Soil quality
What is it?
The Soil Quality Decree has been in effect since July 1, 2008. This decree sets out the requirements for the application of building materials, soil, and dredged material. Together with a number of Frisian municipalities in the region, Tytsjerksteradiel has drawn up a Soil Management Memorandum describing the procedures for dealing with the Soil Quality Decree.
Extension Soil Management Memorandum
On November 28, 2023, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen decided to extend the current Soil Management Memorandum until a new, updated soil policy has been established. The validity of the current Soil Management Memorandum expires this year and needs to be updated. The reason for the extension is that the updating of the soil policy takes place during the transition period to the Environment Act, which requires extra time and coordination.
How does it work?
The participating municipalities make almost full use of the national generic policy framework when applying soil and dredged material. The generic policy framework assumes a standstill principle at the location level when applying soil and dredged material. Despite the fact that our municipality has relatively clean soil and relatively little soil displacement is carried out, area-specific policy has been chosen for road verges, cables and pipelines and dredged material.
In order to facilitate the application of soil or dredged material within the region, the municipalities have drawn up a function map and soil quality maps. The soil quality maps consist of:
- an application map;
- an excavation map.
The soil function map plays a role in the application of soil or dredging spoil to the land, according to the generic framework. One of the principles of this generic framework is that the environmental hygiene quality of the soil or dredging spoil to be applied must be suitable for the use of the receiving soil (the soil function class).
The excavation map provides an indication of the chemical quality of a batch of soil that is excavated for application elsewhere. A subdivision has been made here into the topsoil (0 - 0.5 m - ground level) and the subsoil (0.5 - 2.0 m - ground level).
The application map indicates the quality class that a batch of soil or dredged material must meet when it is to be applied to a specific location within the participating municipality.
What does this mean for the application of soil?
The soil quality map can be used as recognized evidence for locations that are not suspected of soil contamination. Via the interactive website bodemkwaliteitskaart Fryslân, Geosolutions.nl, you can check whether soil from location A to B is suitable based on the soil quality map, or whether additional research is needed.
Soil quality map supplemented with PFAS
On July 1, 2020 and December 2021, the Minister established the new temporary background value for two types of PFAS in Dutch soil. For the full description, please refer to the Temporary Action Framework.
In February 2020, the municipal executive supplemented the soil quality map with PFAS values. A study was conducted in Friesland to determine the background levels of PFAS in the soil. The background levels appear to be lower than the temporary background levels as included in the Temporary Action Framework of July 1, 2020. The municipal executive has decided to maintain the temporary national values for PFAS for our soil quality map. This means that the application standards from the national Temporary Action Framework as shown in table 1 will be followed.
Table 1 - Application standards for the application of soil and dredged material on agricultural land above groundwater level (in ug/kg d.s.).
| Function class | PFOS | PFOA | Other PFAS | Applicable to land |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture/nature | 1,4 | 1,9 | 1,4 | Free, with the exception of groundwater protection areas |
| Housing | 3,0 | 7,0 | 3,0 | Housing |
| Industry | 3,0 | 7,0 | 3,0 | Industry |
| Not applicable | >3,0 | >7,0 | >3,0 | Cleaning or Disposal |
The Wetterskip Fryslân is the competent authority for the application of soil and dredged material in surface water. All application standards can be found in the Temporary Action Framework.
Report
If you plan to use building materials, soil, or dredged material, you must report this via the national digital reporting point.
Information or questions?
Do you have questions about the application of soil and/or the policy? Please contact the municipality by phone at 14 0511.
You can find all information regarding soil quality on the Bodemplus website.
Additional information
The various map layers are combined on the Geosolutions website, allowing those involved in earthmoving to clearly see where soil can or cannot be applied. The policy documents of all participating municipalities are accessible on this page under the 'documents' heading, and the link to the Bodemplus website is provided.
Brochure earthmoving
You can open and view the 2018 field book soil for contractors, consultancy firms and other parties involved under documents. The Soil Management memorandum is also available under documents.