BundesBodenschutzverordnung

The Bundes-Bodenschutzverordnung (BBodSchV) is a German federal regulation that implements the Federal Soil Protection Act (BBodSchG). It provides the procedural framework for protecting soils, including how soils are assessed, monitored, remediated, and managed in connection with land use, construction, and economic activities. The aim is to prevent soil pollution, control its spread, and safeguard soil and groundwater resources.

Scope and purpose: The BBodSchV applies to activities that can affect soil quality, such as industrial processes, construction projects, and large-scale excavations. It governs planning, reporting, sampling, testing, and evaluation of soil contamination, as well as the selection of remediation measures. The regulation supports precautionary and risk-based approaches to soil protection and soil reuse.

Key provisions: It sets requirements for soil investigations prior to land-use changes, details on sampling and laboratory analysis, and the methods used to classify and evaluate soil contamination. The regulation defines criteria and reference values (including Beurteilungswerte) used to judge the significance of detected pollutants, and it outlines responsibilities for remediation, documentation, and notification to authorities. It also addresses the reuse of excavated soil and the management of contaminated sites to prevent further spread of pollutants.

Application and oversight: The BBodSchV complements the BBodSchG at the federal level and is implemented through collaboration with state environmental authorities. It guides handling of contaminated sites (Altlasten), soil protection during construction, and decisions on land use to ensure long-term soil quality and avoid risks to humans and ecosystems.

Status and updates: As part of the BBodSchG framework, the BBodSchV is subject to amendments to reflect evolving scientific knowledge, evolving EU directives, and changes in environmental policy to strengthen soil protection and remediation practices.