Classification of environmental emergencies by scale and stages of response to environmental emergencies in Vietnam

Classification of environmental emergencies by scale and stages of response to environmental emergencies in Vietnam (Image from the Internet)

1. Classification of environmental emergencies by scale and stages of response to environmental emergencies in Vietnam

The classification of environmental emergencies by scale and stages of response to environmental emergencies in Vietnam according to Article 123 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 is as follows:

- The classification of environmental emergencies is based on the scope of pollution, environmental degradation at the time of incident detection to determine the responsible authority for directing the response, including the following levels:

+ Basis-level environmental incident: an incident with pollution or environmental degradation within a production, business, or service facility;

+ District-level environmental incident: an incident that exceeds the scope of a basis level and includes pollution or environmental degradation within a district administrative unit;

+ Provincial-level environmental incident: an incident that surpasses the scope of a district level and includes pollution or environmental degradation within a provincial administrative unit;

+ National-level environmental incident: an incident with pollution or environmental degradation spanning at least two provincial administrative units or extending transnationally.

- The response to environmental emergencies consists of the following stages:

+ Preparing for environmental incident response;

+ Organizing the environmental incident response;

+ Environmental recovery post-incident.

2. General regulations on environmental emergency prevention and response in Vietnam

General regulations on environmental emergency prevention and response in Vietnam according to Article 121 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 are as follows:

- The prevention and response to environmental emergencies must comply with safety and environmental technical standards.

- Environmental incident response is implemented with the principle of local command, local forces, local means and materials, and local logistics.

- Organizations and individuals causing environmental emergencies are responsible for responding to the incidents and bearing the costs of such responses.

- environmental emergencies occurring at a facility or locality shall be the responsibility of the head of that facility or locality, who must direct and organize the incident response. The response must follow assigned responsibilities, hierarchical command, and close coordination between involved forces, means, and equipment.

- The State encourages and facilitates organizations and individuals to invest in providing environmental incident response services.

- Prevention of environmental emergencies due to leakage, spill, waste dissemination (hereinafter referred to as waste incidents) shall be conducted according to the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. Prevention of environmental emergencies due to chemicals, radiation, oil spills, epidemics, and other causes shall adhere to relevant laws.

- The Government of Vietnam details the prevention and response to environmental emergencies.

3. Responsibilities for Preventing environmental emergencies

Responsibilities for preventing environmental emergencies according to Article 122 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 are as follows:

- Project owners and facilities have the following responsibilities:

+ Implement the requirements for plans, measures, and equipment for preventing and responding to environmental emergencies as stipulated by law;

+ Regularly inspect and apply management and technical methods to eliminate or reduce the risk of environmental emergencies.

- The provincial People's Committee has the following responsibilities:

+ Investigate, compile statistics, and assess potential environmental incident risks within the local area;

+ Develop databases and publicly provide information about sources that might cause environmental emergencies, in accordance with the law;

+ Build and direct district and commune People's Committees to enhance prevention and warning capacities for potential environmental emergencies within local areas.

- Ministries and ministerial-level agencies are responsible for preventing environmental emergencies as stipulated in point a, clause 1, Article 127 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020.

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