Noise and Air Pollution Management
Noise and Vibration Management
THSRC is committed to environmental protection and working to comply with relevant laws and regulations through the environmental management systems. THSRC has formulated the "High Speed Rail Noise Improvement Plan" and the "Noise & Vibration Petition Treatment for HSR During Operation", and established the "High Speed Rail Noise Case Handling Process" to implement the most complete noise handling and prevention procedures. Executives at each station participate in activities and communicate with local opinion leaders and residents to achieve a win-win situation through communication. In 2023, THSRC deal with 16 high-speed railway noise issues along the line, and did not receive notification from the environmental protection regulator for violating noise standards. Except one case occurred in ZhongLi District, Taoyuan City, has exceeded the requirements of the "Land Transportation System Noise Control Standards". THSRC has properly handled the issue with noise improvement plan, other issues were related on night-time operation noise affected to neighborhoods. THSRC will improve communication with neighborhoods to notify them 1-2 weeks in advance, and also we will reduce the broadcast volume during night-time operation. In 2023, 1 violation of noise issue was notified by the local Environment Protection Bureau that requires improvement. Please refer to the table below for relevant handling conditions.
THSRC Noise Petition Handling Process
Number of Noise Petitions and Related Handling Statuses in the 3 Most Recent Years (2021~2023)
| Year | Number of Items | Need to be Improved | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16 | 1 | One public petition case has been received, residents complained about the noise from high speed rail, so the Department of Environmental Protection, Taoyuan conducted 24 -hour high speed rail traffic noise monitoring in October, 2023. The results showed that the average maximum volume of the high speed rail in this section exceeded the requirements of the "Land Transportation System Noise Control Standards", and it was required to formulate a noise improvement plan within 180 days upon receipt of the notification from the competent authority. There was no any penalty by the authority. |
| 2022 | 19 | 1 | One public petition case in Waipu District, Taichung City has been received. In this case, residents complained about the noise from high speed rail, so the Department of Environmental Protection, TaiChung conducted 24 -hour high speed rail traffic noise monitoring in October, 2022.The results showed that the average maximum volume of the high speed rail in this section exceeded the requirements of the "Land Transportation System Noise Control Standards", and it was required to formulate a noise improvement plan within 180 days upon receipt of the notification from the competent authority. THSRC has properly handled the issue and submitted the noise improvement plan for review on November 15, 2023. Environmental Protection Bureau has confirmed and replied on February 21, 2024. |
| 2021 | 18 | 1 | The case that needs to be improved in 2021 was the noise improvement case of Section 2, Dacheng Road, Dayuan District, Taoyuan City. In this case, residents complained about the noise from high speed rail, so the Department of Environmental Protection, Taoyuan conducted 24 -hour high speed rail traffic noise monitoring. The results showed that the average maximum volume of the high speed rail in this section exceeded the requirements of the "Land Transportation System Noise Control Standards", and it was required to formulate a noise improvement plan within 180 days upon receipt of the notification from the competent authority. THSRC's project team has properly handled the issue and submitted the noise improvement plan for review on February 14, 2022 and the Environmental Protection Bureau issued a letter on May 16 agreeing to review. |
| Total | 53 | 3 | - |
Air Pollution Management
THSRC operates as a zero-emission carrier, emitting no air pollutants except for those generated during train maintenance at the Yanchao Main Workshop. In this regard, the automated spray painting factory of Workshop was constructed since May, 2021 and was expected to be completed by the end of 2024 with air pollution control equipment, including manual painting factory, adding a central control system, automatic painting robot arm, electric self-propelled trolley (replacing bogie), automatic car washing (sewage recycling) equipment, and grinding and lifting platform and pulse bag dust collectors, activated carbon adsorption equipment, as well as catalyst incineration towers and other equipment, which are used to treat dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated during the spray painting process of trains. THSRC also obtained a stationary pollution source installation permit, and a stationary pollution source operation permit. Additionally, a report is regularly filed every quarter in accordance with the Ministry of Environment's “Administrative Measures for the Reporting of Stationary Pollutant Emissions in Public and Private Places.” THSRC not only continues to perform environmental monitoring and environmental protection work through the Company's environmental management system, but conducts audits on the treatment of wastewater, waste and air quality at the Company's stations and maintenance depots through external environmental protection teams as well. In 2023, there was no punishment or penalty imposed by the competent authority due to environmental pollution. In 2023, the total air pollution emissions from THSRC were 8.33 metric tons. Please refer to the table below for the emissions of different types of gases:
Notes:
1. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are measured in kilograms and are calculated according to the percentage (y%) of VOC substances (X), such as toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, etc., in various spray paint materials (M), such as M1× (X1Y1+X2Y2+X3Y3+....)% + M2(X1Y1+X2Y2+X3Y3+....)% + M3(X1Y1+X2Y2+X3Y3+....)% + .....
2. The data of particulate matter (PM10) in 2022 was sourced from the declared amount of the Environmental Protection Administration's Stationary Pollution Source Air Pollution Fee and Emissions Declaration Integrated Management System, which was calculated as activity intensity × (1-control efficiency%) × emission factor.