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SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1986
HE DISCLOSED THAT WHEN THE DIVISION LEARNED OF THE COMPANY'S PLAN TO BUILD THE NEW PLANT, THE DEPARTMENT REMINDED THE MANAGEMENT TO SEEK PRIOR APPROVAL OF DESIGN OF THE FURNACE AND CHIMNEY.
ALTHOUGH NO APPLICATION HAD BEEN RECEIVED, OFFICERS OF THE DIVISION HAD MET WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PLANT TO DISCUSS AIR POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES TO BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE PLANT,
MR CHUNG SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH THESE MEASURES WHICH INCLUDED A HIGH EFFICIENCY DUST COLLECTOR.
AN INSPECTION MADE LAST MONTH DURING THE COMMISSIONING AND TESTING OF THE PLANT FOUND THAT THE LEVEL OF AIR POLLUTION CONTROL TO BE GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE.
THIS WAS THE REASON WHY A PROHIBITION NOTICE UNDER THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE WAS NOT ISSUED, MR CHUNG SAID.
HOWEVER, SINCE THE OWNER OF THE FACTORY HAD FAILED TO OBTAIN AN APPROVAL CERTIFICATE PRIOR TO THE INSTALLATION OF THE FURNACE AND CHIMNEY, THE DEPARTMENT HAS DECIDED TO PROSECUTE THE OWNER FOR UNAUTHORISED INSTALLATION.
THE PLANT HAD BEEN PUT UNDER SURVEILLANCE SINCE THEN.
STATISTICS SHOWED THAT IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT'S AIR CONTROL GROUP (FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT) MADE 1 715 INSPECTIONS TO POTENTIAL POLLUTING PLANTS.
THIRTY-THREE PROSECUTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT, OF WHICH 14 WERE FOR UNAUTHORISED INSTALLATION OF FURNACES, OVENS OR CHIMNEYS, 18 FOR EMITTING EXCESSIVE DARK SMOKE AND ONE FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A NOTICE TO STOP USING AN UNSUITABLE FUEL.
FINES RANGED FROM $500 TO $7 500.
A TOTAL OF 250 COMPLAINTS ABOUT AIR POLLUTION WERE RECEIVED AND INVESTIGATED AND 82 SETS OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS ON THE DESIGN OF CHIMNEYS AND FURNACES WERE PROCESSED.
THE DEPARTMENT ALSO GAVE ADVICE ON MATTERS CONCERNING STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF AIR POLLUTION EQUIPMENT.
EXPLANATORY BOOKLETS ON THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL LEGISLATION ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT AND ITS BRANCH OFFICES.
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