DRAFTENVIRONMENTALIMPACTASSESSMENTRULES

TheGovernmentoftheUnionofMyanmar
MinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestry
NotificationNo./12
NayPyiTaw,the________________________Dayof____________________,1374M.E.
(________________________________________,2012)

InexerciseofthepowersconferredbySection??,Subsection(?)oftheMyanmarEnvironmental
ConservationLawandwiththeapprovaloftheGovernment,theMinistryofEnvironmental
ConservationandForestryherebymakesthefollowingRules:

CHAPTERI
TitleandDefinitions

1.
TheseRulesshallbecalledtheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentRules.
2.
TheexpressionscontainedintheseRulesshallhavethesamemeaningsasdefinedinSection(?)
oftheMyanmarEnvironmentalConservationLaw.Inadditiontheretothefollowingexpressionshave
themeaningsgivenhereunder:
(a)
LawmeanstheMyanmarEnvironmentalConservationLaw2012andanysubsequent
amendments;
(b)
EnvironmentshallhavethesamemeaningasdefinedinSection(?)oftheLaw;
(c)
EnvironmentalImpactsmeanstheprobableeffectsorconsequencesofproposedprojectsor
businessesoractivitiesorundertakingsonthephysical,biologicalandsocioeconomicenvironmentthat
canbedirectorindirect,cumulativeandpositiveornegative;
(d)
EnvironmentalImpactAssessmentmeanstheprocessofstudyingthesignificantimpactofa
proposedprojectorbusinessoractivityonthephysical,biologicalandsocioeconomicenvironment,
whichisrequiredaspartofthedecisionmakingprocess;
(e)
InitialEnvironmentalExaminationmeansapreliminaryexaminationofthepossibleimpactsof
aproposedprojectorbusinessoractivitywithaviewtodeterminingwhethersuchimpactsare
significantand,assuch,requirethepreparationofanenvironmentalimpactassessmentreportandany
otherdocumentsasmaybeprescribed;
(f)
EnvironmentalManagementandMonitoringPlanmeansadocumentwhichdescribesthe
measurestobetakenforpreventing,mitigatingandmonitoringsignificantenvironmentalimpacts
resultingfromtheimplementationandoperationofaproposedprojectorbusinessoractivity;
(g)
NationalCommitteemeanstheMyanmarNationalEnvironmentalConservationCommitteeas
establishedbySection?oftheLaw;
(h)
Projectmeansanyactivityorcombinationofactivitiesincludingactionsorundertakings,
regardlessofmagnitude,whichmayhaveasignificantimpactontheenvironment;
(i)
ProjectProponentmeansanindividual,company,ororganizationproposingtoinitiatea
project;

(j)
ScreeningmeansaninitialassessmentundertakentodeterminewhetherornotanInitial
EnvironmentalExaminationand/oranEnvironmentalImpactAssessment,oranyotherformofreporting
arerequired;and
(k)
Scopingmeansthestageintheenvironmentalimpactassessmentprocesswhereinformation
andassessmentrequirementsareestablishedtoprovidetheprojectproponentwiththescopeand
termsofreferencefortheEnvironmentalImpactAssessment.

CHAPTERII
EstablishmentofEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentScheme

3.
PursuanttoSection?oftheLawthereshallbeestablishedasystemofenvironmentalimpact
assessmentwhichshallrequireanyproposedprojectorbusinessoractivityorundertakinginMyanmar
byanyministry,governmentdepartment,corporation,board,developmentcommittee,localauthority,
company,cooperative,institution,enterprise,firmorindividuallikelytohaveasignificantimpactonthe
environmenttoobtainapprovalforitsimplementationinaccordancewiththeseRules.

