Mapo-gu Conducts Soil Survey at Planned Site of Nanji-do Incineration Plant... Why?

Last July, National Institute of Environmental Research's 'Excess Fluoride' Media Report... Mapo-gu Takes Direct Action to Alleviate Residents' Concerns
Soil Analysis by Specialized Agency, Including New Incineration Site, Analyzes Pollution Levels of 22 Items at 7 Soil Contamination Concern Sites

Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Kang-su) took direct action on the 28th to investigate soil contamination levels at seven sites of concern, including the planned site for a new metropolitan resource recovery facility (hereinafter referred to as the ‘incinerator site’).

This move reflects growing public anxiety following a report in July that the National Institute of Environmental Research detected 563 mg/kg of fluoride?exceeding the soil contamination concern standard of 400 mg/kg?in soil samples taken near the incinerator site.

Accordingly, Mapo-gu commissioned a specialized soil investigation agency to conduct a more accurate and objective contamination survey, completing soil sampling on the afternoon of the 28th.

The investigation targeted a total of 18 points across seven locations, including the incinerator site (planned new resource recovery facility), Noeul Green Energy, Park Young-seok Mountain Culture Experience Center, the summit of Sky Park, Korea Midland Power Seoul Power Headquarters, the Culture Tank Base (former oil storage base), and areas near Nanji Stream Park Soccer Field.

The district requested analysis of 22 items from the collected soil samples, covering fluoride?which was the subject of the over-detection controversy?as well as heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, zinc, petroleum products, and general items.

Notably, about 30 people attended the investigation process to ensure fairness and reliability, including Mayor Park Kang-su, heads of related departments, leaders of professional organizations, representatives of multi-stakeholder councils, district council members, officials from the Ministry of Environment and Seoul City, and media representatives.

According to soil analysis officials, results are expected within three weeks at the earliest. If any sites exceed the legal standards, the district plans to demand a thorough soil investigation from Seoul City, the party responsible for soil remediation, in accordance with the Soil Environment Conservation Act.

Mayor Park Kang-su stated, “We could not overlook the anxiety and concerns regarding the living environment of Mapo residents and popular public spots, so Mapo-gu took direct action to conduct a soil contamination survey. We will do our best to provide accurate information to residents and alleviate their concerns, and actively demand appropriate measures based on the analysis results.”

The district has also inquired with the Ministry of Environment about the precise regional classification of the disputed measurement points, considering that whether legal standards are exceeded may vary depending on regional classification under the Soil Environment Conservation Act and the Act on the Establishment and Management of Spatial Information.

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