The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its environmental management and conservation efforts, continues to support socio-economic development. The wise use of natural resources, while ensuring the health and wellbeing of all Guyanese, is pivotal to the Agency’s work. One of the many tools we use to achieve this is the authorisation of developmental activities. Our Environmental Authorisation process provides a robust framework to ensure that developmental activities do not cause adverse impacts to the natural environment and human health. This is achieved through the enforcement of the Environmental Protection Act, Chapter 20:05, Laws of Guyana (EP Act) and its associated regulations. Additionally, the Agency is working assiduously to enhance this process through education, partnership, and collaboration. This week’s article will focus on the fees that are associated with obtaining Environmental Authorisation issued by the EPA.
The authorisation process has an established fee structure which allows all developers/operators an equal opportunity to adhere to the regulations enforced by the EPA. The Agency also recovers its costs of processing and granting of Environmental Authorisation from the fees that are required. All applications coming to the Agency MUST pay a non-refundable application fee before the application can be processed.
These fees are stipulated by the EPA Act. However, the final cost of the permit is determined based on the scale of the project (small, medium, large, extra-large), the likely impacts to the environment (low to high), and the validity period of the Permit (between 1-5 years). All applications undergo a screening process to guide the final decision of the EPA.
Be reminded that projects related to infrastructure, service industries, processing plants, mining/mineral processing, agriculture, wood processing, waste handling, and activities with the use of loud speakers or other sound-making devices MUST be authorised by the EPA. Therefore, if you are operating in any of these sectors without an Environmental Authorisation, you are breaking the law and can be persecuted.
Further, under the EP Act, fines and penalties can be imposed for failure to comply with the conditions of any permit granted by the EPA.
*C1-C3 – indicates low to high significance in terms of environmental impact, based on EPA fee screening criteria for new projects.
@ – fee stated is per year, permit can be issued for up to five years
You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: [email protected] or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
