The Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park’s expansion project yesterday passed its environmental impact assessment (EIA) review, paving the way for the introduction of more businesses, including animal-use vaccine manufacturers and biofuel companies.
The 223-hectare park in the county’s Changjhih Township (長治) started operating in 2006 and currently houses 96 companies. As the park is nearing capacity, its manager, the Council of Agriculture, has proposed utilizing a 165-hectare plot of land northeast of the park for expansion.
During a previous EIA review, the committee expressed concern over the impact of the proposed expansion on the groundwater system, as it is situated along the groundwater recharge area of the Pingtung Plain.
The developer said it would draw a 7.21-hectare zone to serve as a detention basin and reserve 25.81 hectares of green land to protect the area against flooding and allow groundwater recharge.
Committee member Chang Hsueh-wen (張學文) said that historical data showed that the area was a major habitat of black kites, whose local population has fallen below 500.
The developer must ensure that no toxic chemicals or pesticides would be used during construction and operation to conserve the local black kite and pheasant-tailed jacana populations, Chang said.
The proposed expansion is expected to increase daily water consumption by 4,200m3 from 5,200m3 — far below the 12,500m3 approved in 2003 — and should therefore not significantly impact the groundwater system and water supply, the developer said.
The committee approved the proposed project on the condition that the developer must suppress at least 80 percent of fugitive emissions and conduct air quality control during construction, while surveying the local water system and improving the ecological capacity of the proposed detention basin.
The developer said that it expects to attract 60 more companies engaged in plant seeding, poultry biotechnology, biofarming, aquarium fish and processed agricultural and fishery products.
The park was designated as a free economic pilot zone in 2013 to boost the nation’s value-added agriculture industry, the developer said.
After obtaining EIA approval, the project still has to be reviewed by the Construction and Planning Agency before construction starts.
The developer said it expects the new park to start operations in 2019.
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