Far from being isolated, the situation of Saint-Félix-de-Pallières reflects that of hundreds of thousands of potentially polluted industrial sites in France.
If the State is so cautious on the Saint-Félix-de-Pallières file, it is not only because the question is explosive in itself. Indeed, the administration is directly blamed for its culpable silence and its refusal to apply the precautionary principle.
We can also suspect him of a less eagerness to clean the area and its 2,000 hectares contaminated with heavy metals, just on the site of La Croix de Pallières, for exorbitant costs. But again, the explanation is not enough.
300 to 400,000 industrial sites to investigate
In reality, if the French authorities are dragging their feet, it is because the issue of mining pollution goes far beyond the Cévennes municipalities on which the spotlight has been directed. Recognition of this environmental and health disaster could thus set a precedent and trigger a cascade of legal proceedings across France. And so many potential compensation.
The Basias site (Base of Former Industrial Sites and Service Activities) of the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development lists between 300 and 400,000 industrial sites in 66 departments which require investigations in order to identify possible pollution (in 2006 ). That is to say the extent of the potential damage.
On the Basol site, of the same ministry, there is a database on polluted or potentially polluted sites and soils, which call for public action “as a preventive or curative measure”. The database lists more than 3,700 industrial sites that are or are likely to be polluted, on which action by the public authorities has been initiated.
The industrial regions of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, as well as the departments of Moselle, Bouches-du-Rhône and Île-de-France appear to be the most affected. But in reality, all of France is concerned by issues specific to the industrial history of each territory.
Most sources of pollution are linked to old landfills and deposits of residues (mining, incineration) or abandoned chemicals. The origin of the pollution can also come from infiltration and spillage of substances (hydrocarbon type), or even from “fallout of dust resulting from atmospheric discharges accumulated over long periods”.
In May 2010, the circular on “places welcoming children and adolescents »Targeted 900 establishments in 70 departments to carry out initial soil diagnostics.
Read the rest of the survey:
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In the Cévennes, a century of mining activity has irreparably polluted ground and surface water. Our report on this long-buried health scandal bit.ly/1p8rJja
Posted by Why doctor on Sunday March 6, 2016
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