There's no immediate fix for this in Gospić.

In Gospić, Croatia, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition has confirmed that there is no immediate remediation plan for the illegal waste dump discovered in the area. The findings from a recent geological survey conducted by the Faculty of Geotechnics have revealed severe soil contamination and the presence of so-called “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in groundwater. These results have raised serious concerns among residents living nearby, who say they are justified in their worries. The investigation, which spanned over three hundred and sixty-five pages, was carried out by the Croatian Defence Council (Vojno društvo) and confirmed long-standing fears of environmental degradation. The analysis showed significantly elevated concentrations of harmful substances such as copper, zinc, lead, and antimony. The report concluded that this represents a locally significant and progressive form of pollution that has already caused lasting changes to the environment. Without proper remediation, the site will remain a continuous source of pollution with potential consequences for both the ecosystem and public health. Minister Marija Vučković, speaking during the program Novi Dan, stated that the findings from the survey do not change the fundamental approach to the cleanup process. She emphasized that the ecological disaster had been recognized since the beginning, with ongoing legal proceedings against the environmental damage. All initiated procurement procedures by the ministry indicated that the waste in question posed a danger. This new report, she explained, provides more detailed information, including drilling operations aimed at determining the depth, extent, and composition of the heterogeneous waste. While each such procedure requires time, it aids in the eventual remediation efforts. Currently, two public procurement processes are open. One pertains to hazardous waste, approximately four and a half tons of waste referred to as “black heap”, and the other involves 650 tons of non-hazardous waste, as noted in the report. The minister highlighted that the greatest challenge lies in the third phase of waste, commonly called “phase three,” which refers to buried waste. According to the Faculty of Geotechnics report, this amounts to 32,000 tons. She added that the cleanup process is very complex and demanding. When asked about public concern regarding the presence of PFAS chemicals and their possible impact on drinking water sources, the minister responded that interpreting the findings should be left to specialists. She stressed that while she could observe the presence of multiple PFAS compounds, she would not wish to misinterpret them. Instead, she urged that discussions on these matters should be handled by experts. The ministry remains committed to its cleanup plans and aims for the process to proceed as quickly as possible. Vučković further pointed out that there is no urgent procedure for the remediation of such heterogeneous waste. Initially, communication suggested the need for an urgent negotiation process, but when questioned about what this specifically entails in terms of handling dangerous heterogeneous waste, which typically takes between 15 to 30 days, the ministry received no clear response. Other participants in these discussions corroborated her statement. She also mentioned that the ministry had previously adopted a cautious approach. In the latest inquiries regarding buried waste, a conservative approach was applied, and all parties receiving the market research were advised, based on the principle of caution, to assume the waste was ecotoxic. The ministry continues to provide full information to the public, ensuring transparency in its actions.