Strengthening marine environmental monitoring in the new phase

(Baonghean) - After the environmental incident in the central coastal region, marine environmental monitoring and analysis activities have received special attention from all levels, sectors and people. To help readers better understand this issue, Nghe An Newspaper reporters had an interview with Mr. Le Van Hung - Director of the Center for Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring (Department of Natural Resources and Environment).

PV:Marine environmental monitoring and analysis activities have received much public attention. Could you please tell us about the activities of the Center for Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring (TN&MT) in recent times?

Mr. Le Van Hung:Over the past time, the Center for Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring has always received timely attention and support from all levels and sectors, especially the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, along with the efforts of the collective, civil servants and employees in the unit to complete the assigned tasks.

Currently, due to the legal regulations on environmental monitoring and analysis activities that have been specifically and in detail regulated and the system of regulations and working processes has been specialized, closely following the actual activities of the center, at the same time the unit is equipped with equipment for monitoring and analyzing water and air environments... and mastering the analysis of basic environmental parameters to ensure high accuracy, so field monitoring activities are increasingly improved in terms of expertise and technique, meeting QA/QC requirements.

Modern vertical water sampling equipment for coastal seawater sampling.

In 2016, implementing the environmental monitoring program in Nghe An province, the unit completed 4 monitoring rounds according to the approved plan. Of which, rounds 1, 2 and 3 submitted to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment "Report on environmental monitoring results of the environmental monitoring program in Nghe An province". Continue to implement the storage of documents and monitoring data to ensure continuity. Along with that, well perform other professional activities serving state management such as: Monitoring the coastal seawater environment under the direction of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee at Cua Lo and Cua Hoi tourist beaches... As a result, from April 27, 2016 to September 14, 2016, 43 monitoring rounds were carried out with 87 coastal seawater samples and 4 marine sediment samples.

The unit promptly coordinates with relevant agencies to conduct environmental monitoring and analysis at production and business establishments when requested and has accurate results for relevant sectors to respond and resolve. Specifically: Coordinate with the Department of Environmental Protection to verify environmental pollution at 28 establishments with 42 water samples, 7 gas samples, 30 soil samples and 1 sludge sample; The Department of Water, Sea and Islands collects samples to assess water quality at 1 establishment with 2 water samples; Coordinate with the Department of Environmental Police - Provincial Police to verify environmental pollution at 7 establishments with 7 water samples and 1 gas sample. Complete the plan and estimate for monitoring the quality of input water of domestic water supply plants in the province and submit it to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Finance for appraisal. Implement the monitoring plan, specifically determine the level and scope of pollution in the Dong Vinh landfill area, and have now handed over the results to the Vinh City People's Committee. Deploying environmental sampling around Nghi Yen Solid Waste Treatment Complex, the report has been handed over to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

In recent times, the quality assurance and quality management activities, technical management in environmental monitoring at the center have achieved positive results. The unit has been approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment with the Decision on adjusting the content of the Certificate of eligibility for environmental monitoring services according to Decree 127/2014/ND-CP dated December 31, 2014. ISO/IEC 17025:2005 has been applied to field monitoring activities and has been approved by the Office of Quality Accreditation - Ministry of Science and Technology in Decision No. 400.2016 dated September 1, 2016 with the code number VILAS 951. The Office of Quality Accreditation - Ministry of Science and Technology has recognized the laboratory as meeting the requirements for maintaining accreditation according to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 in Official Dispatch No. 1786/VPCNCL dated August 31, 2016. Participating in 2 rounds of inter-laboratory comparison with VINALAB-PT and the Environmental Monitoring Center - General Department of Environment, the results all met the requirements. Therefore, field monitoring and laboratory analysis activities are increasingly accurate and reliable.

In 2016, the unit paid great attention and focused on research activities on environmental protection and science and technology, so it completed the project "Investigation and survey of groundwater quality in Nghe An province" and the project "Assessment of the current status of sediment pollution in some surface water areas in Nghe An province". Implemented technical improvements in experimental analysis to reduce the amount of chemicals for parameters NO3-, NH4+...

Implementing the "Project to convert autonomous science and technology units according to Decree 115/2005/ND-CP" and to meet the requirements in the new situation, recently, the center has paid attention to and invested in developing environmental monitoring services and environmental protection consulting. In 2016, periodically monitored and supervised environmental quality at 43 production and business establishments in Nghe An. Signed QTGS contracts and provided environmental protection consulting for production and business establishments. Signed 46 QTGS contracts, collected 1,239 samples for analysis and 8 consulting documents...

PV:To meet the increasing demand for environmental monitoring activities, how will the center carry out its work in the coming time?

Mr. Le Van Hung:The advantage for environmental monitoring activities is that the Environmental Monitoring Program in Nghe An province according to the monitoring program for the period 2016 - 2020 has been approved by competent authorities, which is a good condition for the center to improve its operations. However, the current problem is that the capacity to analyze some parameters (plant protection drugs) is limited, and subcontractors have to be hired, so the center is not proactive in terms of product delivery time. Moreover, the cost for network monitoring activities is high, but the supply is slow. Maintaining the quality management system and technical management according to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and Vimcert 005 is facing many difficulties because currently production facilities in the province do not pay much attention to environmental protection.

To effectively implement environmental monitoring activities according to the Environmental Monitoring Program in Nghe An province, the center has made a plan and budget for 2017, submitted it to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Finance and implemented 4 environmental monitoring phases according to the plan, completed on schedule, and ensured quality. Continue to update monitoring network data to ensure continuity. Continue to effectively implement professional activities serving state management. Improve the quality of applying quality assurance and quality management activities in environmental monitoring activities. Continue to improve the application of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 to environmental monitoring activities. Focus on environmental monitoring services, environmental protection consulting and research activities on environmental protection projects and topics, Science and Technology...

Environmental monitoring activities in the coming time will be very heavy, so timely attention and support in all aspects from all levels and functional sectors are needed.

PV:Thank you!

Hoang Vinh

(Perform)