1. Reason for Revision

The proposed revision expands the category of children's activity zones so that the environmental safety management standards can be applied to “group guidance rooms” in local children's centers and indoor gyms in elementary schools where children mainly work or stay. Further, in accordance with the complete revision of the Environmental Dispute Mediation Act, and as the Environmental Health Act has been revised (promulgated on March 19, 2024) to include a provision on the transferal of the function of the health impact assessment system by petition to the National Environmental Dispute Resolution Commission, this amendment aims to improve and supplement the matters necessary for its implementation and the current system.

2. Main Contents

A. Addition of subjects to children's activity zones (Article 1-2 of the draft)

The revision adds indoor gyms in elementary schools and group guidance rooms in local children's centers as prescribed by Article 52 (1) 8 of the Child Welfare Act to the list of children's activity zones prescribed by Subparagraph 9 of Article 2 of the Environmental Health Act.

B. Establishment of the Environmental Liability Insurance Committee as a specialized committee (Article 7-3 of the draft)

The revision establishes the review and deliberation items of the Environmental Liability Insurance Committee, such as matters related to environmental liability insurance agreements and the selection of insurers, and the composition requirements.

C. Addition of provisions to delegate authority (Article 22 (3) 1 and Article 22 (3) 5 of the draft)

The revision adds provisions for delegating the authority to establish guidelines on the procedures and methods of conducting risk assessments and to announce the list of types of environmental hazards to the President of the National Institute of Environmental Research.

D. Deletion and establishment of provisions on the handling of sensitive information and identification information (Subparagraph 4 and Subparagraph 8 of Article 22-2 of the draft)

Since the health impact assessment system by petition has been transferred to the National Environmental Dispute Resolution Commission, the revision deletes Subparagraph 4 and adds a clause on the provision of information by the Environmental Liability Insurance Committee and access to it.