Czech Army to Survey Contaminated Site in Šumava Amid Local Uncertainty

On Wednesday, the Czech Army will commence an assessment of a contaminated location near Zhůří in the Klatovy district of the Šumava National Park, according to General Staff chief Miroslav Hlaváč. The army will later propose to the government how to proceed, outlining its capabilities and limits, and it cannot carry out the actual cleanup of ecological hazards. Premier Andrej Babiš disclosed that the army, rather than civilian bodies, will conduct the remediation.

Nearby municipal leaders, such as Pavel Valdman of Hartmanice and Josef Bejvl of Čachrov, reported they have not been informed about the survey. The Ministry of the Environment had promised meetings with affected villages but said no contact had been made. Opposition lawmakers expressed mixed views on the military’s involvement, while the environment ministry previously estimated roughly 1,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and 200 drums of hazardous chemicals at the site.