30 August 2007
On Thursday, 30 August 2007, Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs -
Green Scorpions) from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and
the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs entered the second
day of a comprehensive environmental compliance inspection at Highveld Steel's
Vanchem plant. The multi-day inspection commenced on 29 August.
The EMIs are joined by officials from the Department of Water Affairs and
Forestry and Emalahleni Local Municipality. The Highveld area is currently
under consideration for declaration as a priority air pollution area in terms
of the new air quality act. This was recently gazetted for public comment. The
purpose of the compliance inspection is to determine the Vanchem plant's
compliance with environmental legislation and all permits issued to the plant
in respect of air, waste and water. The inspection is expected to take several
days to complete, and results of the inspection will be available a few weeks
after the inspection.
The inspection at Vanchem is part of the national environmental compliance
campaign in the iron and steel and ferroalloy industry, known as Operation
Ferro. Approximately 40 sites in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Northwest, KwaZulu-Natal
and Western Cape will be inspected during the course of this multi-year
project. Mittal Steel's Vereeniging plant was the first plant to undergo a
multi-day environmental compliance inspection from 29 to 31 May, 2007, as part
of Operation Ferro.
The iron and steel and ferroalloy industries have been prioritised in this
environmental compliance campaign as their industrial processes may contribute
significantly to pollution if not mitigated and managed properly. The same
industries are also currently undergoing a review of all their air pollution
permits by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
For media interviews contact:
Roopa Singh
Cell: 082 225 3076
E-mail: rsingh@deat.gov.za
For further information contact:
Melissa Fourie
Cell: 072 306 8888
E-mail: mfourie@deat.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
30 August 2007
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.deat.gov.za)
