On July 15, 2025, the Ministry of Environment (MOENV) announced the removal of the soil and groundwater pollution remediation site designation for Yusheng Gas Station Co., Ltd. in Tainan City. This site is the eighth pollution remediation site to be delisted so far this year by the ministry, which includes sites in Tainan City, demonstrating strong cooperation and results between central and local governments in promoting pollution remediation.
In 2014, testing at Yusheng Gas Station detected soil and groundwater contamination from total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), benzene, ethylbenzene, xylene, naphthalene, and methyl tert-butyl ether, with concentrations exceeding regulatory control standards for soil and category two groundwater. The site was subsequently listed for control according to the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Act and the company was required to carry out remediation. Despite several delays due to engineering plans and on-site construction, nearly six years of remediation efforts successfully removed pollutants. Multiple reviews by the Tainan Department of Environmental Protection and experts confirmed pollutant levels were all below regulatory standards. The MOENV has therefore formally approved removal of the site from the pollution remediation list.
The MOENV said that restoring polluted soil and groundwater is a long-term and difficult task requiring sustained resources and expertise. Due to their hidden nature, leaks from underground fuel storage tanks at gas stations are difficult to detect. Therefore, to prevent soil and groundwater contamination, the ministry has required regular monitoring and self-management of gas stations. It urges operators to strengthen routine inspections, maintain leakage-prevention infrastructure, and update equipment to prevent leakages from outdated systems. In the event of a leak, the local department of environmental protection must be notified within three hours. The ministry will continue promoting pollution prevention and management, supervising businesses to fulfill their pollution control responsibilities and safeguarding environmental safety and public health.