The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) yesterday slapped Formosa Plastics Corp’s (台塑) plant in Greater Kaohsiung’s Renwu (仁武) with an NT$80 million (US$2.8 million) fine for failing to contain groundwater pollution.
The EPA said the fine was made in accordance with a conclusion reached by a panel of specialists on Friday to discuss soil and groundwater pollution at the Renwu plant.
The EPA said that according to data collected from the plant, a survey on soil and groundwater pollution was conducted in 2003 and the company knew about the water pollution. However, it failed to report the problem to the government.
After conducting an investigation on chlorinated solvent pollution in 2009, the EPA confirmed in November that the soil and groundwater at the Renwu plant had been seriously polluted.
The EPA said Formosa Plastics had violated the Water Pollution Control Act (水汙染防治法) and that the penalty was increased because it knew about the pollution, but failed to take action to deal with the problem.
In response, Formosa Plastics Corp said in a statement yesterday it was disappointed that the EPA failed to recognize the firm’s efforts to reduce pollution and would seek an administrative remedy to nullify the ruling when it has received the formal documents.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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