Enable inward settlement development despite noise pollution
During the discussion on the amendments to the Environmental Protection Act, the UREK-S reaffirms its commitment to denser construction. New living spaces should also be able to be built in places with noise pollution. To this end, the criteria for building permits should be made more flexible. The Committee supports the Federal Council's regulation on aircraft noise, in contrast to the National Council.
The UREK-S upholds the decision of the Council of States to build in areas subject to noise pollution, provided that controlled ventilation is installed and windows are used primarily for lighting purposes. In these cases, it is not necessary to comply with noise limits with open windows. The Commission is convinced that these regulations will favour the creation of living space in central locations and thus promote inward settlement development.
With regard to construction in the vicinity of airports, the Commission rejects a new specific aircraft noise limit, as proposed by the National Council. It favours the Federal Council’s regulation, which allows exceptions to the requirements for aircraft noise. In its opinion, this regulation allows denser construction despite aircraft noise.
The Commission proposes deleting the provision on maximum speeds on traffic-orientated roads from the law. Speed reductions should not be prohibited in principle, but should be implemented through measures that have already been adopted.
With regard to the remediation of contaminated playgrounds, the Commission confirms the decision of the Council of States on private children’s playgrounds and home gardens with pollutant contamination by a casting vote of the President. It rejects the idea that the federal government should be able to provide compensation from the VASA Contaminated Sites Fund for voluntary remediation. The Commission is in favour of the remediation of contaminated private playgrounds and gardens, but without using federal funds. Cantons can provide financial support for remediation if they so wish. Some members request that the National Council be followed, except with regard to the regulation that the owners must in principle pay for the remediation costs.