Taiwan Quick Take: Taipower faces fines

The state-run Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) would be fined as much as NT$7.5 million per day beginning yesterday for failing to submit environmental impact assessment reports on its three nuclear power plants, a Taipei County Government spokesman said yesterday. According to the spokesman, the county's environmental protection bureau already issued a notice to Taipower in June or July, demanding that it outline its measures for improving the three plants' management and storage plan for nuclear fuel waste before the Oct. 31. deadline. But Taipower has failed to do so to date, he said. In the interest of public health and safety, the county government has to stand firm on its policy of vigorously monitoring the operations of the first, second and fourth nuclear power plants, the spokesman said, adding that county authorities would not tolerate any illegal dumping of nuclear waste or any operation flaws.