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Description
The aim of the project is to establish an improved system for the management of contaminated sites, replacing the current contaminated site register and paper information flow with a comprehensive digitization of information and data submission, verification and acceptance process.
Planned activities are:
- exchange of experience on integrated management model/system register
- establishment of an integrated pollution management system:
- digitization of the contaminated site register, including information and data submission, verification and acceptance process;
- development of open data solutions, ensuring system integration with data of other state information systems;
- inventory and updating of the existing register of contaminated and potentially contaminated sites:
- inventory of geo-ecological research reports in the State geological Fund archive;
- evaluation of data available in research reports;
Benefits:
• more efficient and faster flow of information, less administrative burden in general, high quality data on contaminated sites;
• development of a database on a comprehensive system for collecting information on contaminated sites, fully digitized CPCS management process (registration of contaminated sites, survey data, monitoring information);
• digitally available information on CPCS to state institutions, local governments, licensed entrepreneurs such as licensed geoecological (remediation) performers and the society.
• assessment of contaminated sites have been performed by qualified and competent environmental workers in accordance with a common methodology;
• information on contaminated sites is regularly updated in the database of contaminated sites.
Summary of project results
Contaminated and potentially contaminated sites, unless properly managed, have or may have negative impacts on the environment and human health. Comprehensive information on the site and its contamination is needed to plan measures to improve environmental quality. The aim of the project was to establish a Contaminated Sites Management System integrating the former Register of Contaminated and Potentially Contaminated Sites and the documentation of all contaminated site management processes (investigation, remediation, monitoring) in one place. Transforming information on contaminated and potentially contaminated sites collected 20 years ago in the form of a register and stop the flow of paper documents, the State Environmental Service (SES) in cooperation with the Latvian Centre for Environment, Geology and Meteorology (LVGMC) has created a new Contaminated Sites Management System, available at pvps.vvd.gov.lv.
The development of a new information system, which provides data on contaminated and potentially contaminated sites as well as process management (registration, investigation, remediation, monitoring), where we obtain this data, requires careful planning and a structured approach. Therefore, in the initial phase of the project, a user needs analysis was carried out, and descriptions of current and future business processes were prepared. As a result, a technical specification was developed, forming the foundation for the creation of the information system.
The initial identification of contaminated and potentially contaminated sites and the provision of information to the State Environmental Service was previously carried out primarily by municipalities. They were involved in updating the data, being encouraged to review the coordinates of registered sites within their territories and the documents available in municipal archives, such as those related to past economic activities, completed investigations, or incidents at these locations.
Given that information in the Contaminated Sites Management System will most frequently be entered and updated by investigation and remediation professionals, they were involved in all stages and activities of the project. Communication took place via online interviews, seminars, and focus groups.
As a result, an information system (Contaminated Sites Management System) was developed, integrating the previous Register of Contaminated and Potentially Contaminated Sites by migrating the existing data. Previously, contaminated site management processes were conducted separately, with information stored in various locations and formats. Now, all these processes have been unified, reducing the need to repeatedly re-enter the same information for each process. Location data (coordinates, cadastral designation and addresses) was reviewed and updated for 250 sites. Digitalized documents have also been linked to sites within the information system.
Drawing inspiration from the experience of the Norwegian Environment Agency and the Norwegian Cartographic Authority, the project team sought to incorporate best practices and innovative ideas into the development of Latvia''s Contaminated Sites Management System. Additionally, the team created a methodology for experts of State Environmental Service to assess and register contaminated and potentially contaminated sites.
The Register of Contaminated and Potentially Contaminated Sites (public part) included in the Contaminated Sites Management System is freely accessible to anyone interested in and using environmental data - site owners, their neighbours, municipalities, public authorities, as well as territory planners and developers, investigation and remediation professionals.
In the public part of system, everyone can find information on registered contaminated and potentially contaminated sites in Latvia, see the location of the registered site and a description of the contamination. During the project, information on 250 sites was updated in the register, mainly the location of the sites (cadastral designations and addresses).
Owners and their authorized investigators and remediation professionals can view more information in the Authorised Part and can submit and coordinate all the documents of a contaminated site - investigation, remediation and monitoring work programmes and reports. The documents in the information system have been converted into a structured data format, eliminating the need to re-enter the same information repeatedly. It will now automatically populate the currently active section of the process with data from previous processes. The sites registered in the Authorised Section are linked to 2289 digitised documents from the State Geological Fund archive and 1154 initial site identification questionnaires.
Three workshops have been held during the project - a kick-off meeting (07.06.2022), a mid-term conference (20.10.2023) and a final conference (17.04.2024).