Chungnam Issues First "Preliminary Fine Dust Reduction Measure" of the Year

From 6 a.m. on January 15 to 6 a.m. on January 16...
Proactive Reduction Measures Begin in the Public Sector

Chungnam Province has implemented preliminary reduction measures to prepare for high concentrations of fine dust for the first time this year.

From 6 a.m. on January 15 to 6 a.m. on January 16, the province issued a "preliminary fine dust reduction measure" for a 24-hour period and began proactive reduction actions, focusing on the public sector.

The preliminary reduction measure is a system implemented two days before a forecasted high concentration of fine dust, provided certain criteria are met at the forecast stage, in order to preemptively reduce emissions from the public sector.

The criteria for issuing the measure are met if either "the average daily concentration for the next day and the day after is expected to exceed 50㎍/㎥" or "a 'very bad' fine dust forecast is issued for the day after tomorrow."

At 5 p.m. on January 14, the province immediately activated its emergency response team in accordance with the disaster crisis management manual and informed residents of the situation through TV subtitles.

In addition, the province provided guidance on reduction measures such as adjusting operating hours at public workplaces and construction sites, and sent cooperation text messages to public institutions, including the provincial government office, to inform them of the implementation of the public vehicle rotation system.

On the day the preliminary reduction measure was officially implemented, the province applied the public vehicle rotation system to public sector vehicles and intensified cleaning of priority roads to reduce fugitive dust generated on roadways.

The province also enforced emission reduction measures such as adjusting operating hours at public workplaces and construction sites, and deployed the environmental mobile inspection team and joint city-county inspection teams for on-site management.

Through TV subtitles, the province informed residents of recommended actions, and advised vulnerable facilities such as daycare centers, welfare facilities for the disabled, and nursing homes for the elderly to wear masks and refrain from outdoor activities.

However, since the preliminary reduction measure is a preemptive response step, restrictions on the operation of Grade 5 emission vehicles, fines, coal power plant output caps, and mandatory reduction measures for workplaces are not applied at this stage.

If the average daily fine dust concentration is forecast to exceed 50㎍/㎥ on January 16, the province plans to escalate to an emergency reduction measure and implement stronger reduction actions.

Kim Youngmyung, Director of the Provincial Environmental and Forestry Bureau, stated, "We are mobilizing all administrative resources to protect the health of residents from high concentrations of fine dust," and called on residents to actively participate in daily practices such as wearing masks and refraining from going outdoors.