News from August 13: Qinghua and Yitai were both fined

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This post was last edited by sumoch on 2015-8-14 at 20:47. The website of the Xinjiang Environmental Protection Department released a list of environmental administrative penalty cases for the second quarter of 2015 on August 13; Qinghua and Yitai are among those listed: Case Number, Penalty-imposing Authority, Person Subject to Penalty, Reason for Penalty, Legal Basis, Amount of Penalty (in ten thousand yuan), Measures Taken, Status of Hearing, Status of Enforcement, Remarks. 1. Autonomous Region Environmental Protection Department, Xinjiang Yihua Chemical Co., Ltd.: A plant capable of producing 500,000 tons of ion-exchange membrane caustic soda and 600,000 tons of polyvinyl chloride, along with two 330MW power units. Construction began in July 2011, and the plant came online in May 2013; however, the denitrification facilities of Unit 1 were not put into operation simultaneously with the main plant as required by regulations. As of the inspection, the denitrification facilities were under construction. Article 11, Paragraph 3, and Article 47 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution. 101. A fine of 100,000 yuan ； 2. Cease production immediately, with the denitration facilities to be put into operation simultaneously with the main project by December 30, 2014. No. Execution date: 2014, Plan No. 542. Autonomous region: Environmental Protection Department; Company: Xinjiang Taichang Industrial Co., Ltd. 1. The flue gas denitration project for the boiler in the company’s own thermal power plant was started without first submitting the required environmental impact assessment documents for the construction project in accordance with the law. 2. The environmental protection facilities installed as part of the 15MW differential pressure waste heat power generation project at the self-owned thermal power plant have not been inspected and approved; they were put into operation or use without the consent of the environmental protection authorities. Article 31, Paragraph 1 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People’s Republic of China, and Article 47, Paragraph 1 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution. 101. A fine of 100,000 yuan ； 2. The environmental impact assessment procedures for the boiler flue gas denitration project must be completed by December 20, 2014 ； The construction of the denitration project must be completed by December 30, 2014, and it must pass the environmental protection completion inspection. 3. The 15MW differential pressure waste heat power generation project was ordered to suspend production; it had to pass the environmental impact assessment and completion inspection by December 30, 2014, before it could resume operations. No actions have been taken yet in accordance with the requirements set out in 2014 Document No. 55. The Xinjiang Qinghua Energy Group Co., Ltd., under the jurisdiction of the Autonomous Region’s Environmental Protection Department, failed to implement wastewater recycling as required by the environmental impact assessment documents for the first phase of its project, which involves the production of 5.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from coal. Instead, the production wastewater from the emergency accident tanks was discharged through pumps and unauthorized sewage pipelines into natural valleys on the north side of the site, where there were no anti-seepage measures in place. In total, approximately 1.16 million cubic meters of wastewater was discharged in this way. Monitoring shows that the wastewater discharged contains toxic substances such as volatile phenols, ** substances, and arsenic. 2. Failure to affix identification labels for hazardous waste as required by law ； Hazardous waste was not disposed of in accordance with legal requirements; the flocculated and precipitated sludge generated by the high-concentration brine treatment system was dumped and piled up in sites designated for the storage and disposal of general industrial solid waste ； The temporary storage tank for flocculated and settled hazardous waste outside the high-concentration brine treatment workshop does not meet the requirements for storing hazardous solid waste, which has led to the loss of such waste. Articles 22 and 36 of the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the People’s Republic of China, and Articles 52, 55, and Article 58, Item 3, of the Solid Waste Pollution Environment Prevention and Control Law of the People’s Republic of China. 501. A fine of 500,000 yuan; 2. Cease the aforementioned illegal activities immediately and eliminate the pollution. This order has been implemented. 2014 Prepare 56 4 Autonomous Region Environmental Protection Department, Xinjiang Jiarun Resources Holding Co., Ltd.: 1. The company failed to make the necessary corrections as required by the “Decision to Order Correction of Illegal Activities” (Xin Huan Gai Zi No. 5-011). The fully enclosed coal storage facilities required as part of the project were not completed by June 30, 2014, and they are still under construction. Large amounts of raw coal are stored in temporary coal piles and outdoors in coal silos; the process of storing and transporting coal leads to the dispersion of coal dust, contaminating the surrounding environment. 2. Failing to establish a dedicated storage area for hazardous waste in accordance with the relevant regulations, the used engine oil (a total of 51 barrels, each weighing about 150 kilograms) was improperly piled up in an open area next to the starting boiler; as a result of rainwater, the used engine oil spilled onto the ground ； No hazardous waste identification signs have been installed. Article 11, Paragraph 2, and Article 47 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution; Article 52, Article 75, Paragraph 1, Item 1, and Article 75, Paragraph 1 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste; fine of 150,000 yuan ； 2. The construction of the fully enclosed coal storage silo must be completed by April 30, 2015, and it shall be put into use simultaneously with the main project ； The Mayashan Cable Car project of Xiyu Tourism Development Co., Ltd., under the jurisdiction of the Autonomous Region’s Environmental Protection Department, began construction in May 2012 without obtaining approval from the relevant environmental protection authorities. The environmental impact assessment report for this project was submitted to the Autonomous Region’s