[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is launching an intensive crackdown on illegal activities such as sneaky unauthorized wastewater discharge during the heavy rainfall period.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Metropolitan Environmental Management Office announced on the 7th that from the 11th of this month, it will conduct special inspections of workplaces to prevent environmental pollution activities such as unauthorized wastewater discharge and negligence in managing pollution prevention facilities.
The inspection targets are 276 workplaces that discharge large amounts of wastewater located in seven zones: ▲ Banwol-Sihwa Industrial Complex ▲ Southern area (Suwon, Osan, Hwaseong, etc.) ▲ Southwestern area (Pyeongtaek, Anseong, etc.) ▲ Southeastern area (Anyang, Gunpo, Seongnam, etc.) ▲ Western area (Gimpo, Bucheon, etc.) ▲ Northern area (Uijeongbu, Paju, Pocheon, Yeoncheon, etc.) ▲ Eastern area (Yongin, Icheon, Yeoju, Yangpyeong, etc.).
The main inspection items include whether wastewater and air emission facilities are installed or operated without permits (unreported), unauthorized wastewater discharge acts, compliance with permitted wastewater discharge volumes and proper wastewater treatment, and operation status of aging pollution prevention facilities.
The Metropolitan Environmental Management Office will form 14 special inspection teams and deploy 40 personnel for this crackdown.
The crackdown will proceed in the following order: prevention of pollution activities through prior publicity of special monitoring and crackdown plans (Phase 1), intensive monitoring and crackdown on illegal activities until August 19 (Phase 2), and post-management such as facility restoration guidance and technical support during August (Phase 3).
If violations are found, the Metropolitan Environmental Management Office will impose administrative measures such as facility improvement orders and fines according to relevant laws and publicly disclose the information online. In addition, willful and habitual violators will face strict measures including criminal charges.
Im Yang-seon, head of the Metropolitan Environmental Management Office, said, "We plan to take strict action against businesses that take unfair advantage by illegally discharging wastewater or failing to operate prevention facilities during heavy rainfall." He urged, "We ask all residents to actively report any environmental pollution activities they discover."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
