The Haifa Port Company has been fined for violating instructions it received in accordance with the Clean Air Law. The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MoEP) imposed the NIS 2,196,480 fine after the company improperly unloaded ships in a manner that could cause a dust hazard, failed to install equipment that would monitor such a dust hazard, and failure to sample the dust as instructed by the MoEP.
Environmental Protection Minister Zeev Elkin:
“We look severely upon any illegal act that harms the environment and public health. We will not hesitate to act with determination against anyone or any entity – regardless of their strength and size – to enforce environmental protection laws. Whoever pollutes will pay.”
Deputy Environmental Protection Minister Yaron Mazuz:
“The Port of Haifa has recently established a system that allows for unloading in a non-polluting manner. [But] it has been fined since it did not [establish this system] in the past. We hope that from now on, the port will work in a manner that does not pollute the air or the marine environment. We will continue to closely track and monitor the port’s activities, like we do other polluting factories in Haifa Bay.”
Violations of the 2008 Clean Air Law committed by Haifa Port:
- In late September and early October 2014, the company unloaded material from a solid bulk cargo in a manner contrary to instructions it received from the MoEP. It also did not install the equipment that would have prevented air pollution as a result of dust dispersion. These actions resulted in an unreasonable dispersal of dust and raised concerns about air pollution.
- The company did not install cameras in its control center that would visually and electronically monitor the loading and unloading operations that were causing dust dispersion.
- In opposition to instructions it received, the company did not submit a sampling plan and did not conduct environmental sampling during the years 2013 and 2014.
The financial sanctions imposed on the Haifa Port were reduced by 40%, due to the fact that the company has taken steps to prevent a recurrence of violations and to reduce the environmental damage.
Source: www.sviva.gov.il
