Riyadh: The National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) has revealed its oversight of 1,200 environmental violations, identified over the past 18 months. These violations are being addressed through environmental correction plans submitted by the infringing establishments within the statutory period of 30 days from the date of the violation's issuance.
According to Saudi Press Agency, official spokesperson for the NCEC Saad Al-Matrafi clarified that these environmental correction plans are founded on a comprehensive assessment of environmental violations linked to existing activities. This involves a detailed study of each facility's environmental status, pinpointing the nature of the violation and the extent of its impact. This process paves the way for developing appropriate corrective measures to address both the causes and consequences of the violations. He noted that some correction plans are still undergoing approval procedures, while others have been rejected due to administrative or technical reasons.
Al-Matrafi further explained that the commitment of over a thousand establishments to implement environmental correction plans significantly mitigates negative impacts on natural resources. Their technical procedures include precise timelines for executing environmental treatments, ensuring measurable results, defining responsibilities, and allocating necessary resources.
He added that environmental auditing studies serve as a primary tool for transforming assessment findings into practical, implementable actions. This involves rectifying environmental deficiencies by removing pollutants, treating soil and water, restoring ecological balance and vegetation cover, and enhancing the operational performance of facilities in the short and medium term. The process also includes implementing follow-up programs to ensure the stability of the environmental situation post-treatment.
Al-Matrafi concluded: "The center's operational mechanism aims to rectify the environmental situation through multiple stages, beginning with monitoring and documenting violations, analyzing and assessing their environmental impact, and subsequently approving corrective plans."