New Environmental Regulations Officially Came into Effect This Month

Starting October 1st this year, a series of new regulations and standards in the environmental protection field officially came into effect, covering multiple areas such as environmental impact assessments, solid waste, vehicle exhaust emissions, energy conservation, and water conservation. These regulations will undoubtedly play a crucial role in my country's resolute fight to protect blue skies and safeguard public health.

A central environmental protection inspection demonstrated the nation's determination to protect the environment and pursue green development. Simultaneously, my country is continuously deepening its reforms and accelerating the construction of environmental protection systems.

Starting October 1st this year, a series of new regulations and standards in the environmental protection field officially came into effect, covering multiple areas such as environmental impact assessments, solid waste, vehicle exhaust emissions, energy conservation, and water conservation. These regulations will undoubtedly play a crucial role in my country's resolute fight to protect blue skies and safeguard public health.

Stricter Environmental Impact Assessments for Construction Projects, But Faster

Effective from October 1st, ushering in a new era of environmental impact assessments.

This regulation was formulated to prevent construction projects from generating new pollution and damaging the ecological environment.

The new "Regulations on Environmental Protection Management of Construction Projects" reflects the requirements of the "streamlining administration, delegating power, and improving services" reform. It eliminates approval items that are no longer suitable for current development needs, strengthens in-process and post-process supervision, reduces unreasonable burdens on enterprises, and is conducive to stimulating the entrepreneurial and innovative vitality of enterprises and society, and promoting the government's transformation of management methods and services to enterprises.

The Regulations clarify that no fees may be charged to enterprises for approving and filing environmental impact assessment documents and conducting related technical assessments. It also requires environmental protection departments to promote e-government and informatization, and to conduct online approval, filing, and information disclosure of environmental impact assessment documents.

This is also a concrete action in my country's efforts to improve the environmental impact assessment system. It is understood that the environmental impact assessment system, as an important system for environmental protection management, will only be strengthened, not weakened, as reforms deepen. The new Regulations clarify that penalties for illegal activities will be increased.

Purchasing four types of instruments, including those for VOCs, can be eligible for income tax credits.

The "Catalogue of Preferential Enterprise Income Tax Policies for Energy-Saving, Water-Saving, and Environmental Protection Special Equipment (2017 Edition)" officially came into effect on October 1st.

The "Catalogue of Enterprise Income Tax Preferential Treatment for Environmental Protection Equipment (2017 Edition)" includes four categories of specialized environmental monitoring instruments: continuous emission monitors for flue gas, online laser analyzers for ammonia escape, VOCs analyzers, and automatic water quality analyzers for heavy metals. This means that purchasing these four types of instruments can offset enterprise income tax.

Compared to the 2008 edition, the 2017 edition shows significant revisions. Only one environmental monitoring instrument (continuous emission monitor for flue gas) was retained, and its technical specifications and application areas were revised. Widely used equipment (automatic online chemical oxygen demand water quality monitor) and poorly representative equipment (such as the five-day biochemical oxygen demand water quality analyzer) from the 2008 edition were removed.

Regarding the implementation of the catalogue, enterprises are required to determine whether they meet the conditions for tax incentives and, after completing the required enterprise income tax incentive filing procedures with the tax authorities, directly enjoy the tax benefits. The tax authorities strengthen subsequent management through tax risk management, audits, and tax assessments. These regulations greatly facilitate enterprises' tax incentive applications, simplify pre-approval procedures, and strengthen in-process and post-process supervision.

Hazardous Waste Environmental Impact Assessment Throughout the Process: Preventing Pollution at the Source

The "Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment of Hazardous Waste in Construction Projects," implemented on October 1st, fills the gap in my country's previous lack of standardized technical guidelines for hazardous waste environmental impact assessment.

The "Guidelines" aim to strengthen the management of solid waste, protect the environment, and safeguard human health. Approved by the Ministry of Environmental Protection on May 27th of this year, the standard clarifies the boundary between solid waste and polluted soil, defines the management attributes of solid waste during its utilization and disposal, proposes standards for the boundary between solid waste and its comprehensive utilization products, and clarifies the distinction between liquid waste and wastewater managed as solid waste.

