Anshun Hongsheng Launched New Project without Approval  

On June 20th the Court of the Xixiu District of Anshun, Guizhou province accepted the application submitted by Guizhou Environmental Protection Bureau for the compulsory stop of construction on the 200 000 t/a ammonia project in Anshun Hongsheng Chemical Co., Ltd. (Anshun Hongsheng).  
   Anshun Hongsheng is located in the environment sensitive area upstream of the Hongfeng Lake, Class A drinking water source protection zone of Guiyang City, capital of Guizhou province. Waste water generated in the enterprise will flow into the Jiuxi River outside of the factory, passes the Xingjiang River and the Yangchang River and finally enters the Hongfeng Lake, causing pollution to the water quality of the Hongfeng Lake.
   On December 6th, 2007 Guizhou Environmental Supervision Team conducted a spot survey to Anshun Hongsheng and found that Anshun Hongsheng started construction on the 200 000 t/a ammonia project that had not passed the environmental impact assessment.  On January 4th, 2008 Guizhou Environmental Supervision Team made the administrative penalty decision of ordering the company to stop the construction and imposing a fine of RMB90 000 on the company. Anshun Hongsheng paid the fine of RMB90 000, but has not stopped the construction. The company stopped construction in day time but worked overtime at night. The construction investment spent in the project is already more than RMB110 million and around 90% of the principal construction is completed as of early June. Anshun Hongsheng tempts to make the project become a completed fact so that the government treasure the money spent and may not close the new factory.   
   During the period Anshun Environmental Protection Bureau issued several notices to the company for the rectification of its unlawful act and asked it to submit environmental impact assessment papers for the project. Anshun Hongsheng, however, disregarded laws and regulations of the state. Stimulated by the price rise of chemical fertilizers, the company still continued the construction of the project in spite of punishment.
   According to experts, if the 200 000 t/a ammonia project in Anshun Hongsheng comes on stream, which may bring serious impacts on the water quality of the Hongfeng Lake and pose great threats to the safety of drinking water in Guiyang.