Muscat: Rules for giving environmental permits have been issued by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs.
The rules include 13 articles about distribution of environmental activity permits and penalties for violators.
It has determined three categories for the environmental activities.
The regulations clarified the way to apply for the permit in accordance with the format approved by the Ministry through service centres such as InvestEasy website or through custom statement system for permits related to the chemical substances and protection from radiation permits or through the Website of the Ministry for other environmental permits.
The Ministry has determined three categories for the environmental activities, A, B and C.
The regulation pointed out that the category A are the activities of the great environmental effect which require preparation of study of environmental effect which should be prepared by one of the approved consultation offices in accordance with the principles and regulations determined by the Ministry in this regard and the category includes 255 activities.
Category B includes activities located in industrial estates, industrial ports and free zones. There are 504 activities in this category which is further divided into two types. The first one pertains to those located inside the industrial estates and and requiring preparation of studies of evaluating the environmental effect and the other one represented in activities located outside industrial estates, industrial ports and free zones which require preparation of study of evaluating environmental effect.
In category C are the activities of the minor environmental effect which also divided into two types. The first one of these activities requires preparation of studies of evaluating environmental the project affection is unclear and the other type relates to activities that require study of evaluating the environmental affect where the applicant can obtain the service through InvestEasy website.
Previously the Ministry had approved its services manual and code of dealers service indicating basic rights and duties of the employees of the Ministry while providing services to dealers. It had also approved other rules and regulations and responsibilities to be followed by the dealer to help the Ministry to provide high quality services for all dealers including citizens, residents, investors and establishments.