An official from the Ministry of Environmental Protection stated that with the release of the "Guidelines," the entire process of hazardous waste generation, collection, storage, transportation, utilization, and disposal in construction projects will be analyzed and evaluated to effectively prevent hazardous waste pollution from the source.

Comprehensive Standards for Solid Waste Identification

Meanwhile, the "General Rules for Solid Waste Identification" officially came into effect on October 1st.

Aiming to strengthen the management of solid waste, protect the environment, and safeguard human health, this standard, approved by the Ministry of Environmental Protection on May 27th of this year, clarifies the boundary between solid waste and polluted soil, defines the management attributes of solid waste in its utilization and disposal processes, proposes standards for the boundary between solid waste and its comprehensive utilization products, and clarifies the distinction between liquid waste and wastewater managed as solid waste.

The "General Rules" further clarifies the principles, procedures, and methods for determining solid waste, building upon the 2006 "Guidelines for Solid Waste Identification (Trial Implementation)." More than 90% of the solid waste types generated in my country can be found in this standard, making it highly operational. The implementation of this standard will bring significant environmental benefits.

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste requires comprehensive harmless treatment management.

The "Pollution Control Standard for Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Waste," implemented on October 1st, is a revision of the existing standard. It redefines "PCB-containing waste," adds category provisions, and specifies requirements for cleanup, packaging, harmless treatment and disposal, environmental monitoring, safety protection, and emergency response.

The new standard clarifies the management targets and classification for disposal, which helps control secondary pollution caused during the excavation and transportation of PCB-containing waste and the environmental risks during the harmless treatment process. It applies to pollution control and supervision throughout the entire process of classification, harmless treatment management, and harmless disposal of PCB-containing waste. Waste with a PCB content of less than 50 mg/kg is managed as general industrial solid waste.

The implementation of this standard can effectively prevent secondary pollution risks from the harmless disposal of PCBs-containing waste, achieve harmless management of PCBs-containing waste throughout the entire process, and significantly improve my country's pollution control technology level for PCBs-containing waste, promoting the alignment of my country's harmless disposal technology for PCBs-containing waste with international standards and effectively fulfilling compliance requirements.

Automotive Emission Testing Enters the Era of Real-Road Emission Testing

The standard "On-board Measurement Methods and Technical Requirements for Exhaust Pollutants from Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles and Gas-Fueled Vehicles" came into effect on October 1st. This standard specifies the on-board measurement methods and technical requirements for exhaust pollutants from heavy-duty diesel vehicles and gas-fueled vehicles, applicable to the emission compliance inspection of newly manufactured heavy-duty diesel vehicles and gas-fueled vehicles that meet the fifth stage standard of GB 17691-2005, and the in-use compliance inspection.

The standard uses a portable emission testing system (PEMS), which is installed on the vehicle under test to measure pollutant emissions when the vehicle is driving on actual roads. The pollutant emissions of the tested vehicle should meet the fifth stage emission limits. Industry insiders point out that the official release of the PEMS standards for heavy-duty diesel and gas-powered vehicles marks the beginning of the era of real-road emission testing for automobiles.

Furthermore, the standards impose clear requirements on motor vehicle manufacturers. According to the standards, manufacturers bear primary responsibility for the emission compliance of newly produced vehicles and their in-use conformity. The standards require manufacturers to submit a self-inspection report on the in-use conformity of each engine model and vehicle type to the environmental protection authorities every two years. For products that fail spot checks, manufacturers must immediately organize investigations, formulate rectification measures as soon as possible, and report to the environmental protection authorities to ensure that the products meet the requirements after rectification.

This new regulation formally clarifies that environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval and filing and evaluation are not allowed to be charged, further reducing the burden on enterprises. However, while the new regulations are being released, there should also be a unified arrangement for the matching funds of environmental protection authorities, especially in regions with tight budgets. In addition, it is necessary to further strengthen supervision to prevent the acceptance of benefits from construction units or EIA intermediaries, and truly achieve transparent and fair approval processes.