Ministry of Environmental Protection: Response measures for severe pollution in some cities are unreasonable

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Ministry of Environmental Protection: Response measures to severe air pollution in some cities are unreasonable. On November 3, atmospheric dispersion conditions in Beijing deteriorated, and the air pollution index continued to rise. It is reported that Beijing issued a yellow warning for severe air pollution on the evening of the 2nd. The image shows a pair of young people wearing masks, riding bicycles past Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Photo by Cui Nan, reporter from China News Service. Beijing, November 5 (Reporter: Ruan Yulin) On the 5th, China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection briefed the media on the results of special law-enforcement inspections aimed at addressing severe air pollution. It was found that the emission-reduction measures outlined in the emergency plans for such situations in some cities were unreasonable, and some industrial enterprises were engaged in illegal emissions. Starting on November 3, severe air pollution affected a wide area of China, impacting regions such as Beijing, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang. On the 5th, severe air pollution continued in some areas. In response to the recent periods of severe air pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and its surrounding areas in China, the Ministry of Environmental Protection dispatched 8 inspection teams to cities such as Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, Baoding, Hengshui, and Jinan to conduct inspections. These inspections focused on whether emergency plans for dealing with severe air pollution had been activated, and special law enforcement checks were carried out regarding the measures taken to address such pollution as well as ensuring that pollutants from industrial sources were discharged within specified limits. Tian Weiyong, director of the Environmental Inspection Bureau under the Ministry of Environmental Protection, told reporters on the 5th that from November 3rd to 4th, the inspection team examined 68 sites contaminated in various ways, and identified 11 sites with problems; these issues mainly fell into three categories. First, the emission reduction measures in the emergency plans for severe air pollution in some cities are unreasonable. The list of enterprises that shall suspend operations in accordance with the Emergency Plan for Severe Air Pollution in Mancheng District, Baoding City, Hebei Province includes those that have been shut down for extended periods; the boilers at Weiyee Welfare Paper Mill and Huidalda Co., Ltd. have been inactive for several months, making it difficult to achieve the desired reduction in emissions during emergencies ； To the north of the Beiwai Ring Road in Baoding, there are still construction sites that have not stopped their earthwork operations as required by the emergency response plan. Second, some industrial enterprises engage in illegal emissions. Baoliyuan Coking Co., Ltd. in Qian’an City, Hebei Province, was found to be emitting pollutants in excess of allowed levels, engaging in fraud, and damaging the automatic monitoring equipment for air pollutant emissions; it has now been subject to investigation by the local environmental protection authorities and referred to the police authorities ； Black smoke and trailing emissions from Baoding Cedar Paper Mill ； At certain times, the sulfur dioxide emissions from Baoding Aoyu Steel Co., Ltd. exceeded the emergency emission reduction standards ； The desulfurization system of Jinan Shandong Ball Mill Cast Iron Pipe Co., Ltd. is severely corroded, resulting in flue gas leakage. Third, there are serious problems with dust accumulation in the material storage areas of some enterprises and on certain roads. Limin Concrete Co., Ltd. in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang Taifa Cement Co., Ltd., and the Shijiazhuang Circular Chemical Industry Park branch of Jinmei Jinshi Chemical Industry Investment Group Co., Ltd. have inadequate dust control measures, resulting in significant dust emissions ； There is severe littering at the intersection of National Highway 307 and Provincial Road 204 in Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, resulting in significant road dust problems. Tian Weiyong said that in response to the above issues, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has instructed the local authorities and relevant departments to investigate and deal with them, and urged them to carry out corrective actions as soon as possible. Next, the Ministry of Environmental Protection will continue to pay attention to the response to severe pollution weather in key areas.