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All projects in Abu Dhabi to be eco-friendly

ABU DHABI - Increasingly concerned over damage to the environment caused by large-scale development projects, the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERDWA) has started taking measures to ensure that all existing projects in the emirate are environment-friendly.

According to agency officials, a systematic approach has been developed to bring existing industrial projects and facilities in the Abu Dhabi emirate into compliance with the applicable environmental laws and regulations.

"This is being achieved through step-wise phases through field visits and public awareness campaigns to elevate the level of environmental awareness of owners and operators of facilities and emphasise the vitality of environmental permitting," the officials said.

They said ERWDA had recently been focusing on establishing and enhancing suitable management, legal and technical instruments to protect, develop and conserve the environment in the emirate.

It also focused its efforts to ensure compliance of the government and private sectors with the established standard codes of practice regarding Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), environmental safety and risk assessment, chemical and hazardous waste management and environmental monitoring. The standard codes of practice and permit applications along with necessary infrastructure have been put in place for an efficient issuing of operation permits.

Periodical site visits are being utilised to open communication channels with plant owner and operators alike to transmit ERWDA's policies and procedures to all parties concerned at different levels of responsibilities to help them meet their environmental requirements.

According to an agency report, a total of 254 existing facilities have been issued environmental operating permits between January and October 2003 in the emirate, which adds up to a total of 209 in the greater Abu Dhabi region and 45 in Al Ain. Environmental operating permits have been issued to existing industrial facilities at a rate of 18 permits per month.

The report said ERWDA succeeded through site visits, ranging between assessment visits, site inspections prior to permit granting or confirmation visits of site location, awareness and preventive visits that exceeded 100.

Through implementation of established procedures and regulations pertaining to the evaluation of new projects and facilities, and in close cooperation with government and private sectors, ERWDA has permitted around 131 assorted installations across the emirate.