No confirmed soil contamination from barrels in Šumava, but it's too early for conclusions

The Czech Ministry of Defence has announced that contamination of groundwater and surface water at the site of a former military training area in Šumava has not yet been confirmed. However, contamination can only be ruled out completely once the site has been fully cleaned up and the barrels containing hazardous material have been removed.

According to the ministry, the Czech Geological Survey carried out an initial assessment of groundwater in the area back in 2021 and rated the risk of contamination as low at the time. A more detailed survey will follow once the problematic material has been cleared from the site.

Unexploded ordnance also possible

The ministry notes that the presence of unexploded ordnance left over from military training exercises cannot be ruled out at the former training ground either. This is precisely why the government has tasked the army with securing the site.

On Monday, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said the military would later select a contractor to carry out the actual cleanup. Earlier, Environment Minister Igor Červeny (Motoristé) had proposed handing the job to the company Dekonta.

Barrels to be removed by year's end

The Ministry of Defence is now preparing a tender for the removal of the hazardous barrels, with the work expected to be completed this year. Monday's meeting was attended by the mayors of Prášily, Hartmanice, Čachrov and Železná Ruda, along with the mayor of Strážné.

The site of the former training ground remains under guard by the army and police.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz