State of the art High-Resolution Site Characterisation and the 3D conceptual site model
Pieter Buffel, HRSC Services Teamleader at EnISSA, presented the 3D-based, high-resolution spatial characterisation model. As groundwater is not directly visible, experts can obtain data from local conceptual models. Exploration works are often inadequate and do not achieve the desired results, caused by the heterogeneity of the soil. Despite this, they can monitor the spread of contamination during the excavation works. The direction of the contamination and its plumes are often unpredictable. Traditional drill sampling methods are time-consuming, expensive, and inaccurate, interpretation of samples and data is difficult, and measurement density is insufficient. To overcome these difficulties, high-resolution instruments are needed, such as the membrane interface probe (MIP) presented here or the GC-MS detector coupled MIP, also used in the Citychlor project. 3D visualisation tools can aid clear visualisation and data presentation.
Sodium Persulfate with Integrated Activator Destroys >99% of Trichlorethylene in 5 Weeks at a Manufacturing Facility in Holland.
Michael Mueller, Business Development Manager at Evonik Operations GmbH, presented the remediation process of a site in the Netherlands contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons. Trichloroethylene (TCE) concentrations above 16 000 µg/l were measured in the groundwater aquifer. Klozur® One ISCO technology was used to remediate the contamination by injecting a sodium persulphate mixture. As a result of the intervention, 99.6% of the contamination was removed, as verified by independent experts . The authority closed the remediation process, allowing the site owner to start its planned use (residential development).
The innovative spin injection technology pushes the boundaries of in situ soil remediation (case studies)
Jeroen Vandenbruwane, Director of Injectis Co., presented the company's unique “in situ” injection technology through a case study. The SPIN® injection technology is recommended for large plumes and difficult access (e.g., under buildings, and roads). The technique, developed to overcome the limitations of conventional methods, avoids compaction and smearing of soil at injection ports and eliminates the need for injection rods. Less pressure is required to inject the active ingredient, and spillage and surface spreading of the injected solution is avoided.
The New Museum of Transport at the plot of the former Northern Maintenance Depot
Gábor Raska, MRICS, Head of Business Unit at denkstatt Hungary Kft. hold the next presentation. The company is responsible for the environmental-related planning of the project. The project is a brownfield site development where remediation will be carried out. The area has been the home of heavy railway industry activity for centuries, where Hungary's largest railway vehicle repair yard has been established. The resulting environmental problems have been made challenging to burden by the fact that the area, which was originally a swampy area, has been filled in to make it suitable for building.
A fact-finding study was carried out in 2019 and served as a basis of a remediation concept that would have made the project economically and technically not viable; the average 2 m of fill would have had to be removed from the site, but considering that utilities ran through the area, this was not possible. The denkstatt joined the works in 2020 with the task of rationalising the intervention. The expert review in 2021 showed that the removal of the contaminated soil from 7 spots, with a specific limit value, was sufficient and could be carried out in parallel with the project, with continuous monitoring.
Remediation Technologies
Development of in situ bioremediation technology for sites with short-chain chlorinated hydrocarbons contamination
Gergely Krett, Microbiologist at the Department of Microbiology, ELTE TTK, gave a presentation on the development of in situ bioremediation technology for areas contaminated with short-chain chlorinated hydrocarbons. Their research investigated the effectiveness of two different inoculant delivery systems in a trichloroethylene contaminated site. The first step was the development of a site-specific inoculant and its field testing. The effects of the gravity and vacuum application methods were investigated, comparing the rate, speed, coverage, and durability of the spread of the inoculant.
Support of soil and groundwater remediation with geophysical methods
János Stickel, Professional Director of ELGOSCAR Zrt., presented the geophysical methods, which are suitable for justifying the remediation of soil and groundwater. Still, the stability of the slurry reservoirs was also discussed. The geophysical survey should be carried out in both contaminated and uncontaminated areas to obtain a well-defined correlation. The measured specific resistivity varies in the contaminated area and layer. For example, geophysical data can be used to see the limit of salt infiltration in reservoirs. By linking geotechnical and environmental data, the placement of monitoring systems can be accurately determined. Any remediation project should be examined with contamination boundaries, considering the geotechnical data. Geophysical methods can also contribute to the prevention of incidents such as the 2010 Kolontar red mud disaster by detecting inhomogeneities in the fund and embankments. Nevertheless, standardisation of geophysical measurement methods is lacking in today's environmental protection.
