Environmental Protection Department of Hunan and Public Security Department of Hunan Enhance the “Linking Administrative and Criminal Justice” and Collaboratively Deploy the Special Action to Manage the EnvironmentallyIllegal Activities Related to Hazardous Waste

On 28th of July, Environmental Protection Department of Hunan and Public Security Department of Hunan jointly organized the provincial training meeting for the “Linking Administrative and Criminal Justice”—collaboratively arrange special action for managing environmentally illegal activities related to hazardous waste.

The Party Committee and Deputy Director of Public Security Department of Hunan—Heping Tan attended the meeting and gave a speech.

The Party member and Chief Engineer of Environmental Protection Department of Hunan—Bin Yao attended the meeting and gave a speech.

The mainmeeting room

On 28th of July, Environmental Protection Department of Hunan and Public Security Department of Hunan jointly organized the training meeting for “Linking Administrative and Criminal Justice” and the special project to manage the environmentally illegal activities. The Party Committee and Deputy Director of Public Security Department of Hunan—Heping Tan as well as the Party member and Chief Engineer of Environmental Protection Department of Hunan—Bin Yao attended the meeting and gave speeches.

Heping Tan pointed that until 22nd of July, there have been 21 environmental crime cases investigated, criminal enforcement has been imposed to 57 people and 24 people have been arrested. 47 environmental administrative cases have been processed, with 56 people got administrative detention. At the same time, in terms of “Linking Administrative and Criminal Justice”, Public Security Department of Hunan, Provincial Procuratorate and Provincial High Court collaboratively established a case-analysis expressway and joint conference system, which can promote the development of joint environmental law enforcement mechanism. During the Environment Day on 5th of June, Public Security Department of Hunan and Environmental Protection Department of Hunan managed plenty of propaganda through various media entities across the nation, which created a good public atmosphere for the topic.

Heping Tan also expressed that we should also notice the weak parts in the management of environmentally illegal or criminal activities. It is necessary to enhance information collection, improve the efficiency and quality of management and promote cooperation between departments. Moreover, it is important to explore creative measures to overcome the local protectionism.

Bin Yao mentioned that on 23rd of June, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Public Security issued the “Announcement of Joint Action on Managing Hazardous-Waste-Related Environmentally Illegal Activities”. Environmental Protection Department of Hunan and Public Security Department of Hunan have then issued specific implementation plans and require that divisions at different levels should carefully implement the measures in accordance with the plan. In the first half this year, 18 environmental pollution criminal cases have been solved, among which there are 11 cases are related to hazardous waste, accounting for 60% of all the environmental criminal cases in the first half of the year 2016. This indicates that there is a dangerous trend of illegal disposal of hazardous waste. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the cases from the origin to restrict the trend.

Bin Yao further argued the importance of enhancing the management of hazardous waste. Using this event as a chance, we should investigate the situation of major hazardous waste producing and disposal units, regulate the production activities, establish and strengthen the information system for hazardous waste management, develop some disposal units and ban some illegal companies, and eliminate some old and unqualified facilities. Moreover, it is important to reinforce the organization and leadership, enhance the cooperation and identification of responsibilities.

The meeting lasted 2 days, which covered the training for police and environmental monitoring staff at different administrative levels including province, city and county. Managers of Public Security Department of Hunan and Environmental Protection Department of Hunan (about 200 people) attended the meeting in the main venue. Other managers from county institutions (about 3000 people) attended the meeting in division venues.