SIXTEEN NEW categories of enterprises, construction and development activities have been added to the list prescribed under the revised regulations of the Natural Resources Conservation Act.
The act is administered by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).
The amendments were effected under the Natural Resources (Prescribed Areas) (Prohibition of Categories of Enterprises, Construction and Development) (Amendments) Order 2003.
FEES
Most of the new categories attract a processing fee of $25,000, which will come into effect on March 1, 2004, NEPA has announced.
The fees for processing some of the original categories of permits remain at $15,000, but other categories have been increased to $20,000 and $25,000.
In terms of licence, the new fee for the discharge of trade and sewage effluent is $7,500, while late application fee for renewal of licences is $6,500.
In addition, the new application fee for permit and licence is $2,000. A fee paid in respect of an application for a permit or licence is non-refundable, and the licences are renewable every five years.
The Permit and Licence Regulations came into effect in 1996 when some 24 prescribed categories were introduced.
Under the regulations, a permit is required to undertake any new construction or development of a prescribed nature anywhere in the island or the territorial sea of Jamaica.
A licence is required for the handing of sewage or trade effluent and poisonous or harmful substances to be discharged into the environment.
"A permit and/or licence is intended to assist enterprises to optimise their
productive processes through environment-friendly practices such as waste reduction, recycling, energy and water conservation while ensuring protection of the environment through orderly development," said NEPA in a release.
