o The province tightens its round-the-clock control on mephitis emissions 

o The volume of September & October public grievance reports on stench drops in 2004 

Round-the-clock guidance, surveillance, and regulation by the Air Pollution Control team have proven effective at the Banweol and Shihwa industrial complexes. 

On September 13, the province organized an Air Pollution Control team of 20 people – 14 provincial representatives, three Ansan representatives, and three Shiheung representatives – to more aggressively regulate against mephitis emissions. 

The group also includes 10 young contractors selected from nearby colleges. These students and recent graduates will be guided to use the environmental theories taught in the classroom in real-life situations. Their participation is expected to provide a burst of youthful energy to the control activities. 

Air Pollution Control has been carrying out round-the-clock control on mephitis emissions since its establishment. After an inspection on November 10, 63 out of 763 sites were punished for irregularities. 

Most of the 63 sites in infringement of regulations were running prohibited facilities at night or on holidays and/or disposing of illegal substances. The team is striving to bring about a paradigm shift in the way businesses in the industrial sector perceive the issue of environmental protection. 

After the Air Pollution Control team was organized, the number of public grievance reports on stench filed in September and October dropped to 42, marking the lowest level in the past three years. It is clear that air quality at the Banweol and Shihwa industrial complexes is improving. 

(Public grievance reports on stench in Sep.& Oct.: 98 (2002) ⇒ 50 (2003) ⇒ 42 (2004)) 

The Air Pollution Control team will establish an organic cooperation system with private environment watch teams from Ansan and Shiheung to further tighten controls on mephitis emissions through the round-the-clock surveillance of industrial complexes.