Large scale ecological projects

In December of 1992, the federal government and the Treuhandanstalt (THA, Fiduciar Agency) concluded the Verwaltungsabkommen über die Regelung der Finanzierung der ökologischen Altlasten (VA-Altlastenfinanzierung) agreement with the regional states of Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, concerning joint financing of contaminated-site remediation projects. The goal of the agreement was to eliminate site contamination as an impediment to investment, create jobs, and retain existing jobs.
Under the unification treaty that was concluded with the former East Germany at the time of German unification, the legal basis for contaminated-site remediation and the financing thereof at the federal and regional-states level comprises statutory obligations toward investors pursuant to the site contamination provisions of the various privatization agreements.

On request, the relevant regional-state authorities exempted investors from legal responsibility for the costs attributable to environmental damage that occurred prior to 1 July 1990, pursuant to the Umweltrahmengesetz and Hemmnisbeseitigungsgesetz laws.

The federal government and regional states agreed to undertake 21 large scale ecological projects, based on economic and environmental policy. These projects involved major industrial concerns, potassium mining companies, and shipyards, as well as large industrial regions containing numerous companies.

The technical aspects of the projects were hammered out by project working groups, whose sessions were also attended by BvS representatives, regional-state environmental officials, and UBA representatives. All measures had to be green-lighted by both federal and regional-state authorities.

Between 1993 and 2011, more than €2.6 billion in refinancing was provided for hazard prevention measures, demolition measures and contamination related expenses for large scale ecological projects (75 per cent funded by the federal government, 25 per cent funded by the regional states, after subtracting investor contributions), as well as for so called regular financing (60 per cent funded by the federal government, 40 per cent funded by the regional states, after subtracting investor contributions) (Source: BvS).

The federal government’s goal is to reach an agreement with the regional states concerning cost sharing for hazard prevention measures, and define and contractually stipulate (in conjunction with assignment of responsibility to the regional states) the federal government’s role in the required measures. The regional states of Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-West Pomerania have concluded an agreement with the federal government in this regard and now make all of their own decisions concerning the nature and scope of cleanup measures.

Insofar as fiduciary tasks have not already been assigned to other parties, the BvS contracts out these tasks (apart from those that fall to the authorities). Gesellschaft zur Entwicklung und Sanierung von Altstandorten mbH (GESA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of BvS and carries out site cleanup operations for BvS.

Flooded opencut mining residual hole

Exploitation in opencut mining leaves mining hollow patterns behind, that fill with groundwater due to mass deficit.

Source: Frauenstein

Quality of surface water in opencut mining residual lakes

The pH-values in the opencut mining residual lakes in Lusatia are between 2 und 3,5 after raise of the groundwater caused by sulphide weathering.

Source: Frauenstein

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Special vessels are used for neutralization of opencut mining residual lakes

Source: Frauenstein

Neutralization plant for treating wry mine drainage water

The picture shows a plant for treating wry mine drainage waters.

Source: Frauenstein

Opencut mining lake after water treatment through neutralization

Source: Frauenstein

Inlet structure of "Weiße Elster", opencast mining Zwenkau

Source: Frauenstein

Dimensioning of artificial feeder

The picture shows the constructed feeder to an opencast mining residual lake after inlet structure.

Source: Frauenstein

Canoe-park "Markleeberg"

Canoe-park "Markleeberg" developed out of the remediation of mining in the lake country around Leipzig.

Source: Frauenstein

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Apart from large scale ecological projects, Annex 3 of VA-Altlastenfinanzierung governs brown-coal mine site cleanup, which is Germany’s largest interconnected environmental project. The relevant measures are determined by the federal government and the regional states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, via the Steuerungs- und Budgetausschuss Braunkohlesanierung (StuBA) committee, which is co-chaired by the Federal Finance Ministry (BMF) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU). Lausitzer und Mitteldeutsche Bergbau-Verwaltungsgesellschaft (LMBV) acts as project owner. 

Until 2020 more than €11,43 billion in federal and regional-state funds have been budgeted for brown-coal cleanup projects, predominantly for coal mine cleanup measures and extensive water management projects.

