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EPD to prosecute contractors of SENT Landfill and construction site for illegal discharge
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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has completed the investigations on muddy water found at the seafront of Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate in early April, an EPD spokesman said today (June 10). Investigations revealed that the South East New Territories (SENT) Landfill and a construction site in Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate were the two suspected sources of muddy water discharge into the storm drains. The Environmental Compliance Division of the EPD has completed the process of evidence collection and is preparing to initiate prosecution against the contractors of the SENT Landfill and the construction site according to the established procedure.

     In response to another report on the discharge of muddy water at the seafront off the Industrial Estate this Monday (June 6), EPD officers conducted immediate inspections on the same day and found that the muddy water suspectedly originated from a construction site at the Industrial Estate and not from the SENT Landfill. The EPD is now gathering evidence and will take legal action should there be sufficient evidence.

     The EPD spokesman explained that the storm drains serve to convey rain water and floodwater only. Any direct discharge of muddy water into storm drains will pollute nearby river courses as well as local marine waters, and is a contravention of the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO).

     After the muddy water incident in April, the EPD immediately instructed the contractor of the SENT Landfill to conduct a comprehensive review of its operation, and to implement enhanced measures to prevent the discharge of muddy water to the storm drains outside the landfill area. Furthermore, the landfill contractor has also strengthened its surface water management measures, including suspending slope restoration and greening works at the landfill on rainy days, increasing the use of impermeable materials such as plastic liners to cover the landfill site, increasing the frequency of inspection and de-silting of the drainage within the landfill, construction of gabions with silt fences, and enhancing the clearance of sediments at the silt traps to improve their effectiveness.

     The EPD spokesman said that the department has stepped up the monitoring of the landfill's treatment facilities and construction sites to ensure that the landfill operation complies with the requirements as set out in the contract, and any discharge from the landfill or construction sites in the area must adhere to the environmental laws.

     According to the WPCO, any person who discharges wastewater into storm drains, streams or the sea contravenes the WPCO. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment. A maximum fine of $400,000 and six months' imprisonment may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions. In addition, a daily fine of $10,000 may be imposed for a continuing offence.

Ends/Friday, June 10, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:02

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