In order to provide credible and feasible soil and groundwater contamination remediation technologies applicable to the domestic contaminated sites, while at the same time assist well-performing domestic remediation technologies and vendors with their promotion and marketing efforts in both domestic and international markets, this project has aided the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (“TEPA”) in planning a three-phase technology certification scheme. This project’s planning efforts include developing implementation plans for the short-, medium-, and long-term (five-year) promotion of this technology certification scheme, which can then be used to implement relevant promotion measures and supporting administrative operations in three phases. The implementation results of the project regarding this planning effort are described as follows:
During the first phase of this certification scheme (Phase 1 on Gathering and Compilation of Information for Cases Related to the Certificate of Effectiveness/Validity for Technologies Used for Site Decontamination), this project has developed the administrative procedure on the issuance of certificates on the effectiveness of technology for the TEPA. The Chinese information for 20 such cases was also translated into English. In addition, the Information Platform for Soil and Groundwater Remediation Technology Certification Scheme was established to help with demonstrating the results for certificates of effective technologies for site decontamination, and to serve as a platform for matching remediation technologies with contaminated sites requiring remediation.
During the second phase of the certification scheme (Phase 2 on Establishment of Certificate for Effectiveness of Technology), the Guidelines on the Review and Management of Applications for the Certificate of Validity/Effectiveness for Soil and Groundwater Remediation Technologies have been developed. Four recommendations regarding the technical specifications for application documents on certificate of effectiveness for soil and groundwater remediation technologies, and principles for document review have also been proposed. In addition, 6 sessions of expert advisory meetings were held to discuss the regulations and relevant application documents related to the certificate of validity/effectiveness for soil and ground water remediation technologies. The opinions of the experts on these issues were collected and compiled during these meetings, so that the establishment and ongoing promotion of the certificate of effectiveness scheme can be confirmed and refined. This project has completed the issuance of certificates of technical validity in two cases, and a review conference is planned to be held on April 17 to confirm the issuance and confirmation of four cases of technical validity.
During the third phase of the certificate scheme (Phase 3 on Development and Establishment of Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Scheme), the current status of several countries (e.g., EU, US, Canada, Japan, Korea) with more established ISO 14034-based ETV schemes were studied. Information regarding their schemes’ case studies, procedure for issuing certificates, scheme management organizations, certificate validity period, and scheme implementation status, were collected and analyzed, in order to be used for developing ETV scheme’s promotional approaches and future international cooperation mode suitable for Taiwan. In addition, information related to16 representative cases in these countries which have acquired ETV certification using relevant soil and groundwater remediation technologies have been translated into Chinese, so that they can be used as references for the promotion of domestic ETV certification scheme in Taiwan.
In order to strengthen the information and experience exchange of domestic soil and groundwater contamination remediation technologies and practices, and promote the dissemination of these technologies, this project has held one information session on the application of certificate for technology effectiveness together with one relevant technology training course in Kaohsiung and Taipei respectively, to facilitate the promotion of the certification scheme and application for technology effectiveness certificates. In addition, this project has organized relevant information session and seminar on the results of project implementation. During the seminar, forum discussion and presentations were conducted to facilitate the technical exchange regarding the technical and institutional aspects of this project, and the implementation results of both Phase 1 and Phase 2 were also displayed in the seminar in both static and dynamic formats.
