Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06GUANGZHOU32439
2006-12-21 01:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Guangzhou
Cable title:
Major Environmental Incidents in South China
how-toVZCZCXRO0582 RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHGZ #2439/01 3550126 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 210126Z DEC 06 FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5610 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEAEPA/HQ EPA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUANGZHOU 032439
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM
STATE FOR OES/OGC, OES/ENV, AND OES/PCI/STEWART
USDOC FOR 4420/ITA/MAC/MCQUEEN, DAS LEVINE
USPACOM FOR FPA
EPA FOR OFFICE OF WATER
EPA ALSO FOR INTERNATIONAL/THOMPSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV SOCI CH
SUBJECT: Major Environmental Incidents in South China
REF: A) Guangzhou 93
B) Guangzhou 3754
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUANGZHOU 032439
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM
STATE FOR OES/OGC, OES/ENV, AND OES/PCI/STEWART
USDOC FOR 4420/ITA/MAC/MCQUEEN, DAS LEVINE
USPACOM FOR FPA
EPA FOR OFFICE OF WATER
EPA ALSO FOR INTERNATIONAL/THOMPSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV SOCI CH
SUBJECT: Major Environmental Incidents in South China
REF: A) Guangzhou 93
B) Guangzhou 3754
1. (U) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: Enforcement of environmental
regulations remains problematic in South China. Major
environmental incidents occur with disturbing regularity,
despite greater efforts by provincial and local governments
to avert them. Increased reporting about such incidents
does suggest that there is greater transparency with
respect to environmental matters. Guangdong officials
filed and investigated 5,000 environmental cases, closing
1,300 enterpries, in the first nine months of 2006. Major
environmental incidents in the region during the past two
years include cadmium and xylene spills, arsenic and acid
waste contamination, and illegal waste water discharge.
END SUMMARY AND COMMENT.
ENFORCEMENT STATISTICS
--------------
2. (U) In the first nine months of 2006, Guangdong
environmental enforcement officials inspected over 100,000
enterprises that discharge pollutants. Guangdong officials
filed and investigated 5,000 cases, resulting in RMB 78
million (USD 9.9 million) in fines and the closing of 1,300
enterprises. More than 6,600 factories were warned about
environmental violations and were required to remedy them
within a given period of time.
CADMIUM SPILL
--------------
3. (U) Shaoguan Smelting Factory's illegal discharge of
cadmium-carrying waste caused serious pollution in the
Beijiang River in December 2005, affecting the water supply
of over 100,000 residents downstream (refs A and B).
Cleanup efforts lasted nearly one month. Ten employees of
the state-owned smelter received punishments for their
roles in the spill. Two people were fired, two were
demoted, two received warnings or demerits, and the cases
of another three were sent to the Public Security Bureau
(PSB) for criminal investigation. Shaoguan Smelting has
invested RMB 80 million (USD 10.3 million) in waste-water
treatment since the incident and is expected to achieve
zero discharge of untreated water next year.
ARSENIC POISONING
--------------
4. (U) Yingde Sulfuric Acid Factory illegally discharged
pollutants with a high concentration of arsenic in November
2005, causing arsenic poisoning in 29 villagers who drank
contaminated water. The Director of the Yingde Municipal
Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) was required to
submit written self-criticisms. Five workers were
disciplined by the Party and several were detained by the
PSB pending criminal charges.
ACID WASTE
--------------
5. (U) Guangzhou Haibei Petro-Chemical Distribution Company
illegally dumped acid waste and caused serious pollution in
the Foshan waterway of the Pearl River from May to
September 2005. One person was sentenced to three years
probation. The company was fined RMB 100,000 (USD 12,800).
XYLENE SPILL
--------------
6. (U) A truck driver was sentenced to nine months behind
bars for illegally driving a truck overloaded with the
hazardous material xylene (a solvent used in the printing,
rubber, and leather industries) in January 2006. The truck
ran off the road and plunged into a waterway near the
Xinjie River in the Huadu District of Guangzhou. Nearly
one ton of xylene spilled into the waterway. The local
media reported that prompt action in containing the spill
prevented any injuries or contamination of the water
GUANGZHOU 00032439 002 OF 002
supply.
TEXTILE FACTORY WASTE WATER
--------------
7. (U) Dongguan Fuan Textiles Ltd., fully owned by Hong
Kong-listed Fountain Set (Holdings) Ltd., secretly released
more than 10 million tons of waste-water over the past two
years through an underground pipe. In June 2006, the
company was fined RMB 210,000 (USD 26,900) and asked to pay
an additional RMB 11.5 million (USD 1.47 million) in
retroactive discharge fees.
