8 - Soil Contamination

Summary

Chapter 8 studies the regulatory control mechanisms to prevent new soil contamination and the legal regime to clean up historically contaminated land under the Law on the Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution (SPPCL) (2018) and relevant state plans and regulations including the Action Plan on Soil Pollution Prevention and Control (2016). The chapter starts with discussion of the national survey on soil pollution (2005-13) that has exposed the extent and degree of soil contamination in China. The basic data and preliminary understanding of threat of the soil contamination to human health and environmental safety provide the basis for the regulatory response. The command-and-control approach to the prevention of new soil pollution is examined, covering government’s responsibilities and agencies in charge, standard-setting, survey and monitoring, and key instruments to protect the land from pollution. The legal regime on historically contaminated sites is investigated with separate treatment of agricultural land and development land by risk control and remediation. The chapter concludes with discussion of information disclosure and public supervision.