Circular No. 35/2015/TT-BTNMT providing for the environmental protection of economic zones, industrial parks, export processing zones and hi-tech parks.

This Circular, consisting of 18 articles divided into five Chapters, details Articles 65 and 66 of the 2014 Law on Environmental Protection; Point e, Clause 1, and Point e, Clause 2, Article 7; Point c, Clause 1, Article 11; Clauses 1 and 3, Article 29; and Clause 1, Article 34, of the Government’s Decree No. 29/2008/ND-CP of March 14, 2008, on industrial parks, export processing zones and economic zones (below referred to as Decree No. 29/2008/ND-CP); and provisions on environmental protection of economic zones, industrial parks, export processing zones and hi-tech parks at Points a and c, Clause 1, Article 43 of the Government’s Decree No. 38/2015/ND-CP of April 24, 2015, on waste and scrap management (below referred to as Decree No. 38/2015/ND-CP). This Circular applies to state management agencies and domestic and foreign organizations and individuals involved in environmental protection of economic zones; and industrial parks, export processing zones and hi-tech parks.
During the different stages of the planning and construction of economic zones, hi-tech parks, industrial parks and industrial complexes, state management agencies responsible for their protection and management must: restrict the use of agricultural cultivation land; minimize adverse impacts on the surrounding environment; assess that solid waste and wastewater are treated up to national technical standards on environment before being discharged into receiving sources; approve environmental impact assessment reports; etc.