4.
(a)
TheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestryshallbetheexecutingagency
forthepurposeoftheseRules;
(b)
ThereshallbeestablishedunderpolicyguidanceoftheNationalCommitteean
EnvironmentalImpactAssessmentCommitteethatshall,afterobtainingandconsidering
therecommendationoftheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestry,give
environmentalapprovalundertheseRules;
(c)
ThecompositionoftheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentCommitteeshallbe
determinedbytheNationalCommitteeandtheMinisterresponsibleforthe
environmentorapersondelegatedbytheMinisterandmayvarydependingonthe
projecttobeassessedbutshallinvolveatleastfivepersonswiththerequisiteexpertise
from,interalia,government,industry,academiaandcivilsociety;
(d)
AnyprojectwhichrequiresanInitialEnvironmentalExaminationorEnvironmental
ImpactAssessmentshallnotbeissuedapermittocommenceexplorationor
constructionoroperationbytheMyanmarInvestmentCommissionoranyrelevant
authoritywithoutthewrittenenvironmentalapprovaloftheEnvironmentalImpact
AssessmentCommittee,andagreementinwritingbytheprojectproponentwithanyof
theconditionsattachedtothatapproval,intheformrequiredbytheMinistryof
EnvironmentalConservationandForestry;
(e)
SubjecttotheprovisionsoftheseRules,thefunctionsanddutiesoftheMinistryof
EnvironmentalConservationandForestryshallinclude:
(i)
definingprojectscreeningcriteria;
(ii)
creatingguidelinesforInitialEnvironmentalExaminationsandEnvironmental
ImpactAssessments;
(iii)
reviewingandapprovingInitialEnvironmentalExaminationReports;
(iv)
providingguidelinesforandapprovingtermsofreferenceforEnvironmental
ImpactAssessments;

(v)
(vi)

(vii)
(viii)

(ix)

(x)

(b)

reviewingEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentreportsandrequiringany
amendmentsthereof;
providingrecommendationstotheEnvironmentalImpactAssessment
CommitteeinrelationtoapprovalofEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentreports,
includinganypossibleconditionsthatmayberequired;
evaluatingEnvironmentalManagementandMonitoringPlans;
reviewingandrecommendingtotheEnvironmentalImpactAssessment
Committeeanycontractprovisionorotherlegallybindingdocumenttofully
incorporatetheEnvironmentalManagementandMonitoringPlans;
monitoringandenforcingtheimplementationoftheEnvironmental
ManagementandMonitoringPlans,andrecommendingtotheEnvironmental
ImpactAssessmentCommitteeanyamendmentsthereofoccasionedby
experienceduringimplementationoftheproject;and
performingotherdutiesrelatingtoEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentas
stipulatedbytheGovernment.

ThepowersandfunctionsoftheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentCommitteeshall
include:
(i)
approvalofprojectscreeningcriteria;
(ii)
approval,subjecttoconditions,ifany,oftheEnvironmentalImpactAssessment
Reports;and
(iii)
approval,subjecttoconditions,ifany,oftheEnvironmentalManagementand
MonitoringPlans.

6.
TheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestryshallarrange,asitdeemsnecessary,
forthepublicparticipationofcivilsocietyandrelevantagenciesintheconductofEnvironmentalImpact
AssessmentandinimplementationoftheEnvironmentalManagementandMonitoringPlan.

CHAPTERIII
Screening

7.
Theprojectproponentshallpresenttheprojectproposalintheprescribedformattothe
MinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestryforscreening,atthesametimeastheprojectis
submittedtotheMyanmarInvestmentCommissionorotherrelevantagenciesforprojectapproval.

8.
(a)
Withrespecttoscreening,thepowersandfunctionsoftheMinistryforEnvironmental
ConservationandForestryshallinclude:
(i)
prescribingthoseprojectsorbusinessesoractivitiesthatrequireanInitial
EnvironmentalExamination,eventhoughtheprojectoractivityisnotincluded
inSchedule1oftheseRules,havingregardtowhetherornottheprojector
businessoractivityinvolvesanyofthefollowing:
(a)
modificationoflandforms,naturalecosystemsandnaturallandscapes;

(b)
(c)

9.

