Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Conduct Intensive Crackdown on Fine Dust Emission Sites

Gyeonggi-do's Enforcement Notice Poster for 'Construction Sites and Other Large-scale Fine Dust Emission Businesses'

Gyeonggi Province is cracking down on fine dust-emitting businesses within the province.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare announced on the 7th that they will conduct intensive inspections of illegal activities at fine dust-emitting businesses in the province from the 13th to the 24th.

The main targets of the crackdown are ▲ construction sites generating large amounts of scattered dust ▲ businesses with many complaints around urban areas ▲ plating and tenter (ironing) facilities among air emission facilities such as painting facilities that emit large amounts of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) ▲ facilities using solid recovered fuel (SRF) and other businesses that emit large amounts of ultrafine dust.

During the inspection period, the Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare will focus on construction sites reported for scattered dust generation, checking for non-operation of wheel washing facilities, failure to install dust prevention walls and covers, and failure to implement dust suppression facilities and measures to prevent scattered dust at construction sites.

In particular, to suppress the generation of ‘road re-scattered dust,’ a core source of fine dust in the province, they will also inspect vehicles entering and exiting construction sites for soil discharge onto external roads.

Additionally, for air emission facilities, they will check for non-operation or damage and neglect of prevention facilities, abnormal operation of air emission and prevention facilities such as air dilution emissions, and illegal incineration of business waste generated during business processes.

Under the current ‘Atmospheric Environment Conservation Act,’ failure to report scattered dust-generating businesses or failure to implement suppression measures is punishable by a fine of up to 3 million KRW; operating unauthorized air emission facilities is punishable by imprisonment of up to 7 years or a fine of up to 100 million KRW; and improper operation of air prevention facilities is punishable by imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to 50 million KRW.

Hong Eun-gi, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare, stated, "Before the fine dust seasonal management system is implemented in December, we will contribute to creating a pleasant Gyeonggi Province by minimizing the inflow of soil and dust onto roads to reduce road re-scattered dust, a core source of ultrafine dust in Gyeonggi Province."