Only 1 Indonesian firm has responded to NEA's haze notices

SINGAPORE - The National Environment Agency (NEA) said today (Oct 12) that it has sent a Preventive Measures Notice to another Indonesian company suspected of links to the fires causing the haze.

In its notice to PT Bumi Andalas Permai, NEA requested the company to deploy fire-fighting personnel to extinguish or prevent the spread of fires on land owned or occupied by the company, to stop all burning activities, and to "submit to NEA any plan of action to extinguish any fire on such land or to prevent its recurrence".

This is the sixth Indonesian company to be served the notice.

NEA said on Sept 25 that it had written to four companies in Indonesia under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA), and said on Sept 30 that it had written to a fifth company.

However, only one company has responded to NEA's notices.

In its update today, NEA said that it has received a response from PT Bumi Sriwijaya Sentosa, which is among the first four companies to receive notices, and are reviewing the information provided.

It also said that it has sent reminders to the other companies to respond to its notices.

NEA also revealed that it has received information from Asia Pulp & Paper Company (APP) in Singapore after previously requesting for information, and has "sought further information from APP".

MORE OF THE SAME EXPECTED TOMORROW

NEA said that air quality deteriorated today and the haze also caused "a slight reduction in visibility in some parts of the island".

The winds are forecast to remain weak and blow from the east or southeast tomorrow. NEA said that "occasional slight haze can still be expected, and visibility could be reduced, particularly in the early morning".

the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is expected to be between the high-end of the 'moderate' range (51-100) and the low end of the 'unhealthy' range (101-200) for the next 24 hours.

sinsh@sph.com.sg