To enhance inspection efforts, the Environmental Protection Bureau of Pingtung County Government has initiated the "2023 Project for the Advancement of Supervisory Control Technology in Pingtung County." The primary objective of this project is to prevent environmental pollution by improving the efficacy of enforcement technology, facilitating investigations into environmental crimes, and ensuring prompt case inspections. Furthermore, comprehensive supervision is implemented, starting from the sources to effectively curb environmental offenses and cultivate a hygienic, comfortable, and sustainable living environment. The project started from February 24, 2023, to November 30, 2023 with the summarized results of each component outlined below:
On a monthly basis, relevant data is compiled by the project with the latest progress in investigations from judicial and police units. From January to October in 2023, 23 significant environmental pollution cases have been reported. During working hours, inspections of major waste disposal sites were conducted 61 times, and an additional 57 patrols, stakeouts, and surveillance operations were carried out during non-working hours.
According to the type and circumstances of received cases, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) patrols or surveillance camera installations were arranged. Due to high demand, surveillance camera setup operations were coordinated with the illegal disposal program to collectively install cameras at required locations within Pingtung County. Subsequent major cases detected by the surveillance system were handed over to the project for further monitoring, on-site inspection, and investigation.
Throughout the execution of the project, a total of 202 remote monitoring devices were installed (each device set up for 96 hours). The monitoring system facilitated the reporting of 18 cases of abandoned waste disposal. Of these, two major cases were identified through surveillance cameras operated by this project, while seven significant cases were detected by surveillance cameras from the illegal disposal program.
In respond to frequent complaints about garbage dumping along the embankment in Wan Nei Village, surveillance cameras were installed by this project with inspection personnel conducting vehicle tracking. Unlicensed vehicles were apprehended and suspects were referred for prosecution. Additionally, based on reports of suspected illegal disposal of waste oil in Jiuru Township's Daqiu Section, this project observed entry and exit times through surveillance cameras. Coordinating with inspection personnel for ambush and on-site checks, the project successfully uncovered an illegal underground oil refinery.
Professional consultation was introduced, and the project has successfully completed four counseling and improvement programs. These programs involved Chery Enterprise, How Company, and Yang Enterprise in the feed manufacturing procedures, along with Kun Trading focusing on boiler steam production processes. Chery Enterprise and How Company have improved their procedure following the counseling advice and upgraded the prevention equipment. Yang Enterprise initially addressed the malfunction of the electrostatic precipitator with repairs, followed by an assessment of the installation of other pollution control equipment. Kun Trading has cleared waste storage from the factory area and made improvements based on counseling reports, as well as initiating new constructions. Some companies have already completed improvements. After counseling, Chery Enterprise has only received five complaints in the past three months, and How Company reached zero complaint cases in October. This demonstrates significant counseling effectiveness. All companies are encouraged to continue planning equipment installations and parameter adjustments to enhance processes, environment, and pollution control equipment.
During the project, assistance was provided for the illegal disposal cases, including sampling and testing of waste materials, on-site excavation, and confiscation of vehicles for towing. Ten Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) tests were conducted. Among them, two buckets of waste liquid disposed of in the Qingxi section of Pingtung City were found to have a flash point below 60 degrees Celsius, indicating them as flammable industrial waste. One of the buckets had a total mercury concentration of 0.6 mg/L, exceeding the standard of 0.2 mg/L. The disposal site was located in a remote area without surveillance cameras, making it impossible to trace the perpetrator. According to regulations, if the perpetrator cannot be identified, the landowner is responsible for clearing the waste; in this case, the land is government-owned.
Two excavations were carried out using an excavator, including one in Datan Xinzhuang section, where the site needed investigation after the case was transferred. The site was filled with construction waste and covered with soil and rocks. In Dingzhong section of Kanding Township, the site was filled with construction waste, waste hemp bags, waste plastic pipes, waste plastic, and waste fishing nets. Additionally, assistance was provided in eight cases where an excavator was provided to landowners or other organizations. Project personnel were responsible for assisting in recording and measuring during the excavation. Furthermore, two pieces of machinery and vehicles were confiscated based on the demands of illegal disposal cases.
Six aerial inspections were conducted using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), primarily assisting in evidence collection and verifying the extent and nature of materials stored at the sites. UAVs were employed in areas which are challenging to inspect conventionally, enhancing operational efficiency through smart technology surveillance. Notably, the site in Datan Xinzhuang section of Donggang Town involved extensive waste disposal, and joint actions with law enforcement were taken after pinpointing the opportune inspection timing. In Xinli section of Xinyuan Township, the UAV provided clear insights into changes in the quantity and patterns of waste at the site, aiding subsequent investigative operations. In the Ailiao section of Neipu Township, where a group-based waste disposal burial case occurred, UAV operations allowed distant observations, reducing exposure risks for inspection personnel. All three cases mentioned above were significant transferred cases.
Six operations for real-time monitoring and enforcement of water pollution were conducted. One case involved a complaint against Szu Corporation for discharging wastewater. Using water quality instruments installed by this project for real-time monitoring, the discharge time was successfully identified, and samples were taken for testing. The results revealed a violation of Article 30 of the Water Pollution Control Act, leading to legal action. Additionally, ten sampling tests were conducted for perimeter and chimney odor detection, including six perimeter odor samplings and four chimney emissions samplings. One perimeter odor test exceeded the standard and was put in the list for subsequent counseling. Another chimney odor test exceeded the standard and has been processed according to relevant regulations. Apart from these two cases, all others met the standards.
This project collaborated with the Environmental Protection Bureau in conducting 10 targeted inspections and crackdowns on resource recycling businesses. This included checking the information of responsible operators displaying products in selling locations within the jurisdiction (8 inspections), and inspecting 14 businesses required to set up resource recycling facilities for compliance (2 inspections). All inspection results were found to be in accordance with relevant regulations. Additionally, one inspection focused on product usage to promote compliance with Article 19 of the Waste Clearance Act and the "Restrictions on the Use of Disposable Beverage Cups and Implementation Methods." This initiative involved inspecting 20 businesses, all of which were found to be following the regulations.
