Decentralizing Inspection Function in Thailand

Warapong TungittiplakornEnvironmental Quality and Laboratory DivisionPollution Control Department, Thailandwarapong.t@pcd.go.th

Overview

Legal Background Rationale for Decentralization Activities Mechanism Process Chart Results Lesson Learned

Legal Background (1)

Under Section 11 of the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.E.2535 (NEQA 1992), the Minister of Natural Resource and Environment shall have the power to appoint pollution control officials and competent officials for the execution of this act.

Legal Background (2)

Pollution control officials are empowered to Enter any point source of pollution for inspection Issue an order to correct non-compliance behavior Recommend the official who has the legal power to control

the point source of pollution, to close down its operation, to suspend or revoke the license of its owner or operator, or to bar its use

Recommend the local official to take legal action against the owner or possessor of the point source of pollution

Give advice and suggestions to the local official or the government agency about the operation and maintenance of the central wastewater treatment plant or the central waste disposal facility under the responsibility of such local official or government agency.

Legal Background (3)

Competent Officials are empowered to Stop and inspect vehicles Prohibit the use of vehicles that exceed the

emission standards

Rationale for Decentralization Capacity Limitation

No. of PCD inspector = 28 No. of pollution sources > 61,000 No. of environmental complaints

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

จำ��นว

นเรื่�องรื่�องเรื่ ยน

Activities (1)

Appointing pollution control officials All provincial governors All district sheriff Regional environment officers Provincial natural resource and environment officers

Appointing competent officials Traffic police Marine police Provincial natural resource and environment officers Local officers

Activities (2)

Trainings for regional, provincial and local officers. 2006 - Training for pollution control officials from

58 provincial and 16 regional offices. 2007 - Training for pollution control officials from

45 provincial and 2 regional offices. 2008 - Training for competent officials from 13

local governments and 2 provincial offices. On-the-job trainings for regional, provincial and

local officials.

Activities (3)

Supplying equipments for Regional Environment Offices (REO) and Provincial Natural Resource and Environment Offices (PNRE) Water sampler pH-Conductivity meter pH-DO-Conductivity meter Opacity meter

Mechanism

A coordination mechanism has been established between the Office of the Permanent Secretary of MONRE (OPS-MONRE), PCD, REO, and PNRE for systematic and effective response to environmental complaints.

When a citizen sends a complaint to OPS-MONRE, the complaint is passed on to PNRE where the problem occurs, and copied to PCD and REO.

If PNRE cannot deal with the problem, it can request for support from REO.

If REO cannot deal with the problem, it can request for support from PCD.

Process Chart

Pollution Sources InspectionInform

responsibleauthorities

OPS-MONRE

EnforcementFollow-up Result

YesNo

PCD

REOPNRE

CitizenComplaint

Results

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Year

No

. o

f E

nvi

ron

men

tal

Co

mp

lain

ts

PNRE

PCD

Lesson Learned

A clear and effective mechanism is vital to the success of decentralization.

Capacity building for regional and provincial officials must be a priority and ongoing.

Thank you