Environmental registration procedures: Detailed instructions

Environmental registration procedures is a mandatory legal requirement for businesses and production facilities that have an impact on the environment but are not required to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report. Implementing the correct process helps businesses meet legal regulations, avoid sanctions risks and ensure stable operations. This article provides detailed instructions on applicable subjects, documents, the submission process, and important notes when registering for the environment.

When is it necessary to carry out environmental registration?

Environmental registration procedures are prescribed in Article 49 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. Accordingly, the following subjects must register for the environment:

• Investment projects that generate waste are not subject to environmental permits.
• Production, business, and service establishments operating before January 1, 2020 that generate waste are not subject to environmental permits.

Subjects that must have an environmental permit are specifically specified in Clause 3, Clause 4, Clause 5, Article 28 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020.

Records, documents and content need to be prepared

Article 49 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, Article 22 of Circular 02/2022/TT-BTNMT regulates environmental registration documents and procedures. Accordingly, documents that need to be prepared include:

• Environmental registration document of the owner of the investment project or facility as prescribed in Form No. 47, Appendix II issued with Circular 02/2022/TT-BTNMT;
• Copy of the Decision approving the results of appraisal of the environmental impact assessment report of the investment project or facility (if any).

In addition, depending on the actual situation of the project and production facility, the investor needs to prepare additional:

• A true copy of the Certificate of Land Use Rights with a purpose appropriate to the type of production;
• Certified copy of Enterprise and business registration certificate;
• Copy of Lease Contract (in case of renting land, warehouse, workshop,… to set up a business location);
• A true copy of the enterprise’s dependent unit certificate (if any);
• Contract for purchase and sale of raw materials,…
• Other related records…

Based on the content of the environmental registration document, in reality, investment project owners and production facilities need to prepare the following contents:

1. Scale; capacity; technology and type of production of investment projects and facilities.
2. Raw materials, fuel, chemicals used and products of investment projects (List types of raw materials, fuel, chemicals used and products of investment projects and facilities.)
3. Type and volume of waste generated by investment projects and facilities.
4. Waste collection, management and treatment plans for investment projects and facilities include one of the following plans corresponding to the type of waste generated:

• Plan for collection, management and treatment of wastewater generated or expected to arise (in case of environmental registration for investment projects).
• Plan for collection, management and treatment of generated or expected emissions (in case of environmental registration for investment projects).
• Plan for collection, management and treatment of domestic solid waste arising or expected to arise (in case of environmental registration for investment projects).
• Plan for collection, management and treatment of common industrial solid waste arising or expected to arise (in case of environmental registration for investment projects).
• Plan for collection, management and treatment of hazardous waste arising or expected to arise (in case of environmental registration for investment projects).

5. Committed to implementing environmental protection work (State commitments on environmental protection during the construction of investment projects and during production activities of investment projects and facilities).
6. Decision to approve the results of appraisal of environmental impact assessment reports of investment projects and facilities (In case of investment project, the facility has an environmental impact assessment report approved according to regulations).

Standard environmental registration procedures

Competent agency receives and processes

According to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 22 of Circular 02/2022/TT-BTNMT guiding the Law on Environmental Protection, owners of investment projects and facilities send environmental registration dossiers to the People’s Committee of the commune or ward where the investment project or facility is implemented in person, by post or electronically through the online public service system.

For investment projects and facilities in areas with 02 or more commune-level administrative units, the owner of the investment project or facility has the right to choose the commune-level People’s Committee for environmental registration.

Process of processing environmental registration documents

The process of processing environmental registration documents includes preparing documents, submitting documents to competent authorities and receiving confirmation results. Following the correct process helps businesses avoid administrative violations and ensure legality in production and business activities. Specifically includes the following steps:

Step 01: Prepare documents (as above).

Step 02: Submit documents:

The owner of the investment project or facility sends the environmental registration dossier to the People’s Committee of the commune where the investment project or facility is implemented through direct submission, by post or electronically through the online public service system as prescribed in Clause 3, Article 49 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020.

Step 3: Receive documents:

Commune-level People’s Committees receive environmental registration dossiers sent by investment project owners and establishments in the form of direct receipt, by post or electronic receipt through the online public service system.

After checking valid documents and records, cadastral and environmental officers of the commune-level People’s Committee will inspect the production facility and appraise the waste treatment system.

Step 4: Update data on environmental registration:

If the project or production facility meets the conditions for environmental protection, the commune-level People’s Committee updates data on environmental registration into the information system and national environmental database.

CSPL: Article 49 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020; Article 22 of Circular 02/2022/TT-BTNMT regulates environmental registration procedures in 2024.

Correct and complete implementation of environmental registration procedures helps businesses meet legal requirements, limit sanctions risks and facilitate operations. To ensure that documents are processed quickly and accurately, businesses can seek professional consulting services to help complete procedures according to regulations and optimize approval time.

Full package environmental registration service at Long Phan

Long Phan provides a full package of environmental registration services, supporting businesses in preparing documents, submitting and explaining to authorities, ensuring the completion of procedures in accordance with the law.

Service Content:

• Consulting on subjects that must register for the environment according to regulations.
• Consulting on plans to build a suitable waste treatment system.
• Instructions for preparing complete and accurate documents according to regulations.
• Prepare and complete environmental registration documents according to standard form.
• Submit documents to the competent authority and monitor the processing process.
• Support explanations and additional documents when requested by authorities.

Environmental registration procedures help businesses comply with legal regulations, avoid the risk of sanctions and ensure stable operations. Implementing the correct process not only helps businesses legalize production and business activities, but also contributes to sustainable environmental protection. Long Phan provides comprehensive, fast and accurate environmental registration consulting and support services. Contact the hotline 0906735386 immediately for detailed advice!