COMPLIANCE & IMPACT MONITORING

This guideline provides instructions on how to comply with requirements for environmental conditions as agreed with the EPD in the AEC. It is a requirement that compliance with the AEC is monitored regularly. A monitoring system has therefore been formulated by the EPD whereby the project proponent is required to submit an ECR to the EPD at a fixed frequency specified in the AEC. The ECR must be prepared by an appointed environmental consultant. Common issues to be monitored are included in this handbook while some issues may not be part of standard monitoring and reporting routines. This however, does not waive the project proponent’s duty to comply. Compliance to environmental conditions as agreed in the AEC shall be audited by the appointed environmental consultant. During audits, the compliance status for each environmental condition shall be stated based on observations made during field visits with representatives from the project proponent, specifically the EO.

Compliance monitoring results submitted to the EPD through ECR shall be used as a performance level indicator for the project proponent and shall be entered into the EPD’s database. The database shall also provide government planners with a better understanding of environmental issues in river sand/stone mining and processing activities.

Requirements for impact monitoring i.e., water, air and noise quality, shall be included in the AEC. The AEC will specify several specific monitoring locations and parameters. Sampling of parameters for analysis (for example, water quality) must be conducted by an appointed environmental consultant and analyses must be conducted by an accredited laboratory.

Sampling results shall be used as an indicator of whether mitigation measures implemented by the project proponent are sufficient to control environmental impacts arising from project development. Additional requirements for environmental management may be imposed If impacts are found to exceed related standard limits.