UPSTART EPB'S
--------------
8. (U) Longchuan County EPB was criticized for bypassing
the Guangdong Provincial EPB in lowering thresholds for
various environmental requirements and illegally approving
a mineral exploration project in 2005. Separately, the
Boluo County EPB was criticized for bypassing Guangdong
Province EPB's review and approving highly polluting
projects from 2002 to 2005.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM
STATE FOR OES/OGC, OES/ENV, AND OES/PCI/STEWART
USDOC FOR 4420/ITA/MAC/MCQUEEN, DAS LEVINE
USPACOM FOR FPA
EPA FOR OFFICE OF WATER
EPA ALSO FOR INTERNATIONAL/THOMPSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV SOCI CH
SUBJECT: Major Environmental Incidents in South China
REF: A) Guangzhou 93
B) Guangzhou 3754
1. (U) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: Enforcement of environmental
regulations remains problematic in South China. Major
environmental incidents occur with disturbing regularity,
despite greater efforts by provincial and local governments
to avert them. Increased reporting about such incidents
does suggest that there is greater transparency with
respect to environmental matters. Guangdong officials
filed and investigated 5,000 environmental cases, closing
1,300 enterpries, in the first nine months of 2006. Major
environmental incidents in the region during the past two
years include cadmium and xylene spills, arsenic and acid
waste contamination, and illegal waste water discharge.
END SUMMARY AND COMMENT.
ENFORCEMENT STATISTICS
--------------
2. (U) In the first nine months of 2006, Guangdong
environmental enforcement officials inspected over 100,000
enterprises that discharge pollutants. Guangdong officials
filed and investigated 5,000 cases, resulting in RMB 78
million (USD 9.9 million) in fines and the closing of 1,300
enterprises. More than 6,600 factories were warned about
environmental violations and were required to remedy them
within a given period of time.
CADMIUM SPILL
--------------
3. (U) Shaoguan Smelting Factory's illegal discharge of
cadmium-carrying waste caused serious pollution in the
Beijiang River in December 2005, affecting the water supply
of over 100,000 residents downstream (refs A and B).
Cleanup efforts lasted nearly one month. Ten employees of
the state-owned smelter received punishments for their
roles in the spill. Two people were fired, two were
demoted, two received warnings or demerits, and the cases
of another three were sent to the Public Security Bureau
(PSB) for criminal investigation. Shaoguan Smelting has
invested RMB 80 million (USD 10.3 million) in waste-water
treatment since the incident and is expected to achieve
zero discharge of untreated water next year.
ARSENIC POISONING
--------------
4. (U) Yingde Sulfuric Acid Factory illegally discharged
pollutants with a high concentration of arsenic in November
2005, causing arsenic poisoning in 29 villagers who drank
contaminated water. The Director of the Yingde Municipal
Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) was required to
submit written self-criticisms. Five workers were
disciplined by the Party and several were detained by the
PSB pending criminal charges.
ACID WASTE
--------------
5. (U) Guangzhou Haibei Petro-Chemical Distribution Company
illegally dumped acid waste and caused serious pollution in
the Foshan waterway of the Pearl River from May to
September 2005. One person was sentenced to three years
probation. The company was fined RMB 100,000 (USD 12,800).
XYLENE SPILL
--------------
6. (U) A truck driver was sentenced to nine months behind
bars for illegally driving a truck overloaded with the
hazardous material xylene (a solvent used in the printing,
rubber, and leather industries) in January 2006. The truck
ran off the road and plunged into a waterway near the
Xinjie River in the Huadu District of Guangzhou. Nearly
one ton of xylene spilled into the waterway. The local
media reported that prompt action in containing the spill
prevented any injuries or contamination of the water
GUANGZHOU 00032439 002 OF 002
supply.
TEXTILE FACTORY WASTE WATER
--------------
7. (U) Dongguan Fuan Textiles Ltd., fully owned by Hong
Kong-listed Fountain Set (Holdings) Ltd., secretly released
more than 10 million tons of waste-water over the past two
years through an underground pipe. In June 2006, the
company was fined RMB 210,000 (USD 26,900) and asked to pay
an additional RMB 11.5 million (USD 1.47 million) in
retroactive discharge fees.
UPSTART EPB'S
--------------
8. (U) Longchuan County EPB was criticized for bypassing
the Guangdong Provincial EPB in lowering thresholds for
various environmental requirements and illegally approving
a mineral exploration project in 2005. Separately, the
Boluo County EPB was criticized for bypassing Guangdong
Province EPB's review and approving highly polluting
projects from 2002 to 2005.
GOLDBERG