Relevant leader of SEPA made public yesterday the investigation results on the infringements of Yongfeng Chemical Plant in Zhaocun Village, Dingzhou, Hebei Province and the construction of Mingfang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. in Wu'an City of Handan without approval. He said, it is true that the construction of Yongfeng Chemical Plant has not gone through environmental review procedures and it stops its operation. Mingfang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. has constructed its plant without any approval and made frequent environmental infringements. The authority will impose heavy punishment on the company according to law.

He said, after receiving the report, SEPA immediately transferred the pollution cases of Yongfeng Chemical Plant in Zhaocun Village, Dingzhou, Hebei Province and the construction of Mingfang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. in Wu'an City of Handan without approval to Hebei Environmental Protection Bureau. Relevant department of SEPA urged the handling of the two cases several times and required immediate supervision and treatment of the two cases. It was found that Yongfeng Chemical Plant is located at north of Xinhezhuang Village, Zhaocun Town, Dingzhou, Hebei Province and finished construction in 2004. Dingzhou Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau ordered it ceasing operation in July of 2004 due to lack of environmental protection approval procedures. In June of 2007, officials of Dingzhou Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau inspected the plant again and found no sign of operation, nor did they find any raw materials or products.

He said that with site inspection, it was found that Mingfang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. in Wu'an City started the construction projects of 600,000 ton-capacity roll steel high-speed wire rod and 75 ton capacity furnace for special steel in October of 2006 without going through necessary environmental review procedures. Wu'an Environmental Protection Bureau ordered it to stop the construction and go through relevant environmental procedures. However, the enterprise did not implement this decision. On January 10, 2007, after SEPA's notification of its environmental infringement, Wu'an Environmental Protection Bureau ordered the company to immediately stop the construction and go through environmental procedures and strictly implement relevant requirements of SEPA. However, this enterprise did not fully stop its construction. On April 12, 2007, Wu'an Environmental Protection Bureau issued the Circular on Ordering Mingfang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. in Wu'an to Correct Its Infringement and ordered complete stop of the construction. Finally, the company has fully stopped its construction in June of 2007. It has finished the EIA report which is under review.

The official said, heavy punishment should imposed on Mingfang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. according to law as it rejected the implementation of the decisions of environmental protection department. He also asked that Hebei Environmental Protection Bureau should inform the investigation results on the case of Yongfeng Chemical Plant to the villagers of Xinhezhuang Village. Hebei Environmental Protection Bureau should strengthen the supervision and administration on Mingfang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. in WuAn City and ban its construction until it is passes environmental review and approval.