On August 6, 2024, the Ministry of Environment held the "Seminar on the Integration and Notification of Hazardous Information and Emergency Response Mechanism for Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances" and the award ceremony for outstanding joint defense organizations at the Industrial Technology Research Institute, Zhongxing Campus . The event featured industry and inter-ministerial case studies, exhibitions on new technologies for disaster prevention and rescue, and was personally hosted by Minister Peng Chi-Ming. Premier Cho Jung-Tai was specially invited to provide guidance at the venue, joining over 500 participants from industry, government, academia, and research sectors to review the past year's efforts and achievements in the field of toxic chemical disaster prevention and response by the public and private sectors.
Premier Cho Jung-Tai personally presented the "Joint Defense Support Contribution Award" to the Hualien Plant of Chung Hwa Pulp, recognizing their immediate response following the earthquake in Hualien at 8:00 a.m. on April 3. The plant promptly dispatched personnel and equipment with expertise in toxic and concerned chemical substances to assist at the scene of a fire in the chemistry lab of Dong Hwa University. They continuously monitored for the accumulation of flammable and toxic gases until 7:00 a.m. on April 4, confirming the site was free of fire and smoke. Following the completion of the mission under the commander's instructions, the personnel returned home to aid in local recovery efforts. Plant Manager Chiu Yi-Sheng emphasized that by cooperating with the government's disaster response team, resources could be fully integrated for joint disaster prevention, embodying the spirit of mutual support in converting toxic chemical disasters into manageable situations. Despite the need for repairs and environmental recovery within the plant, they prioritized dispatching personnel to Dong Hwa University to provide full support.
In Taiwan's eastern region, personnel and equipment specialized in toxic and concerned chemical substances are relatively scarce. The Hualien Plant of Chung Hwa Pulp has long been committed to training professional response personnel and enhancing its response equipment and practical technical capabilities. They have also signed a partnership with the Chemical Response Association of the Republic of China, becoming the best team for environmental disaster response in Hualien County. The Hualien Plant, upholding the spirit of social welfare, has voluntarily served as a member of the Hualien County Environmental Protection Bureau's Chemical Disaster Response Assistance Organization, assisting in annual toxic disaster drills and demonstrations. This collaborative disaster response showcased Chung Hwa Pulp's relentless dedication to local engagement, active collaboration, and mutual assistance. It also provided Hualien Plant employees with a deeper understanding of complex disaster response, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the prevention and elimination of chemical disasters in daily operations and prioritizing personnel safety in response to fire and chemical disasters, ensuring a comprehensive disaster rescue mechanism.