Guidance on Determining Compliance with Environmental Protection Obligations in Mineral Exploration

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Circular 51/2015/TT-BTNMT guides the inspection of mineral exploration to determine compliance with environmental protection obligations in mineral exploration, including:

- Implementing measures to prevent environmental pollution mentioned in the project plan assessed by competent state authorities; leveling exploration works that have been completed (wells, tunnels, trenches, pits, etc.) as prescribed;- Implementing remedial measures when causing environmental pollution during the exploration of harmful minerals.

Additionally, the Circular also guides the inspection of the protection of unexploited minerals, including:

- Reporting on types of minerals not being the main minerals, accompanying minerals recorded in the Mineral Exploration Permit;- Documents and reports to local authorities and competent state agencies when detecting illegal mineral exploitation activities within the permitted exploration area (if any).

The determination of the obligation to submit mineral exploration results reports includes:

- A document confirming submission for archival by the Information and Geological Archive Center under the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam for cases where minerals are under the licensing authority of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

- A document confirming submission for archival by the Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment where the explored minerals are located, and the Information and Geological Archive Center under the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam for cases where minerals are under the licensing authority of the Provincial People's Committee.

Details can be found in Circular 51/2015/TT-BTNMT, effective from January 11, 2016.

Le Hai

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