By EUGENE ADIONG
BACOLOD City — The wastewater of the San Carlos Bioenergy, Inc. passed the test conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environment Management Bureau (DENR–EMB).
It had 117 milligrams per meter (mg/m) of effluent, a laboratory test result obtained by Panay News yesterday showed.
The amount was below the 120 mg/m standard under DENR Administrative Order No. 35 series of 1990 (Revised Effluent Regulations).
This means the bio-ethanol plant’s wastewater is “not toxic,” said Vicente Losbañes, DENR Provincial Environmental Management Unit head.
Sample used for the test was taken from the channel going to the coastal area.
The test was analyzed at the Negros Prawn Producers Cooperative Analytical and Diagnostic Laboratory.
It was conducted by laboratory analyst Ma. Antoniela Lanaca and certified correct by chemist Roselyn Usero.
Earlier, the EMB issued a notice of violation to and fined the San Carlos Bioenergy, Inc. with P10,000 a day following a January wastewater spill.
Losbañes said the fine was the minimum the DENR could impose. The maximum fine was P200,000 per day.
“We will submit a report to the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) next week,” Losbañes said.
He said PAB will determine whether the P10,000 fine will be retained or increased.
“We will conduct further tests on the wastewater from (the plant) so the EMB can have baseline data for future tests,” he said./PN
