Enviro¡¯t evaluation regulation to be amended

For the first time, Seoul¡¯s environmental effect evaluation regulations will be amended.

The city of Seoul revealed on Sunday that it plans to amend and put into effect regulations that designate the recipients of environmental effect evaluations, such as tall buildings and redevelopment projects, as well as the evaluation process.

Henceforth, the current recipients of evaluation guidelines, limited by existing laws to nationwide projects, will be separately applied for businesses in Seoul. Taking into consideration regional peculiarities, projects for which evaluations are deemed necessary will have to undergo environmental effect examinations.

The Seoul administration had previously recommended the establishment of an autonomous evaluation system in Seoul in order to minimize adverse environmental effects from various development projects and to establish a preventive environment management system.

A Seoul city official remarked that applicable laws will be amended by integrating evaluation systems for environment, transportation and other elements.