Will adjust the environmental restoration deposit after mineral exploitation

Decision No. 71/2008/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on deposit and environmental restoration for mineral exploitation activities has specified the policy of "polluters must pay" according to the provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection 2005.

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However, after a period of implementation, the environmental protection deposit activity has revealed some shortcomings in the calculation of deposit levels, appraisal of environmental restoration projects as well as the ability of local people to monitor implementation.

On the afternoon of August 30, the General Department of Environment (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) held a workshop on policies and financial mechanisms for environmental protection in mineral exploitation.

According to Nguyen Hoai Duc, Deputy Director of the Department of Waste Management and Environmental Improvement, General Department of Environment, the work of depositing deposits for environmental improvement and restoration for mineral exploitation activities has been implemented quite synchronously in localities. The order and procedures for depositing deposits are clearly regulated, the inspection and confirmation of completion of environmental improvement and restoration are specifically regulated, helping organizations and individuals to withdraw their deposits conveniently after completion.

By the end of September 2011, there were 92 projects of 72 units depositing over 32 billion VND. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also received 39 reports from the People's Committees of provinces and cities on depositing for environmental improvement and restoration.

In particular, the regulations on how to calculate the deposit amount and deposit methods: the deposit amount determined in the environmental improvement and restoration project approved by the competent authority; the regulations on the time when organizations and individuals must deposit for environmental improvement and restoration for each subject and each case have been implemented very strictly.

However, the deposit work still reveals some problems such as there are only regulations for each individual project while in reality, mineral exploitation activities take place on a large scale, inter-regional, inter-mine, by many organizations and individuals.

The appraisal of environmental improvement and restoration projects and deposit amounts involves many different sectors while environmental specialists lack the capacity and experience, causing difficulties for the appraisal work.

On the other hand, the community's awareness of the rights of people in mineral exploitation areas is still low. The community and social organizations in the locality with mineral mines rarely participate in the role of supervising the implementation of environmental protection laws by mining units in the area.

In the coming time, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will submit a draft Decision of the Prime Minister amending Decision 71 to contribute to overcoming the above difficulties and problems.

Accordingly, the revised Decision will adjust a number of applicable subjects, new regulations on how to calculate the deposit amount, methods, procedures and ways to manage and use the deposit... to ensure the most convenience for people and businesses.

According to (Chinhphu.vn) - LT