FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1981
EPA TO COORDINATE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
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AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ASSUME A COORDINATING ROLE IN THE FORMULATION AND EXECUTION OF POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT.
THE AGENCY HAS EVOLVED FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT WHICH WAS SET-UP WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT IN 1976 WITH A PROVISIONAL ESTABLISHMENT OF TEN POSTS.
THE LOCATION OF THE UNIT WITHIN THE BRANCH WAS A TEMPORARY MEASURE PENDING THE EXPANSION OF STAFF TO UNDERTAKE THE FULL TECHNICAL FUNCTIONS OF MONITORING AND RESEARCH.
THE UNIT WAS STRENGTHENED SUBSEQUENTLY TO INCLUDE AN ESTABLISHMENT OF 62 POSTS, OF WHICH ABOUT TWO-THIRDS HAVE BEEN FILLED,
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THIS HAD LED TO THE CREATION OF AN ORGANISATION OF THE NATURE, SIZE AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS WHICH MADE IT APPROPRIATE FOR THE UNIT TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT. THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION POLICIES.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WILL BE 1
* FORMULATION OF POLICY IN ALL FIELDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
TO FORMULATE PROPOSALS FOR THE CREATION OF NEW POLICIES,
OR FOR CHANGES IN EXISTING POLICIES, IN ALL FIELDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, INCLUDING THE SETTING OF OBJECTIVES AND STANDARDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY-
* ESTABLISHING PROGRAMMES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT
TO ESTABLISH PROGRAMMES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT TO IMPLEMENT APPROVED POLICIES AND TO CO-ORDINATE THE ACTIONS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN CARRYING OUT THESE PROGRAMMES=
* MONITORING POLLUTION LEVELS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
TO MONITOR POLLUTION LEVELS IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES ON THE BASIS OF CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL DATA ACQUIRED=
* ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
TO ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SIGNIFICANT NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS SUCH AS POWER STATIONS AND INDUSTRIAL ESTATES AND TO APPRAISE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF GOVERNMENT PROJECTS AND POLICIES-
PROVISION OF