EPA unveils plans for new year on vehicle emissions, fuel standards

In response to the escalating problem of ozone pollution, “emission restriction standards and regulatory controls for city and county air quality control zones will be carried out aggressively in the future,” said Young Chea-yuan, director general of EPA’s department of air quality protection and noise control.

“Air quality improvement projects in Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan counties [the most seriously polluted air quality zones] are a major priority,” said Young.

The reduction of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are serious risks to human health, is also a priority, as well as the regulation of and reduction of emissions of toxic chemical substances, according to Young.

Also, the EPA plans to introduce more stringent standards for automobile gasoline and diesel this year, which will greatly reduce the allowable level of sulfur in these fuels.

“These new standards are aimed at getting Taiwan’s regulations in line with the international trend of lowering sulfur levels in fuel products,” said Young.

As part of their Clean Vehicle Development Plan, the EPA will encourage motorbike manufacturers, through guidance and incentives, to continue research and development on the production of low-polluting fuel injection engine motorbikes and encourage citizens to use such vehicles.

To this end, the EPA will aim to increase inspection rate, to phase out motorcycles and diesel vehicles and replace these with new vehicles, to promote the use of unleaded gasoline, and to promote low emission injection engine motorcycles.

Another goal is to reduce pollution in river basins through ecological engineering, water pollution investigation, and investigation of illegal waste water and sewage discharge, according to Young.

By the year 2011, the EPA hopes to achieve the objectives of pollution prevention for the improvement of citizens’ health and a better quality of life, resource conservation and the pursuit of sustainable development, and active participation in global environmental affairs to improve Taiwan’s image in the international community.

“Taiwan has one of the best waste management systems in the world. Last year, Taiwan was ranked twenty-fourth in the world in EPI (Environmental Protection Index) out of 133 countries, and fifth in Asia,” said Chang Kow-lung, EPA administrator.

“This is a major accomplishment considering that the EPA only receives about 0.49 percent of the national budget. In comparison, other Asian nations such as South Korea receive 2.14 percent of the national budget,” explained Chang.

In line with the “zero waste” strategy of the EPA, “last year, each person in Taiwan generated an all-time low of 0.6 kilograms of trash per day, compared to the 1.14 kilograms in 1997,” added Chang as an example of their progress.

But while the EPA has achieved much in its 20 years of existence, Chang also acknowledged there is much left to do. “We must understand and learn how to continue to achieve a sustainable environment and sustainable society in the next 20 years.”