Mexico Registers Over 1,100 Contaminated Sites

Why this is here: The national program will update the NOM-147-SEMARNAT/SSA1-2004 standard, which sets criteria for remediating soils contaminated by metals and metalloids.

Mexico’s Semarnat reports 1,114 contaminated sites across the country and published a national remediation program for 2026 to 2030. The program prioritizes cleanup efforts in the river basins of Tula, Lerma-Santiago, Atoyac, and Sonora. These areas face contamination from hydrocarbons, metals, and other hazardous waste.

The Dirección General de Gestión Integral de Materiales y Actividades Riesgosas coordinated the program. It includes updating the National Inventory of Contaminated Sites and revising standards for soil remediation. Semarnat will coordinate with state and local governments, as well as agencies like Profepa and Conagua, to implement the plan.

The program aims to modernize information management and streamline remediation processes. It also focuses on preventative measures and ecological restoration. However, the program’s success depends on sustained funding and effective interagency collaboration, which remains an ongoing challenge.