Taichung urged to block electroplating plants

APPEAL TO MAYOR:：Copper concentrations in oysters along the municipality’s shore are already much higher than the standard value set by the UK and Australia

By Sean Lin  /  Staff reporter

Wed, Apr 15, 2015 - Page 3

Taichung-based environmentalist Tsai Chih-hao (蔡智豪) yesterday called on Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) to scrap a project to set up electroplating plants in Taichung Harbor’s free-trade zone, saying that excessive concentrations of heavy metals in the waters off the harbor could contaminate seafood sold at the Wuci Fishing Port (梧棲漁港).

The project would require the removal of a 13.7-hectare windbreak, increasing what is known as “fugitive dust” near the harbor and shortening the harbor’s lifespan, he said.

City officials are reviewing an environmental impact assessment report on the project.

Citing statistics in the report, Tsai said the maximum copper concentrations detected in oysters along the coast of Taichung last year was 738 parts per million (ppm), while zinc concentrations amounted to 2,340ppm.

Compared with data on copper-contaminated “green oysters” in Hsinchu County in 2000, the copper concentrations were roughly the same, while the density of zinc more than doubled.

Copper concentrations in oysters along Taichung’s shore are seven times higher than the standard value stipulated by the UK government, 100ppm, and are 24.6 times higher than that set by the Australian government, Tsai said, adding that oysters are a common denominator used while measuring heavy metal pollution in the ocean.

The elevated levels of heavy metals could affect Wuci Fishing Port — frequented by locals and visitors seeking fresh seafood on the weekends — threatening public health.

Tsai said that the nation has not yet established maximum legal concentrations of heavy metals in fish, and called on the Taichung City Government to establish such standards as soon as possible.

Tsai also questioned the need for an 81-hectare precision machinery zone in the city’s Cingshuei District (清水) that the Taichung City Urban Development Bureau has considered establishing, along with electroplating plants.

Cingshuei consists mostly of farming communities, and wastewater from electroplating would exceed the environmental capacity of the area, he said.

“The worst part about electroplating is that it benefits foreign countries with its products, but leaves all the pollution created at home,” he said.

Tsai said 53 hectares of forest on Dadu Mountain (大肚山) are scheduled to be removed to accommodate a Central Taiwan Science Park expansion plan, approved by the Environmental Protection Administration in February.

Since Lin assumed office, his administration has espoused an “environmental compensation” method that says the same number of trees removed due to economic development should be planted elsewhere, Tsai said.

He said that environmental protection groups are very skeptical about the efficacy this method would have on conserving the environment, and Lin’s administration should not allow the removal of large tracts of forests.

He called on the city government to adopt a firmer position during environmental impact assessments against projects that would create significant effects in the environment.