The Ministry of Environment (MOENV) on July 1, 2025 announced the removal of the soil and groundwater pollution remediation site listing for Mech Smile Xiaobei Gas Station in Tainan City. After 15 years of remediation, the concentration of pollutants has fallen below the monitoring standards for soil and groundwater pollution. This site is the second remediation site in Tainan City to be successfully delisted so far in 2025.
The case dates back to 2003, when the former Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) under the Executive Yuan (now MOENV) discovered groundwater pollution at the gas station and started investigation and emergency response measures. In 2006, Tainan City Government designated the site as a groundwater pollution control site and control zone. Later, in November 2007, the EPA officially declared it a "groundwater pollution remediation site." Due to expanded investigations and cadastral resurveying, the designation was revised again in April 2024 to a "soil and groundwater pollution remediation site."
After its remediation plan was approved in 2009, Mech-President Corporation began improvement efforts. To ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of the plan, under the MOENV's supervision, Tainan City Government convened local agencies, academics, and experts for regular progress reviews and technical consultations, ensuring that all remediation efforts met the prescribed standards. After years of concerted efforts by all parties, pollutant concentrations were successfully brought into compliance with regulatory thresholds, achieving the remediation goal.
The MOENV said that restoring polluted soil and groundwater is a long-term and difficult task requiring sustained resources and expertise. Leaks from underground fuel storage tanks at gas stations are difficult to detect. Therefore, to prevent soil and groundwater contamination, the ministry has promoted regular monitoring and reporting at gas stations while advocating for stronger self-management. It urges operators to strengthen routine inspections of pollution prevention systems at tank fill ports and dispensers, conduct regular self-monitoring, and upgrade aging infrastructure to prevent leaks from outdated tank and pipeline systems. In the event of a leak, appropriate emergency response measures must be taken immediately, and the local department of environmental protection must be notified within three hours. The ministry will continue to enforce business pollution prevention responsibilities through strict supervision, safeguard public health, protect the national environment, and move steadily toward the goal of environmental sustainability.