DOE approves plan to construct Lynas PDF at Gebeng
The Department of Environment (DOE) has approved an application by a royalty-linked firm to construct Lynas' permanent disposal facility (PDF) within the Gebeng Industrial Estate in Kuantan.
According to an update on the department's environmental impact assessment (EIA) website, the status of the proposed project's report read as "approved".
The Department of Environment (DOE) has approved an application by a royalty-linked firm to construct Lynas' permanent disposal facility (PDF) within the Gebeng Industrial Estate in Kuantan.
According to an update on the department's environmental impact assessment (EIA) website, the status of the proposed project's report read as "approved".
The EIA report was prepared by Dr Nik & Associates Sdn Bhd while Gading Senggara Sdn Bhd (GSSB) is the project proponent.
According to Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) records, Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah is the biggest shareholder of GSSB with a 50 percent stake.
Tengku Hassanal, 26, is the son of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
The other two shareholders are Bentong Umno vice-chief Johari Harun and Mohd Firdaus Redzuan.
A DOE official has confirmed that the department approved the EIA report yesterday (Dec 28).
He told Malaysiakini that the report fulfiled requirements under Section 34A(2C) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, and the department approved the report under Section 34A(3).
Section 34A (2) of the act states that an EIA report "shall contain an assessment of the impact such activity will have or is likely to have on the environment" and "proposed measures that shall be undertaken to prevent, reduce or control the adverse impact on the environment".
Section 34A(3) states that if "the director-general of DOE is of the opinion that the report satisfies the requirements, he shall approve the report".
Concerns over river and underground water pollution
Lynas' plan to build a PDF in the Bukit Ketam Forest Reserve hit a snag following the DOE's rejection of the project in April this year.
The Australian miner then sought approval to build a PDF at another location, which is located in the Gebeng Industrial Estate, on Lot 31375, which sits next to the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp).
A radiological impact assessment (RIA) on the region found that the radiation levels of the river, underground water and fish exceeded parameters and were deemed contaminated.
The project's EIA report stated that the PDF project would not pose a flood risk or lead to pollution of underground water and Sungai Baluk - the nearest river to the site - unless the worst-case scenario happens, for instance, an "extreme rain event".
Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh has pointed out that according to the Kuantan District Locality Plan 2035 (Replacement), the classification of heavy industrial land in Kuantan does not include a disposal site for radioactive waste.
She also stressed that GSSB didn't submit the project proposal for the Gebeng PDF to the National Physical Planning Council (MPFN) and had breached the requirements of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976.
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