Gyeonggi Special Prosecution Unit Catches 98 Businesses Illegally Emitting Fine Dust

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Businesses operating without dust prevention measures—such as working without dust barriers, dust walls, or dust covers, and illegally incinerating waste on site—in violation of the Air Environment Conservation Act have been caught in large numbers across Gyeonggi Province.

The Gyeonggi Special Prosecution Unit conducted an intensive two-week investigation from November 2 to 13 targeting approximately 14,000 construction sites and waste management and processing businesses, detecting 100 violations at 98 businesses, it announced on the 10th.

The violations included ▲69 cases of missing dust prevention facilities ▲21 cases of failure to comply with dust and waste-related reports ▲8 cases of violations of waste treatment standards, including illegal incineration of business waste ▲2 other cases including failure to operate air pollution prevention facilities, and so on.

Looking at major cases, a Company A in Gunpo was caught conducting drilling work without installing dust barriers at a construction site, generating large amounts of particulate dust.

Company B, a construction firm in Paju, was caught generating large amounts of particulate dust while transporting soil via dump truck without washing dust and dirt on wheels or applying side-spraying; Company C in Kimpo was found to have dust suppression vehicles deployed but idle for cost savings.

Company D, operating an aggregate production business in Icheon, was caught storing aggregate without dust covers and failing to spray water to suppress dust during aggregate crushing and loading.

Company E in Yangju reported installing dust walls on site boundaries, dust covers on stockpiled soil, and wheel-washing facilities on transport vehicles, but failed to implement these measures and was caught.

Company F in Gwangju, engaged in furniture manufacturing, was caught processing waste wood (plywood) in an illegally installed incineration facility on site rather than at an authorized waste treatment facility.

Additionally, Company G in Yangju was caught leaving large amounts of waste synthetic resins unattended in an open area, and Company H, a comprehensive waste recycling company in Icheon, was caught with leachate leaking from improperly stored waste.

The Gyeonggi Special Prosecution Unit plans to file criminal charges against the persons in charge of the caught businesses and refer them to the prosecutor's office.

Additionally, two businesses in Bucheon with inadequate dust suppression measures—such as failing to install part of dust covers or storing them outside storage yards—were notified to the city to improve their facilities.

"In conjunction with the fine dust seasonal management system currently in effect (December 2020 to March 2021), we will strengthen investigations into businesses illegally emitting fine dust that pose a major threat to residents' health," said In Chi-gwon, head of the Gyeonggi Special Prosecution Unit.