Executive Yuan Deputy Secretary-General Chien Tai-lang, convener of the national land protection task force, today led government officials, academics and experts to Hualien to inspect the environmental impact of a cement mine and coastal landfill.
The task force first visited Taiwan Cement Corp.'s Bo-Lai Mine in the company's Ho-Ping Cement Region to learn about its mining and environmental protection conditions. Careful examination uncovered no pollution there, as the mine has abided by all government-approved mining, water and land conservation, and environmental protection measures, stated Chien.
The deputy secretary-general then enjoined the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) to persist in conducting total amount control, energy conservation and carbon reduction processes for the cement industry while raising the energy efficiency of cement production. Furthermore, mines should avoid pollution and lower their impact on the environment while continuing to bolster greening and biodiversity measures, he added.
The task force then headed to Hualien Environmental Park to investigate the collapse of a coastal landfill. Chien stated that the Hualien County Government must formulate a long-term plan for garbage disposal and invite academics and experts to scrupulously assess both the removal of existent trash dumped in the park's early stages and engineering methods to extend the landfill northward. Meanwhile, more greening and beautification work should be done in and around the park and its slopes, he added.
Chien also directed the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to convene meetings with relevant agencies to resolve issues regarding the Hualien Environmental Protection Bureau's short-term plan to extend the park's dump site northward and its mid- and long-term offshore projects; to delineate rights, responsibilities and budgets for these projects; and to report progress on these fronts to the Executive Yuan's national land protection task force.
Recently, cave-ins or collapses at the coastal landfill, which was created by Hualien City long ago, have been effectively prevented through the implementation of a central-government-subsidized slope protection project which was completed in June 2013, the EPA stated.