Soil Protection, Contaminated Sites, and Funding

The funding program "Soil Protection, Contaminated Sites, and Promotion" of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia supports public institutions and companies in the identification, investigation, and remediation of contaminated sites. Eligible applicants are primarily municipalities and municipal associations as well as their municipal enterprises and companies with a majority municipal stake in NRW that perform tasks related to soil protection and contaminated site assessment. Funding is provided, for example, for risk assessments, remediation investigations, securing and remediation measures, monitoring programs, as well as the creation of soil contamination and soil function maps. Furthermore, the program includes measures for de-sealing, brownfield recycling, and strengthening soil awareness in order to preserve and improve the climate protection function of the soil in the long term. With a funding rate of up to 80 percent, it contributes to advancing sustainable resource conservation and environmental protection in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The application process is two-staged: initially, the measure must be included in the urgency list by September 1 of the current year. Based on this prioritization, a formal application can be submitted by June 1 of the following year. Eligible total costs must amount to at least 16,000 euros, so that a grant amount of at least 12,800 euros is achieved. Selection is made according to the urgency of the measure and inclusion in the urgency list. After approval, implementation may only begin upon receipt of the grant award notice. Through this structured funding, municipalities and affiliated institutions are enabled to properly eliminate contaminated sites, prepare areas for new uses, and thereby contribute to sustainable land development as well as the protection of soil and groundwater.