Taiwan Cement's largest mine in Taiwan, China, is set to take shape; environmental groups accuse the Ministry of Economic Affairs of forcefully shielding it
After years of mining, Taiwan Cement Corporation has already leveled the seaward side of the ridge of Yongshi Mountain in Xiulin Township, Hualien County, yet Taiwan Cement's Jinchang Quarry has this year been issued a new quarry registration certificate and is preparing to begin operations, meaning that a quarry spanning 253 hectares, the largest in all of Taiwan, will take shape.
In response, the Citizens of the Earth Foundation and Legislator Kao Chih-peng held a press conference today, accusing the Ministry of Economic Affairs of shielding Taiwan Cement, not only repeatedly distorting the development permit under the competent authority as defined by the Mining Act, but also allowing Taiwan Cement to successfully evade the environmental difference assessment, thoroughly wrecking the legal system.
Environmental groups: Under the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, Jinchang should carry out an environmental difference assessment
What exactly is the problem with Jinchang being issued a new quarry registration certificate? Pan Cheng-cheng, a specialist at the Citizens of the Earth Foundation, pointed out that, adding to the existing 150-hectare Baolai and Hesheng raw stone quarries, Taiwan Cement's Jinchang Stone Quarry will open a new quarry of about 103 hectares on Yongshi Mountain, meaning that in total Taiwan Cement will possess 253 hectares, the largest quarry in all of Taiwan.
And according to Article 16-1 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, if a development unit that has passed an environmental impact assessment has not developed for more than three years, it should carry out an environmental difference analysis (environmental difference assessment) based on the current situation and submit it to the competent authority for review, and may not develop before it is approved. The Jinchang Quarry passed its environmental impact assessment in ROC year 97, and has now gone 8 years without development, so it should naturally submit an environmental difference review report.
"But the Ministry of Economic Affairs treats the 'quarry registration certificate' as the operator's commencement permit," Pan Cheng-cheng said. A single official document from the Ministry of Economic Affairs held that Jinchang Stone Quarry did not need to redo the environmental difference assessment, exempting all kinds of assessments, including what impact it would have on the environment and how much benefit it would generate for the economy, which amounts to opening the door wide for the operator and completely wrecking the design of the nation's legal system.
