Numerous violations at the blasting company resulted in rocks and debris flying onto National Highway 1A.
(Baonghean.vn) - The Inspectorate of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment previously conducted an inspection at the limestone quarry of Hoang Mai Stone Joint Stock Company and pointed out a series of violations, requesting the local authorities to supervise the remediation work. However, these actions have not yet been implemented.
In mid-December, the inspection team of the Hoang Mai Town People's Committee was still conducting an investigation following complaints from residents about the blasting activities of Hoang Mai Stone Joint Stock Company's quarry affecting their houses. This is the same quarry that Nghe An Newspaper recently reported on.Dangers lurk during the extraction and production process.
Meanwhile, a leader from the Department of Industry and Trade stated that after the press reported on the quarry's blasting activities, which scattered explosives onto National Highway 1A, affecting traffic safety, leaders from the Department of Industrial Safety and Environment, Ministry of Industry and Trade, also inspected the site and drew up a report. Hoang Mai Stone Joint Stock Company immediately had its industrial explosives use permit revoked.
The Inspectorate of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment stated that in June 2023, they also conducted an inspection at the quarry of Hoang Mai Stone Joint Stock Company. The results showed that the quarry had many violations, shortcomings, and limitations. Specifically, Hoang Mai Stone Joint Stock Company's exploitation of the northern pit did not comply with the approved technical design for the Hoang Mai B limestone quarry (Quynh Thien ward, Hoang Mai town), which violates the 2010 Mineral Law.
Hoang Mai Stone Joint Stock Company has also failed to fully implement several contents in the approved Environmental Impact Assessment Report, violating the 2020 Environmental Protection Law. Specifically, it lacks a complete stone dust treatment system, dust filtration equipment, dust collection bags during drilling and blasting, and tree planting. Furthermore, the company has not submitted a report or application for an environmental permit as required by Point d, Clause 2, Article 42 of the 2020 Environmental Protection Law.
According to the inspection results, Hoang Mai Stone Joint Stock Company has not fully fulfilled its responsibilities as a hazardous waste generator during mineral exploitation, violating Government Decree No. 38/2015/ND-CP dated April 24, 2015, on waste and scrap management and Circular No. 30/2015/TT-BTNMT dated June 30, 2015, of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on hazardous waste management. Specifically, it has not contracted with a unit authorized to transport and collect hazardous waste; and has not provided a designated area for storing hazardous waste and equipment, materials, and tools that meet the required technical standards.
Lack of government oversight
Immediately after the inspection report was compiled, on June 9, 2023, the Inspectorate of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment sent a document to the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town and the People's Committee of Quynh Thien ward to urge and supervise the implementation of post-inspection measures.
Accordingly, the Inspectorate of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment requests the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town and the People's Committee of Quynh Thien ward to supervise the rectification of the shortcomings and violations of Hoang Mai Stone Joint Stock Company as stated in the inspection report dated June 6, 2023; if the company fails to rectify the issues within the time limit specified in the report, or if the company commits violations in the field of natural resources and environment during its mineral exploitation activities, then appropriate action should be taken within their authority or a recommendation should be made to the competent authority for handling in accordance with the law, and the results of the handling should be reported to the Inspectorate of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
Specifically, in the report, the Inspectorate of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment requested Hoang Mai Stone Joint Stock Company to rectify existing shortcomings and violations such as: Conducting mining operations in accordance with the approved mining technical design. The deadline for rectification is before August 30, 2023; Installing a stone dust treatment system, filters, and dust suppression equipment to minimize dust during mining before August 30, 2023; Reporting and preparing a dossier requesting an environmental permit by November 30, 2023.
This company is also responsible for arranging a hazardous waste storage area and ensuring that the tools and equipment meet the required technical standards before October 30, 2023, and transferring the hazardous waste to a facility with a suitable environmental permit for treatment in accordance with regulations.
However, the local authorities subsequently failed to monitor the rectification process for the identified violations. Responding to this issue, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Hoang Mai town, stated that the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town did not receive any document from the Inspectorate of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to conduct monitoring.
“A few days ago, we learned that the Inspectorate of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment had conducted an inspection and requested the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town to supervise. We contacted them to request the document and have now formed a team to conduct the inspection. However, we have not yet met with the company's leaders to work with them,” Ms. Huong said, adding that recently, after the quarry's blasting incident that caused rocks and debris to fall onto National Highway 1A, the Ministry of Industry and Trade inspected the site and revoked the industrial explosives use permit, but the local authorities were not informed.
According to reporters, this limestone quarry is located right next to National Highway 1A. It was granted a mining license in 1995, with a reserve of 11 million tons and a mining period until October 2025. The North-South railway line is closest to the quarry. On the mountain, many large rocks scattered after blasting still lie precariously, threatening to roll down onto the railway line.
Not only do rocks fly onto people's houses, but each time the blasting occurs, rocks also fly onto National Highway 1A, posing a danger to road users. Therefore, when it's time for the blasting, Hoang Mai Stone Joint Stock Company sends people to block vehicles on National Highway 1A passing through this area to ensure safety.
Most recently, on November 8th, after the blasting, numerous rocks of various sizes were scattered across the highway. Some rocks had a diameter of over 20cm. Many also hit and damaged the guardrails along the road. Because the company had blocked National Highway 1A in this area before the blasting, there were no casualties or damage to vehicles.
In April 2021, the People's Committee of Nghe An province repeatedly issued documents requesting this company to move its stone crushing plant, raw materials, and railway sleepers out of the 10-meter radius from the railway corridor before May 15, 2021. However, Hoang Mai Stone Joint Stock Company subsequently failed to comply.
The leaders of the Hoang Mai Town People's Committee acknowledged that, through inspections and feedback from residents, the mining activities of Hoang Mai Stone Joint Stock Company still have some shortcomings, such as: mining not in accordance with the design approved by competent authorities; potential labor safety hazards during mining; the appearance of some dangerous hanging rock formations posing a safety risk; dust dispersal during mining, production, and transportation affecting the environment; and at times, rocks flying onto the railway and National Highway 1A during blasting.
