title: A technical investigation on tools and concepts for sustainable management of the subsurface in The Netherlands.
abstract: In response to increasing use of the subsurface, there is a need to modernise policies on sustainable use of the subsurface. This holds in particular for the densely populated Netherlands. We aimed to analyse current practice of subsurface management and the associated pressure points and to establish a conceptual overview of the technical issues related to sustainable management of the subsurface. Case studies on the exploitation of subsurface resources (including spatial use of the subsurface) were analysed, examining social relevance, environmental impact, pressure points and management solutions. The case studies ranged from constructing underground garages to geothermal exploitation. The following issues were identified for the technological/scientific aspects: site investigation, suitability, risk assessment, monitoring and measures in the event of failure. Additionally, the following general issues were identified for the administrative aspects: spatial planning, option assessment, precaution, transparency, responsibility and liability. These issues were explored on their technological implications within the framework of sustainable management of the subsurface. This resulted into the following key aspects: (1) sustainability assessment, (2) dealing with uncertainty and (3) policy instruments and governance. For all three aspects, different options were identified which might have a legal, economic or ethical background. The technological implications of these backgrounds have been identified. A set of recommendations for sustainable management of the subsurface resources (incl. space) was established: (1) management should be driven by scarcity, (2) always implement closed loop monitoring when the subsurface activities are high-risk, (3) when dealing with unknown features and heterogeneity, apply the precautionary principle, (4) responsibility and liability for damage must be set out in legislation and (5) sustainability should be incorporated in all relevant legislation and not only in environmental legislation. Other aspects to be considered are the reversibility of the impacts from subsurface activities and the abandonment of installations.
authors.affiliation: Deltares, P.O. Box 85467, 3508 AL Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Innovation, Environmental and Energy Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80115, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands; TNO, P.O. Box 80015, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: jasper.griffioen@deltares.nl.
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Griffioen
authors.affiliation: Soil Protection Technical Committee (TCB) staff, P.O. Box 30947, 2500 GX The Hague, The Netherlands. Electronic address: vanwensem@tcbodem.nl.
authors.forename: Joke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Wensem
authors.affiliation: Soil Protection Technical Committee (TCB) staff, P.O. Box 30947, 2500 GX The Hague, The Netherlands. Electronic address: justine.oomes@minienm.nl.
authors.forename: Justine L M
authors.initials: JLM
authors.lastname: Oomes
authors.affiliation: Deltares, P.O. Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: frans.barends@deltares.nl.
authors.forename: Frans
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barends
authors.affiliation: TNO, P.O. Box 80015, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: jaap.breunese@tno.nl.
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breunese
authors.affiliation: Technical University Delft, Dept of Applied Earth Sciences, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.bruining@tudelft.nl.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bruining
authors.affiliation: Waternet, Vogelenzangseweg 21, 2114 BA Vogelenzang, The Netherlands. Electronic address: theo.olsthoorn@waternet.nl.
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olsthoorn
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 10, 6703 HB Wageningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: fons.stams@wur.nl.
authors.forename: Alfons J M
authors.initials: AJM
authors.lastname: Stams
authors.affiliation: CRUX Engineering BV, Pedro de Medinalaan 3C, 1086 XK Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: vanderstoel@cruxbv.nl.
authors.forename: Almer E C
authors.initials: AEC
authors.lastname: van der Stoel
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D058735:Environmental Policy; D009426:Netherlands; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Case study; Legal principles; Risk analysis; Sustainability assessment