NEW ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STANDARDS FOR VIET NAM扴 COAL INDUSTRY

摘要

The United Nations Development Programme funded a pilot project to improve thernimplementation and enforcement of Viet Nam抯 environmental protection legislation forrncoal mining activities in Quang Ninh Province. The project included: 1) developing arntechnical guidance manual for pollution control and land restoration activities, 2)rnprocuring environmental monitoring equipment and training operators, and 3) draftingrna set of specific, practicable regulations and voluntary agreements to better enable thernQuang Ninh coal industry to comply with Viet Nam抯 national environmental legislation.rnThe "Draft "Provincial Standards" are representative of the project抯 legislativernoutputs. The Draft Standards draw together and elaborate on various distinctrnprovisions from Viet Nam抯 environmental laws that were judged to be most importantrnfor addressing the environmental impacts from coal mining. In order to reduce thernvagueness and uncertainty that hinders implementation of the national laws, the DraftrnStandards focus on a providing clear and detailed requirements related to a relativelyrnfew, priority environmental parameters and activities. The Draft Standards draw onrnsome effective regulatory techniques of USA and Australian regulations, modified tornthe particular circumstances of the Quang Ninh coal industry, when necessary torn"flesh out" provisions of Viet Nam抯 existing environmental programs. The DraftrnStandards include the following general provisions: 1) General ImplementationrnProvisions, 2) Enforcement, 3) Monitoring, Reporting, and Record Keeping, 4)rnRestrictions on Mining in Special Areas, 5) Numeric and Operational Standards, 6)rnEnvironmental License Requirements, and 7) Financial Guarantees.rnA working group from the coal industry and various Viet Nam government agenciesrnhas debated and recommended revisions of two drafts of the project抯 legislativernoutputs. Adoption and implementation of the Draft Standards and other legislativernoutputs will mark a unique attempt in Viet Nam to apply specific, practical, andrnenforceable environmental protection regulations on a single industry in a singlernprovince.