Formosa eludes EPA surcharge

20-Dec-10

The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has said there are no legal grounds to request that Formosa Plastics Group to pay health and welfare surcharges for its naphtha cracker plant in Mailiao Township, Yunlin County, adding that the group was still in talks with the county government over how it should -compensate residents for the pollution from the plant. The surcharges suggested in an EPA review would establish a medical fund and compensate residents who may suffer from pollution from the naphtha cracker. The EPA in October held a comprehensive review on the impact that the plant has had over the past decade. Representatives from the Yunlin County Government proposed that Formosa appropriate between 0.1-0.3% of its after-tax revenue from the plant to establish the Yunlin Medical Development Fund, with each resident of Yunlin County receiving a health and welfare bonus of NT$10,000. The county government representatives suggested that Formosa cover the costs of student lunches at Yunlin’s primary and junior high schools, as well as the commuting charges for junior high school students, and offer subsidies to married couples with children. Formosa should provide schools near the plant with the means to cope with chemical-related hazards, and should also provide internships and jobs to local residents. The Taiwan Environmental Information Center, asked to compile the report, awaits more data from other government agencies