Environment Act 1999 (Act No. 9 of 1999).

The objectives of this Act shall be, among other things: (a) to provide for and establish integrated systems of development control, environmental impact assessment and pollution control; (b) to prevent, control and monitor pollution; to (c) protect and conserve the natural resources threatened by human activities, particularly those resources of national and ecological significance as may be classified under the categories of terrestrial vegetation, coral, fish and marine life; (d) to control, manage and regulate hazardous substances; and (f) to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The Act consists of 86 sections divided into 7 parts: preliminary; administration; obligations; environment licenses; conservation; enforcement; miscellaneous.
The Minister, acting in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet, shall be responsible for the administration and implementation of this Act. The functions of the Minister are outlined in section 6. The Minister shall set compulsory standards for environmental improvement, including the setting of pollution standards and limits for polluter license; monitor and advise on international development in environmental matters; and ensure the fulfilment of obligations of Kiribati under the relevant international and required treaties and conventions. Furthermore, the Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Social Development shall keep proper records of all development applications, environmental impact assessments, public environmental reports and development consents.
The development specified in the Schedule shall for purposes of this Act be classified as prescribed development. Any developer who proposes to carry out any prescribed development in Kiribati shall make application to the Minister in the prescribed form. "Prescribed development" includes agricultural, fisheries, livestock and food production activities, waste disposal, recycling and collection, watershed management, and activities involving genetically modified organisms; such as processing and packaging of food products, including fruit, meat, fish and marine products; licensing of fishing activities in Kiribati waters; agricultural development, irrigation and water supply schemes; and logging operations.