Requirement to be a Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) Comes into Effect
Today marks the start of a new era in respect of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in South Africa.
From today, 8 August 2022, only a Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioner (Registered EAP), may perform the tasks:
- in connection with:
- the Investigation, assessment and preparation of EIA reports and documents; or
- the assessment, evaluation and consideration of EIA reports and documents in order to inform a decision;
- as contemplated in:
- Chapter 5 of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA) read with the EIA Regulations, 2014;
- Section 24 G of NEMA; and
- Chapter 5 of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) (NEMWA) read with the EIA Regulations, 2014.
The requirements in terms of section 24H of NEMA and the regulations promulgated in terms of section 24H, provides, amongst other things, for the person to have certain core competencies, for ethical and professional conduct, and for continuous professional development.
Minister Barbara Creecy and the officials of the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) as well as the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA) are applauded for their efforts to reach this day.
The officials of the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) are thanked for having timeously done the necessary to ensure that the relevant DEA&DP’s officials are registered, with DEA&DP having the highest number of EAPASA registered officials in South Africa, in order to ensure that DEA&DP continues to provide and further improves its EIA administration services for you the Western Cape residents, consultants and proponents/applicants.
More information on section 24H of NEMA and the regulations can be found at:
- DFFE Media Statement following the amendment of 29 July 2022: https://www.dffe.gov.za/mediarelease/creecy_24h-registrationauthorityreg...
- Section 24H Regulations with all amendments to date effected: http://www.lawsofsouthafrica.up.ac.za/index.php/browse/environment-and-c...
- Registration Fees: https://www.gov.za/documents/national-environmental-management-act-appro...
- Appointment of EAPASA as the sole Registration Authority: https://www.gov.za/speeches/minister-edna-molewa-appoints-environmental-...
More information on EAPASA can be found at https://eapasa.org/