| Summary: | Within infrastructure projects, a re-utilization of soil mass can be inevitable. Within projects where large amounts of soil mass arise, operating contractors need to handle these masses with great caution in order to avoid damaging environment impacts. The purpose of this report has been to investigate how central authorities in northern Sweden handle and examine applications for the use of soil masses within infrastructure projects, and how they are working towards an optimization of resource efficiency. This rapport has been based on interviews with different authorities and contractors. Former decrees of application documents have been used to confirm differences in how different authorities have handled applications. The results indicate that most applications are submitted to municipalities where recycling soil masses is the most common target. The role of county administrative boards is mostly consultation on these matters to municipalities. The results indicate also that contractors find that the current legislation is limiting their use of soil masses, and clear guidelines are not in place yet. Effects on the climate from handling and transportation of soil mass need to be considered when authorities evaluate applications. In this context, authorities need to balance the risk of contaminated soils affecting the environment and additional emissions emerging from transports affecting the climate.
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