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The EU Commission had criticized the inconsistent practice of designating contaminated areas in Germany. It was therefore decided that the Federal Government would issue a General Administrative Regulation (AVV) for the uniform designation of contaminated areas. The focus of the AVV is on qualitative improvements in the requirements for groundwater monitoring. It defines that there should be at least one monitoring point per 50 square kilometres.
Until now, the nitrate content of groundwater has been used as the basis for determining nitrate-polluted areas under the Fertiliser Ordinance. In the future, location factors (such as soil type or groundwater formation) and nutrient flows from agricultural use will also be included in the calculation.
With regard to eutrophication by phosphorus, the AVV specifies that nutrient inputs from agricultural sources become significant if the proportion of total phosphorus is greater than 20 percent, and the area must be designated as a polluted. In addition, it introduces threshold values for tolerable soil loss.
The designation of polluted areas is to be reviewed every four years. The AVV is then to be evaluated at the same intervals as the EU Nitrate Directive.
The AVV is to be discussed in the Cabinet on August 12, 2020 and in the Federal Council on September 18, 2020. The AVV is expected to enter into force by the end of September 2020.
June 26, 2020/ BMEL/ Germany.
https://www.bmel.de/
