Strengthening supervision of environmental protection work at Thanh Chuong Cassava Starch Processing Factory

(Baonghean.vn) - Voters of Nhan Son commune, Do Luong district reported that wastewater and emissions from Intimex Thanh Chuong cassava starch processing factory pollute the environment, causing frustration for local people. They requested that the relevant agencies inspect and take measures to limit environmental pollution...

Implementing the tasks assigned by the Provincial People's Committee in Official Dispatch No. 1304/UBND-TH dated March 9, 2016 on assigning the task of inspecting, resolving, and responding to voters' petitions; to verify the content of voters' reflections, on March 16, 2016 at Intimex Cassava Starch Factory, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment coordinated with the People's Committees of Thanh Chuong and Do Luong districts; Thanh Chuong Town People's Committee, Nhan Son Commune People's Committee to work and inspect the environmental protection work of Intimex Cassava Factory, verifying the content of the petition of voters of Nhan Son Commune. The results of the inspection showed that:

Purchasing raw cassava at Thanh Chuong cassava starch processing factory, photo by Dinh Ha

- Regarding the content reflecting the impact of the Factory's wastewater on the environment:

The factory's wastewater mainly comes from the process of washing raw materials, processing, settling, separating powder and cleaning water from machinery and equipment. Wastewater is treated through the UASB wastewater treatment system of AES Group, anaerobic treatment system with tarpaulin tanks, Aerotanks and settling ponds with a treatment capacity of 3000 m3/day and night.

According to the periodic monitoring results report of the Factory in 2014 and 2015, the treated wastewater of the Factory meets QCVN 40:2011/BTNMT.

In addition, the terrain of Nhan Son commune, Do Luong district is higher than the Factory, so there is no situation where wastewater from Intimex Cassava Factory affects people in Nhan Son commune, Do Luong district.

Therefore, the content of the reflection about the Factory's wastewater affecting the people of Nhan Son commune, Do Luong district is unfounded.

- Regarding the content reflecting the Factory's emissions affecting the environment:

The factory's emissions are generated from the operation of vehicles transporting raw materials, from the processing and refining of cassava flour and the wastewater treatment stage. Emissions from the wastewater treatment plant and the Biogas pit are collected by a pipeline system leading to an automatic incinerator. This gas is used as fuel in the product drying furnace.

According to the periodic monitoring report of the Factory in 2014 and 2015, the air and noise environment showed no signs of pollution.

However, according to the People's Committee of Nhan Son commune, depending on the time, odors may arise during the production season, when the factory operates at peak times and there is wind, affecting the people of Nhan Son commune, Do Luong district.

Farmers harvest cassava (Illustration photo)

Solution:

- Requirements for Intimex Cassava Starch Processing Factory:

+ Strictly implement environmental protection work according to the provisions of law; Maintain the waste treatment system in regular operation, ensure that waste after treatment before being discharged into the environment meets the permitted standards, strictly implement approved environmental procedures.

+ Collect and thoroughly treat solid production waste such as cassava peels and residues during the day; Spray biological products to avoid odors.

+ Clean and plant more trees in the factory premises.

+ Expand the covered raw material yard and surrounding ditches to collect leachate;

+ Upgrade the system of covered ditches to lead wastewater to the treatment pond; Collect sludge at manholes.

+ Completely line the bottom of wastewater treatment ponds.

+ Quickly complete the dossier confirming the completion of construction items and the dossier certifying the completion of thorough environmental pollution treatment to remove the unit from the List of facilities causing serious environmental pollution.

- Propose that Thanh Chuong District People's Committee strengthen inspection and supervision of environmental protection work of Thanh Chuong Cassava Starch Processing Factory;

- Request the People's Committees of Thanh Chuong and Do Luong districts, Thanh Chuong town and Nhan Son commune to grasp the specific information reflected by voters and notify the inspection results, and propagate to the people about the environmental protection work of the Factory.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment will strengthen inspection and supervision of environmental protection work for the Factory.

PV

(synthetic)