Environmental Site Assessment Experience in Singapore
TAN SENG CHUAN
【全文】
Singapore has been through a rapid phase of development for the past three decades. In the process of rapid industrialization and development, Singapore had restricted the spread of contamination to protect the environment by implementing land zoning policies to allocating certain parts of Singapore for the development of industrial activities and the remaining area for more sensitive uses. In this way, the extent of land contamination was controlled without an established guideline for the control of land contamination and remediation.
In recent years, rapid development had made it necessary for rezoning and redevelopment of certain areas previously allocated for industrial activities in land scarce Singapore. Sites which were previously used for industrial activities but now being redeveloped for non-industrial uses may be more sensitive and may require a higher standard of quality, because some old industrial sites could be contaminated. In order to be redeveloped them for other sensitive uses, remediation has to be conducted to meet an acceptable standard for the intended purpose. Together with the redevelopment of old sites, a need for an established guideline to control the land contamination and remediation was developed.
This paper will review and discuss the developments in local land contamination and remediation regulations throughout the progress of the country’s rapid economic growth.
Environmental Regulations in Singapore
In Singapore, the control of land pollution and remediation of contaminated sites are governed by the National Environment Agency (NEA). Pollution Control Department (PCD) of the NEA is responsible for the implementation of programmes to protect the environment. Singapore practice on pollution control includes land use planning, development and building control of new developments, air and water pollution control, and hazardous substances and toxic industrial wastes control.