The main measures are as follows:

• Ending mining site monitoring by carrying out the hazard elimination and statutory site repurposing activities mandated by the relevant plan
• Restoration of a largely self sufficient and self regulating water balance
• Infrastructure development; permanently assigning the relevant tasks and responsibilities

Berlin

Location: This project involves a nearly completely abandoned 35 square kilometer industrial area on the Spree river in southeast Berlin.

Historical background: Beginning with dawn of industrialization, in 1870, and until very recently, this area was one of the regional state of Berlin’s largest industrial regions. It attracted chemical and pharmaceutical companies, power companies, metallurgy and metalworking plants, electronics companies, engine manufacturers, and automakers. Many of East Germany’s major industrial concerns had to close down following reunification.

Hazard status: This entire industrial area is located in drinking water protection zone III, in the direct catchment area of three water treatment plants. A broad range of contaminants – the main ones being volatile halogenoalkanes, petroleum hydrocarbons, BTEX, phenols, cyanide, and heavy metals – causes local soil contamination and large scale groundwater contamination in the transfer zones to water purification plants. 

Further information is available from Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt.

The regional state of Brandenburg

PCK Schwedt

Location: This large scale project is located in Uckermark, in northeast Brandenburg, near the Oder river.

Historical background: Beginning in 1964, this 940 hectare area was the flagship site of the petrochemical conglomerate Schwedt. The company made petrochemical products at the site, as well as petroleum based fertilizers, and later briefly manufactured animal feed yeast there. Production waste was deposited at proprietary and non-proprietary sites on the company’s campus and in the surrounding area.

Hazard status: Three drinking water protection areas are located in the environs of the site, which exhibits high levels of soil contamination and extensive groundwater contamination from petroleum hydrocarbons, BTEX, naphthalene, heavy metals, ammonium salts and nitrate.

Oranienburg

Location: This large scale project encompasses numerous sites in the Oberhavel district that fall within the scope of the Oranienburg, Velten, Hennigsdorf nad Birkenwerder / Hohen Neuendorf satellite projects. Most of the sites are located in receiving water courses (Havel river, branch junction canals) and in the catchment areas of water purification plants.

Historical background: The area is one of eastern Germany’s oldest industrial regions; it was at one time home to myriad industrial activities, including foundries, arms manufacturers, industrial-machinery plants, chemical factories, construction companies, wood processing plants, pharmaceutical companies, and food processing plants. The area was heavily bombarded during World War II.

Hazard status: Most of the sites are located in the drinking water protection zones of two major water purification plants. Many of the former companies had their own water supply facilities, some of which are still in operation. Extensive soil and groundwater pollution, as well as local contamination, have been detected, mainly from petroleum hydrocarbons, BTEX, chlorinated hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and phenols. The aquifers located in the project area are threatened by contaminant inputs.

BASF Schwarzheide

Location: This large scale project, which extends over a 230 hectare area, is located in the southeastern portion of the regional state of Brandenburg,

Historical background: Initially, petroleum products were made from brown coal; later on, petroleum was refined and herbicides were manufactured at the site.

Hazard status: High levels of soil and groundwater contamination from petroleum hydrocarbons, phenol, BTEX, chlorinated hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. High hazard level owing to a proprietary pond waste dump.

Brandenburg an der Havel

Location: This large project originally encompassed 94 sites with a total surface area of 7.8 square kilometers, located both within the city limits and on the city’s outskirts, mainly in the environs of lakes and canals.

Historical background: Industrial activities began here over a century ago, when metallurgy, metalworking and arms factories opened, along with energy and gas utilities, and construction, transport, chemical and light-industry facilities. Brandenburg an der Havel was an important metallurgy centre in the former East Germany.

Hazard status: The area contains a large scale water treatment plant and a number of smaller ones, along with their drinking water abstraction zones. Most of the groundwater that is abstracted for drinking water stems from bank filtrate. 
The scope of contamination varies greatly from one site to another. The main industrial contaminants are volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons, BTEX, petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenol and heavy metals, all of which have mainly caused local soil and groundwater contamination.

Further information is available from Landesamt für Umwelt des Landes Brandenburg.