Secret trash amassed by Rewag is becoming a nuisance for the city
In the heart of Regensburg, Germany, the city is taking decisive action to address the hazardous waste contamination at the REWAG site. Working in close collaboration with environmental authorities and experts, the city aims to ensure a thorough assessment and safe remediation of the contamination.
The strategy for tackling this issue typically involves detailed site investigations to determine the extent and nature of the hazardous materials, followed by carefully planned cleanup measures to mitigate risks to health and the environment. These measures are designed to provide a secure and sustainable solution for the community.
To keep potentially affected parties well-informed, the city intends to maintain transparent, timely, and clear communication channels. This includes public information sessions, official announcements via the city’s website and local media, and direct notifications to nearby residents and stakeholders. The goal is to provide up-to-date information about the remediation process, safety precautions, and any necessary temporary measures to protect public health.
The contamination plume in the groundwater from the REWAG site has been identified as affecting the Candis quarter. To address this issue, the city has acquired the REWAG area for 11.6 million euros for the coming year. Although the specific details of the plans remain undisclosed, a feasibility study for the site has been completed.
The city's efforts to address the contamination have not been without challenges. A dispute between REWAG and the construction company Schmack spanned several years, resulting in a written agreement where REWAG assumes liability risks in the millions. Beyond that, REWAG commits to indemnify Schmack GmbH from claims by third parties due to soil contamination originating from the former gasworks.
Schmack GmbH initially sought access to relevant REWAG documents to determine the scope of the contamination and what actions REWAG had taken. However, a non-disclosure agreement was reached between the two parties, with Schmack explicitly undertaking not to disclose "gasworks-specific soil contamination to property owners or third parties."
The environmental department of the city of Regensburg has been criticised for its response to the contamination. There was never a binding remediation order that would have obliged REWAG to act. Neither REWAG nor the City of Regensburg has provided a statement on the reasons for such a non-disclosure agreement or the potential height of the liability risks.
Despite these challenges, the city remains committed to addressing the contamination and ensuring the safety of its residents. Monitoring takes place monthly, and the results are presented in an annual monitoring report and submitted to the City of Regensburg, the Environmental Agency, and the Water Management Authority in Regensburg. REWAG spends an additional 100,000 euros annually for further remediation measures and monitors the spread of groundwater contamination up to the Straubinger Straße within a radius of about 200 meters.
For the most specific and up-to-date details, contacting the city's environmental department or visiting their official website would be recommended, as they regularly publish information on progress and public meetings related to the REWAG site cleanup.
- The city has initiated a collaboration with scientific experts to conduct thorough investigations and implement cleanup measures based on the findings, ensuring a safe and sustainable solution for the environmental-science aspect and the general-news focus.
- As part of the transparency initiative, the city plans to release regular updates on the remediation progress, safety precautions, and any necessary measures through various channels such as public information sessions, official announcements on their website, and local media, catering to the interests of both the general-news audience and political stakeholders.
