On March 29 of this year, the Ministry of the Environment announced the opening of the public consultation period for the first phase of the reform of the Environmental Impact Assessment System Regulations, to adapt the regulations to the new laws of the sector: the Framework Law on Climate Change, the Escazú Agreement and the REP Law.

In relation to the Framework Law on Climate Change, the need to include the climate change variable in environmental assessments, considering the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and climate forcing, in addition to the long-term climate change strategy, among others, is noted.

Regarding the adjustments due to Escazú, the obligation to use simple and easy-to-understand language in the project description is established and a new “participatory monitoring” is included, which considers the citizenry. Likewise, citizen participation is opened to all EIS processes.

With respect to the REP Law, new parameters are set for waste and composting plants, among others.

Finally, new provisions regarding the review of the RCAs are indicated, opening this process also for the EISs and can now be initiated at the request of the Superintendence of the Environment.

Our Environment team prepared a report summarizing the main proposals of this new reform. You can read it here.