Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment officially informs about Formosa's sludge
The results of analysis of Formosa's sludge samples by 3 laboratories compared and controlled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment showed that in the illegally buried waste, some samples contained cyanide (CN-) parameters exceeding the hazardous waste threshold.
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| Some of Formosa's sludge samples contained cyanide (CN-) parameters exceeding the hazardous waste threshold. |
On August 2, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment officially informed about the illegal dumping of sludge by Ky Anh Urban Environmental Management Construction Consulting Joint Stock Company (Ky Anh Company).
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, after discovering that Ky Anh Company illegally buried Formosa Company's waste sludge, the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province established an inspection team to clarify the incident and handle it according to its authority. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also sent a working group to coordinate with the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province.
The working group of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment collected sludge, soil, surface water and groundwater samples at the above-mentioned waste landfill areas (including 38 sludge samples, 30 soil samples at the landfill site and surrounding land areas, 1 well water sample and 3 stream water samples in the area).
Sample analysis is assigned to three qualified laboratories for processing, analysis and comparison.
By August 1, after synthesizing results, comparing and verifying, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment assessed the analysis results from laboratories showing that in illegally buried waste, some sludge samples contained cyanide (CN-) parameters exceeding the hazardous waste threshold.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment concluded: "The illegally buried sludge was excavated and stored with a volume of 390.72 tons (including mixed soil and rock) which is industrial waste mixed with hazardous waste."
The results of the soil and water environment survey also showed that surface water, groundwater and soil at the sludge landfill site and the surrounding area have not been polluted by the illegal dumping of the sludge mentioned above.
Request Formosa Ha Tinh to immediately remedy the consequences
Regarding the handling of responsibilities of related parties, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said that it will handle the responsibility of the waste source owner, Formosa Ha Tinh Company, for the following violations:
- Failure to properly identify, classify, and determine the quantity and volume of hazardous waste that must be registered and managed in accordance with the provisions of Clause 5, Article 21 of Decree No. 179/2013/ND-CP dated November 14, 2013 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations in the field of environmental protection.
- Transferring hazardous waste to organizations and individuals without a license to handle hazardous waste as prescribed in cases of transferring 5,000 kg or more of hazardous waste with especially hazardous components exceeding the hazardous waste threshold, as prescribed in Point h, Clause 7, Article 21 of Decree No. 179/2013/ND-CP.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will sanction the above administrative violations according to the provisions of Decree No. 179/2013/ND-CP and require Formosa Ha Tinh Company to immediately remedy the consequences of transferring waste sludge in violation of regulations.
Specifically: Formosa Company is fully responsible for coordinating with Ky Anh Company to sign a contract with a unit with the function of transporting and treating hazardous waste to immediately treat the above 390.72 tons of sludge and soil and rock according to regulations and bear all costs for this treatment. The transportation and treatment process is assigned to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ha Tinh province to preside over and coordinate supervision and inspection.
It is required to register the source of hazardous waste for all types of hazardous sludge generated according to the provisions of Article 6 of Decree No. 38/2015/ND-CP dated April 24, 2015 of the Government on waste and scrap management; develop a waste treatment plan (ordinary solid industrial waste, domestic waste and hazardous waste) for the entire project and must complete and submit it to the competent authority before August 30.
Transferring the case file of Ky Anh Company's violation to Ha Tinh Police
Regarding Ky Anh Company, the illegal dumping of hazardous sludge by this Company has signs of environmental crime according to the provisions of Article 182a of Law No. 37/2009/QH12 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Penal Code No. 15/1999/QH10. Therefore, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has handed over the entire case file of Ky Anh Company's violation to the Ha Tinh Provincial Police for investigation and strict handling according to the provisions of law.
According to Chinhphu.vn
