The Tainan City Government convened the thirteenth meeting (April 10) to discuss matters involving soil pollution remediation progress at China Petrochemical Development Corporation's (CPDC) An-shun site, and healthcare program for residents affected by the pollution. On behalf of Acting Mayor Lee Meng-yan, Deputy Mayor Jhang Jheng-yuan started the meeting by acknowledging the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Environmental Protection Administration, scholars and experts, civic leaders, community representatives and various bureaus of the City Government for their involvement in the project. He stressed that the progress of the remediation is closely scrutinized by many parties. That being said, CPDC should expedite the treatment process of soil pollution at the site so that residents would be freed from more health scares. The Environmental Protection Bureau should closely monitor CPDC’s cleanup progress, ensuring that the remediation be completed as early as possible, and that there would be no more pollution to safeguard the health of the community.
The meeting commenced with a discussion and directives on matters resolved and propositions made in the previous meeting. Policymaking areas determined are summarized as follows:
(1) CPDC is responsible for formulating a robust plan on the development of the historic Japanese dormitory compound, and brief the residents ASAP about its plan;
(2) CPDC should evaluate the flood management effectiveness of land reclamation project in seawater lagoon Area B, propose a water drainage program, and present it to the Water Resources Bureau for review before being given the go-ahead;
(3) the once-a-year health check service in partnership with hospitals for residents would continue as usual;
(4) CPDC is to launch the treatment system before June for the remediation project, so as to comply with this year’s review schedule accordingly; CPDC consented to the city government’s request;
(5) water outflow has been drained into seawater lagoon Area B. The National Property Administration objected to draining water exceeding the prescribed standard into nation-owned estates.
Deputy Mayor Jhang reiterated that the remediation progress is still behind schedule, that CPDC should speed up the treatment of polluted soil, while heeding environmental safety standards and treatment quality. He concluded the meeting by thanking those who have expressed concerns, and encouraged the MOEA and EPA to become more involved in monitoring CPDC’s remediation measures to expedite treatment, removing the stigma that the community has suffered for the pollution, giving a clean and safe community back to the residents that they deserve.
Agency in charge: Soil Pollution Management Section, section chief: Yang Chao-CHUAN, TEL: (06) 2686751#340
Officer: Wang Hsing-Chung, TEL: (06) 2686751#318
