Contaminated Sites Ordinance (CSO)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 1 Aim and subject matter
1 This Ordinance is intended to ensure that polluted sites are remediated if they cause harmful effects or nuisances, or if there is a real danger that such effects may arise. 2 It regulates the following procedures for treating polluted sites: a. their recording in a register; b. the assessment of the need for monitoring and remediation; c. the assessment of the objectives and urgency of remediation; d. the specification of the measures for investigation, monitoring and remediation.
Art. 2 Definitions
1 Polluted sites means sites whose pollution originates from waste, and that are restricted in area. They comprise: a. waste disposal sites, i.e. inoperative or operative landfills and other sites where waste has been deposited, except for sites at which only unpolluted excavation material, quarried material or spoil have been deposited; b. industrial sites, i.e. sites whose pollution originates from inoperative or operative installations or industrial operations in which environmentally hazardous substances have been used; c. accident sites, i.e. sites polluted as a result of extraordinary events, including industrial accidents. 2 Sites in need of remediation are polluted sites that cause harmful effects or nuisances or where there is a real danger that such effects may arise. 3 Contaminated sites are polluted sites in need of remediation.
Art. 3 Construction and alteration of buildings and installations
Polluted sites may be modified by the construction or alteration of buildings and installations only if: a. they are not in need of remediation and the project does not make their remediation necessary; or b. their later remediation is not seriously hampered, or, insofar as they are modified by the project, they are remediated at the same time.
Art. 4 General requirements for measures
Investigation, monitoring and remediation measures under this Ordinance must correspond to the state of the art and be documented by those responsible.