“The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the "Technical Transformation Project of Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Material Production Equipment and Supporting Facilities by Ningbo Yuanchen New Materials Co., Ltd." has been substantially completed. In accordance with the requirements of the Interim Measures for Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessments, this environmental information is hereby released to the public to solicit opinions.

I. Overview of the Construction Project

      (1) Project Name: Technical Transformation Project of Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Material Production Equipment and Supporting Facilities by Ningbo Yuanchen New Materials Co., Ltd.

      (2) Nature of Construction: Technical Transformation

      (3) Total Investment: RMB 36 million

      (4) Location: No. 83 Nanhu Road, Daxie Development Zone, Ningbo

      (5) Main Construction Content and Scale: The project involves the renovation of the electroplating workshop in Building No. 5# of the factory area. The building is currently a single-story structure with a height of 8m. This technical transformation will convert the electroplating workshop into an elevated two-story structure: the first floor will have a height of 2.4m and be repurposed as a warehouse; the second floor will have a height of 5.6m and serve as the electroplating workshop, housing 6 electroplating lines and a stripping workshop. Additionally, the northwest side of the first floor of Building No. 5# will be elevated by 0.8m to accommodate a newly built phosphating and electrophoresis line. With a total investment of RMB 36 million, the project will increase the production capacity of sintered NdFeB from the originally approved 2,000 t/a to 2,150 t/a upon completion.

      (6) Main Equipment: 6 electroplating production lines, 1 electrophoresis line, 6 fully automatic magnetic field molding presses, 1 automatic cold isostatic press, 2 vacuum sintering furnaces, and other NdFeB processing equipment.

II. Distribution of Main Environmentally Sensitive Targets within the EIA Scope

      Please refer to Table 1 for the main environmental protection targets of this project.

III. Summary of Main Conclusions of the Environmental Impact Assessment

      1、Emissions from Main Pollution Sources

      (1) Waste gas pollutants mainly include process waste gas from electroplating lines, drying waste gas from electrophoresis, and adhesive waste gas.

      (2) Wastewater mainly includes initial rainwater, electrophoresis line wastewater, and electroplating wastewater.

      (3) Solid waste mainly includes waste chemical containers, waste filter cartridges, waste resin, sludge, anode residues, scrapped parts, and plating bath slag.

      (4) Noise sources are primarily mechanical noise generated by various pumps and production lines during operation.

      Please refer to Table 2 for pollution source intensity.

IV. Countermeasures and Measures to Prevent or Mitigate Adverse Environmental Impacts

      Please refer to Table 3 for details.

V. Overview of Potential Environmental Impacts of the Construction Project

      (1) According to atmospheric environmental impact prediction results, the maximum ground concentration-to-standard ratios of key pollutants such as hydrogen chloride, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide, and non-methane hydrocarbons are all below the standard limits.

      (2) Electroplating wastewater will be categorized into comprehensive wastewater, copper-containing wastewater, nickel-containing wastewater, chromium-containing wastewater, and cyanide-containing wastewater for separate collection and treatment. After being treated in the electroplating wastewater treatment facility, 50% will be reused. Discharged heavy metals including total chromium, hexavalent chromium, total nickel, total copper, and total zinc shall comply with the "Table 3 Limits" stipulated in the Emission Standard of Pollutants for Electroplating. Ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus shall comply with the Indirect Discharge Limits of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollutants in Industrial Enterprise Wastewater (DB33/887-2013). Other pollutants such as COD and total nitrogen shall meet the sewer discharge standards. Electrophoresis wastewater, vibration grinding/chamfering wastewater, etc., will enter the non-electroplating wastewater treatment system. After meeting the Class III criteria of the Integrated Wastewater Discharge Standard (GB8978-1996), the water will be discharged into the municipal sewer network, ultimately reaching the Xiexi Sewage Treatment Plant. Upon treatment to the Class I-A standard of the Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (GB18918-2002), the effluent will be discharged into the sea, resulting in minimal impact on surrounding water environments.

      (3) Predictions indicate that noise at the factory boundary will meet discharge standards, causing little impact on the surrounding acoustic environment.

      (4) After harmless disposal and rational utilization, solid waste will comply with relevant regulatory requirements, posing minimal environmental impact.

VI. Main Conclusions of the Environmental Impact Report

      (1) The construction of this project complies with national industrial policies and relevant planning, adheres to cleaner production principles, and meets the requirements of environmental functional zoning.

      (2) Effective prevention and control measures have been adopted for pollutants generated during production to ensure compliant discharge, maintaining the current quality of the surrounding environment.

      (3) The process technology adopted is mature and reliable, environmental protection measures are appropriate and feasible, and the level of cleaner production is high.

      (4) The project yields significant environmental and social benefits.

      Overall, the implementation of the project is feasible from an environmental protection perspective.

VII. Key Matters for Soliciting Public Opinions

      Main areas for feedback:

      1.Satisfaction with the environmental quality of the project location;

      2.Perceived major environmental issues in the region;

      3.Level of understanding of this project;

      4.Satisfaction with the environmental credibility of the construction entity;

      5.Primary environmental concerns regarding the construction of this project;

      6.Perceived impact of the project's implementation on the surrounding residential and living environment;

      7.Attitude toward the project, along with specific comments and suggestions, provided that pollutant emissions and environmental impacts comply with relevant national standards and regulations;

      8.Other comments and suggestions.

      Scope of solicitation: Enterprises, institutions, and individuals within the project assessment scope.

VIII. Methods for Submitting Public Opinions

      Within ten working days from the date of this announcement, the public may submit opinions on the environmental aspects of this project to the construction entity, the EIA agency, or the competent environmental protection authority via mail, email, telephone, or in-person visits.

IX. Contact Information of Relevant Entities

      (1) Construction Entity: Ningbo Yuanchen New Materials Co., Ltd.

      Address: No. 83 Nanhu Road, Daxie Development Zone, Ningbo

      Contact Person: Zhang Wenjun | Tel: +86-18069233683

      (2) EIA Agency: Zhejiang Renxin Environmental Science Institute Co., Ltd.

      Address: No. 149 Ketai Road, Haishu District, Ningbo

      Contact Person: Chen Keke | Tel: +86-15728041277

      (3) Project Approval Authority: Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment

      Address: No. 545 Liuting Street, Ningbo | Tel: +86-574-87158048

X. Period for Submitting Public Opinions

      September 27, 2020 – October 15, 2020

Issuing Entity: Ningbo Yuanchen New Materials Co., Ltd.

Date: September 27, 2020