On July 27, Nghe An Department of Natural Resources and Environment said that the unit had reported 5136 to the People's Committee of Nghe An province on the inspection and handling of unusual fish deaths in Chau Thanh commune, Quy Hop district.
According to the report, on July 8, authorities took wastewater samples from two areas at Ha An Tin Company Limited.
Analysis results show that, for water samples in the sedimentation tank before pumping and discharging into the caster cave, the arsenic index exceeds 3.22 times and the iron index exceeds 3.22 times compared to QCVN 40:2011/BTNMT - Regulations. National technical specifications for industrial wastewater, column A.
For surface water samples at the point where the casto cave discharged into the Suoi Bac watershed, Chau Thanh commune, Quy Hop district, the ammonium indicators exceeded 1.71 times; arsenic exceeds 5.4 times; cadmium exceeds 18.56 times; manganese exceeds 23.7 times; Iron is 16.34 times higher than QCVN 08:2023/BTNMT - National technical regulation on surface water quality.
The report also determined that Ha An Tin Company pumped water with some parameters exceeding the allowable standards due to entering the caster cave and flowing to the Bac stream upstream, Chau Thanh commune, Quy Hop district, which was one of the sources that did the damage. Surface water pollution in streams at the time of sampling.
Nghe An Department of Natural Resources and Environment requested Ha An Tin Company to review and evaluate wastewater sources from the mine to have solutions for collection and treatment that do not cause environmental pollution; Coordinate with Quy Hop District People's Committee to take samples to have solutions to remediate, renovate and clean water sources according to regulations.
At the same time, the company needs to immediately implement solutions to ensure safety and prevent incidents from occurring, especially at tailings dumps and wastewater treatment works from the mining and processing of tin ore.
In particular, the Department requested the company to dismantle the pipes used to pump waste into the casto cave; Quickly complete project-related documents and procedures according to regulations; Strictly comply with administrative sanction decisions in the fields of minerals and environmental protection.
As Lao Dong informed, in response to the phenomenon of discolored stream water and unusual fish deaths, Quy Hop district has coordinated with relevant units to organize investigations, take samples... as well as find possible causes. The source of polluting emissions originates from Bac stream. Upstream, there are many enterprises operating in tin ore mining.
Following the traces of turbid water upstream, the authorities discovered that at one point in the mine area of Ha An Tin Co., Ltd. there were still traces of turbid, yellow water mud.
According to reports from Chau Thanh commune, previously the phenomenon of water changing to turbidity did not occur. Only now has this phenomenon appeared. The soil under the stream bed is dark yellow, suspected to be affected by wastewater during the filtration process. ore.
In June 2024, Ha An Tin Co., Ltd. was fined for administrative violations by the People's Committee of Quy Hop district for 3 violations, including: Using minerals for purposes other than those specified in the Mineral Mining License without prior approval. State management agency with licensing authority.
Incomplete preparation of books, vouchers, documents and relevant documents to determine the actual annual exploitation output.
Failure to submit the approved mine design to the competent state management agency in charge of minerals.
Combining the above 3 errors, Ha An Tin Company Limited was fined 250 million VND and suspended mining activities for 4.5 months. This company also violated the land lease when all 5 tanks in area 2 of the company are located outside the land lease area.
