Pyeongtaek City Cancels Approval for Waste Storage Facility in Geumgok-ri Previously Deemed 'Appropriate'

Board of Audit and Inspection Points Out Misinterpretation of Permit Laws
City to Cancel Waste Disposal Business if Storage Facility Is Not Secured

Pyeongtaek City in Gyeonggi Province has ultimately revoked approval for the 'waste storage facility' in Geumgwang-ri, Anjung-eup, which had sparked controversy after being permitted based solely on notification due to a misinterpretation of the law.

On June 19, Pyeongtaek City announced that it had canceled the notification approval for the 'waste storage facility' that Company A had planned and reported as a temporary structure for its resource circulation facility project in Geumgok-ri.

Previously, the city had processed the notification for the storage facility based on the judgment that, when a licensed waste disposal company undertakes construction activities such as expansion, the 'development activity permit standards' stipulated in the 'National Land Planning and Utilization Act' do not apply.

However, the Board of Audit and Inspection held a different view. In its audit this year, the Board pointed out that the city's approval of the temporary structure notification was based on an incorrect interpretation of the law. The Board stated that, even for temporary structures, separate development activity permits are required for waste disposal business plans and resource circulation-related facilities.

In accordance with the audit results, the city explained the subsequent measures, including the cancellation procedure for the temporary structure, to the village chief and related organizations, and canceled the notification approval after holding a hearing.

Since the city has now canceled the approval for the storage facility, which is an essential facility for the waste disposal business, it has notified Company A to supplement its business plan. Accordingly, if Company A fails to secure the required facility, the city also plans to revoke the business plan that had previously been deemed 'appropriate.' A city official explained, "Since a storage site is an essential facility under the Waste Management Act, if it is not secured, the business itself cannot be operated."

The city stated that, going forward, it will clarify the regulations restricting the location of resource circulation facilities in the urban planning ordinance and specify the subjects and procedures for applying development activity standards in order to prevent similar issues from recurring.