Nghe An: Dai Thanh Loc Company Limited must overcome shortcomings in environmental protection of pig farms.

Regarding environmental issues at the Company's pig farmDai Thanh Loc Company Limited (Nam Hung Commune, Nam Dan District), on August 10, 2020, at the Provincial People's Committee Office, Mr. Le Hong Vinh chaired a meeting to resolve environmental issues at the pig farm in Nam Hung Commune, Nam Dan District of Dai Thanh Loc Company Limited.

Attending the meeting were representatives of leaders and heads of specialized departments of the following agencies: Department of Planning and Investment, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Science and Technology, Provincial People's Committee Office, Provincial Police; Standing Committee of the District Party Committee, leaders of Nam Dan District People's Committee, Secretary, Chairman of Nam Hung Commune People's Committee and Dai Thanh Loc Company Limited.

Pig farm in Nam Hung commune, Nam Dan district. Photo: Dac Lam

After listening to representatives of the meeting participants report on the contents related to the environmental issues of Trang Den Lake and the pig farm in Nam Hung Commune, Nam Dan District, to solve environmental issues and ensure stable lives of people in Nam Hung Commune, Nam Dan District, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh concluded and issued Notice No. 451/TB-UBND dated August 11, 2020 with the following content:

1. Trang Den Reservoir is responsible for supplying water for agricultural production and aquaculture. It is an area that receives surface water and wastewater from many different sources, including wastewater from the high-tech lean pig breeding farm of Dai Thanh Loc Company Limited and households in Nam Hung commune, Nam Dan district.

- The high-tech super lean pig breeding farm in Nam Hung commune, Nam Dan district of Dai Thanh Loc Company Limited has been in operation since 2011 with an area of ​​27.17 hectares, a total herd of 7,000 pigs (2,400 sows, 100 boars, 4,500 piglets) and 300 crocodiles. By 2020, the operation was adjusted to a reduced scale of 6,830 pigs (2,300 sows, 30 boars, 4,500 piglets) and 250 crocodiles, reducing the used area to 26.46 hectares. During the operation of Dai Thanh Loc Company Limited, the authorities have periodically inspected and punished violations of environmental protection regulations; Dai Thanh Loc Company Limited has also implemented to overcome existing problems and renovate the farm's wastewater treatment system.

The HDPE waterproofing tarpaulin of the settling pond was torn in many places. Photo: Dac Lam

- According to the report of Nam Dan District People's Committee: there are 8 households raising livestock and poultry that discharge wastewater into Trang Den Lake.

- After receiving the people's complaint on July 27, 2020, the Provincial People's Committee directed the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to coordinate with relevant agencies to inspect, verify and clarify. According to the report of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the preliminary inspection results on August 4, 2020 showed that:

+ Pig farm of Dai Thanh Loc Company Ltd.: the HDPE waterproofing tarpaulin of the settling tank is torn in many places, in case the wastewater floods, it can seep out and pollute the soil and water environment; the wastewater channel from the settling tank after biogas flows to the chemical addition tank, there is a phenomenon of wastewater leaking into the surface drainage ditch; dead pigs are buried improperly; odor treatment at the farm is not guaranteed;

+ At the time of sampling on August 4, 2020, due to the influence of the weather, the sample analysis results did not objectively reflect the water quality of Trang Den Lake and the surrounding area, so additional samples needed to be taken.

2. To promptly resolve the above-mentioned existing problems, the Provincial People's Committee requests the sectors, local authorities and Dai Thanh Loc Company Limited to urgently implement the following contents:

a) Request Dai Thanh Loc Company Limited:

- Overcome environmental protection shortcomings of the farm according to the preliminary inspection results of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment on August 4, 2020; replace HDPE tarpaulins at the wastewater pond, raise the wall of the settling pond to avoid overflow; replace the wastewater ditch from the cement ditch with PVC pipes, install additional odor treatment systems in the barns; take measures to prevent rainwater from the surrounding area from flowing into the farm; completion time before August 18, 2020.

- Research on changing the wastewater treatment system with new technology to ensure 100% reuse of wastewater after the treatment system, not discharged into the environment; completion time before December 15, 2020.

During the time of overcoming the existing shortcomings and limitations in environmental protection, Dai Thanh Loc Company Limited is required to reduce the total herd in accordance with the scale, capacity and meet the requirements of the existing wastewater treatment system.

The murky water flows over Highway 15A bridge and then into Trang Den lake. Photo: Dac Lam

b) Department of Natural Resources and Environment:

- Continue to take random samples of wastewater after the treatment system and surface water of Trang Den Lake for comparison (for Trang Den Lake: take samples at many different times and locations). After having sample analysis results, collect and verify information, preside over the organization of announcing sample analysis results and handling environmental violations, remedial solutions of State agencies, organizations and individuals related to the law before August 19, 2020.

- Preside over and coordinate with the People's Committee of Nam Dan district, the People's Committee of Nam Hung commune and relevant agencies to urge, inspect and supervise the overcoming of existing problems of Dai Thanh Loc Company Limited;

- Actively coordinate with local authorities to propagate and explain issues related to environmental policies and laws, respond to feedback and recommendations from Nam Hung commune people; preside over and coordinate with the Department of Health in assessing the current status and causes of domestic water sources for people around Trang Den lake.

- Proactively review and advise the Provincial People's Committee to resolve issues related to environmental treatment within its authority based on feedback from people, press agencies and local authorities in accordance with the provisions of law.

c) Department of Health:

Direct specialized agencies to collect domestic water samples from households in 5 hamlets: Trang Den, Bac Son, Cao Son, Dinh Long and Phong Son in Nam Hung commune, Nam Dan district; coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to assess the current status and causes of domestic water sources for people around Trang Den lake; announce the analysis results and recommend appropriate water use plans to people; complete before August 29, 2020;

d) Provincial Police:

- Direct functional departments and Nam Dan District Police to proactively grasp the situation and deploy measures to ensure security and order in the area.

- Strengthen propaganda and mobilize people not to have activities that affect security and order, creating favorable conditions for functional forces to handle cases according to the provisions of law.

e) Standing Committee of Nam Dan District Party Committee:

- Direct the People's Committee of Nam Dan district, specialized agencies, socio-political organizations, and the People's Committee of Nam Hung commune to continue to propagate, explain, and mobilize people to comply with the law; coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Health in the process of performing the above tasks; proactively propose to the Provincial People's Committee and provincial-level branches to consider and resolve related issues according to the provisions of law.

- Inspect and strictly handle waste sources of production, livestock, business and service establishments/households that discharge untreated waste into Trang Den Lake; report to the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment before September 30, 2020.

Above is the concluding opinion of the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh. The Provincial People's Committee informs the departments, branches, sectors, People's Committees of districts, communes, Dai Thanh Loc Company Limited and related agencies and units to know and implement.