14.07.2011 12.Tammus, 5771
Umweltauflagen:
Environment Ministry revokes Haifa Chemicals toxics permit
Company will regain license only after completing rigorous safety review.
Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan announced during the Knesset plenum on Wednesday that his office was revoking the toxics license for the Haifa Chemicals plant due to “severe deficiencies in the maintenance facilities and storage of hazardous materials,” the ministry announced later that day.
In addition to revoking the license itself, the ministry also issued the company a court order to evacuate the hazardous substances, as is dictated by the Hazardous Substances Law. The decision to make these orders was determined following a July 10 tour of the facility led by the ministry’s Haifa district manager, Shlomo Katz, during which officials determined that the company was violating both their permit conditions and the law with regards to storage of toxins, prevention of toxic emissions to the environment, waste treatment, hazardous materials and other issues, according to the ministry statement. The plant will not be allowed to resume operations until a comprehensive safety review has indicated that all of the problems have been completely corrected….