Permit For Releasing Polluted and Wastewater

Any individual, legal entity, or organization intending to release polluted and wastewater into water sources that exceed the discharge standard must ensure the wastewater treatment before releasing or emitting. Moreover, they must request a permit for releasing it from the Pollution Control Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The phrase “discharge standard” refers to permitted levels of pollutants and waste.

1. Any individual, legal entity, and organization holding a business operating license. In order to comply with the laws and regulations of Lao PDR on the use of water and treatment of wastewater to meet the environmental standard before releasing it, it is required to have such permission.

• National Environmental Standards 0832/MONRE · 07.02.2017
• Law on Environmental Protection (Amended version) 29/NA · 18.12.2012
• Law on Water and Water Resources (Amended version) 23/NA · 11.05.2017

Means of presentation

At the Authority Offices

Address of authority

Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

Processing time

60 1. Review the request form and relevant documents, the quality of the released water monitoring report, the report on the total amount of used water together with the map, and the technology on water recycling documents (a desk review shall be done within 10 working days). 2. Liaise with the related agencies and the project owner to inspect the area as well as holding a consultancy meeting before the consideration (it shall be done within 20 working days). 3. Review all the documents once again and request comments from high ranking authorities about the implementation before issuing the permit. (this shall be done within 30 working days).

Has an expiry date

YES

Validity

24 months

Renewal process

3 months prior to the expiry date of the permit, they shall submit all relevant documents, particularly the application, protection plan, the quality of the released water monitoring report, and the summary of the implementation since the permit is granted. The pollution control authorities together with other related agencies and the owner shall conduct the inspection before the consideration of the renewal.

There is no legal act on the fee of releasing polluted and wastewater, no fee, and service charge for the permit either. This shall be considered to include it in the Decree, No. 003/PO.