Ministry on the ball with EIA, EMP requirements

A TOTAL of 1,003 out of 1,261 projects have gone through post Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) inspection, according to Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.

“Two Investigation Papers were opened, while 84 Notices and 24 Final Notices were issued to developers,” he said, adding, “108 cases have been resolved, where developers have taken appropriate actions to rectify non-compliance.”

Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Natural Resource and Urban Development said this when delivering his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on today (Nov 29).

He said projects falling under the Natural Resources and Environment (Prescribed Activities) Order 1994 are mandated to submit an EIA for approval by the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB).

“The EIA involves studying the environmental impact and the mitigation steps developers need to undertake. For small-scale projects identified to impact the environment, developers are required to submit an Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

“As of October 31 this year, 49 EIA reports and 78 EMPs have been received. Out of these, 48 EIA reports and 72 EMPs have been approved, while the rest are still undergoing various assessment stages,” he said.

In a similar development, the Sarawak government, through NREB, has taken preventive measures to curb localised haze, including halting the issuance of open burning permits and revoking permits if necessary.

He mentioned that the Sarawak government is reinforcing a strategic plan to prevent peatland fires and unauthorised open burning to tackle haze pollution, prompted by a report from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) indicating 11,115 hotspots in neighbouring countries and 295 hotspots in Sarawak throughout May to September..

“NREB field inspections found 286 open burning cases by smallholders for subsistence purposes. Two cases involved oil palm plantations, four were false alarms, and three were inaccessible.

“Verbal warnings were given to smallholders, and one case involving an oil palm plantation is under investigation,” he said.

He added, NREB under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), is also conducting a study on the carrying capacity of rivers in Sarawak.

It aims to assess the rivers’ carrying capacity to accommodate pollution loading and develop a water quality management plan.

“The Sarawak government, through NREB, conducts periodic monitoring of ambient river water quality through the River Water Quality Monitoring Program (RWQMP) since 1999.

“In 2022, monitoring 66 rivers across Sarawak saw 10 rivers categorised as clean, 50 rivers as moderately polluted, and six rivers as polluted.

“The number of rivers categorised as clean and moderately polluted increased to 60 in 2022 compared to 44 in 2012. Examples include the Maong and Sekama Rivers in Kuching, Oya River in Mukah, and Tatau River in Bintulu,” he said.

He said, to improve river water quality, NREB and the Sarawak Department of Environment (JAS) have implemented various initiatives, including tightening EIA approval conditions for projects along rivers, awareness campaigns, educational programmes, and periodic river conservation initiatives in collaboration with relevant agencies.

Furthermore, through the Electrical and Electronic Waste (E-Waste) campaign conducted at 26 locations across Sarawak in 2022, a total of 218,779 kilograms (218.78 metric tons) were successfully collected.

As of October 31, 2023, 96,525 kilograms (96.52 metric tons) have been collected through campaigns at 32 locations throughout Sarawak this year.