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Xinhua News Agency

Cambodia signed an agreement Thursday with Taiwan's Formosa Plastic Corp. (FPC), ending more than two months of dispute over toxic waste dumping near Sihanoukville by FPC. The 16-article agreement was signed by Om Yentieng, president of the Commission for Negotiation of Cambodia and Lee Chih-tsun, president of FPC. Under the agreement, FPC has to take the responsibility for repacking, sites cleanup and transportation of the waste out of Cambodia.

FPC should also remove the toxic waste from Sihanoukville within 60 days or it will be fined 1,000 U.S. dollars a day for the first 15 days beyond the 60-day deadline. Afterward, the fines will increase by an additional 1,000 dollars per day for a 15-day period until the fines reach 5,000 dollars a day.

Furthermore, FPC agrees to provide medical treatment to those who have been confirmed by both sides to be poisoned by the waste, or are harmed during its transport out of Cambodia.

The agreement also said FPC agrees to fulfill this waste transporting operation under the supervision of the U.S.-based Camp Dresser & McKee Inc., a third party expert chosen and agreed upon by both parties.

The 3,000 tons of waste were dumped in the seaside town in early December and have been found to contain high concentrations of mercury. The toxic waste sent thousands of people fleeing from the seaside town, led to the suspension of more than 100 government officials and threatened the health of workers and local residents.

Lee Chih-tsun disclosed that the transportation of the waste will cost FPC about 2.5 million dollars. However he did not elaborate on who will take the job to transport the waste or where the waste will be sent, saying only that his company would contract the work out.