Yeongsangang Cheong to Implement Special Surveillance on Illegal Pollutant Discharges During Chuseok Holiday

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office (Director Ryu Yeon-gi) announced on the 20th that it will conduct special monitoring activities from September 21 to October 4, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, to prevent environmental pollution acts such as illegal discharge of pollutants exploiting vulnerable periods.

This special monitoring will strengthen non-contact patrols using scientific equipment such as drones and mobile measurement vehicles to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and will be carried out in two stages: before and during the holiday period.

Before the holiday (September 21?29), the office will promote monitoring plans and encourage voluntary inspections targeting pollutant-emitting businesses, and conduct patrols and crackdowns on businesses discharging hazardous wastewater and fine dust, as well as environmental infrastructure facilities.

During the holiday (September 30?October 4), patrols will be intensified on major rivers in the Yeongsangang and Seomjingang river basins, and an ‘Environmental Pollution Special Monitoring Situation Room’ will be established and operated to respond swiftly to environmental pollution accidents.

If illegal dumping of waste, unauthorized discharge of wastewater, or other environmental pollution acts are discovered, reports can be made by calling 128 without an area code (or area code + 128 on mobile phones) or the Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office Situation Room.

Ryu Yeon-gi, Director of the Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office, stated, “Through this special monitoring, we aim to simultaneously prevent the spread of COVID-19 and illegal environmental pollution acts exploiting vulnerable periods by strengthening non-contact environmental patrols. If violations are confirmed, we will respond strictly according to relevant laws.” He added, “We ask all businesses to thoroughly manage their environmental facilities and conduct self-inspections to prevent environmental pollution caused by negligence in facility management.”