The Central Environmental Monitoring Station of the General Armament Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently passed the official appraisal in line with international standards.

The station, which is located in Beijing, is the fourth environmental monitoring facility of the PLA, according to PLA sources.

Established in 1985, it has adopted advanced technology and equipment and employed a number of technicians and experts. It monitors surface and underground water, wastewater, environmental air, waste air, noise and radiation.

It is the first such monitoring station in the city that has passed official appraisal with international recognition, according to the sources.

So far, the army has initially formed its environmental monitoring system with four monitoring stations in operation. The other stations are located in Guangzhou, Jinan and Yichang cities.

(China Daily February 11, 2002)