exploitationofrenewableandnonrenewablenaturalresources;
processesandactivitieswiththepotentialtocausewaste,damage,or
declineinecosystemservices;
(d)
processesandactivitieswhichmayaffectthesocialandcultural
environment;
(e)
processesandactivitieswhichmayaffectthepreservationofnatural
resourceconservationareasand/ortheprotectionofculturaland
historicalreserves;
(f)
introductionofnewspeciesofplants,animalsandmicroorganisms,
includinggeneticallymodifiedorganisms;
(g)
applicationsoftechnologywhicharepredictedtohaveconsiderable
potentialtoaffecttheenvironment;
(h)
activitieshavinghighrisksandpotentiallyaffectingnationalsecurity;
(i)
productionanduseofbioticandabioticsubstances;and
(j)
suchothercriteriaasmaybeprescribedbytheNationalCommitteeto
safeguardtheenvironment.
(ii)
prescribingtheformatandtimeframefortheStatementofNoSignificant
ImpacttotheEnvironment,InitialEnvironmentalExaminationReportsand
EnvironmentalImpactAssessmentReports;and
(iii)
reachingadecisionbasedontheInitialEnvironmentalExaminationReportasto
whetherornottheproposedprojectorbusinessoractivitymayhave
potentiallysignificantenvironmentalimpactsandwhereitsodetermines
requiringtheprojectorbusinessoractivitytoundergoafullEnvironmental
ImpactAssessment.
(b)
Theselectionofthetypeofprojectsorbusinessesoractivitiesasreferredtointhe
abovesubrule(a)andSchedule1shallbereviewedperiodically,atleastonceeveryfive
years.
Withrespecttoscreening,theprojectproponentshallcarryoutthefollowingduties,under
guidanceoftheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestry:
(a)
IftheproposedprojectorbusinessoractivityfallswithintheactivitieslistedinSchedule
1,theprojectproponentshallconductanInitialEnvironmentalExaminationofthe
proposedprojectorbusinessoractivityandshallensurethatitiscarriedoutbyexperts
inthefieldofenvironmentalimpactassessment,whoaredulycertifiedbytheMinistry
ofEnvironmentalConservationandForestry;and
(b)
SubmitthedraftandfinalInitialEnvironmentalExaminationtotheMinistryof
EnvironmentalConservationandForestryintheformatandtimeframeasmaybe
prescribedbytheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestry.

CHAPTERIV
Scoping

10.

Atthescopingstageoftheenvironmentalimpactassessment,theMinistryofEnvironmental
ConservationandForestryshallhavethefollowingpowersandfunctionsrelatingtoscoping:
(a)
developingandpromulgatingguidelinesforscoping;
(b)
identifyingincooperationwiththeprojectproponentanyissuesandconcernsrelatedto
theprojectthatarelikelytohaveasignificantenvironmentalimpact;and
(c)
providingguidelinesfor,advisingon,andapprovingthetermsofreferenceforthe
investigationofenvironmentalimpactsandforpreparationoftheEnvironmentalImpact
AssessmentReportandtheEnvironmentalManagementandMonitoringPlan.
11.
AllprojectproponentsforprojectsthatarerequiredtocarryoutafullEnvironmentalImpact
Assessment,eitherbyvirtueofScheduleIIorIII,orbyorderoftheMinistryofEnvironmental
ConservationandForestryshallfirstconductascopingprocesswhichshallinvolvethefollowing:
(a)
providingfulldisclosuretotheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestryof
allrelevantinformationregardingthelikelyenvironmentalimpactsoftheproposed
project;and
(b)
failingtodiscloseinformationthatis,orshouldhavebeen,knowntotheproject
proponentshallbeanoffenceundertheLawandmayalsobegroundsforrejectionof
theproposedproject.

CHAPTERV
Investigation

12.
Duringtheinvestigationofaproposedprojectsenvironmentalimpacts,theMinistryof
EnvironmentalConservationandForestryshallhavethefollowingpowersandfunctions:
(a)
Tosupervisetheinvestigationscarriedoutbytheprojectproponentsandtheircertified
orapprovedexperts,andwherenecessarycallontheassistanceandsupportofrelevant
Ministries,agenciesandinstitutionsforthispurpose;and
(b)
Tocallforandreceiveinterimreportsontheprogressoftheinvestigationfromthe
projectproponent,andrecommendremedialstepsasnecessary.
13.
(a)
Onthebasisofthetermsofreference,asapprovedbytheMinistryofEnvironmental
ConservationandForestry,theprojectproponentshallcarryoutafullanalysisand
investigationofallthepotentialenvironmentalimpacts,bothadverseandbeneficial,of
theproposedproject;
(b)
Theinvestigationshallalsoincludeananalysisoffeasiblealternatives,mitigation
measures,andthecostsandbenefitsofboth,andidentifythelikelyresidual
environmentalimpactsafterallmitigationmeasuresareimplemented;
(c)
Theinvestigationshallbecarriedoutbyexpertsinthefieldofenvironmentalimpact
assessment,whoarecertifiedandapprovedbytheMinistryofEnvironmental
ConservationandForestryandappointedbytheprojectproponent;and
Theenvironmentalimpactassessmentteamshallincludequalifiednationalexperts
(d)
and/oranyotherexperts,asdeemednecessarybytheMinistryofEnvironmental
ConservationandForestry.

14.

(a)

(b)

15.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

16.

