Chungnam Declares 'Fourth High-Concentration Fine Dust Emergency Reduction Measure' This Year

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The fourth high-concentration fine dust emergency reduction measure of the year will be implemented in Chungnam.

According to Chungnam Province on the 14th, the daily average concentration of ultrafine dust in the region exceeded 50㎍/㎥ for two consecutive days from the previous day, meeting the criteria for emergency reduction measures. Accordingly, the province will implement fine dust emergency reduction measures throughout the province from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the same day.

The emergency reduction measures are implemented when conditions such as ▲ the average concentration from 0 to 16 hours on the day exceeds 50㎍/㎥ and is expected to exceed 50㎍/㎥ the next day ▲ a warning or advisory is issued in the relevant city/province area from 0 to 16 hours on the day and the concentration is expected to exceed 50㎍/㎥ the next day ▲ the concentration is expected to exceed 75㎍/㎥ (very bad) the next day are met.

Following the implementation of the emergency reduction measures, the province will require 55 major fine dust-emitting business sites in the region, including petrochemical and refining plants and steel manufacturing, to change their operating hours and participate mandatorily in measures such as adjusting operating rates or improving efficiency.

In addition, construction sites must implement dust suppression measures such as changing or adjusting construction hours, operating water spraying trucks, and covering dust-proof tarps.

If business sites and construction sites subject to emergency reduction measures violate these regulations, a fine of up to 3 million KRW will be imposed.

In particular, the province will shut down four coal power generation facilities in the region and apply output restrictions (limited to 80% of total output) to 26 facilities.

A provincial official said, “We plan to inspect and crack down on related business sites and construction sites following the issuance of emergency reduction measures and expand the operation of road cleaning vehicles. Also, the Geumgang River Basin Environmental Office, which has jurisdiction over the emergency reduction measure areas, plans to inspect business sites and construction sites.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.