Recent Environmental Law and Public Participation News
Lead-poisoned children of Qingyuan promised testing and medical treatment (Google translation)
Officials announced to concerned residents that all children in Qingyuan would be given access to blood testing and prompt treatment to address the growing problem of lead poisoning. Qingyuan, located next to an industrial park containing a battery factory, shocked health and environmental officials earlier this year when blood testing of about 50 families revealed 44 children with elevated blood lead levels, including one ten-month old with a level as high as 55 µg/dL, several times above the safety limit for blood lead levels. (Source: Guangzhou Daily)
Ministry of Environmental Protection insists that public participation is improving (Google translation)
At the National Environmental Education Forum held in Guiyang on December 19, the Ministry of Environmental Protection issued a written notice sharply countering assertions that public participation in environmental protection had weakened. Noting various significant advancements made in environmental protection in recent years, the notice also mentioned several future initiatives. As part of ongoing efforts to foster public participation, a series of “National Environmental Education Readers” will be published by the MEP-affiliated China Environmental Science Press. (Source: First Financial Daily)
Chinese Environmental GONGO pushes for amendment to give public interest groups standing in environmental litigation (Google translation)
At a meeting last week on environmental rights convened by the All-China Environment Federation (ACEF), a government-organized NGO (GONGO) that serves as an umbrella organization for China’s environmental groups, the conference proposed an amendment to Article 6 of China’s Environmental Protection Law in order to permit public interest groups to serve as plaintiffs in environmental litigation. In making the case for a change to the national law, ACEF pointed to the useful roles played by NGOs in several recent environmental cases, including a landmark case where the ACEF became the first public interest group to serve as plaintiff. (Source: Public Times)
Huaian City takes special actions against heavy metal pollution (Google translation)
Environmental and law enforcement officials began a special inspection program last week targeting heavy metal industries in an effort to safeguard public health and eliminate potential safety issues. In the wake of several heavy metal pollution incidents that garnered national attention, the Huaian municipal government decided to increase own capability to address the issue. So far, the special inspection has found that the majority of Huaian enterprises can improve their track record of following environmental standards and EIA procedures. Certain individual enterprises, particularly in the sludge disposal and environmental remediation sectors, have especially risky safety problems. (Source: Huaian News Network)
Yichun special inspection programs results in plant closures (Google translation)
A special inspection program for heavy metal pollution undertaken by Yichun City officials resulted in the closure of many enterprises, authorities announced last week. The inspections primarily sought to discover factories using highly-polluting and backwards technologies along with enterprises in violation of pollution controls set forth in their Environmental Impact Assessments. 12 paper mills totaling 1.1 million tons of annual capacity were closed, along with 6 cement companies and 3 leather tanneries. (Source: Yichun Daily)
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