Soil Pollution Prevention Measures

Transcription

1 Soil Pollution Prevention Measures 1. Management of Specific Soil Pollution Facilities A. Types and current status of Specific Soil Pollution Facilities 1) Types of facilities subject to specific soil pollution control - The facilities subject to specific soil pollution control under Article 1 Subparagraph 3 Annex 2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Soil Environment Conservation Act are oil production or storage plants with the capacity over 20 thousand liter specified in the Safety Control of the Dangerous Substances Act; toxic chemical production and storage plants pursuant to the Toxic Chemicals Control Act; oil pipeline facilities under the Oil Pipeline Safety Control Act; and other facilities in accordance with the order of the Minister of Environment. 2) Current status of the specific soil pollution facilities - As of the end of 2011, the number of enterprises which reported the installation of specific soil pollution facilities is 22,976 nationwide. Among the storage plants, the number of oil product storages is 22,633 (98.5%) while toxic chemical storages account for only 1.5% with 343. Of the oil product storages, gas stations take up the majority with 13,154 (67%) followed by 4,726 industrial plants (20.9%) and other types (heating facilities and etc.) with 2,753 plants (12.1%). - By region, Gyeonggi Province has the most at 4,795 (20.9%), followed by North Gyeongsang Province with 2,493 facilities (10.9%), South Gyeongsang Province with 2,099 (9.1%) and South Chungcheong Province with 1,883 (8.2%). - For the facilities reported to the heads of local governments (city, gun and gu) as specific soil pollution facilities in accordance with the enforcement of the Soil Environment Conservation Act on January 1, B. Inspection of Soil Pollution Those who installed specific soil pollution facility should regularly undergo soil pollution inspection by an expert agency appointed by the head of regional environmental office. The inspection consists of soil pollution level test for the soil sample extracted from the site and leak test for the storage facility. The soil pollution level test is conducted every one to five years based on the age of the storage facility. In the case of facilities located in the natural environment conservation areas, groundwater conservation areas, water source protection zones, and special countermeasure areas (except air quality conservation zones) are subject to the test every year. However, if a facility in natural environment conservation area or special countermeasure area passes the test, the facility is exempt from the soil pollution level test in the following year. If a facility turns out to exceed the allowed soil pollution level as a result of the test, the facility is subject to compulsory leak test and should take measure to improve the facility or conduct precise inspection and pollution purification according to the order by the head of 1

2 the local government (city, gun or gu). Meanwhile, based on the recognition that the soil pollution level test is not enough to prevent pollutant leak, the leak test was introduced on July 1, 2006 to reinforce the precautionary prevention of soil pollution. C. Current Status of Pollution Caused by the Specific Soil Pollution Facilities In 2011, 8,326 oil product production and storage facilities among 22,633 in total were inspected on demand or regularly. As the result, 287 plants (3.4%) were found to exceed the allowed soil pollution level. By the type of storage facility, 228 gas stations of 5,804 in total, 28 of 1,630 industrial facilities, 31 of 892 other facilities were found to violate the standards. By the type of test item, 40 from 477 BTEX tests, 175 from 1,977 TPH test and 67 from 5,872 BTEX and TPH tests resulted in violation of the standards. On leak tests, 57 facilities (4.7%) were disapproved among the total 1,201 plants tested. 22 facilities had defects in their tanks, 27 in tank pipelines and 8 facilities had both in tanks and pipelines. D. Voluntary Agreement for Self Soil Pollution Purification The Ministry of Environment made voluntary agreements with SK, GS Caltex, Hyundai Oil Bank and other domestic oil refineries on December 26, 2002 and with Korea National Oil Corporation on self soil purification test and soil recovery (for 10 year period of time) and implemented. It bears great significance that oil refinery companies which take up more than 90% of the total oil product supply in the country and National Oil Corporation which operates large scale oil storage facilities agreed to make voluntary and leading efforts for prevention and restoration of soil pollution. Since the agreements were signed, 994 oil storages and gas stations underwent oil pollution level test every 3 years (in 2003, 2006 and 2009) up to present (as of December 2011). Pollution purification works were conducted in 226 sites among 249 areas which were found to be polluted. These voluntary agreements are believed to be able to contribute to reinforcing soil conservation not by government regulation but by businesses voluntary commitment. The government is planning to expand these agreements with businesses handing large volume of oil products and others based on the analysis of the effects of the agreements. E. Installation of Clean Gas Stations for Precautionary Prevention of Soil Pollution Gas stations account for more than 60% of all specific soil pollution facilities. Since they use underground oil product storage tanks which have high risk of soil contamination and the pollution incidents are detected too late, it is difficulty to fully prevent the pollution and the spread with the current system. Also, the tanks and pipelines made of steel are vulnerable to corrosion and the decrepit or rusted facilities can cause leakage as well as spill or overflow with carelessness leading to soil pollution. In 2006, the Ministry of Environment appointed five Clean Gas Stations which were equipped 2

