Environmental Liability Insurance Project Group Establishes Environmental Pollution Reduction Equipment Deployment System at Cheonan 4th Industrial Complex

Unveiling Ceremony of Major Hub Environmental Pollution Reduction and Disaster Prevention Equipment Box / Photo by Environmental Liability Insurance Project Group

The Environmental Liability Insurance Project Group held an opening and unveiling ceremony for the "Environmental Pollution Reduction and Disaster Prevention Equipment Box" in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, on January 22. With this, the organization officially launched a system for stocking disaster prevention supplies that can be immediately deployed to the scene in the event of an environmental pollution accident. This event goes beyond simply installing a facility; it aims to minimize the initial response gap in the event of an accident and to build a field-oriented environmental safety infrastructure.

The event consisted of two parts: an indoor opening ceremony and an on-site unveiling and equipment exhibition. Representatives from the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Environmental Liability Insurance Project Group, the National Institute of Chemical Safety, Cheonan City, and SEMES Co., Ltd. attended. Participants emphasized that, due to the rapid spread and complex transfer of damage to water systems, air, and soil in environmental pollution accidents, it is essential to always have immediate response measures available right after an incident occurs.

The disaster prevention equipment box was installed at the wastewater treatment plant in Cheonan's 4th Industrial Complex and is operated as an orange insulated container. Inside, there are approximately 145 items across 18 types of disaster prevention supplies, including chemical absorbent pads and booms, sodium bicarbonate, expanded vermiculite, and chemical protective suits, with a total value of about 20 million won. These supplies were designed with accessibility and usability in mind so that anyone can quickly take and use them in the event of an environmental pollution accident. Cheonan City is responsible for aftercare, including maintenance and restocking of disaster prevention supplies, while the project group plans to cooperate to ensure the equipment box remains a constantly operational response infrastructure through a municipality-centered management system.

The project group explained that Cheonan is an area with a high concentration of manufacturing industries, such as display component and equipment manufacturing, automotive parts, and hydrogen fuel cell and power generation industries. As the density of industrial facilities increases, the amount of chemicals handled and the complexity of processes are likely to rise. They particularly emphasized that accidents within industrial complexes are likely to spread beyond factory premises to drainage systems, rivers, and soil, making initial containment critical in determining the extent of damage. Therefore, establishing a rapid response system through the disaster prevention equipment box is essential.

Kang Seonggu, head of the project group, stated, "Environmental pollution accidents occur without warning, and if the initial response is delayed, the damage can spread extensively in a short period. This project was launched out of concern that compensation after an accident alone is not enough to ensure public safety." He added, "We will expand the role of environmental liability insurance to focus on reducing damage itself by securing the golden time for initial response."

The Environmental Liability Insurance Project Group expects that the installation of this disaster prevention equipment box will shorten on-site response times and strengthen initial response capabilities to block the spread of pollutants. If the deployment of disaster prevention supplies is delayed in the early stages of an accident, pollutants can flow into rivers, infiltrate soil, and spread into the air, causing remediation costs to rise exponentially. Therefore, this project is considered a highly cost-effective preventive investment. In addition, the group plans to expand its role beyond compensation for damages under the "Act on Liability for Environmental Pollution Damage and Relief" to encompass prevention and initial response as a comprehensive environmental safety function. They also plan to expand the deployment of disaster prevention equipment at major hubs and strengthen cooperation with municipalities and related organizations.