(a)

CHAPTERVI
Reporting,ReviewandApproval

EveryprojectproponentrequiredtocarryoutanEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentin
respectofaproposedprojectshallprepareanEnvironmentalImpactAssessment
Reportdetailingeverystageoftheassessmentanditsconclusioninaformatand
timeframeasmaybeprescribedbytheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationand
Forestry;and
TheprojectproponentshallprepareanEnvironmentalManagementandMonitoring
PlaninaformatprescribedbytheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestry
andshallsubmititwiththeEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentReport.
UponreceiptoftheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentReportandtheEnvironmental
ManagementandMonitoringPlanfromtheprojectproponents,theMinistryof
EnvironmentalConservationandForestryshallinviterelevantagencies,institutions,civil
societyorganizations,andprojectaffectedpersonstoprovidecommentsand
suggestionsonthereports;
TheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestryshall,withinthetimeframeas
maybeprescribed,reviewandevaluatetheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentReport
andtheEnvironmentalManagementandMonitoringPlanonthebasisoftheprescribed
guidelinesandtheapprovedtermsofreference;
UponreviewandevaluationoftheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentReportandthe
EnvironmentalManagementandMonitoringPlan,andconsiderationofthecomments
andsuggestionsfromrelevantagencies,institutions,civilsocietyorganizations,and
projectaffectedpersons,ifitisdeterminedbytheMinistryofEnvironmental
ConservationandForestrythatanyofthesedocumentsdonotfulfilltherequirements
asprescribedbytheguidelinesandthespecifictermsofreference,thentheproject
proponentshallbecalledupontoundertakethenecessaryamendmentinaccordance
withthedirectivesissuedbytheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestry;
and
TheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestryshall,whereitconsiders
necessary,callupontheexpertiseofotherMinistries,agencies,institutionsandexperts
intheevaluationofsuchEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentReportsandEnvironmental
ManagementandMonitoringPlans.Anycostsorpartsthereof,incurredinobtainingthe
aboveexpertiseasdeterminedbytheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationand
Forestryshallbebornebytheprojectproponent.
TheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestryafterapprovingtheInitial
EnvironmentalExaminationoruponreceiptoftheEnvironmentalImpactAssessment
ReportandtheEnvironmentalManagementandMonitoringPlan,includingall
prescribedamendmentsconformingtotherequirementsoftheMinistryof
EnvironmentalConservationandForestry,ifany,theMinistryofEnvironmental
ConservationandForestryshallsubmitalldocumentswithcommentsand
recommendationstotheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentCommittee;

(b)

TheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentCommitteeshall:
(i)
grantenvironmentalapprovalforimplementationoftheproposedproject
eitherasproposedorsubjecttoanyconditionsasmaybeprescribed;or
(ii)
refusetoissueenvironmentalapprovalfortheproposedprojectandcitethe
reasonsfordoingso.
(c)
Iftheprojecthasreceivedenvironmentalapproval,theEnvironmentalImpact
AssessmentCommitteeshallissueacertificatetotheprojectproponentconferring
environmentalapprovalandspecifyingthetermsandconditionsofimplementationand
operationoftheproject,aswellasadvisingtheMyanmarInvestmentCommissionor
otherrelevantagenciesofthedecisionandpublicizingthedecisioninappropriate
media;
(d)
Thecertificateissuedpursuanttosubrule(c)aboveshallincludethedutiesimposedon
theprojectproponentbyvirtueoftheEnvironmentalManagementandMonitoring
Plan;
(e)
UponreceivingenvironmentalapprovalfromtheEnvironmentalImpactAssessment
Committee,theprojectproponentwillincludethecertificateofenvironmentalapproval
insubmittinganyapplicationtotheMyanmarInvestmentCommissionorotherrelevant
agencyforapermittoproceedwithimplementationoftheproject;and
(f)
WhentheMyanmarInvestmentCommissionortherelevantauthorityhasgiven
approvaltoanenvironmentallyapprovedproject,itshallcommunicatesuchapprovalto
theMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestry.Uponreceiptoftheapproval
bytheMyanmarInvestmentCommissionorrelevantauthoritytheprojectproponent
maycommenceimplementationoftheprojectaccordingtotheconditionsattachedto
theapprovalandtheEnvironmentalManagementandMonitoringPlan,withinthe
timeframeasmaybeprescribedbytheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationand
Forestry.
17.
AprojectproponentwhoseEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentReporthasbeenrejected
pursuanttotheseRulesshallhavetherighttotakenecessaryremedialmeasuresandamendorentirely
redrafttheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentReportandtheEnvironmentalManagementand
MonitoringPlaninconformitywiththecommentsmadebytheEnvironmentalImpactAssessment
Committeeonthesubmittedreport,andshallhavetheright,withinagiventimeframe,toresubmitthe
reporttotheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestryfortheirreconsiderationas
prescribedbytheseRules.

