Over 32ha of dioxin-polluted land treated in Da Nang airport
Vietnam and the US have succeeded in detoxifying 32ha of land previously polluted with dioxins at Da Nang Airport, as heard at a conference in the central city to review the outcomes of the project.
Da Nang (VNA) – Vietnam and theUS have succeeded in detoxifying 32ha of land previously polluted with dioxins atDa Nang Airport, as heard at a conference in the central city to review theoutcomes of the project.
Da Nang Airport is one of the hot spots fordioxin pollution in Vietnam. On April 1, 2011, the Ministry of Defence approveda project to remediate the environmental pollution in the airport implementedby the Air Defence-Air Force in coordination with the US InternationalDevelopment Agency (USAID).
The project’s investment includes 60billion VND from the Vietnamese Government and about 110 million USD from theUS Government in non-refundable aid.
It treated about 90,000 cubic metres ofdioxin-polluted mud and soil, isolating about 50,000 cubic metres of mud andsoil with contamination, and handing over 18.7ha of treated land. An additional13.7ha of clean land is scheduled to be handed over on November 7 for theexpansion of the airport and towards the city’s social economic development.
Addressing the conference, Than Thanh Cong,head of the Office of the National Steering Committee on the Settlement ofPost-war Unexploded Ordnance and Toxic Chemical Consequences (Office 701), saidthat the project has completed all of its objectives, successfully treating toxicsoil and sediment in Da Nang Airport and minimising the risk of effecting thesurrounding environment and people.
The project is significant in variousaspects, vastly improving the community’s health, environment, economy, andsociety, he said, adding that its success shows the US’ commitment to workingclosely with Vietnam in the work and meets the expectation of Vietnamese peoplefor a safe and dioxin-free environment.
However, some delegates also pointed to anumber of shortcomings of the project, including insufficient surveys that ledto the adjustment of the project’s coverage, along with technical challenges dueto specific climate and environmental conditions in the locality. –VNA
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The project site at Da Nang Airport (Photo: VNA) 
