Legislators yesterday passed the third reading of draft amendments to Article 12 of the Air Pollution Control Act (空氣污染防制法), now all that is needed for the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to consult with — rather than decide with — the Ministry of Economic Affairs on regulations related to controlling the total volume of air pollution.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) agreed to change the phrasing of Article 12 after opposition parties called for giving the EPA more control.
Draft amendments to Article 9, which allows emission allowances to be obtained for stationary sources of air pollution through trades and auctions or by reducing the emissions of mobile sources, also passed its third reading yesterday.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Article 9 encourages companies to obtain emission allowances by buying used cars to speed up the replacement of older cars.
Article 9 was passed despite disapproval from the opposition parties, who said that substitutions between stationary and mobile sources should not be allowed because they produce different pollutants.
Public and private premises that fail to adopt the emergency control measures when weather conditions or other reasons cause a serious deterioration in air quality would be given a fine of NT$20,000 to NT$1 million (US$658 to US$32,891), according to sections that have already passed their third reading.
If the breach is committed by a factory, the fine would be NT$100,000 to NT$20 million.
Public and private premises with stationary pollution sources must also comply with emission standards. Those that go over the standard emission limit to a degree that could damage the health or life of others would face a maximum seven-year prison sentence with the possible addition of a fine of NT$1 million to NT$15 million.
As of press time last night, voting on the separate articles of the draft amendments was ongoing.
Legislative Speaker Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) earlier in the day said he hoped that the legislature could pass the proposed amendments to the act by the end of last night’s session.
Legislators earlier yesterday afternoon began the second and third readings of draft amendments to the Air Pollution Control Act after the ruling DPP and opposition parties were unable to reach a consensus in the eighth round of negotiations earlier in the day.
During the discussions, the New Power Party also called for allowing local governments to set stricter requirements than those of the central government for permitting the setting up of stationary sources of air pollution.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old