Environmental Protection Department for approval in October 2014, but it was rejected as it did not meet the required criteria. In April 2015, a new version of the environmental impact assessment document was prepared and submitted to the department for approval. This project was completed in July 2014. In accordance with Article 22, Paragraph 2, and Article 31, Paragraph 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People’s Republic of China, as well as Article 61 of the Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China, a fine of 50,000 yuan was imposed ； 2. Immediately halt all construction activities; the enterprise is required to submit the completed environmental impact assessment documents for approval by June 30, 2015 ； The 1 million-ton coal-to-oil project operated by Yitai Yili Energy Co., Ltd. under the Environmental Protection Department of the autonomous region was launched in June 2011. The area in front of the factory and the warehouse area have been completed, while the production area began construction in July 2014. The air separation plant, gasification plant, boiler room, and water purification plant are still under construction. On November 3, 2014, the Xinjiang Environmental Inspection Corps issued a decision regarding environmental violations, ordering the company to stop construction and to obtain approval for the environmental impact assessment documents by November 15, 2014. As of December 24, 2014, the project had still not submitted its environmental impact assessment documents to the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Article 22, Paragraph 2, and Article 31, Paragraph 1 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People’s Republic of China; Fine: 200,000 yuan in total ； 2. Immediately halt construction until the approval document for the environmental impact assessment is obtained. In September 2014, the Environmental Protection Department of the Autonomous Region issued a “Decision on Ordering Correction of Illegal Acts” (Xin Huan Gai Zi No. 6-038) regarding the coal washing plant project undertaken by Tunbao Mining Co., Ltd. in Changji City, Xinjiang. The department demanded that construction on the project be halted immediately, and that the procedures for approving the environmental impact assessment document be completed by October 30, 2014. As of the on-site inspection on November 14, 2014, the project had still not prepared or submitted the environmental impact assessment documents as required, and construction had commenced without authorization. Article 31, Paragraph 1 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People’s Republic of China, Article 61.101 of the Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China; fine of 100,000 yuan ； 2. Immediately cease all illegal activities. In accordance with the approval document No. 2014 Bei 59-8 issued by the Environmental Protection Department of the Autonomous Region, the environmental impact report for the Hami Guanghui Naoliu Mining Road Project in Naomaohu Town, Yiwu County, Xinjiang, specified that the road should be made of gravel. However, the company upgraded the existing road surface to asphalt. After this upgrade, no environmental impact assessment documents were prepared or submitted for approval; nevertheless, construction commenced without authorization. Article 31, Paragraph 1 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People’s Republic of China, Article 61 of the Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China, and Guideline 51 of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Detailed Guidelines for Discretion in Imposing Administrative Penalties for Major Environmental Violations: A fine of 50,000 yuan ； 2. Immediately halt construction ； 3. Enterprises are required to submit their environmental impact assessment documents for approval by May 10, 2015. The project of Anxin Resource Comprehensive Utilization and Development Co., Ltd. in Toksun County, under the jurisdiction of the Autonomous Region’s Environmental Protection Department, aims at the comprehensive utilization of 20,000 tons of smelting waste per year; construction began in October 2014, and by the time of the on-site inspection, the project was essentially completed. The environmental impact assessment report for this project was prepared by the Xinjiang Chemical Engineering Design Institute in December 2014; it has been submitted to the Environmental Protection Department for approval, but no decision has yet been issued. In accordance with Article 31, Paragraph 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People’s Republic of China, as well as Guideline 101 of the Ministry of Environmental Protection on Detailed Guidelines for Discretionary Penalties for Serious Environmental Violations, the fine amount is: One hundred thousand yuan in total (100,000.00) ； 2. Immediately halt construction until approval is obtained for the environmental impact assessment documents. No actions have been taken regarding 2015 Backup 3 10; the Environmental Protection Department of the autonomous region, and Wuxi Transportation Engineering Co., Ltd.: 1. The wastewater treatment facilities required for the cement concrete mixing plant located on the right side at K22+900 meters of the project were not constructed, and the plant started operating without these facilities in place. Slurry water was discharged indiscriminately, while domestic sewage was directly released into the area surrounding the Bayi Reservoir ； 2. Solid waste generated from more than 10 temporary construction and living camps for the project is piled up indiscriminately. Article 17, Paragraph 3, and Article 71 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution; Article 17 and Item 7 of Article 68 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes. 81. In regard to violations of the regulations on water pollution prevention and control: a fine of RMB 70,000.00 shall be imposed ； Order to immediately correct the illegal act, with the deadline for doing so set for June 30, 2015 ； 2. For enterprises that violate the regulations on the prevention and control of environmental pollution caused by solid waste: a fine of RMB 10,000.00 shall be imposed ； Order to immediately correct the illegal act, with the deadline for doing so set for June 30, 2015 ； A total fine of RMB 80,000.00 shall be imposed for the aforementioned actions ； Nothing has been done. The requirements were issued in August 2015; corrections were to be completed by December 30, 2014, or by June 30 – what does that mean?