Defence Minister inspects dioxin decontamination at Danang airport
VOV.VN - Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich made a fact finding tour of environmental remediation of dioxin contamination project site at Danang airport on January 8.
 |
The project is implemented by the Air Force Air Defense Command at the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
It aims to clean up 90,000 square meters of soil and sediment so that the dioxin concentrations falls below the standards set by the Vietnamese government.
The minister asked the concerned parties to carry out effectively and ensure the progress and quality of the second phase, while building and implementing similar projects in Bien Hoa and Phu Cat airports via non-refundable official development assistance (ODA) sponsored by the US and other countries.
He suggested stepping up international cooperation to deal with the toxic chemicals at hotspots and newly-discovered contaminated areas.
At the same time, it is imperative to promptly provide medical support for the Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin victims, and improve research and environmental monitoring capacity in the field, he stressed.
The project began in June 2011 and has treated 45,000 square meters of contaminated soil and sediment, part of which are handed over to the Vietnam Airports Corporation to expand the Danang international airport by 2017 for the APEC Summit.
At the same time, it is imperative to promptly provide medical support for the Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin victims, and improve research and environmental monitoring capacity in the field, he stressed.
The project began in June 2011 and has treated 45,000 square meters of contaminated soil and sediment, part of which are handed over to the Vietnam Airports Corporation to expand the Danang international airport by 2017 for the APEC Summit.
The second phase treatment is underway and the site restoration and demobilization are expected in 2018.