MEP: Source of Oil Spill Not from China
Relevant official of MEP told media today about the treatment and control of the water pollution accident in the Heilongjiang River. He said, it is certain that the source of this oil pollution accident is not from the Chinese side. I have asked the Russian side to quickly report to the Chinese side about the source, prevention and control measures taken by Russia as well as possible adverse impacts on local communities in border areas. China will strengthen cooperation with Russia and eliminate possible impacts of the pollution as soon as possible in order to ensure the safety of the water quality of the Heilongjiang River.The official said, the Russian side reported to the Chinese side about water pollution in the Heilongjiang River on July 8. MEP immediately sent a working group and an expert group to Heilongjiang Province to help local EPA carrying out emergency monitoring and pollution investigation. The investigations by local environmental protection departments found an oil pollution flume in Jiayin County in July 9. On July 11, the pollution flume moved into Luobei County on July 11 and Tongjiang City on July 12. At present, the pollution flume left the territory of the People's Republic of China. Monitoring data showed that petroleum concentration of river sections subject to the pollution flume failed to meet Grade III National Standard for Surface Water Quality. Right now, the quality of waters of the Heilongjiang River within the territory of China met national surface water standard. Environmental protection departments have investigated the pollution sources upstream the pollution flume in China and found no petrochemical enterprises, or land pollution source or ship oil leakage. Therefore, it is sure that this pollution is not caused by the Chinese side. Heilongjiang provincial authority has taken engineering measures in the river sections in Luobei County and Tongjiang City to intercept and absorb the oil pollutants. The emergency response for oil pollution accident in the Heilongjiang River has made remarkable achievements and the accident did not impose any adverse impacts on the life and production in local communities of China.
The official said, officials of MEP summoned the diplomat of Russian Embassy in Beijing for an urgent meeting at 17:00 of July 10, informed him of the pollution source investigation and emergency response monitoring carried by the Chinese side since the occurrence of the accident and asked the Russian side to carry out prompt investigation and inform the Chinese side of further information and the measures taken. He said, the Chinese side will keep on communications with the Russian side, closely monitoring the change of water quality of the Heilongjiang River, actively carry out pollution prevention and control work in order to ensure the drinking water safety of local communities along the river. We believe that with friendly cooperation, China and Russia can properly handle trans-boundary river pollution problem.
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