The National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Act came into effect this month and forms part of a suite of acts which will give rise to the One Environmental System, for mining related activities.

The National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Act (NEMLA 3) and its associated regulations for the One Environmental System will be implemented from 8 December 2014. It will be used to issue environmental authorisations and waste management licences.

Government took a decision that the One Environmental System will only be implemented from 8 December 2014, when the whole suite of legislation and subordinate legislation necessary for the implementation of the One Environmental System will be in effect.

 

Dependent on other regulations

The effective implementation of the One Environmental System is dependent upon the commencement of certain sections of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Act, 2014 (MPRDAA, 2014).

It is also dependent on related regulations being in place, including but not restricted to: the National Appeal Regulations, National Exemption Regulations, New EIA Regulations and listing notices, Financial Provisioning and Mine Closure regulations under the National Environmental Management Act, as well as regulations under the National Water Act, Residue Stockpile and Residue Deposits regulations under the Waste Act and amendment of the MPRDA Regulations to remove regulations relating to the environment.

 

Purpose of the system

Under the One Environmental System, the Minister of Mineral Resources will issue environmental authorisations and waste management licences in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 and the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008, for mining and related activities. The Minister of Environmental Affairs will be the appeal authority for these authorisations.

The Ministers of Environmental Affairs, Mineral Resources and Water and Sanitation have agreed on fixed time-frames for the consideration and issuing of the permits, licences and authorisations in their respective legislation. It was also agreed to synchronise the process for the issuing of permits, licences and authorisations within a 300 day period. If a decision is appealed, an additional maximum period of 90 days will be required to finalise the process.

The Minister of Mineral Resources will be authorised to appoint Mineral Resource Inspectors who will have the same powers as Environmental Management Inspectors to enforce the provisions of NEMA and the regulations thereunder as far as it relates to mining and related activities.