Why was the company that caused the sludge explosion in Nghe An fined more than 1 billion VND?
(Baonghean.vn)- Nghe Tinh Non-ferrous Metals Joint Stock Company committed 7 violations of the law at the Suoi Bac tin mining project, causing the dam containing waste sludge to collapse from above.
» Nghe An: Mud dam burst on a mountain over 700 meters high
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| Sludge dam on Lan Toong mountain on July 16, 2017. Photo by Nhat Lan |
Mr. Le Quoc Trung, Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, has just issued a decision to impose an administrative fine of more than 1 billion VND on Nghe Tinh Non-ferrous Metals Joint Stock Company.
According to the penalty decision, this company has 7 violations:
The first,Failure to prepare a report on the results of implementing environmental protection works serving the operation phase and submit it to the agency approving the environmental impact assessment report as prescribed for the Suoi Bac tin mining project. For this violation, the penalty is 220 million VND.
Monday,There is no certificate of completion of environmental protection works serving the operation phase (each phase or the entire project) as prescribed for the Suoi Bac tin mining project. For this violation, a fine of 300 million VND will be imposed; in addition, the facility's operations will be suspended for 3 months from the date of signing the decision.
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| During the on-site inspection, the inspection team of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment discovered additional violations by Non-ferrous Metals Joint Stock Company in the tin mining area. Photo: Nhat Lan |
Tuesday,Failure to properly implement one of the contents of the environmental impact assessment report and the decisions approving the environmental impact assessment report. This violation is subject to a fine of 70 million VND; at the same time, the remedial measure is to rebuild the broken flood spillway, reinforce the weak points of the dike to ensure the safety of the sludge reservoir according to the commitment in the approved environmental impact assessment report.
Wednesday,Failure to fully implement the approved environmental monitoring program. This violation is subject to a fine of VND 25 million.
Thursday,9m water flow3/day and night with Manganese content exceeding the technical standard on waste 2.1 times compared to the National Technical Standard on waste. This violation is subject to a fine of 25 million VND.
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| The inspection team examined the design documents of the Suoi Bac tin mine at the broken sludge dam area. Photo by Nhat Lan |
Friday,Failure to properly identify, classify, and determine the quantity and volume of hazardous waste for management according to regulations (sludge from raw selection activities at Suoi Bac tin mining area, sludge from the wastewater treatment system at the Tin Selection and Smelting Enterprise). This violation is subject to a fine of 90 million VND. In addition, the remedial measure is to identify, classify, and store hazardous waste in accordance with technical requirements and management procedures according to regulations.
Saturday,causing an environmental incident (causing the dam to break). This violation was fined 340 million VND. At the same time, the operation was suspended for 3 months from the date of signing the decision; required to reinforce the dam No. 2 to ensure technical safety, renovate and restore the environment caused by the dam break and report the implementation results to the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Nghe An before August 11, 2017.
Previously, on March 9, 2017, the sludge dam on Lan Toong mountain of Suoi Bac Tin Enterprise in Chau Thanh commune, Quy Hop district broke, causing sludge to spill into the environment, affecting the lives of people in Chau Thanh, Chau Cuong, Chau Quang communes of Quy Hop district. After the incident, Nghe An provincial leaders were continuously present at the scene, directing the handling of the incident and investigating the cause of the incident. |
Nhat Lan
