(1) Reasons for Proposal

As the integrated permit agency registration system was introduced (Act No. 17856; promulgated on January 5, 2021; enforced on July 1, 2021), which defines appropriate technical and personnel requirements and other matters the integrated permit agency must comply with, this Amendment aims to specify matters delegated by Presidential Decree and other matters required for the enforcement thereof.

(2) Major Provisions

A. Define integrated permit agency business registration application (Article 9-2 paragraphs 1 through 6)

Define documentation to file for integrated permit agency’s (change) registration, how to apply, and methods to review and handle (change) registration application documentation. 

B. Specify the scope of re-agency for the integrated permit agency (Article 9-4 paragraphs 1 through 4)

Include pollution and discharging concentration investigation and measurement for air quality, water quality, and noise/vibration, design and process drawings for discharging facilities or prevention facilities, and investigation and documentation for the status and details of volatile organic compound discharging facilities and fugitive discharging facilities.  

C. Prepare criteria to determine whether integrated permit documentation is false or insufficient (Article 9-7 and attached Table 9-2)

Define criteria to determine intentionally false documentation (reduced emissions impact, no investigation on status and analysis data for processes, manipulated emissions impact analysis programs, etc.) and insufficient documentation (missing facility substances, missing discharging and prevention facilities, missing pollutants, missing measurement results, etc.) in an effort to improve quality in permit application documentation.

D. Prepare a sales performance evaluation procedure on the integrated permit agency and matters required for evaluation and disclosure (Article 9-10 paragraphs 1 through 6)

Require the agency to prepare documentation and file it to the Minister of Environment to receive sales performance evaluation, and the Minister of Environment to separately notify sales performance evaluation and disclosure procedures. 

E. Define criteria to impose administrative disposition on the integrated permit agency (Article 25 and attached Table 14 subparagraph 2 item c)

Specify criteria to impose administrative disposition including registration cancellation and business suspension for legal violations of the agency’s registration and compliance criteria.  

F. Define other administrative procedures and required matters to operate the integrated permit agency registration system (Article 9-2 through Article 9-15)

Define matters required to operate the integrated permit agency registration system, including compliance for the agency, business temporary/permanent closure reporting, agency performance reporting, and training for the agency.