Ministry of Environment Deploys Drones to Monitor Industrial Complex Pollution... "Strengthening Contactless Surveillance"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The Ministry of Environment will monitor and crack down on environmental pollution activities using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) mainly around emission facilities and industrial complexes nationwide ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

This non-face-to-face monitoring and crackdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic will be conducted from September 21 to October 4. About 730 environmental officials from 7 regional environmental offices, 17 metropolitan cities and provinces, and local governments nationwide will participate, targeting approximately 5,600 pollutant-emitting facilities, major industrial complexes, and upstream water source areas across the country.

The monitoring and crackdown on environmental pollution activities will be carried out in two phases: before and during the Chuseok holiday. From the 21st to the 29th, prior to the holiday, advance publicity and guidance will be conducted, followed by focused patrols and crackdowns in pollution-vulnerable areas.

The 7 regional environmental offices, including the Hangang Regional Environmental Office, and local governments nationwide plan to send preventive measures and voluntary inspection cooperation letters to about 27,300 pollutant-emitting facilities and public sewage treatment facility personnel.

Among these, regions with about 5,600 pollutant-emitting facilities such as those discharging hazardous wastewater, entrusted wastewater treatment companies, and companies suspected of generating high concentrations of fine dust will minimize site visits to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

However, if pollution activities are detected during non-face-to-face crackdowns using mobile measurement vehicles and drones, officials will immediately visit the site to enforce regulations.

During the holiday period from the 30th to October 4, the Ministry will operate a situation room, strengthen patrols in vulnerable areas such as industrial complexes and upstream water source rivers, and operate environmental pollution reporting channels to prepare for environmental pollution accidents.

Regional environmental offices and local governments nationwide will operate situation rooms and intensify patrols around upstream water source areas, industrial complexes, and other areas where pollution is a concern.

In particular, the "Environmental Pollution Reporting Center" will be operated intensively. If environmental pollution activities are discovered, report by calling 110 or 128 without an area code (for mobile phones, dial 128 with the area code).

Ryu Pil-moo, Director of Environmental Investigation at the Ministry of Environment, stated, "We will strengthen non-face-to-face environmental monitoring activities to prevent illegal environmental pollution activities during vulnerable periods such as the Chuseok holiday so that the public can spend the holiday with peace of mind."