Ministry of Ecology and Environment: Making positive progress in implementing the "Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution at the Source".

On December 26th, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment held its routine monthly press conference. Zhao Shixin, Director of the Soil Ecology Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, stated that the Ministry, together with relevant departments, has developed and issued the "Action Plan for Preventing Soil Pollution at the Source," outlining 82 specific tasks. Various departments and regions are working together smoothly. First, there is policy coordination for prevention. Efforts are being made to optimize industrial layout, promote the greening of enterprises, and revise or formulate 28 policies, laws, regulations, and technical standards. The delineation of key areas for prevention and control of groundwater pollution nationwide has been completed and incorporated into the ecosystem and environment zoning control. Second, regulatory measures have been strengthened to reduce pollution. Over 100 issues related to sewage networks in industrial parks at or above the provincial level have been identified and rectified. The first batch of chemical industrial parks have implemented tailored policies, strategies, and plans, as well as completed major projects for controlling soil pollution sources during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Third, efforts are focused on key remediation areas. Progress has been made in tracing and remediating heavy metal pollution in farmland, and support is being provided for projects aimed at addressing historical contamination from heavy metal residue in mining slag.