3 with double wall tanks, double piping and sumps for the tanks and lubricators to ensure higher level of pollution prevention. As of December 2011, a total of 413 stations have been designated as the Clean Gas Stations. Through providing incentives including exemption of soil pollution level test for 15 years, designation signboard and financial supports for prevention device installation, the government is promoting the spread of the Clean Gas Stations. Since the program motivates the gas station owners to invest in facility upgrade for leakage and spill prevention, it is expected to contribute to the prevention of soil pollution and the following economic loss, making a great contribution to soil conservation. 2. Precise Inspection for Closed Mineral Mines and Projects of Soil Pollution Prevention Mineral residues, waste water and debris from mineral mines closed before 1970s caused neighboring agricultural lands and rivers and became an environmental issue. Since 1992, the government has conducted soil pollution investigation around the closed mineral mines and carried out recovery projects targeting seriously polluted ares. However, there were arguments that the pollution from the closed mineral mines affect not only to agricultural land, rivers and groundwater but also to the crops produced from the areas imposing health risks on residents. In response, the Ministry of Environment started comprehensive investigation on soil pollution around closed mineral mines across the country in 1992, and has taken countermeasures in problematic mines such as mine mineral damage prevention and farm land soil improvement in collaboration with relevant government departments. Until 2006, precise pollution inspections were conducted for 219 closed mineral mines overall condition surveys for 687 mines were carried out in mines found to have potential of causing pollution underwent precise investigation from 2007 to According to the result of the precise investigation completed until 2010, heavy metals including cadmium and arsenic excessing the soil pollution standards were detected in 470 closed mineral mines and the neighboring areas and rivers, river bed soil and crops. Also, there were cases that debris and mineral residue piled around the mines were carried away by natural disasters such as typhoon causing soil and river pollution in neighboring areas. As of 2011, soil pollution prevention projects were completed or are underway in 200 of those contaminated mines and these projects are planned to be continued for other polluted mines. In 2006, crop soil pollution survey, agricultural product safety and human health impact assessment were carried out in 44 areas selected from 418 mine neighboring farm lands. For the remaining 374 areas, soil and water pollution inspection were conducted until Effective Management of Closed Mineral Mines Since most of the local governments in which closed mines are located have weak fiscal selfreliance, the 50% of central government subsidy was insufficient to properly manage the closed mines. In the meantime, as the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy was operating 3

4 damage prevention projects in mine areas, there were problems that similar projects were redundantly carried out by different entities. Against this backdrop, the Office of the Prime Minister conducted a consultation for work coordination among relevant departments on soil pollution prevention in closed mineral mines (November 17, 2003). As the result, the Ministry of Environment was decided to take precise survey on dormant or closed mines and reported the result to the relevant ministries including the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. On the other hand, the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy became in charge of the projects for preventing damages from mines including soil pollution prevention projects. The Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Knowledge and Economy, Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and other relevant departments have created a collaboration network and established cooperation mechanism on which they can transform the inspection and recovery oriented approach for the mine area soil pollution problem in the past into more comprehensive management system which integrates inspection, recovery, after care, resident health impact assessment and crop safety test. In particular, the Mining Damage Prevention and Restoration Act was enacted on May 31, 2005 and Mining Damage Prevention Task Force (changed into Korea Mining Damage Management Corporation in June 1, 2007) was launched in June 2006 in pursuance of the law. The work for soil pollution prevention around closed mines is separated and conducted by each relevant ministry based on the cooperation network and the responsibilities of each ministry are shown as following. Since December 2010, the Ministry of Environment has established and been operating Policy Consultation Committee with the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy, Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Korea Food and Drug Administration for effective management of closed mines. Through the committee, the member departments share their project plans and information on the state of play, improve the connectivity of projects, jointly utilize the relevant information, coordinate the difference of opinions and jointly respond to current issues. They expect to continue the close collaboration to create win-win situation among ministries and to protect public health from the potential risks of closed mine. Since the need for continuous follow-up management was suggested after the completion of the mining damage prevention projects in closed mines, the Ministry of Environment drafted Guideline for Environmental Pollution Impact Investigation around the facilities completed with mining damage prevention projects in July According to the guideline, follow-up environmental impact assessments are to be carried out regarding facility management, soil, water pollution level, leakage from mine tails and etc. for 5 years after the completion of the project. 4. Management of Other Soil Pollution Facilities A. Regulation on the Use of Pesticides in Golf Courses In order to prevent and monitor the environmental damage in soil and groundwater within 4