Vertical water quality distributions in thick, uniform water taxes and their detection by sampling
Ágnes Réka Máthé, Assistant Remediation Expert of Adept Enviro Ltd., presented a groundwater sampling method. Double-pump sampling was performed in a kerosene contaminated area from wells filtered at different lengths. Surprising results were obtained: the measured contaminant concentrations in wells sampled from wells screened long in the aquifer may be lower than in wells filtered shorter. Samples taken with a peristaltic pump had lower concentrations of volatile components, while organic components had higher concentrations. Double-pump sampling was able to detect the differences in concentrations in the aquifer due to the effect of two different mixing zones created in the well by the pumps located at different heights, resulting in different qualities of water being pumped.
Development of bioaugmentation injection materials for the remediation of contamination by aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and their chlorinated derivatives and their potential for field application
Dr. Zsuzsanna Nagymáté, Microbiologist and Scientific Advisor of Fermentia Microbiology Ltd., presented the bioaugmentation treatment options for hydrocarbon contamination. Several microbes are capable of degrading aliphatic, aromatic, or polyaromatic hydrocarbons, while among the short-chain chlorinated hydrocarbons, only the anaerobic genus Dehalococcoides is capable of degrading perchloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) to ethene by reductive dechlorination.
Their work aims to isolate, and industrially scale-up microorganisms and communities capable of degrading hydrocarbons and ultimately develop bioaugmentation inoculants for the remediation of contaminated sites, elucidating their microbial composition to identify the organisms involved in the process and monitoring their impact in contaminated sites.
Their developments have led to the successful production of hydrocarbon decomposition cultures that can be used for bioaugmentation and have been successfully applied in field remediations.
Biological treatment options for metal-containing wastes (mine waste, red sludge)
Dr. Margit Balázs from the Institute of Biotechnology of Bay Zoltán NKft. presented the biological treatment possibilities of metal-containing waste. Hydrometallurgy is an aqueous mining technology where metals are extracted using biotechnology. This is how copper was mined in the Iberian Peninsula in ancient times. It is a cost and energy-efficient technology, particularly for the extraction of non-ferrous metals. The process uses microbes that extract energy from the oxidation of minerals. Acidophiles, in particular can do this with involving the oxidation-reduction process. Bacteria and fungi can be used to produce sulphuric acid, nitric acid, gluconic acid, citric acid, etc. Some fungi can also be used for metal recovery in non-sulphidic media. For example, the technology has also been applied to recover metal content in catalysts.
Determination of (D) remediation target values on an ecotoxicological basis for hydrocarbon contaminated sediments
Béla Finta, Project Manager of BGT Hungária Kft., gave a presentation about the problems of pollutants (TPH, PAH) accumulating in sediments and entering the receiving waters. Pollutants can accumulate in sediments to toxic concentrations. The aim of their investigations is to set limit values for remediation so that only remediation technology for pollutants of real concern would be used.
In their tests, they used Ostracodtoxkit F test, which is based on a shell crab living in direct contact with the sediment. The results clearly showed a dose-response relationship. A synergistic effect resulting from the interaction of individual contaminants was demonstrated, using the Isobol method to determine the extent of interaction and the expected survival rate. Different interactions were identified from site to site, the presumed causes of which are: differences in bioavailability of contaminants, different particle size/composition, different organic matter content, and differences in typical microbiological processes.
The next day of the conference also featured plenary presentations:
Data and definitions in the Hungarian Environmental Legislation that require clarification alias. Let’s arrange our ranks!
Artúr Köhler, Remediation Specialist of Adept Enviro Ltd., drew attention to the contradictions in environmental regulations. He pointed out the differences in the limit values set in the various decrees and the differences in the interpretation of the terms used. He gave the example that the barium pollution limit value for surface water is so low that the natural barium content of the water should be considered as pollution. It is also interesting to note that the allowable concentrations of some constituents are higher in drinking water than in groundwater.
For conceptual differences, he mentioned the difference in the determination of benzene and alkylbenzenes (BTEX). He dealt in detail with the many legal and scientific definitions of groundwater, which in some cases use completely different approaches and definitions of content. The international literature is not even familiar with the term, while in our country, there are some oddities arising even in groundwater testing standards.
