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Suhua Freeway's future undecided as EPA balks

The environmental impact review committee of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) yesterday required the Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau to provide supplementary information to help clarify doubts the committee still had regarding the viability and necessity of constructing the Suhua Freeway

This needs to be carried out before they can schedule another time to review the controversial scheme, which would connect Ilan and Hualian counties.

The meeting to review the project ended early yesterday afternoon. Despite rounds of questions and deliberation, the committee members still had question marks over 30 items.

Liu Chia-chun (劉佳鈞), deputy director general of the EPA's planning division, said committee members mainly quizzed bureau representatives on whether development of the freeway might violate some parts of the Homeland Restoration Act (國土復育條例).

They also wanted how the building of the freeway would affect the local environment, since 90 percent of the route would be through tunnels and on an overpass.

"The bureau has failed to give a clear account for both items," Liu said.

Liu said some committee members suggested the bureau re-think the environmental impact assessment since it had already modified the route they originally planned. The administration had to ascertain whether there would be any legal issues before adopting the suggestion, he said.

According to the committee's resolution, the bureau must present all the supplementary information within three months of yesterday's meeting.
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