UPM’s vast tree nursery in Guichón, Paysandú, has drawn regulatory scrutiny over discharges into a local stream and agrochemical use. (Photo courtesy of UPM)
A eucalyptus-tree nursery in Uruguay operated by the Finnish pulp-manufacturing giant UPM faces escalating fines for allowing agrochemical-tainted water to flow into a stream in western Uruguay. Uruguay’s Environment Ministry announced Oct. 14 that UPM will be fined US$25,000 and assessed progressively greater penalties until it controls discharges from its irrigation-water recycling system, which has been identified as the source of the pollution. The company is also being required to upgrade tracking of pesticide use at the nursery, located in the Paysandú department municipality of Guichón, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of the Uruguay River. The Environment Ministry disclosed in May of this year that there was “evidence of discharge from the nursery” with “clear evidence of the presence” of pesticides and had warned UPM it might be fined for violating the country’s Water Code. The Uruguayan Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fishing (MGAP... [Log in to read more]
