Strázsa Hill, which is situated on the western edge of Pilis, has been a military shooting range for more than a hundred years, preserving its natural values almost intact. However, the soil was contaminated, which threatened the wildlife. The Danube-Ipoly National Park Directorate (DINPI) was able to carry out the environmental remediation of the mountain with the support of the Environment and Energy Efficiency Operational Programme (KEHOP).
Strázsa Hill served military purposes from the monarchy until the change of regime, as a detention camp and shooting range, and from 1956 it was used by the Soviet Southern Army’s tank and chemical defense units. The small lakes left over from the clay mining industry were used as tank washes and for water crossing manoeuvres. Environmental surveys were carried out after the withdrawal of the Soviet army in the 1990s revealed toxic heavy metal contamination in the areas around the lakes, and significant aliphatic hydrocarbon contamination was measured at the former fuel storage sites. Regarding the protection of water resources, the two sites are particularly sensitive as the old fuel storage area is adjacent to the Szentlélek-stream, while the ponds adjacent to the DINPI visitor centre provide breeding habitat for many bird species and living spaces for protected amphibians, reptiles and bats.
The aim of the project was to decontaminate an area of around three hectares, preventing the possible spread of contamination and the accumulation of pollutants in the species living there. Before the work could start, remains of ammunitions had to be removed and native species living in the ponds had to be moved to a temporary place. After that some 8,000 m3 of sludge from the ponds, excavated at a depth of two metres, was deposited in a temporary drying storage and then it was transported and disposed of. After removing the remains of ammunitions from the area of the former fuel storages, the clear humus layer and also a nearly 250 m3 of concrete pavement were demolised. After excavation, the contaminated soil was taken into a large depot (a working area used for storing materials), where bacteria ensured the natural decontamination of the soil. The soil was turned over several times and hay was added until, after about nine months, the contamination was reduced to below the limit value. During the construction works and after the cleaned soil was replaced, continuous soil and groundwater monitoring was carried out, which confirmed that the site had been remediated in accordance with the official standards at the end of the intervention.
Thanks to the project, the history of Esztergom’s Strázsa Hill has taken a completely different direction, and now there is a more than one-kilometre-long educational path from which you can have a look at the protected plants and animals, and have a beautiful view from the lookout tower at the top as well. The area is maintained by the Danube-Ipoly National Park Directorate with its own livestock, including cicada and cigaya sheep, supplemented by mechanical treatment.
The development was implemented from EU funding in the project KEHOP-3.3.0-15-2016-00002 under the Environment and Energy Efficiency Operational Programme.
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