2012-08-20 Yunlin County’s Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) has proactively investigated the magnitude and extent of soil and groundwater contamination for the sixth naphtha plant and its surrounding areas, and has also established an early warning system. The EPB sought funds from the national EPA to carry out a “2011 Sixth Naphtha Plant Potential Soil and Groundwater Contamination Investigation and Verification Plan” and completed in phases the investigation of areas with a high potential for soil and groundwater contamination according to Article 12 of the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Act. The findings of the investigations can be used as a reference for future pollution control measures.

With these plans in place, the EPB conducted site surveys in three phases from October 2011 to August 2012, covering some 60 sites within the sixth naphtha cracker plant. The first phase included site surveys and the integration of the plant’s related data. After several discussions, 15 sites with high potential for contamination were selected and a second-phase investigation was carried out in these sites. The 15 sites were then cross-checked using various technical surveys for the magnitude and extent of soil and groundwater contamination. Results of the second-phase investigation were assessed and the third-phase investigation was carried out.

During site investigations, the EPB asked the plant to submit and carry out improvement and contingency plans in order to improve the environment in a timely fashion. The EPB will continue to provide guidance and take a proactive monitoring approach. It will also keep an eye on the progress of polluted site remediation so as to ensure the quality of the living environment in these areas. Moreover, to prevent contamination from spreading to peripheral areas and to groundwater, the EPA set up groundwater monitoring wells within a 5-km radius around the sixth naphtha cracker plant. Samples were collected from the new wells and the existing wells inside the plant for testing. In addition, to prevent contamination from spreading through rainwater drainage channels, sediment deposits from the five sluice gates in the plant were sampled and analyzed so as to control the distribution of contaminated sediments in the sixth naphtha cracker plant.

The EPB will continue to carry out surveys and assessments in the 15 selected sites. Based on the results of the investigations, the EPB will establish a long-term, comprehensive management framework and strategies to reduce environmental health and safety hazards in the sixth naphtha cracker plant and ensure the sustainable use of soil and groundwater resources.