Implementing Regulation of the Environmental Act No. 193 of 2001.

These Rules aim to preserve, protect and develop the environment and safeguard it from pollution; protect public health from activities that harm the environment; conserve and develop natural resources and rationalize their use; consider environmental planning as an integral part of overall development planning in all industrial, agricultural and architectural areas; raise awareness of environmental issues and strengthen individual and collective responsibility for preserving and improving the environment. The Regulation focuses in particular on the need to protect the following environments from pollution: (i) surface, ground and coastal waters; (ii) air; (iii) land.
The present Rules consist of 4 Chapters divided in 22 articles: Definitions and objectives (1); Tasks and obligations (2);Offences and Penalties (3); General Provisions (4). It Includes 6 appendices: Environmental Protection Standards (1) Procedures for the Assessment of Environmental Effects of Industrial and Development Projects (2); Manual of Environmental Qualification Procedures (3); Rules and Procedures for the Control of Hazardous Waste (4); National Contingency Plan for Combating Pollution by Oil and other Harmful Substances of the Marine Environment in Emergency Cases (5); Violations and Fines (6).
In case of an unexpected negative environmental impact or pollution incident, MEPA (Meteorology and Environmental Protection Administration ) shall be notified immediately (art.4). Public and concerned agencies and other persons in-charge of implementing or operating projects shall periodically provide the MEPA with a statement advising that they are in compliance with the environmental standards and guidelines (art.5); the MEPA and the concerned agencies , shall in coordination with scientific research centers and agencies specialized in technology, conduct periodic inventory, every five (5) years, of the latest available technologies suitable for the local environment (art.6). In addition, the concerned agencies and persons shall be fully responsible, as part of their activities and projects, for incidents of environmental pollution (art.14)
These Rules encourage to utilize bilateral cooperation agreements in the area of environmental protection between the Kingdom and other Arab and friendly countries (art.7). The National Plan for Combating Marine Environment Pollution with Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Emergencies, approved by the Council of Ministers’ decision No 157, dated 20 Dhu al-Qa’dah 1411 [3 June 1991] is considered part of the Rules for Implementation (art.9).
The Rules specify the sectors that have to be taken into consideration in the development plans, as indicated in art. 10 of the Environmental Act as follows: health, industry, national urban development, agriculture, tourism, mass media and the national coastal zone plans. To highlight the importance of human health, follow up cases of illness resulting from deterioration of the work environment and its interactions is foreseen (art. 12). In compliance with the paragraph in art. 12 of the Environmental Act, standards, criteria, guidelines and environmental procedures, as well as the specified instructions, precautions and measures and all supplements or amendments thereto shall be considered as an integral complementary part of these Rules. Art. 19 specifies actions and procedures to prevent or punish the violations.