INTERIM PROVISIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT INTHE ECONOMIC ZONES OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
INTERIM PROVISIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT INTHE ECONOMIC ZONES OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
This English document is coming from the "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.
Whole Document
INTERIM PROVISIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN
THE ECONOMIC ZONES OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
(Approved by the State Council on March 4, 1986 and promulgated by
the State Administration for Environmental Protection on March 15, 1986)
Article 1
These Provisions are formulated for the purpose of strengthening the
administration of the environment in the economic zones open to the
outside world, preventing and remedying environmental pollution and the
disruption of ecological balance, safeguarding human health and protecting
and creating good investment environment so as to promote economic and
social development.
Article 2
The term "economic zones open to the outside world" as used in these
Provisions refers to the special economic zones, the open coastal cities
and the coastal economic development areas approved by the State.
All units and individuals that are engaged in production and business
activities in the economic zones open to the outside world shall abide by
these Provisions.
Article 3
People's governments at various levels in the economic zones open to the
outside world shall adhere to the principles of "having prevention as the
main concern and combining prevention with remedying" and strengthen the
work for the comprehensive improvement of the environment. They shall
incorporate environmental protection into the economic and social
development plans of their own localities and specify the targets, tasks
and measures with respect to environmental protection and organize the
implementation thereof.
Article 4
It shall be imperative to evaluate the impact on the environment, carry
out overall planning and ensure rational distribution, if construction of
new areas is to be undertaken in the economic zones open to the outside
world. All departments concerned shall carry out the construction in
strict accordance with the requirements in respect of planning and
distribution.
The existing irrational distribution of the economic zones open to the
outside world shall be rectified gradually in conjunction with urban
reform and industrial readjustment. In residential areas, water-resource
reserves, health resorts, nature reserves, tourist resorts, scenic spots
and places of historic interest, and other areas which need special
protection, no projects that may cause environmental pollution may be
constructed and a deadline shall be set for any such projects that have
been completed to be improved, readjusted, or removed.
Article 5
With respect to projects that are not covered by the State provisions
concerning the standards of environmental quality, the people's
governments of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities
directly under the Central Government having jurisdiction over the
economic zones open to the outside world may formulate their own local
supplementary standards. If the implementation of the State standards
concerning the discharge of pollutants fails to satisfy the requirements
for environmental quality of their own localities, they may formulate
their own local standards concerning the discharge of pollutants which are
stricter than the State standards concerning the discharge of pollutants
and submit them to the State departments for environmental protection for
the record.
The local standards concerning the discharge of pollutants formulated in
accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be
implemented by the enterprises and institutions in the localities.
Article 6
Technology and equipment introduced from abroad into the economic zones
open to the outside world shall conform to the requirement that they shall
cause no pollution or little pollution. If the technology or equipment to
be introduced from abroad will cause pollution and no means is yet
available at home to tackle it, the corresponding environmental protection
facilities shall be introduced simultaneously. With respect to all newly-
constructed projects, alteration projects or expansion projects, it shall
be imperative to ensure that both the supporting facilities for preventing
and remedying environmental pollution and the principal part of the
project are put into operation simultaneously.
Article 7
When entering into an economic contract, all units and individuals in the
economic zones open to the outside world shall specify the obligations and
responsibilities of each of the parties thereto in respect of
environmental protection and ensure that measures for preventing and
remedying environmental pollution are duly stipulated. The contract may
not contain anything that runs counter to the laws and regulations of the
State or of the locality for environmental protection.
Article 8
Units that intend to engage in developmental construction in the economic
zones open to the outside world shall, in accordance with the pertinent
provisions of the State, submit an environmental impact report/form(s) and
a text on environmental protection in the preliminary design of a
construction project and shall, upon completion of the project, submit a
report on inspecting and accepting the completed environmental protection
facilities.
The department for environmental protection shall, within 45 days of
receipt of the environmental impact report/form(s) or within 30 days of
receipt of the text on environmental protection in the preliminary design
of a construction project and the report on inspecting and accepting the
completed environmental protection facilities, give an official written
reply to the unit that has submitted the above-mentioned documents. If no
such reply is given within the prescribed period of time, the documents
submitted shall automatically become effective.
Article 9
Enterprises and institutions in the economic zones open to the outside
world that have to discharge pollutants shall apply to the departments for
environmental protection under the local people's governments for
permission to discharge pollutants and fill in forms to report truthfully
on the pollutant discharging and treating facilities that they possess and
the kind(s) of pollutants to be discharged, the mode(s) of discharging,
and the quantity and density of the pollutants under normal operational
conditions. Their production or business operations shall begin only
after the application has been verified and approved and the document for
the registration of pollutant discharge has been obtained. If changes have
taken place in the discharge of pollutants, these shall be reported in
good time to the departments for environmental protection under the local
people's governments.
Those that discharge pollutants in excess of the State or local standards
shall pay an excess pollutant discharge fee in accordance with the
pertinent provisions of the State; those that discharge pollutants into
water shall pay a pollutant discharge fee in accordance with the pertinent
provisions of the State.
Article 10
The departments for environmental protection under the people's
governments at various levels in the economic zones open to the outside
world shall be responsible for organizing, co-ordinating, supervising and
inspecting the work of environmental protection in their own localities.
The units that are subjected to supervision and inspection shall provide
the actual relevant information and data.
The departments for environmental protection shall undertake the
obligation and responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of the
information and data provided by the units that are subjected to
supervision and inspection.
Article 11
The departments for environmental protection under the people's
governments at various levels in the economic zones open to the outside
world or other competent departments may order those units that have
violated these Provisions and caused pollution damage to remedy the
situation within a prescribed period of time, pay the expenses for
eliminating the pollution and compensate for the losses thus incurred and
may also give them a warning or impose a fine on them.
Any party concerned that does not accept the penalties may file a suit
with a people's court within 15 days of receipt of the written decision
concerning the penalties. If no suit is filed and yet the decision is not
carried out within the prescribed period of time, the departments for
environmental protection or other competent departments may apply to the
people's court for the compulsory enforcement of the decision.
Article 12
The people's governments of the provinces, autonomous regions and
municipalities where the economic zones open to the outside world are
located may formulate measures for the implementation of these Provisions
in accordance therewith.
Article 13
These Provisions shall go into effect on the date of promulgation.
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