VOLATILE:People living near naphtha crackers have said they are concerned for their health due to high air pollution levels, which has been linked to various cancers
Taipei Times
Date: Nov 16, 2015
By: Chen Wei-han / Staff reporter
Residents of Changhua and Yunlin counties yesterday gathered in front of the Presidential
Residents of Changhua and Yunlin counties yesterday gather in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei to petition the central government. Photo: Lo Pei-der, Taipei Times
Office Buiilding to petition the central government to authorize local governments to legislate bylaws to regulate coal burning to curb air pollution.
Holding placards and photographs of deceased family members, dozens of people shouted: “No more obstruction to coal burning ban” and “shut down the [Mailiao] naphtha cracker by 2020” and “people have the right to clean air.”
The Yunlin County Government announced a ban on the burning of petroleum coke and coal in June, following an oath-taking in April by government heads of Yunlin and Chiayi counties and Chiayi, Tainan, Taichung and Chunghua cities in April to phase out petroleum coke and coal to fight air pollution.
The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) in September rejected the ban, saying that it involved national energy policies and regulations that fall within the jurisdiction of the central government, according to the Energy Administration Act (能源管理法) and the Local Government Act (地方制度法). [FULL STORY]
