Previously, at the end of 2024, Lao Dong Newspaper published a series of articles reflecting on the people in Xat and Me villages (Son Lai commune, Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh) setting up tents right in front of the gate of Elmaco Ninh Binh Cassava Starch Processing Factory (hereinafter referred to as Elmaco Cassava Factory) to protest because they thought that during its operations and production, this Factory discharged waste, causing environmental pollution.
Immediately after Lao Dong Newspaper reported, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ninh Binh province (now the Department of Agriculture and Environment) established an inspection team to inspect the environmental pollution at Elmaco Cassava Factory.
Results of analysis of Coliform environmental samples with total parameters 4 water samples at households all exceeded the permitted technical standards.
The results of the analysis of the two surface water samples in Khoang Me and Roc Gieng Vang compared to QCVN 08:2023/BTNMT The national technical regulation on surface water quality shows signs of pollution with parameters NH4+ and N02-.
Results of analyzing 5 samples of land in the dump yard, area next to the bark of the bark, the banks of the cassava residue to the east of the residue, the fence area in the eastern fence adjacent to the people of the people of Me village shows that arsenic parameters (AS) at the dumping beach is 1.44 times higher than the permitted technical regulation.
Results of analyzing 4 samples of solid waste (at the bark dump, the area next to the dumping beach, the banks of the cassava residue to the east of the residue and the high hill in the Northeast show that: Acidic> 2, arsenic parameters are calculated according to the absolute content value in the cassava shell dump is 1.82 times higher, in the banks of the cassava residue beach to the east is 1.65 times more hazardous threshold.
The results of the assessment and determination of the volume of solid waste have been poured and excreted in the factory campus are 158,651 tons. The inspection team determined the acts of spilling and waste of common solid waste (including cassava residue and shell) in contravention of environmental protection regulations with a volume of 158,651 tons beyond the framework of handling administrative violations in the environment in accordance with Clause 8, Article 26 of Decree No. 45/2022/ND-CP dated 7.7.2022 of the Government on sanctioning administrative violations in the field of environmental protection.
Therefore, based on Point d, Clause 2, Article 160 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ninh Binh province has transferred all documents and records related to the act of dumping and discharging common solid waste (including cassava and fish skin) in violation of regulations on environmental protection of Elmaco Cassava Factory to the Ninh Binh Provincial Police Investigation Agency for settlement in accordance with the provisions of law.
The investigating agency has chaired the scene examination and collected 9 environmental models at Elmaco Cassava factory (including 4 samples of waste and 5 samples of land in the area for waste), referendum of the Criminal Technical Department of the Ministry of Public Security. As a result, 4 samples of waste are common solid waste and 5 samples of soil without harmful components exceeding the threshold.
Based on the collected documents and the verified investigation results, on May 23, 2025, the Investigation Police Agency of Ninh Binh Province Police issued a Decision not to prosecute a criminal case against the report of "Environmental pollution" occurring at Elmaco Cassava Factory as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 157 of the Penal Procedure Code.
Regarding the administrative violation of Elmaco Cassava Factory, based on Clause 3, Article 62 of the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations, the Investigation Police Agency returned the dossier to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ninh Binh province to handle the administrative violation according to regulations.
