The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) closed an area located in the west side of the city of Merida, Yucatan, where hazardous waste was detected, which lacked proper handling and management, a situation represents a serious risk of contamination for the people of the state capital.
Derived from a citizen complaint, PROFEPA staff made an inspection visit to a property in the west side of the city of Merida, where heavy machinery was detected working in the area, and hazardous waste was irregularly disposed in direct contact to the soil. Including fluorescent lamps which contain mercury (some of them in pieces).
Also, during the inspection other type of residues were found, such as used lubricating oil and solids impregnated with oil, arranged arbitrarily outdoors on the cement floor of the place, when these type of residues need to be stored in a hazardous waste warehouse.
During the visit, the property owners could not present any documentation on the proper handling of this type of hazardous waste, such as, registration as generator of waste, binnacle of generation of hazardous waste, or other documentation identifying them as an authorized company to handle these type of residues.
Based on the provisions of Article 104 of the General Law for the Prevention and Integral Management of Residues (LEY GENERAL PARA LA PREVENCIÓN Y GESTIÓN INTEGRAL DE LOS RESIDUOS: LGPGIR), the total closure of the inspected site was carried out, given the risk of contamination that represents the improper handling of the hazardous waste found there.
It should be noted that in terms of Article 31 of the General Law for the Prevention and Integral Management of Wastes, fractions I and VI point out that hazardous waste, used lubricating oils, as well as fluorescent and mercury vapor lamps should have a specific special type of handling to avoid ecological contamination and a health risk to the population.
According to the provisions of article 112 section V of the LGPGIR, the fine for violations of the provisions of this law, amounts to the equivalent of 50,000 units of measure (unidades de medida). We’re talking about approximately $4,000,000 pesos).
TYT Newsroom with information from yucatanalminuto.com
