Environmental Impact and Health Risk Assessment and Remediation Planning for A Contaminated Site

Historical Background and Pollution Investigation Status

The site was originally a copper refinery built in 1977,  with operations starting in 1980. Due to a sharp drop in international copper prices and the tightening of environmental protection requirements, the refinery ceased operations in 1990. To date, the refinery has been shut down for over 30 years. The Environmental Protection Agency declared it a remediation site in 2013.  In 2016, ApolloTech assisted the client in the investigation and assessment program in accordance with the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Act to confirm the pollution range in the operation area and evaluate the amount of pollution mass exceeding the control standards.

Soil Background Concentration Assessment and Application of Article 24-2 of the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Act

In 2009, ApolloTech confirmed that the high concentration of heavy metals in the soil resulted from geochemical anomalies in the natural background of the geology as well as environmental factors. Therefore, we submitted an assessment report on the applicability of Article 24-2 of the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Act in 2017, and the report was approved by the Ministry of Environment in 2018. In 2019, the environmental impact and health risk assessment plan was approved.

Implementation of Site Environmental Impact and Health Risk Assessment

Following the requirements of the approved plan from the Ministry of Environment, the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment includes an environmental quality survey, a marine ecology survey, and direct contact soil flora and fauna assessments.  ApolloTech has made efforts to successfully integrate the relevant domestic experts to form an interdisciplinary working team adhering to the belief of technological innovation and  being at the forefront of the industry. We have rigorously and pragmatically completed this assessment as the first environmental impact and health risk assessment of polluted sites in Taiwan.

• Environmental Quality Survey (quarterly): at 22 points for air, 27 points for surface water, 37 points for groundwater, 24 points for marine water quality, and 28 points for sediment
• Soil Environmental Impact Survey: terrestrial ecological survey (quarterly), soil insect survey (36 points), earthworm survey (34 points)
• Marine Area Ecological Survey: quarterly marine ecology survey (with divers), 20 fish sampling and testing groups
• Risk Communication: 140 questionnaires, 2 public hearings/presentations, 7 interviews
   

Remediation Goal Setting and Program Planning

After the environmental impact and health risk assessment report was approved by the Ministry of Environment at the end of 2021, ApolloTech assisted in proposing remediation objectives and plans based on the risk assessment result. The strategy includes appropriate pollution remediation, pollutant exposure and dispersal prevention, and other improvement works combined with risk management. The Environmental Protection Bureau approved the plan in early 2024.  In implementation, risk assessment and management will be used as keystones of the remediation strategy.