Dr. Michael Seeger Participates in Key Workshop for Contaminated Site Management in Valparaíso

The event, organized by the Ministry of the Environment, aimed to validate soil remediation measures in the region, with actions focused on reducing environmental and health risks through comprehensive management.

Last Wednesday, March 26, Dr. Michael Seeger, an academic at the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (USM) and director of the Núcleo Milenio de Bioproductos, Genómica y Microbiología Ambiental (BioGEM), participated in the fourth and final participatory workshop for the development of the Regional Action Plans under the National Policy for Contaminated Sites.

The initiative was led by the Ministry of the Environment (MMA) and took place at the Universidad de Valparaíso. Its goal was to validate management measures for prioritized contaminated sites in the region, as well as to define the roles of involved stakeholders and implementation timelines.

Dr. Seeger highlighted the importance of this space, stating that it "allowed for the identification and prioritization of contaminated and abandoned sites at the regional level that require urgent intervention due to the risks they pose to public health, the population, and ecosystems."

"Additionally, measures were proposed to mitigate risks and advance environmental remediation, where a key factor was evaluating the technical feasibility of restoration in the area," he added.

The event was attended by prominent regional authorities, including Rodrigo González, Regional Ministerial Secretary (Seremi) of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation for the Valparaíso and Coquimbo Regions, and Alex Galleguillos, Seremi of the Environment for the Valparaíso Region, who participated alongside representatives from the regional ministerial secretariats of Agriculture and Health.

Also present were representatives from the Ministry of the Environment, SERNAGEOMIN, local municipalities, academics from regional universities, the consulting firm EnSoil, and other experts from civil society.

Advancing Toward Comprehensive Management of Contaminated Soils

This workshop is part of the National Policy for the Management of Sites with Contaminants, established in 2009, which aims to reduce risks to health and the environment. It seeks to strengthen environmental governance through systematic and cost-effective tools, such as environmental risk assessments and the update of the National Registry of Soils with Potential Contaminants (2022).

The event concluded a series of workshops held in four pilot regions: Antofagasta, Atacama, Valparaíso, and Metropolitan, laying the groundwork for the future National Policy for Contaminated Sites. This instrument will integrate advancements such as the Methodological Guide for Soil Management and the draft Primary Environmental Quality Standard for Soils, consolidating a system for prevention and comprehensive management.

Dr. Michael Seeger is an academic at USM and director of the Núcleo Milenio BioGEM, a center funded by the Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID), with the goal of developing sustainable bioproducts to combat climate change in Chile, contributing to remediating contaminated soils, transitioning toward more sustainable agriculture, and protecting human health.