According to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Thua Thien - Hue, from 2016 to 2021, the Department has conducted 42 inspections and examinations of compliance with legal regulations in the field of minerals in the province for 95 organizations, joint ventures and 61 individuals. Of which, 51 mines licensed for mineral exploitation were inspected and examined. The Department issued 82 decisions on administrative sanctions in the field of minerals with a total fine of VND 1,311,500,000. At the same time, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee was assigned to impose sanctions under his authority in the field of minerals against 22 organizations with a total fine of VND 6,880,000,000; revoked 5 mineral exploitation licenses for 5 mines and applied the additional penalty of confiscating minerals converted in money with a total fine of VND 1,515,224,000.
Regarding environmental protection in mineral exploitation activities, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has inspected and detected 10 cases of violations of environmental protection regulations, issued 9 decisions on administrative sanctions in the environmental field against 9 organizations with a total fine of 530,000,000 VND. At the same time, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee was assigned to impose a fine under his authority against 1 organization with a total fine of 240,000,000 VND, and temporarily suspended the operation of 1 mine. The main violations include not reporting the results of periodic waste monitoring; not implementing one of the contents of the decision approving the environmental impact assessment report; not constructing and installing environmental protection works; arbitrarily putting waste treatment works into trial operation without the approval of the competent authority...
In 2022, the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment conducted 19 inspections and examinations of 34 organizations and units, issued 10 decisions on administrative sanctions in the fields of land, environmental protection, and minerals against 10 organizations with a total fine of VND 728,000,000; applied remedial measures to force the return of illegal profits with a total amount of VND 264,147,000.
In particular, Thua Thien - Hue province currently has 15 mine areas that have expired but the enterprises have not yet prepared a mine closure plan to submit to the provincial People's Committee for approval. Some cases have not completed the procedures for converting forest use purposes and land lease but have already started mineral exploitation.
Mr. Ho Dac Truong - Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Thua Thien - Hue province said that during the mining process, some mine owners did not comply with mining regulations, caused materials to fall during transportation, did not install weighing stations, and did not water the transportation route, leading to dust and pollution. All of these violations have been strictly handled according to the law.
Mr. Phan Cong Man - Chairman of Phu Loc District People's Committee:
Environmental issues are raised right from the licensing stage.
In recent times, state management in the field of mineral resources in the district has been gradually improved; mineral exploitation and processing activities have become increasingly effective, contributing to promoting the overall socio-economic development of the district; inspection, examination and handling of violations in mineral exploitation and transportation activities regarding environmental protection have gradually received attention. Environmental issues have been raised right from the stage of applying for permits for mineral exploration and exploitation; along with regular propaganda and environmental protection work, it has contributed to changing the awareness of the community and business owners towards environmental protection activities in mineral exploitation and processing.
Regarding the demand for construction materials for development projects of Chan May - Lang Co economic zone located in the district, Phu Loc district proposed that the People's Council and the Provincial People's Committee supplement the local planning of construction material gathering points in the area, supplement the planning points for land for filling materials according to regulations and in accordance with the actual situation in the locality. At the same time, it proposed that the province direct relevant departments and branches to strengthen the inspection and examination of mineral activities, focusing on environmental protection in mineral exploitation and processing; resolutely stop exploitation, close mines, renovate and restore the environment for ineffective exploitation areas, causing environmental pollution according to the law; review and inspect the mine closure work for expired mineral exploitation licenses.
Mr. Le Ba Minh Hai - Head of Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Huong Thuy town:
Promote the responsibility and role of leaders in management work
In the town, there are currently 11 planned areas for mining soil for landfill materials with a total area of 430.19 hectares, 4 planned areas for sand and gravel mining and 3 planned areas for clay mining with a total area of 85 hectares. Currently, there are 5 units licensed by the province to mine soil for landfill that are still valid with a total granted area of 57.75 hectares.
Mineral exploitation activities have contributed to increasing budget revenue and creating jobs for local workers. Currently, the source of landfill materials in the town is meeting the needs of many transport infrastructure construction projects, urban development, industrial parks, especially national key projects such as: Cam Lo - La Son Expressway; Gilimex Industrial Park Project; Phu Bai Airport Terminal 2; Green City Urban Project. Therefore, developing the mining industry in a sustainable direction is a very important requirement, in line with the State's policy and current development trends.
Organizations and individuals operating in the mineral sector in the area always comply with the planning and granted mineral exploitation licenses. In addition, the management and protection of unexploited mineral resources are also focused on by Huong Thuy town. The town People's Committee has strictly implemented the provisions of the Mineral Law and the directives of the Government, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Provincial People's Committee in the management of mineral exploitation, production and processing activities. Every year, the town issues a plan to implement the management of mineral exploitation activities in the area, in particular, clearly assigning tasks to departments, offices and Chairmen of the People's Committees of communes and wards according to their positions in order to promote the responsibility and role of the leaders in management work.
Mr. Le Minh Tri - Director of Thua Thien - Hue Concrete and Construction Joint Stock Company:
Exploitation must not affect the environment.
The Company's operations are currently creating stable, regular jobs for about 100 workers in the area; contributing about 5 billion VND to the local budget annually. In recent times, local authorities and functional agencies have increased the dissemination of the Mineral Law and related regulations so that people and businesses can comply with the law, exploit and process minerals safely, and minimize environmental impacts. This is one of the great advantages for the Company to operate in accordance with the law.
The company's specialty is to regularly import sand and stone to produce construction materials (commercial concrete and various types of pipes), so the company always complies with its commitment to environmental impact assessment. In addition, the company is always aware of coordinating with local authorities so that its operations do not affect the ecology and environment. The company also constantly improves its modern production lines to meet deep processing requirements.
However, currently, Thua Thien - Hue is very scarce in sand resources because there are almost no operating sand mines, businesses have to import sand from intermediaries, therefore, we recommend that the province grant sand mine licenses to make it easier for businesses to exploit and produce construction materials...
In addition, the company's nature is that of a concrete production unit, so it needs land area for gathering and storing raw materials, while the company is located in a densely populated area. From 2019 to now, with the support of the authorities, although the Company has found a suitable location in Thuy Phuong Industrial Cluster (Huong Thuy town), however, due to problems with related laws, it is not possible to implement the project as desired. Therefore, we propose that the province create conditions for the Company to lease land to relocate the entire production line out of the residential area to create a stable environment to maintain operations and serve development.
Mr. Huynh Van Toan - Director of Chan May Port Joint Stock Company:
Propose to add planning points according to regulations, suitable for practical needs
As a business located in the area, we realize that the competent authorities of Thua Thien - Hue have effectively implemented the Law on Minerals and related legal documents, not allowing businesses to freely violate procedures and regulations; businesses have strictly complied with the Law, exploited safely, minimized environmental impacts, and created many jobs for local workers.
Currently, with the increasing investment trend of enterprises in economic zones of Thua Thien - Hue province, especially in Chan May - Lang Co area, the demand for soil, rocks, and minerals for land leveling, building warehouses, yards, and infrastructure systems is very large. However, with very limited reserves, not enough volume to meet the progress requirements of projects, many enterprises have to buy these minerals from many places, including from sources outside the province, causing the investment costs of enterprises to increase. Therefore, we hope that the Provincial People's Council and People's Committee will urgently supplement the planning points for soil, rocks, and minerals as land leveling materials according to regulations and in accordance with the needs and actual situations in localities, creating conditions for enterprises to quickly complete construction and come into operation.
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