Busan City said on the 12th that it caught 26 companies suspected of violating the Clean Air Conservation Act by emitting air pollutants and failing to take separate measures.
Earlier, the city conducted a planned investigation into air pollution violations for three months starting in December last year, targeting 130 sources of air pollutant emissions in the region. The aim was to secure citizens' right to health from air pollution and to create a pleasant living environment.
A total of 26 companies were caught this time, and all will be sent to prosecutors. Looking at major cases, Company A brought in soil and carried out ground preparation work to compact the site, but piled up soil—an agent that generates fugitive dust—for a long period without dust-suppression measures such as dust-proof covers. Company B also conducted civil engineering work on the outskirts of the city where few people pass by, and its transport vehicles did not wash their wheels, causing large amounts of fugitive dust on the roads.
In addition, four air pollutant–emitting business sites failed to carry out the required self-measurement of pollutants generated by air emission facilities on a regular basis to confirm whether prevention facilities were operating normally.
Under the Clean Air Conservation Act, construction sites must take measures such as installing dust-suppression walls, covering stockpiled materials with dust-proof covers, and washing the wheels of transport vehicles. Those who fail to file a report as a fugitive dust–generating business or fail to implement suppression measures are subject to a fine of up to 3 million won, and those who fail to conduct self-measurement of air pollutants face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won.
The city said the construction sites on the outskirts of the city that were caught this time were found to have exploited the absence of nearby residential facilities to commit illegal acts that emitted large amounts of fugitive dust.
Park Heong-joon, the Busan mayor, said, "Illegal emissions of air pollutants that threaten citizens' health and damage the air environment are a serious crime that can never be tolerated," adding, "We will respond strongly and strictly to illegal emissions to create a clean air environment where citizens can breathe with confidence."