Hyundai Vinashin to be Fined for Attempt to Dump Toxic Waste

Hyundai Vinashin may be sanctioned for environmental violations by the Khanh Hoa Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Lieutenant Vo Duc Than, head of Environmental Police, said Sunday. Next week the provincial Police Department will send evidence to the Khanh Hoa Department of Natural Resources and Environment and recommend that Hyundai Vinashin be dealt with strictly, Mr Than added.

Environmental police caught Hyundai Vinashin using four trucks to try to dump over 100 tons of toxic waste near a residential area of Ninh Diem Commune in Ninh Hoa District of the central province of Khanh Hoa on July 8.

This police force was founded only recently. The provisions of the environmental law are not entirely logical. Mr. Than hopes that environmental law will be adjusted so that the environmental police will be able not only to deal with the problem directly, but also make a decision to fine to offenders.

In related news, the environmental police have tested Hyundai Vinashin industrial waste processing facility and met with representatives of two companies, Tan Huy Company Limited and Veteran 394 Joint Stock Company, that dumped dangerous waste at Ninh An Commune, Ninh Hoa District. These companies bought from Hyundai Vinashin scraps for use as engine lubricant. They had built two environmentally destructive scrap recycling facilities. Neither facility has registration for product quality or an environmental certificate.

Police sealed products and production lines. Khanh Hoa’s environmental police suspended operation at two recycling companies in order to investigate more thoroughly.