China to Start a Nationwide Inspection of Chemical Plants

In the wake of several serious chemical pollution incidents, China's Ministry¹ of Environmental Protection says it will begin a nationwide inspection² of all certified³ producers of dangerous chemicals of their pollution control measures.

As Liu Yan reports, the inspection will last through the end of the year.

 
Zhang Lijun, Vice⁴ Minister of Environmental Protection, announced that the Ministry of Environmental Protection will no longer accept applications for new projects related to the production and storage of dangerous chemicals outside industrial zones.

Chinese law states that a factory cannot be built without an environmental impact assessment⁵ report from the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Zhang did not say when the ministry will resume accepting applications, but admitted that the country faced worsening chemical pollution.

"First, the rapid expansion of chemical production and usage puts huge pressure on the environment. The fact is, China is already a major producer and consumer of chemical products. Second, our technology still lags behind, and our structure is not the most ideal. Small chemical plants are everywhere, and consequently, we see a high percentage of low-end products that are highly toxic⁶ and easily cause pollution."

The vice minister said the country will raise the environmental standards of chemical plants and tighten⁷ penalties and fines on chemical factory owners who break the law.

"Plants that fail to comply with relative policies, produce sub-standard products, or use out-of-date manufacturing devices, will be required to shut down temporarily or permanently⁸. And the ones that have done major harm to the environment will be shut down permanently."

Figures from the ministry show that 70 percent of the 49 major environmental emergencies that occurred between 2006 and 2010 concerned the safety of drinking water. More than 20 environmental emergencies related to drinking water have been reported so far this year.

In resposne, Zhang said the authorities will particularly focus on chemical plants located along the rivers, lakes and the coast, adding that harsher penalties will be imposed on those illegally dumping chemicals.

A serious pollution incident was exposed in Qujing City of southwest China's Yunnan Province late last month. A local chemical factory was found to have illegally dumped over 5,000 metric tons of chromium-contaminated waste near a reservoir and on hills from April to June.

For CRI, I'm Liu Yan.

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

3 certified   

a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的

参考例句：

• Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
• The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

6 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

7 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

8 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。