CHAPTERVII
Monitoring

18.
(a)
TheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestryshall,wherenecessaryin
collaborationwithotherMinistries,agenciesandinstitutions,carryoutmonitoring
accordingtotheEnvironmentalManagementandMonitoringPlanpreparedbythe
projectproponent;

(b)

(c)

19.

(a)

(b)

(c)

20.

(a)

(b)

Duringallstagesofimplementationandoperationofaproject,theprojectproponent
shallcomplywiththetermsandconditionsoftheapprovalcertificateissuedpursuantto
Rule16,subrule(c)includingthespecificobligationsundertheEnvironmental
ManagementandMonitoringPlan;and
Failuretocomplywiththetermsandconditionsoftheapprovalcertificateshallbean
offenceundertheLawandtheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestry
shallhavetheauthoritytoassesspenaltiesasmaybeprescribedortoordertheproject
tosuspendconstructionoroperationuntilsuchtimeastheprojectcomplieswiththe
provisionsoftheEnvironmentalManagementandMonitoringPlanandprovide
necessarycompensationfortheenvironmentorprojectaffectedpeopledamagedby
noncompliancewiththetermsandconditionsoftheapprovalcertificate.
If,afterapprovalhasbeengrantedforaproject,thereareproposalsforanyalterations,
extensions,ormodificationstotheprojectwhicheithercauseorarelikelytocause
significantenvironmentalimpactsorrequiremodificationoftheEnvironmental
ManagementandMonitoringPlan,theprojectproponentshallnotifytheMinistryof
EnvironmentalConservationandForestryofsuchchanges,withinthetimeframeasmay
beprescribed.TheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestryshallreviewthe
alterations,extensions,ormodificationsandsendthemwithitscommentsand
recommendationstotheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentCommitteeforits
consideration;
TheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentCommitteeshalldeterminethescopeand
formatofanysupplementaldocumentationthatmaybenecessarybeforesuchchanges
canbeimplemented;and
TheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentCommitteeshall,uponconsiderationofthe
applicationandanysupplementaldocumentation,ifany,makeadecisiononthe
alteration,extensionormodificationproposedbytheprojectproponent.
TheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestry,ifdeemednecessary,may
establishanindependentpanelofexpertsinthefieldofenvironmentalimpact
assessmentwhoshallconductanauditoftheEnvironmentalImpactAssessment
processinamannerandtimeprescribedthatshallfocuson:
(i)
theeffectivenessofEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentasadecisionmakingand
planningtool;
(ii)
theenvironmentalchangesarisingfromprojectimplementation;
(iii)
theaccuracyandutilityofpredictivetechniquesbycomparingpredictedagainst
actualimpacts;
(iv)
themethodsandapproachadoptedduringtheEnvironmentalImpact
Assessmentstudy;and
(v)
anyothermattersprescribedbytheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservation
andForestry.
Thepanelofexpertsshallprepareareportontheirfindingsandsubmitittothe
MinisterofEnvironmentalConservationandForestryandtheEnvironmentalImpact
AssessmentCommitteefortheirconsiderationforthepurposeofeffectingany

necessarychangestothecurrentEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentprocessas
necessarytomakeitmoreeffective.
21.
Allcostsincurredbythedesignatedauthoritiesintheperformanceoffunctionspursuantto
theseRulesanddirectivesmadehereundershallbebornebytheprojectproponentandshallbe
providedtotheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestrybeforethecommencementof
projectimplementation,orsuchothertimesasmaybeprescribedbytheMinistryofEnvironmental
ConservationandForestry.
22.
TheMinistryofEnvironmentalConservationandForestryshallhavetheauthoritytomake
regulationsandtoissuenotifications,orders,directivesandinstructionsprescribing:
(a)
anyactivitiesthatmayrequireanEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentnotcoveredby
theseRules;
(b)
theformatoftheStatementofNoSignificantImpacttotheEnvironment,theInitial
EnvironmentalExaminationReportandtheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentReport;
(c)
theformatoftheEnvironmentalManagementandMonitoringPlan;and
(d)
anyothermattersasmaybenecessaryinimplementingtheprovisionsoftheseRules.

_____________________________
MinisterresponsibleforEnvironmentalConservationandForestry