5 golf courses and the neighboring rivers in advance, therefore to protect natural environment and public health from excessive or abusive pesticide use in the golf courses, the Ministry of Environment is conducting investigation on the pesticides used in golf courses and the residue amounts. For the last 10 years, city and provincial governments carried out survey on pesticide use and the residue amount twice a year in golf courses across the country in accordance with the provisions in the Installation and Utilization of Sport Facilities Act (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) and the Water Quality and Ecosystem Conservation Act (Ministry of Environment). However, as two different ministries were engaged in the same work, the local governments experienced confusion and inefficiency in operating the related work. In December 2009, according to the recommendation of the Regulatory Reform Committee under the Office of Prime Minister, the relevant duties were integrated to become the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment. The related provisions were deleted from the sport facility act (Jul. 2010) and the Ministry of Environment improved and revised the relevant institutions to enact the rules for the investigation on the volume of pesticide use and the residue amount test in golf courses (MOE notification no ) and is executing the nationwide investigation on golf course pesticide use and the residue amount. According to the Water Quality and Ecosystem Conservation Act, those who install and manage a golf course should not use deadly poisonous agrochemicals within the facility. Pesticide use is allowed only when it deemed necessary for pest control and tree epidemic prevention and approved by the head of the office with authority. In the case of violation, the owner is subject to fine of 10 million won or under. The revised rule require that the related information including the volume of pesticides used in golf courses should be managed by computer and disclose the data to public on the internet (http//:nier.sgis.go.kr), promoting voluntary reduction of agrochemical use by golf course owners. In addition, the Ministry prepared for more stringent pesticide management in golf courses through adding the provisions on safe pesticide use standards in accordance with the Article 23 of the Agrochemicals Control Act and the Article 19 of the enforcement decree. According to the nationwide pesticide use investigation in golf courses in 2011, there were a total of 421 golf courses in operation, and they used 400 tons of agrochemicals (218 products) all combined during one year, 16.9kg per unit area (ha). In comparison with 2010, the total usage increased by 8.2 tons, by 0.5kg per ha. In 2005, one golf course was found to use high toxicity agrochemicals and received administrative measures, but there were no cases in 2006 and In the residue test, highly toxic endosulfan was detected in 2 golf courses in 2005, endosulfan and monocrotophos in 2 courses in 2006, endosulfan in one course in 2007, but no cases in 2008 and In 2010, methidathion was found in one golf course and no case was reported in The Ministry of Environment is aiming at more systematic and advanced environmental management through integrating the pesticide investigation and residue test. Regular inspection on those golf facilities using excessive amount of pesticides or high toxicity 5

6 chemicals will be carried out in collaboration with regional environmental offices and city or provincial governments as a preparation for the surge of golf course constructions in the future. In addition, education on reduction and proper use of pesticides and collection and dissemination of best practices are to be conducted. B. Pesticide Residue Investigation in the Water Source Protection Areas The Ministry of Environment conducts two pesticide residue investigations every year for runoff water and soil in farm lands and water source in major water source protection areas including Lake Paldang and Lake Daecheong to prevent the water source contamination from agrochemicals. Water quality survey is carried out during mid-to-low water season and monsoon season when agrochemicals are used in large volume. Soil is tested twice a year, before starting the cultivation and after the harvest. The inspection objects are selected among the farm lands located in the water source protection areas specified in the Article 5 of the Water Supply and Waterworks Installation Act. No pesticide residue was detected in the 2011 survey from 140 samples extracted in 140 object sites. 5. Improvement of the Soil Environment Management System Since the enactment of the Soil Environment Conservation Act in 1995, there have been many institutional improvement through several revisions. In particular, the comprehensive revision of the Soil Environment Conservation Act were executed for supplementing inadequate points and advancing the soil pollution management on December 31, Major contents of the revision include report of the soil pollution, ban on dumping, verification of soil purification, registration of soil purification business, risk assessment and etc. The revised Soil Environment Conservation Act and the related rules took into effect on October 6, The major contents are 1 reinforcing the role of the government in carrying out precise inspection and purification in polluted sites in urgent need, 2 conducting survey on surface soil erosion in water source protection areas and waterside areas by the Minister of Environment and taking adequate measures for management of soil as resource, 3 establishing systematic risk assessment procedure including expanding the assessment objects and ensuring resident participation. Also, 4 precise investigation process was added to the soil environment assessment to enable more clear identification of soil pollution status, 5 legal ground for the establishment of mutual aid association for soil purification was prepared and 6 soil management complexes were determined to be appointed by the Minister of Environment for effective purification and recycling of polluted soil carried out from the polluted sites. In addition, 7 soil environment assessment agencies and risk assessment agencies were added to the soil specific institutions and participation of private enterprises was expanded. 8 The penalty of 5 million won fine or under was introduced to be imposed on non-report of leakage or spill of soil pollutants to strengthen the responsibility of business owners handling soil pollutants. In addition, inadequate or insufficient parts in the process of 6

7 law implementation were supplemented through including victim support plan in the countermeasure for soil pollution areas and using purified soil. Source : Ministry of Environment( 7