Which agency has the authority to issue environmental permits?

The authority to issue environmental permits is specifically stipulated in the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. Identifying the correct licensing authority is the first step for organizations and individuals to submit applications and carry out procedures according to regulations. The article below will clarify the new regulations on the authority to issue environmental permits, helping customers clearly understand the necessary process and procedures when applying for a permit.

What is an environmental permit?

An environmental license is an important legal document issued by a competent state agency to organizations and individuals engaged in production, business, and service activities. This license allows the subject to discharge waste into the environment, manage waste, and import scrap from abroad as raw materials for production, but must comply with the requirements and conditions on environmental protection as prescribed by law.

• Environmental license components include:
• Certificate of completion of environmental protection works;
• Certificate of environmental standards;
• Certificate of eligibility for environmental protection in scrap import;
• Hazardous waste treatment license;
• License to discharge wastewater into water sources;
• License to discharge wastewater into irrigation works.

The role of Environmental Permit for businesses

Environmental permits play an important role in business operations, ensuring legal compliance and sustainable development.

• The first, the environmental license is the basis for showing that an enterprise’s production and business activities meet environmental protection standards. This helps businesses build a reputable image and responsibility to the community and the environment.
• Second, environmental permits help businesses limit legal risks and avoid being fined for administrative violations. At the same time, compliance with environmental protection regulations in the license also helps businesses save on waste treatment costs and improve production and business efficiency.
• Third, environmental permits are a prerequisite for businesses to access investment capital sources, especially projects with foreign elements. Investors and international financial institutions are increasingly interested in environmental criteria, so owning an environmental license is a competitive advantage for businesses.
• Fourth, environmental licenses promote businesses to apply cleaner, environmentally friendly production technology, contributing to improving competitiveness and sustainable development.

Competent authority to issue environmental permits

According to the provisions of Article 41 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, the authority to issue environmental permits is decentralized to the following agencies:

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment:

1. Granting environmental licenses to projects and facilities that have been approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as a result of environmental impact assessment reports. Specifically includes:

• Subject 1: Group I, group II and group III investment projects that generate wastewater, dust and exhaust gas discharged into the environment must be treated or generate hazardous waste that must be managed according to regulations on waste management when officially put into operation.
• Subject 2: Investment projects, facilities, concentrated production, business, service areas, industrial clusters operating before the effective date of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 with environmental criteria as for statue 1;
• Subject 3: Subject 1 belongs to the case of emergency public investment projects according to the provisions of law on public investment that are exempt from environmental permits.

2. Subjects in case 1 are located in an area of ​​02 or more provincial-level administrative units or located in a sea area that has not yet determined the administrative management responsibility of the Provincial People’s Committee; establishments that import scrap from abroad as raw materials for production, establishments that provide hazardous waste treatment services.

Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security:

Issuing environmental licenses for investment projects and facilities that are classified as state secrets on national defense and security.

Provincial People’s Committee:

• Granting environmental licenses for group II investment projects.
• Issue environmental licenses for group III investment projects located in 02 or more district-level administrative units.
• Investment projects, facilities, concentrated production, business, service zones, industrial clusters operating before the effective date of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 have environmental criteria. At the same time, the results of appraisal of the environmental impact assessment report have been approved by the Provincial People’s Committee or the Ministry or ministerial-level agency.

District People’s Committee:

Issue environmental licenses for remaining projects and facilities that are not under the licensing authority of the above-mentioned agencies for subjects in case 1 of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Fast and professional consulting and support services for applying for environmental permits

To save time, effort and ensure documents are approved quickly, customers can use Long Phan’s consulting and support services for applying for environmental permits.

Long Phan’s environmental permit consulting services include:

• Consulting on subjects that must apply for environmental permits;
• Analyze and evaluate the current environmental status of projects and facilities;
• Identify and advise on the types of environmental permits that need to be applied for;
• Consulting on conditions for obtaining an environmental permit;
• Consulting with competent authorities on environmental licensing;
• Consulting and supporting the drafting of complete and accurate environmental permit applications;
• Instructions on the order and procedures for applying for environmental permits;
• Representing customers to carry out procedures for applying for environmental permits;
• Consulting and answering other issues related to applying for environmental permits.

>>> See more: Environmental permit making service: Simple process.

Determining the correct authority to issue environmental permits is an important step for businesses to complete environmental procedures. Long Phan, with a team of experienced experts, is ready to accompany customers in the process of applying for environmental permits, ensuring effective production and business activities and avoiding risks. Contact the hotline: 0906735386 for advice and support!