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Rationale - what it means and why it is an important measure
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The indicator may give an indication, although indirect, of the level of contamination of the natural environment. Contamination affects peoples' health, a significant community concern.
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How it is compiled, what data are needed
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Number and area of known contaminated sites (total, new and rehabilitated)
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Measurements and units
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Contaminated sites (total, new and rehabilitated) (Number of sites, area)
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Possible temporal and spatial format
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trend charts, maps, graphs
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Reference to methodology resources
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New South Wales Environment Protection Authority, 1997. The Future of NSW State of the Environment Reporting: Discussion Paper, NSW Core indicators. http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/issues/paper.htm
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Objective
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To clean all contaminated sites that pose a threat to the environment.
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Targets, benchmarks, reference values
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For Europe, the legal actions in force are: to establish an integrated and adequate network of disposal installations (Framework Dir., Art.5); to dispose of batteries and accumulators containing dangerous substances separately (Directive 91/157, Art.6); to ensure the safe combustion of waste oils, and where neither regeneration nor combustion is feasible, to ensure safe destruction or controlled storage or tipping (Dir. 75/439, Art.4); to prohibit the uncontrolled discharge, dumping and tipping of PCBs/PCTs, making environmentally safe disposal compulsory (Directive 96/59).
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References to examples of application
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Other comments / background
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Although contaminated sites may cause significant problems and should be monitored, indicators for the number of sites and clean-up programmes alone tell us little about the problem of more diffuse contamination of soils and environments. Pressures are difficult to differentiate due to the diverse range of sources and types of contamination that exists; however, there may be some merit in the measurement of pesticide usage as an indirect indicator of contamination.
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