QCVN 03-MT:2015/BTNMT 2015 on national technical regulation on the allowable limits of heavy metals in the soils

QCVN 03-MT:2015/BTNMT

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON THE ALLOWABLE LIMITS OF HEAVY METALS IN THE SOILS

Preface

QCVN 03-MT:2015/BTNMT, amending QCVN 03:2008/BTNMT is prepared by the Editorial Board of National technical regulation on soil quality; submitted by the General Department of Environment, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Legal Affairs, and promulgated together with the Circular No. 64/2015/TT-BTNMT dated December 21, 2015 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON THE ALLOWABLE LIMITS OF HEAVY METALS IN THE SOILS

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Scope of regulation

This Regulation specifies the limit value of total content of some heavy metals, includes: Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn) and Chromium (Cr) in the topsoil according to the purpose of land use.

This Regulation shall not apply for soils in the mining areas; land for natural forests; land for special-use forests: national parks; nature reserves; landscape protection zones; scientific research and experimental forests.

1.2. Subject of application

This Regulation applies to State management agencies in charge of environment, all organizations and individuals related to the use of land in the territory of Vietnam.

1.3. Interpretation of terms

In this Regulation, the terms below shall be construed as follows:

1.3.1. Agricultural land, including land for cultivation of annual crops; land for cultivation of perennial trees; land for aquaculture; land for salt production; pasture land used for livestock; habitual land of native and migratory animal populations; local vegetation; other agricultural lands as prescribed by the Government.

1.3.2. Forestry land, including land for production forests; land for protection forests; land for forestry development, used mainly for afforestation and other forest products.

1.3.3. Residential land, including land mainly used for construction of residential areas, offices of agencies, non-business works, religious and belief establishments; land with historical-cultural relics and scenic spots; land for construction of public amusement and entertainment areas.

1.3.4. Industrial land, including land mainly used for construction of infrastructure and works for industry and handicrafts; construction of transport infrastructure and ports.

1.3.5. Commercial and service land, including land mainly used for construction of commercial and service works and other infrastructure to serve business, trade and service activities; land for construction of irrigation works.

1.3.6. Topsoil: is the top layer of soil, which can be up to 30 cm deep.

2. TECHNICAL PROVISIONS

The maximum limit of the total content of some heavy metals in the topsoil is specified in Table 1.

Table 1: The maximum limit of the total content of some heavy metals in the topsoil.

Measurement unit: mg/kg of dry soils

3. DETERMINING METHODS

3.1. The method of sampling and determining the values of heavy metal parameters in the soils shall comply with the following standards:

3.2. Analytical methods guided in other national and international standards with accuracy equal to or higher than those cited in Section 3.1 shall be accepted.

4. IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

4.1. This Regulation replaces the QCVN 03:2008/BTNMT - National technical regulation on the allowable limits of heavy metals in the soils promulgated together with the Decision No. 04/2008/QD-BTNMT dated July 18, 2008 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.

4.2. State management agencies in charge of environment are responsible for guiding, inspecting and supervising the implementation of this Regulation.

4.3. In case the standards on analytical methods cited in this Regulation are amended, supplemented or replaced, the new documents shall be applied.