Decision No. 20/2004/QD-BTNMT stipulates the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Central Highlands and Northwest Environmental Protection Agency.

Pursuant to …;

||| Regulations on functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of

||| Central Highlands and West Region Environmental Protection Agency

__________________

MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

Pursuant to Decree No. 91/2002/NĐ-CP dated November 11, 2002 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

Pursuant to Decision No. 15/2004/QĐ-BTNMT dated July 5, 2004 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Environmental Protection Department;

Pursuant to the proposal of the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Head of the Cadres and Civil Servants Department,

DECISION:

Article 1. Position and Functions

The Central Highlands and West Region Environmental Protection Agency is an organization within the administrative apparatus assisting the Director of the Environmental Protection Department, with the function of assisting the Director in implementing state management tasks related to environmental protection with inter-provincial and inter-regional characteristics, including: environmental monitoring; prevention, control, and remediation of pollution, degradation, and environmental incidents; integrated coastal zone and river basin management; improving environmental quality; conservation of nature and biodiversity; application of technology; establishment of databases, statistics, environmental reporting, education, and enhancement of public awareness about the environment in the Central Highlands and West Region, which includes 11 provinces and centrally governed cities: Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Lam Dong, and Da Nang City.

b) Draft five-year and annual socio-economic development plans for the province; major economic and social balances for the province; draft five-year and annual plans, programs, projects, measures to organize and implement tasks related to socio-economic development, finance-budget, planning-investment, and other tasks within the scope of state management of the Department of Finance as prescribed by law;

1. Participate in drafting policies, regulatory legal documents, strategies, plans, programs at the national level regarding environmental protection related to the region as assigned by the Environmental Protection Department;

2. Serve as the coordinating point for cooperation with natural resources and environmental agencies of localities within the provinces and centrally governed cities under its management; inspect and supervise compliance with environmental protection regulations on the territory; participate in resolving disputes, complaints, denunciations, and handling violations of environmental protection with inter-regional and inter-provincial characteristics in the Central Highlands and West Region as assigned by the Environmental Protection Department;

3. Compile and prepare regular and ad hoc reports on the situation of environmental protection activities in the provinces and centrally governed cities within the region; collect and develop regional environmental databases as assigned by the Environmental Protection Department;

4. Coordinate in implementing work related to the conservation and sustainable exploitation of natural resources, biodiversity, integrated coastal zone and river basin management; industrial zones, urban areas, and craft villages;

5. Conduct surveys and statistics on sources of emissions, waste, hazardous waste in the Central Highlands and West Region as assigned by the Environmental Protection Department;

6. Coordinate in inspecting and supervising the importation of scrap materials for production purposes as assigned by the Environmental Protection Department;

7. Implement socialized environmental protection activities; organize activities to enhance awareness, information dissemination, publicity, conferences, and seminars on environmental protection as assigned by the Environmental Protection Department;

8. Participate in researching and applying scientific and technological advancements; implement domestic projects and international cooperation; provide professional training in the field of environmental protection as assigned by the Environmental Protection Department;

9. Provide legal, operational, technical, and technological advice related to the environment; participate in guiding and inspecting the collection and use of environmental protection fees as assigned by the Environmental Protection Department; guide the construction and implementation of projects funded from the Vietnam Environmental Protection Fund;

10. Receive applications for issuance and extension of certificates meeting environmental standards and other environmental permits as stipulated by law and submit them to the Director of the Environmental Protection Department;

11. Carry out environmental protection service activities in accordance with the law and regulations of the Environmental Protection Department;

12. Manage the organization, staffing, officials, civil servants, and employees of the Agency; manage and use allocated financial resources and assets effectively in accordance with the law;

13. Compile and report to the Director of the Environmental Protection Department regularly and ad hoc on the implementation of assigned tasks;

14. Perform other tasks assigned by the Director of the Environmental Protection Department.

Article 3. Organizational Structure

a) The leadership of the Central Highlands and West Region Environmental Protection Agency consists of an Agency Director and several Deputy Agency Directors. The Agency Director is responsible to the Director of the Environmental Protection Department for assigned tasks and is legally responsible for all activities of the Agency; establish working regulations and oversee all activities of the Agency.

Deputy Agency Directors are responsible to the Agency Director for the areas of work they are assigned.

The organizational structure and staffing of the Central Highlands and West Region Environmental Protection Agency shall be decided by the Director of the Environmental Protection Department.

b) The Central Highlands and West Region Environmental Protection Agency has its own seal and may open bank accounts in accordance with current regulations.

c) The headquarters of the Central Highlands and West Region Environmental Protection Agency is located in Da Nang City.

Article 4. Effectiveness and Responsibility for Implementation

This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

The Director of the Environmental Protection Department, the Head of the Cadre and Civil Service Department, the Heads of subordinate agencies and units of the Ministry, and the Director of the Central Highlands and West Region Environmental Protection Agency are responsible for enforcing this Decision./.