Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TAIPEI3491
2005-08-22 08:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

China Petrochemical Development Again Cited For

Tags:  SENV ECON TW ESTH 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS TAIPEI 003491 

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON AND AID

DEPT FOR EAP/RSP/TC AND OES/PCI

USDOC FOR 6200/ITA/TD/ENVIROTECH EXPORTS

FROM AIT KAOHSIUNG BRANCH OFFICE

EPA FOR OIA - DAN THOMPSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ECON TW ESTH
SUBJECT: China Petrochemical Development Again Cited For
Pollution

REF: Taipei 2997

UNCLAS TAIPEI 003491

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON AND AID

DEPT FOR EAP/RSP/TC AND OES/PCI

USDOC FOR 6200/ITA/TD/ENVIROTECH EXPORTS

FROM AIT KAOHSIUNG BRANCH OFFICE

EPA FOR OIA - DAN THOMPSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ECON TW ESTH
SUBJECT: China Petrochemical Development Again Cited For
Pollution

REF: Taipei 2997


1. Summary. China Petrochemical Development Corporation
(CPDC),already facing soil and groundwater pollution
problems in its plant in Anshun, Tainan City (see reftel),
was cited after a recent survey conducted by Kaohsiung
City's EPA (KEPA) that determined that total petroleum
hydrocarbon (TPH) levels in the soil at the site of its
plant in Kaohsiung City exceed KEPA's regulations by a
factor of sixteen. CPDC's Kaohsiung plant is located within
the area of the proposed Kaohsiung Multifunctional Commerce
and Trade Park. KEPA has announced that the area is now a
controlled site, which precludes construction of commercial
buildings on the site. CPDC has acknowledged the research
results and has promised that it will submit a proposal
aimed at remedying the environmental violations by mid-
October 2005. End Summary.


2. China Petrochemical Development Corporation (CPDC) began
producing various chemicals in 1969. In the early 1970s,
the company built a plant on Chung Shan Road, one of the
major streets connecting Kaohsiung's train station and the
Hsiao Kang International Airport in Kaohsiung City. The CPDC
Kaohsiung plant, occupying 17.5 acres of land, used benzene,
toluene, and xylene to produce caprolactam, a material used
to produce nylon. The plant stopped operations in 2001.


3. Kaohsiung's EPA began monitoring the Kaohsiung CPDC
plant in 2002. It conducted research, focusing on the
levels of benzene and toluene present in the site's soil and
groundwater. KEPA's report indicated that the volatile
organic compound (VOC) level in the soil of the site was too
high, as were levels of benzene and toluene. KEPA demanded
that CPDC bring the pollutant levels within standards.


4. However, when KEPA conducted another round of tests in
2004, results showed that the situation had worsened. KEPA
collected 35 samples of soil at the plant's 26 locations.
The soil at four locations was found to have TPH levels that
reached 16,580.4mg/kg, more than sixteen times TEPA's limit
of 1,000mg/kg. In early August 2004, KEPA declared the
plant a controlled site prohibited from conducting both
industrial and commercial operations. KEPA also demanded
that CPDC submit a proposal to the city's soil and
groundwater pollution improvement panel by mid-October
detailing plans to improve the situation. According to KEPA
officials, a 15-member panel led by the Deputy Mayor of
Kaohsiung, Cheng Wen-long, will review the proposal, and
KEPA will monitor the process of removing the pollutants.
Since the plant is located within the city's proposed
Multifunctional Commerce and Trade Park area, the
development of the park will be delayed.




Thiele
Paal