Gospić waste crisis: PFAS confirmed in wells and remediation delays

PFAS contamination Gospić waste site groundwater pollution Lika-Senj County environmental remediation

New findings have confirmed the presence of PFAS, known as ‘forever chemicals’, in two wells in the Lika region, intensifying concerns over groundwater contamination. Zvonimir Troskot, a member of the Croatian Parliament, has criticized the government for failing to address the scope of the pollution, specifically questioning why remediation efforts are focused on Gospić while the Rakitovac site, which may contain even larger quantities of waste, remains unaddressed.

The Fund for Environmental Protection has announced it will launch two procurement procedures next week to tackle the waste at the former PPK Velebit site in Gospić. This includes an urgent negotiated procedure to remove approximately 4,500 tons of scattered hazardous waste, following the failure of a previous tender involving the company Cezar, which is currently under USKOK investigation. Another procedure will target the remediation of roughly 33,000 tons of buried waste.

Total remediation costs for the site are estimated to be between 40 and 55 million euros. While non-hazardous waste removal is underway, local civic initiatives, such as ‘Gospić je naš dom’, report that no hazardous waste has been removed for over a year, expressing skepticism toward official progress reports.

Entities

Darko Milinović · Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund · Fond za zaštitu okoliša i energetsku učinkovitost · Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency · Gospić · Lika-Senj County · Luka Balen · PPK Velebit · Zoran Milanović · Zvonimir Troskot

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] More than 45,000 tons of waste were illegally deposited at the former PPK Velebit site. likaclub.net.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] Local farmers are facing financial and reputational losses due to the pollution. likaclub.net.hr
[● 5 SOURCES] The Rakitovac site is being investigated as a possible source of contamination. likaclub.net.hr · gospic.hr · www.novilist.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] PFAS chemicals were confirmed in two wells in Lika. likaclub.net.hr · teleskop.hr · www.novilist.hr
[● 4 SOURCES] Approximately 33,000 tons of waste are buried at the site. riportal.net.hr · www.dalmacijadanas.hr · www.dalmacijanews.hr · zadarskilist.novilist.hr
[○ 1 SOURCE] An investigation has involved 19 people, including one public official from Lika-Senj County.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Tests on water and produce 300 meters from the site show satisfactory results.
[● 4 SOURCES] The remediation of the waste site will cost more than 50 million euros. www.dalmacijadanas.hr · zadarskilist.novilist.hr · www.dalmacijanews.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] No hazardous waste has been removed from the Gospić site for over a year. riportal.net.hr · www.dalmacijanews.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] The Fund for Environmental Protection will launch two procurement procedures next week. www.dalmacijanews.hr · riportal.net.hr · www.dalmacijadanas.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] The first procurement procedure involves removing 4,500 tons of scattered hazardous waste. www.dalmacijadanas.hr · www.dalmacijanews.hr · riportal.net.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] A previous tender for waste removal failed after the company Cezar withdrew. www.dalmacijanews.hr · riportal.net.hr