Oil spill-hit beach in Thai East to resume normal tourism services early Nov

BANGKOK, October 29 (TNA) - Ao Prao, a beach on the western side of the famous Samet Island in Thailand's eastern Rayong Province, will be re-opened for normal tourism-related businesses on November 1, 2013, after quality of sea water in its vicinity was scientifically proven to have returned to internationally-recognized safety standards in the wake of an oil spill in late July. Udom Kraiwatnusorn, Secretary to the Thai Natural Resources and Environment Minister, told journalists of the development on Tuesday, acknowledging that latest test results show the quality of sea water in Ao Prao's neighbourhood, namely the Khao Laem Ya–Koh Samet National Park, now meets the international standards for recreational uses. Ubom explained that mercury concentrations in sea water at the Ao Prao Beach and nearby areas are now below 0.1 microgram per litre, while corals and marine lives have fully recovered, prompting his ministry to announce the re-opening of the Ao Prao Beach as of early next month. Permanent-Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Chote Trachoo said, meanwhile, that two committees have been set up to work out solutions and ecological rehabilitation plans in the affected areas, covering artificial coral reefs planting, garbage disposals and wastewater management, so that PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (PTTGC), the operator of a leaky pipeline which caused the huge oil-spill on July 29, can follow as an pracitical framework. According to the senior official, his ministry will also continue monitoring and assessing impacts from the oil-spill for one year to ensure that its adverse effects have been cleared. (TNA)