Board of Audit and Inspection: Unauthorized Livestock Barn 10m from Water Source

Audit on Livestock Manure and Livestock Environment Improvement Status... "Concerns Over Water Source Pollution Due to Livestock Manure Leakage"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] An audit report from the Board of Audit and Inspection revealed issues in the management of livestock manure discharge facilities, including unauthorized livestock farms operating within 10 meters of rivers used as water sources.

On the 18th, the Board of Audit and Inspection announced the results of the audit titled "Improvement Status of Livestock Environment including Livestock Manure." This audit was conducted to comprehensively and systematically inspect the operation of livestock environment-related systems and projects that recycle livestock manure into compost and liquid fertilizer.

The Board of Audit and Inspection stated, "As a result of checking whether livestock farms were installed within water source protection zones, it was confirmed that a total of 11 livestock farms in the water source protection zones of 8 local governments have been operating after receiving permits or notifications."

The Board of Audit and Inspection pointed out, "However, the Ministry of Environment has not recognized this and has not taken necessary measures such as reviewing the need to relocate or purchase these livestock farms or informing that these farms can be sold to the state, raising concerns that water sources may be contaminated due to the leakage of livestock manure."

In March 2020, Goryeong-gun was found to have processed an application for building and usage change permits to legally use a facility that was illegally converted into a livestock farm without properly reviewing whether it fell within the water source protection zone.

The Board of Audit and Inspection criticized, "Namyangju-si allows cattle to be raised without obtaining permits or notifications for livestock farms within the water source protection zone and does not enforce regulations, leaving unauthorized livestock farms operating as close as 10 meters from the boundary of rivers used as water sources, raising concerns about contamination from livestock manure leakage."

The Board of Audit and Inspection notified the Minister of Environment to prepare appropriate measures such as actively encouraging relocation or purchasing of the 11 livestock farms permitted or notified and operating within the water source protection zones to preserve water quality.

The governor of Goryeong-gun was urged to thoroughly manage related tasks to prevent the installation of livestock manure discharge facilities (livestock farms) within water source protection zones. The mayor of Namyangju-si was also urged to strictly enforce regulations against unauthorized livestock manure discharge facilities (livestock farms) within the water source protection zones.

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