Starting from this year, the Jiangsu Provincial Government will conduct pilot reforms of "regional environmental impact assessment+environmental standards" in Nanjing Jiangbei New Area, Nanjing Ecological Science and Technology Island Economic Development Zone, Kunshan Huaqiao Economic Development Zone, Nantong Chongchuan Economic Development Zone, and Suzhou Suqian Industrial Park.
It is understood that this pilot project is mainly aimed at deepening the reform of the environmental impact assessment approval system for construction projects, using planning environmental impact assessments as a starting point, simplifying environmental impact assessment approvals, and strengthening in-process and post event supervision.
Strengthening, simplifying, and optimizing the environmental impact assessment system
It is reported that in this reform pilot, the Jiangsu Provincial Government requires not only strengthening the role of planning environmental impact assessment and simplifying project environmental impact assessment approval, but also optimizing the environmental impact assessment approval process.
The pilot areas should strengthen the role of planning and environmental impact assessment in optimizing layout, controlling scale, adjusting structure, and promoting transformation, as well as the mandatory constraint on project environmental access. Based on the goal of improving environmental quality, develop an ecological space list for spatial development planning, a usage control list for restricted development areas, a total pollutant emission control limit list for the park, and an industrial and process environment access list for industrial development planning, achieving list based management.
For areas that have passed the planning and environmental impact assessment review, within the scope of implementing the planning and environmental impact assessment opinions and meeting the requirements of regional economic development planning, land use planning, urban-rural planning, ecological environment protection planning, etc., the environmental impact assessment of construction projects (except for those that require approval from national and provincial environmental protection departments) can be simplified. Construction projects that meet the industry positioning (excluding chemical and storage/use of hazardous chemicals) may have their environmental impact assessment type reduced by one level accordingly. Construction projects outside the "Classification Management List for Environmental Impact Assessment of Construction Projects" are not required to undergo environmental impact assessment. Technical renovation projects that do not increase production equipment can implement a filing system without adding pollutant emissions. The environmental status and pollution source investigation data in the planning and environmental impact assessment can be shared for construction project environmental impact assessments, and the corresponding evaluation content can be simplified.
The environmental impact assessment approval department should not only formulate detailed service specifications and standards, promote the disclosure of approval content, application materials, approval conditions, approval process, and approval time to the society, but also publicly disclose information related to environmental impact assessment of construction projects on the portal website, including public participation information, complete environmental impact assessment documents of construction projects, etc. For construction projects within the district that comply with the planning and environmental impact assessment opinions, relevant information on the planning and environmental impact assessment shall be attached to the environmental impact assessment acceptance announcement, and the acceptance announcement time may be reduced according to the actual situation.
Clarify the main responsibilities of all parties involved
In the process of environmental impact assessment, it involves the responsibilities of multiple units such as environmental protection departments, construction project investment entities, and environmental impact assessment intermediaries. This reform pilot has also clarified this.
The environmental protection department is mainly responsible for the approval and filing of environmental impact assessments for construction projects, and ensuring information disclosure; Responsible for the replacement review of total balance and issuance of pollutant discharge permits; Responsible for the supervision, management, and assessment of environmental impact assessment agencies, developing technical standards for assessing environmental impact assessment agencies, and supervising agencies to effectively improve the quality of environmental impact assessments; Responsible for conducting environmental protection legal and regulatory training for enterprise leaders during environmental impact assessment filing. At the same time, strengthen the supervision of construction projects during and after the construction process, and urge enterprises to implement various environmental protection measures.
At the same time, the environmental protection department will conduct timely inspections and propose improvement measures in accordance with the "double random" sampling mechanism. Simultaneously using big data methods to collect, evaluate, and apply environmental impact assessment approval information and intermediary agency information for construction projects.
The investment entity of the construction project shall organize the preparation of the environmental impact assessment document of the construction project according to the requirements, and carry out information disclosure and public investigation work in accordance with relevant regulations. Carefully review the accuracy and authenticity of the environmental impact assessment documents and related supporting materials, and be responsible for the content of the provided environmental impact assessment documents or other project materials. Submit relevant materials and environmental impact assessment records for the construction project, apply for a pollutant discharge permit, and issue a commitment letter from the enterprise legal representative. Strictly follow the requirements of the environmental impact assessment report and pollutant discharge permit to carry out the "three simultaneities" of environmental protection, and regularly report the implementation status to the local environmental protection bureau.
Environmental impact assessment intermediary agencies shall carry out environmental impact assessment work in accordance with the qualification level, evaluation scope, and technical specifications required by the state, and shall be responsible for the environmental impact assessment conclusions for life. Strictly implement the commitment deadline requirements and the project leader system for environmental impact assessment documents, provide standardized and comprehensive environmental impact assessment consulting services for construction project investment entities, and improve service efficiency and quality.
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