Monitoring shows air is polluted with dust
Regarding the reflection of Lao Dong Newspaper on the exploitation and processing of limestone causing environmental pollution and blasting causing stone to fly, directly affecting people's lives, Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee has issued a document requesting inspection.
Implementing this direction, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has chaired and coordinated with the Department of Industry and Trade, the Provincial Police and local authorities to organize inspection teams.
In the Len Vung area (Tuyen Hoa commune), the inspection team recorded that the exploitation activities of Khanh Son Co., Ltd. and 207 Joint Stock Company continuously generated large amounts of dust. The misting measures at the enterprise's processing line were not enough to cool down and suppress dust, leading to dust blowing along with the Southwest wind directly attacking the residential area of Tien Phong village (Nam Ba Don commune). Notably, the construction process of Mai Thanh Inland Waterway Port of Mai Thanh Group Joint Stock Company also contributed to causing pollution.
The Department of Agriculture and Environment has taken samples and monitored air quality at the Tien Phong residential area. The results showed that the content of suspended dust in the air exceeded the permissible standard by 1.76 times.
The Department of Agriculture and Environment affirmed that the air environment in the monitoring area shows signs of dust pollution. However, the monitoring location is on a traffic route, so there is impact from many sources that may cause different pollution.
From the inspection results, the Department of Agriculture and Environment requested Khanh Son Co., Ltd. to strictly implement environmental protection measures; calculate the amount of explosives, use appropriate blasting methods to minimize dust, noise, and vibration; and increase humidity spraying at the stone processing line to limit the generation of dust spreading to the surrounding environment.
Request to strengthen moisture spraying measures on the entire yard surface, including the construction area of Mai Thanh Inland Waterway Port to minimize rolling dust pollution when transport vehicles circulate; strengthen moisture spraying measures on transport routes, especially sections passing through residential areas and areas with dust generation, to minimize dust generation causing environmental pollution around; request transport vehicles coming to buy stone to cover the truck bed with tarpaulins to prevent dust from spreading to the surrounding environment during transportation.
In particular, it is requested that Khanh Son Co., Ltd. coordinate with 207 Joint Stock Company to agree on a suitable blasting time, ensuring to avoid the phenomenon of stone falling affecting residential areas and notify the blasting time to local authorities to inform people; and at the same time coordinate with local authorities to implement remediation of degraded road sections identified as caused by stone transportation activities of companies.
Only when violations are overcome are operations allowed.
Regarding the reflection of Lao Dong Newspaper on vibrations, pollution and falling rocks hindering the flow of the Gianh River in the Len Minh Cam limestone mine area (Tuyen Binh commune) - where Minh Cam Mineral Joint Stock Company and Dai Phuc Song Gianh Construction Co., Ltd. operate - the Department of Agriculture and Environment said that they had previously inspected and are requesting rectification.
The blasting on April 8, 2026 by Minh Cam Company combined with a strong weathered soil layer created a giant dust storm sweeping through Phuc Tung village (Tuyen Phu commune). Dai Phuc Song Gianh Company also suffered a serious situation when allowing rocks to fly, landslides to silk up the riverbed, causing flow blockage and damaging the local pumping station.
Faced with these violations, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Quang Tri province requested Minh Cam Mineral Joint Stock Company and Dai Phuc Song Gianh Construction Co., Ltd. to temporarily suspend blasting and stone mining activities. These enterprises are only allowed to consider resuming operations after completing pollution remediation items and being accepted for flow by departments and sectors.
The inspection team forced the owners of mining facilities to strictly implement environmental protection procedures, increase maximum humidity spraying at the milling line, yard surface and service roads passing through residential areas. At the same time, businesses must change the method of differential blasting, calculate to reduce the amount of explosives to minimize noise and vibration, and absolutely not blasting when strong winds are directed at people's houses. Dai Phuc Song Gianh Company must complete dredging soil and rocks to fill the riverbed and repair the pumping station before July 22, 2026.
The Department of Agriculture and Environment has also proposed to the Provincial Police and the Department of Construction to tighten the inspection of the load capacity of stone-carrying vehicles, and resolutely handle the situation of vehicles being extended and not covered with tarpaulins, causing stone to spill onto inter-communal roads in order to restore a healthy and safe living environment for people.
Previously, Lao Dong Newspaper published articles "Calfstone mine causes pollution, people live in anxiety" and "Recommendations sent out, but pollution from the limestone mine is still there", reflecting the situation of dust and noise pollution from stone mining, processing, construction and transportation of materials of Joint Stock Company 207, Minh Cam Mineral Joint Stock Company and Dai Phuc Song Gianh Construction Co., Ltd., Mai Thanh Group Joint Stock Company... affecting people's lives. Immediately after the newspaper's reflection, leaders of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee directed the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment to inspect, handle and request units to strictly implement environmental protection measures.
