Newsletter
EIA REVIEW STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The Environmental Protection Administration completed a preliminary draft of the Residential Community Development Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Review Standards in October 1998. According to the draft Standards, construction will not be permitted on slopeland with a gradient in excess of 30%, and land leveling and grading may not exceed 50%. The forest cover rate must exceed 50% after development is complete. In addition to placing restrictions on slopeland development, the draft standards prohibit residential construction in the following areas: forest areas; important reservoir and catchment areas; drinking water source areas; water quality protection areas or areas within a certain distance of drinking water intakes; areas within 14 meters of water bodies in water source, water quality, or water volume protection areas; and other areas delimited by the governing authorities or where development is prohibited by relevant laws and regulations. However, these restrictions do not apply to communities formed by natural increases in the population of aboriginal tribes in drinking water source protection areas or in cases where necessary for the life of residents as approved by the authorities-in-charge.
Also, in cases where development sites are affected by soil pollution, groundwater pollution, or solid waste pollution, the method for handling the pollution should be incorporated into the EIA work procedures. If a development site is located in a wildlife or plant preservation area, concrete protection measures or plans should be formulated and submitted for review and approval before development may begin.