Carey
  April 3, 2020 - Chile

Superintendence of Environment and the Environmental Assessment Service Extend Term Suspension Measures in the Context of COVID-19
  by Rafael Vergara, Manuel José Barros and Julio Recordon

I. Superintendence of Environment orders the extension of the terms suspension in sanctioning proceedings and other actions.

On March 30, 2020 the Superintendence of Environment (“SMA”) issued Exempt Resolution No. 548 (“Res. 548”), which extended the term suspension measures ordered by means of Exempt Resolution No. 518 dated March 23, 2020 issued by the SMA which suspended of terms of sanctioning proceedings and other actions between March 23 and March 31, 2020 (“ Superintendence of Environment orders the suspension of terms and enforces virtual channels in the context of Covid-19 ” include Res. Ex. 518).

Term suspension:

Res. 548 orders the suspension of the terms in the following proceedings, starting April 1, 2020 until April 7, 2020, both dates included:

  1. Sanctioning proceedings initiated by the SMA.
  2. Administrative terms for the fulfillment of measures, information requirements and any other diligences ordered by the SMA in other proceedings pursuant to its sanctioning, inspection and regulatory powers.

 

Compliance with other obligations before the SMA:

Res. 548 does not affect the fulfillment of other type of obligations before the SMA, especially those established in Exempt Resolution No. 497 dated March 19, 2020, that provides general instructions in the context of COVID-19 ( Res. Ex. 497 ) .

 

II. Environmental Assessment Service orders the extension of the term suspension for projects with citizen participation processes.

On March 31, 2020 the Environmental Assessment Service (“SEA”) issued Exempt Resolution No. 202099101137 (“Res. 202099101137”), which extended the term suspension measures ordered by means of Exempt Resolution No. 20209910194 dated March 20, 2020 issued by the SMA which suspended the terms of projects with citizen participation processes between March 20 and March 31, 2020 (“ Environmental Assessment Service orders the suspension of the terms of the projects with citizen participation processes and enforces virtual channels in the context of Covid-19 ” that include Res. 20209910194).

Term suspension:

Res. 202099101137 orders the suspension, starting on April 1, 2020 until April 30, 2020, both dates included, of the terms of the following environmental impact assessment proceedings carried out before the Executive Direction and the Regional Directions of the SEA:

  1. Environmental impact declarations and studies with ongoing citizenship participation processes.
  2. Environmental impact declarations with environmental burdens in which the execution of a citizen participation process has been ordered.
  3. Environmental impact declarations and studies in which a new citizen participation process has been opened.
  4. Environmental impact declarations or studies that are submitted to the Environmental Impact Assessment System within the abovementioned term.
  5. Environmental impact declarations and studies in which meetings with people belonging to indigenous communities must be held.



Read full article at: https://www.carey.cl/en/superintendence-of-environment-and-the-environmental-assessment-service-extend-term-suspension-measures-in-the-context-of-covid-19/