Tasks and powers of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam in state management of the environment

1. To guide, examine and organize the implementation of policies, laws, inter-sectoral, inter-provincial, inter-regional and national strategies, master plans, plans, programs, schemes, projects and tasks on environmental protection and security and cross-border environmental issues after they are decided and approved by competent authorities;

2. To formulate and submit to competent agencies for promulgation national environment indicators and the system of environmental statistical indicators in accordance with law;

3. To guide and examine the elaboration and appraisal of environmental protection master plans; to elaborate and appraise national environmental protection master plans in accordance with law;

4. To guide and examine the appraisal of strategic environmental assessment reports, appraise and approve environmental impact assessment reports and certify environmental protection plans; to provide technical instructions on strategic environmental impact assessment and elaboration of specialized environmental impact assessment reports; to organize according to its competence the appraisal of strategic environmental assessment reports, appraise and approve environmental protection schemes, environmental impact assessment reports, grant certificates of completion of environmental protection facilities to and certify the satisfaction of environmental protection requirements for household solid waste and ordinary industrial waste disposal establishments in accordance with law;

5. To guide, examine and organize control of polluting sources from production, business and service activities of economic zones, industrial parks, export processing zones, hi-tech parks, industrial clusters and craft villages in accordance with law; to guide environmental protection regarding chemicals, pesticides, veterinary drugs, import of discarded materials to be used as production materials and dismantlement of used seagoing ships; to elaborate a list of bioproducts used for pollution prevention and mitigation and waste treatment; the list of polluting bioproducts banned from import, the list of scraps permitted for import; to prevent and respond to environmental incidents in accordance with law;

6. To guide, examine and organize according to its competence the elaboration of a list of seriously polluting establishments and the thorough handling of these establishments and certify the thorough handling of seriously polluting establishments; to provide targeted financial supports from the budget for public establishments in accordance with law;

7. To guide, examine and organize waste management in accordance with law; to appraise solid waste master plans elaborated by the Ministry of Construction; to provide technical and management process instructions on the classification, storage, gathering, transportation, semi-processing, reuse, recycling, joint disposal, disposal and recovery of energy from ordinary solid wastes and hazardous wastes; to recover and dispose of discarded products;

8. To guide, examine and organize the management of environmental quality of water, soil, air, river basins, sea and islands, urban centers, rural areas, residential areas and public areas in accordance with law;

9. To guide, examine and organize according to its competence the survey, assessment, classification and environmental improvement and rehabilitation of polluted areas and environmental improvement and rehabilitation in mining activities; to appraise and approve environmental improvement and rehabilitation schemes for mining activities in accordance with law;

10. To guide, examine and organize the implementation of environment monitoring nationwide in accordance with law; to organize the implementation of the national environmental monitoring program; to build and manage the national environmental monitoring system; to manage the quality of and inspect, calibrate and test environmental monitoring devices in accordance with law; to manage environmental monitoring data and develop a national environmental monitoring database; to publicize national environmental observation results, to provide professional guidance and technical assistance for the management of environmental monitoring data;

11. To guide and examine the making and announcement of environmental status reports; to make and publicize environmental status reports, national environmental topical reports, publicize and provide environmental information and data in accordance with law;

12. To guide and appraise, examine and assess environmental pollution treatment and waste disposal works, equipment, models and technologies; to guide and examine environmental verification in accordance with law; to conduct researches and apply scientific and technological advances in environmental protection and develop environmental technologies; to formulate and implement trial programs and models on sustainable and environment-friendly production and consumption;

13. To guide, examine and organize the registration, certification, grant, re-grant, modification and revocation of environmental licenses, certificates and practice certificates in accordance with law;

14. To guide ministries, sectors and localities in environmental protection profession and key tasks; to sum up and estimate annual non-business funds needed for environmental activities of ministries, sectors and localities; to coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance in building economic and financial mechanisms for environmental protection, sum up annual, three-year and five-year state budget estimates and central budget allocation schemes for the environmental field; to monitor and supervise the use of environmental budgets by ministries, sectors and localities;

15. To guide, examine and organize the determination of environmental damage and identification of responsibilities to pay compensation for environmental damage, payment of deposits for environmental improvement and rehabilitation and environment insurance in accordance with law; to manage the Vietnam Environmental Protection Fund; to guide the organization and operation of sectoral and local environmental protection funds; to act as the national focal point of the Global Environment Facility;

16. To assume the prime responsibility for organizing the negotiation, signing and implementation of treaties and participating in international environmental organizations; to mobilize international resources; to coordinate and implement international schemes, projects and tasks on environmental cooperation as assigned by the Government;

17. To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, sectors and localities in, organizing the research into and remediation of consequences of chemical toxins used by the US during the Vietnam war; to treat, improve and rehabilitate other existing polluted areas in accordance with law.

View more details at Decree No. 36/2017/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government effective from April 04, 2017, replacing Decree No. 21/2013/NĐ-CP.

- Ngoc Duyen -

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