HÀ NỘI — Hưng Yên Province has fined a foreign-invested enterprise company VNĐ400 million (approximately US$16,000) for committing another environmental violation.

AOCC Ltd Co was penalised for once again discharging wastewater into the environment and polluting the surrounding area, the Deputy Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, Bùi Thế Cự, said.

This marks the third time the company, which is located at Yên Mỹ Town in Yên Mỹ District, was caught and penalised for repeated violations of regulations prohibiting the discharge of hazardous wastes into the environment.

Inter-discipline inspection teams examined the manufacturing factory of the company and found out that it had been releasing wastewater into the surrounding area in levels exceeding regulatory standards.

The inspection teams also saw black, effervescent, and toxic-smelling wastewater in the underground discharge systems built inside the factory. The waste flowed into the Bắc Hưng Hải River, seriously affecting the livelihood and farming production of the people living in the area.

Analysis by environmental inspectors showed some parameters exceeded the standards permitted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, including COD, which exceeded standards by 1.8 times, NH4+, which went over by 1.4 times, Coliform, which overshot standards by 1.4 times, and BOD5, which went 1.2 times over the regulatory limit.

The company was fined VNĐ90 million ($3,600) for failing to implement the approved Environmental Protection Plan.

A fine of VNĐ30 million ($1,200) was also imposed on AOCC for its failure to collect hazardous wastes.

The company was also charged with violating a regulation on discharging wastes exceeding regulatory standards. 

In May 2017, the company was also fined VNĐ286 million ($11,440) by the provincial People’s Committee for the discharge of wastewater exceeding regulatory standards. The penalty was aggravated because of the company’s repeated violations.

In addition to the fines, Hưng Yên Province authorities required the company to properly and fully implement the contents of the approved Environmental Protection Plan.

AOCC was also required to immediately stop the discharge of wastewater exceeding permitted standards and without licence.

AOCC Vietnam is a foreign-invested enterprise specialising in the manufacturing and processing of garments for export. It started operations in late 2007. — VNS