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In June 1997, the responsibility of Egypt's first full time Minister of State for Environmental Affairs was assigned as stated in the Presidential Decree no.275/1997. From thereon, the new ministry has focused, in close collaboration with the national and international development partners, on defining environmental policies, setting priorities and implementing initiatives within a context of sustainable development.
According to the Law 4/1994 for the Protection of the Environment, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) was restructured with the new mandate to substitute the institution initially established in 1982. At the central level, EEAA represents the executive arm of the Ministry.
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The Principal Functions of the Agency Include:
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Formulating environmental policies. |
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Preparing the
necessary plans for Environmental protection and Environmental
development projects, following up their implementation, and
undertaking Pilot Projects. |
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The Agency is the National
Authority in charge of promoting environmental relations
between Egypt and other States, as well as Regional and
International Organizations.
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For the Agency to realize its aims it has to undertake the following tasks: |
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Preparing draft legislation and
decrees related to the fulfillment of its objectives |
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Preparing state of the environment
studies and formulating the national plan for environmental
protection and related projects. |
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Setting the standards and
conditions to which applicants for construction projects must
adhere before working on the site and throughout
operations |
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Setting the rates and proportions
required for the permissible limits of pollutants. |
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Periodically collecting national
and international data on the actual state of the environment
and recording possible changes. |
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Setting the principles and
procedures for mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
of projects. |
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Preparing Environmental
Contingency Plans and supervising their implementation. |
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Participating in the preparation
and implementation of the national and international
Environmental |
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Monitoring Programs and employing
data and information gained thereof. |
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Establishing Public Environmental
Education Programs and assisting in their
implementation.
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Coordinating with other empowered
authorities for the control and safe handling of dangerous
substances. |
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Managing and supervising the
natural reserves of Specially Protected Areas. |
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Following up the implementation
stages of International Conventions concerned with the
environment. |
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Suggesting an economic mechanism,
which encourages the observation of pollution prevention
procedures. |
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Implementing pilot projects for
the preservation of natural resources and the protection of
the environment against pollution. |
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Listing of national establishments
and institutions, as well as experts qualified to participate
in the preparation and implementation of environmental
protection programs, and coordinating measures with the
Ministry in charge of international Cooperation to ensure that
projects funded by donor organizations and states are
compatible with environmental safety. |
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Participating in the preparation
of an integrated national plan for the coastal zone management
of the Mediterranean and the Red Sea areas. |
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Participating in the preparation
of a plan to prevent illegal entry into the country of
dangerous and polluting substances and waste. |
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Preparing an annual report on the
state of the environment to be submitted to the President and
the Cabinet of Ministers. |
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The Administrative Council of the Agency is in accordance with the "Environment Act of 1994" composed of the Minister of Environmental Affairs as Chairman and the following as members:
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The Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, who also acts as Vice Chairman. |
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Representatives from the ministries concerned with
environmental experts, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs),
the State Council, the Public Business Sector, the
Universities and Scientific Research Centers. |
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An Environmental Protection Fund (EPF)
will in accordance with the "Environment Act of
1994" be set up at the Agency. The Fund will receive the
amount specifically allocated to it in the General State
Budget by way of support, donations and grants presented by
national and foreign organizations concerned with
environmental protection, fines and compensation awarded by
courts of law or via out-of-court settlements for damage
caused to the environment, as well as revenues from the
protectorates fund. The financial resources of the Fund shall
be exclusively used for the purpose of realizing its
objectives.
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The Agency will offer incentives
to institutions and individuals engaged in activities and
projects directed to environmental protection purposes. |
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