07.10.2022 | Fundamental right
Oosterweel can never be given priority over remediation
The PFAS coalition [1] reacts calmly to the new optimistic reports about Oosterweel and PFAS pollution [2]. “This was coming, and is in line with the history in this dossier. Oosterweel must and will be given priority and all means are good for that. The cleaning up of PFAS pollution on the site? Worries for later!”
“VITO states that the PFOS pollution will largely be washed away from the actual dumps on the Oosterweel sites after several decades,” says Thomas Goorden, environmental activist. “But where did this toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative substance go? Palingbeek, the Scheldt, everywhere actually. Even more striking, the report (finally) also admits that the average PFAS pollution in Flanders is already too high everywhere. This approach would continue to spread pollution and only worsen the situation.”
Another remarkable finding in the report is that VITO is once again using an outdated drinking water standard to assess the groundwater on the site, this time even one without a toxicological basis. If modern scientific knowledge were used, that bar would be at least twenty times lower. An even bigger problem is that VITO is completely ignoring the European standard for surface water that must be achieved in 2028. That suggests that this legal obligation will simply never be achieved in this way.
Jean-Luc Wietor of the European Environmental Bureau also compared the current approach with other countries: “If the Oosterweel site were located in Germany, the limit for PFOS in a verge would be about 15 times lower than here. Is PFOS less toxic in Flanders than abroad?”
Oosterweel above remediation
“We once again find that the Flemish government refuses to even begin the remediation of one of the most polluted areas in Flanders,” says Joeri Thijs of Greenpeace. “Where local residents do have to have their gardens dug up, Lantis should simply be allowed to put all the polluted soil aside. There is not even a start of a soil remediation plan for the site. Understand who can understand.”
Dangerous haste and urgency
“How is it possible that after a year and a half the government still comes up with a note that is full of conditionalities and uncertainties? The note concludes that Lantis is obliged to first make a thorough analysis before the current conclusions can be confirmed. Well, let us first work on the necessary further research before drawing major conclusions about the progress of the construction site,” observes Toon Penen of Grondrecht.
Notes:
[1] The PFAS coalition consists of the non-profit organisation Grondrecht (a citizen collective with affected residents from Zwijndrecht, Beveren and Antwerp Linkeroever), environmental activist and PFAS whistleblower Thomas Goorden, and environmental organisation Greenpeace Belgium.
[2] De Tijd reported this morning about a VITO report that would confirm that 'the Oosterweel works do not lead to further spread of PFAS pollution'
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