Oxygenates and their biodegradability – selective microbiological injection material development
Dr. Balázs Fehér from the Zoltán Bay Institute of Biotechnology gave a presentation on oxygenates and their biodegradation. Oxygenates currently play an undeserved role in the remediation, but their role is expected to grow. They are also found in petrol and have the advantage of increasing the octane number and producing fewer toxic substances during combustion. Another positive aspect is that they can be produced from bioethanol. The disadvantage is that they are difficult to degrade, can pollute surface water, and are harmful to health. This is why they are investigating the biodegradation of oxygenates and have found that they can be degraded aerobically by bacteria; they have achieved perfect mineralisation using an artificial consortium of microbes. In the presentation, he also mentioned their fluidized bed bioreactor exhibited at the conference.
Ecotoxicological methods supporting the implementation of site remediations
Dr. István Szabó, Head of Department, Associate Professor, and Zsolt Csenki-Balogh from the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences gave a presentation on ecotoxicological methods, which can also be used in remediation. István Szabó reported on the ongoing microbiological and water toxicological research at the Department of Environmental Toxicology of MATE. They also deal at the university with microplastics and PFAS analysis, as well as biodegradation experiments.
In their presentation, they described the ecotoxicological test methods available at the MATE Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety to support the remediation process (antibacterial effects, resistance tests, biofilm formation monitoring), as well as their developed methods to test for endocrine disrupting (ED) effects or toxicity of samples with high organic matter content.
Resilience Performance Assessment (RPA) for Brownfields with Hungarian examples
Iryna Parakhnenko, General Manager, and Alejandra Castellano, from Sixense Monitoring, brought case studies from abroad and Hungary to demonstrate the RPA evaluation method. They perform monitoring and risk analysis considering different climate change scenarios. They work closely with different organisations and authorities, and since 2019 they have had more than 80 projects in 70 countries. The assessment is done according to aspects such as climate change, vulnerability, or site capacity. A cost analysis is also carried out, how much the intervention would cost and how this compares to the adaptation benefits that could be achieved. The methodology is based on a site-specific analysis that looks at the area’s history. Alejandro Castellano presented a sensitivity case study based on satellite sensing in the Dominican Republic and a country-wide case study in France. Her colleague, Iryna Parakhnenko, presented a remediation project in Hungary in collaboration with FTV Zrt. at a former industrial site in Rózsaszentmárton, for which a sustainability assessment is being carried out.
Orczy Garden bus garage decontamination - practical experience
At the end of the conference, Béla Farkas, Project Officer of Remediation of Orczy Garden at Envirotis Holding Ltd., gave a presentation on the former bus garage remediation and its practical experiences, followed by a field tour, during which the conference participants could walk around the Orczy Garden, which was rehabilitated after the remediation. During the tour, participants could learn in detail about the work carried out and the solutions to the problems encountered.
The first technical studies were made in 2003 to restore the former bus garage. With little available experience, the process was long and costly, with much remedial work and litigation. The main remediation tasks were building demolition, pavement demolition, tank station removal, demolition of buildings in danger of collapse, protection of the listed building to be saved, and groundwater and soil clean-up. Hydraulic oil was leaking in the buildings, so soil replacement was necessary at a depth of 4 metres. The ground layers did not match the plans, and the area was reed walled around the building at their responsibility, partly assuming the risk.
The water treatment process seemed to be simple (the work started in 2006), but not everything went according to plan. Within a quarter of a year, the concentrations of trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene had dropped to near the limit, but after 2 years, the results were worse than initially expected. There was a much larger area that could not be delimited because the owners did not allow the experts to enter the adjacent areas. At planning, it needed to be considered that the area had been used as a riding stable for 100 years before the bus garage, and therefore organic by-products have appeared at the water treatment. Despite the many difficulties, the Orczy Garden is now an excellent example of a completed, successful rehabilitation project.
More information:
Csaba Markó, professional director, HAEE [email protected]
Imre Király, environmental consultant, HAEE email: [email protected]
Conference website: https://kszgysz.hu/en/re-brown-2022
Next edition of the conference is scheduled for 2024.