Construction of Yeonggwang Waste Recycling Facility, Ministry of Environment Halts as "Subject to Environmental Assessment"

Residents Concerned About Damage to Organic Farming Complexes: "No Permission Granted"

When the construction permit for a waste recycling facility was submitted, the local government in charge initiated a noticeably rapid approval process, raising suspicions among residents, prompting the Ministry of Environment to intervene. The Ministry determined that it was subject to an 'Environmental Impact Assessment.'

According to Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do on the 15th, on September 12, CNT Co., Ltd. applied for a construction permit for a waste recycling facility that extracts oil through heat treatment after collecting plastic waste and marine debris made of plastic.

On the 6th, residents held a protest in front of Yeonggwang County Office against the permit for the waste recycling facility. The residents have been holding two rallies daily since November 6.
[Photo by Kim Geonwan yacht@]

The proposed building is a waste recycling facility, warehouse, lodging, and roads on approximately 7,597㎡ near 129-Yongseong-ri and one other parcel in Beopseong-myeon, Yeonggwang-gun, divided into production management and agricultural-forestry areas.

The county immediately requested a review of relevant laws the day after receipt, monitored resident trends related to the construction permit application in Beopseong-myeon and village chiefs on the third day after receipt, and requested supplementary materials on the 26th of the same month.

However, 1,533 residents, including village chiefs of Yongseong and Sinjeong-ri in Beopseong-myeon, submitted petitions twice to the county opposing the construction permit for the waste treatment facility, which causes various problems such as environmental pollution.

The petitions included concerns about residents’ disease risks, the presence of an organic farming complex nearby, and potential damage due to livestock farms, fish farms, smart farms, and public facilities such as the Jeonnam Safety Experience Learning Center.

Subsequently, local residents formed a countermeasure committee, claiming that groundwater, air, and noise issues could adversely affect residential areas, and that maintaining HACCP facilities would be impossible, making it difficult to cultivate and sell local agricultural, fishery, and livestock products.

They also requested a public review by the county planning review committee and written consent from residents of Yongseong, Sinjang, and Wolsan-ri.

Additionally, since the 6th of last month, about 20 residents have held protests twice daily in front of Yeonggwang County Office, continuing their opposition to the permit. As of the 15th, a total of 55 protests have been held with around 980 participants.

Site layout view of 129-1 Yongsung-ri, Beopseong-myeon, Yeonggwang-gun, the target site for the construction permit application of the waste recycling facility.
[Photo provided by Yeonggwang-gun]

The county’s basic stance was 'if there are no procedural defects, the permit should be granted,' but given the circumstances, they reconsidered. In October, they actively conducted additional legal reviews and reexamined the planning review.

Subsequently, the county inquired with the Yeongsan River Environmental Office and the Ministry of Environment about whether the construction permit required an environmental impact assessment, and on the 5th received a reply from the Ministry stating that it was subject to the assessment.

Accordingly, the applicant must undergo an environmental impact assessment and submit it to the county.

County officials informed about 30 residents at the Yongseong-ri village hall the day after the Ministry’s reply and explained the current administrative status.

Going forward, the county’s supplementary requests and the postponed planning review scheduled for next year remain variables. Attention is focused on whether the review committee meeting will adopt the residents’ countermeasure committee’s demand for open meetings and consider residents’ acceptance.