Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China

 

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China 

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　April 24, 2014

 

  

 

 

Chapter I General provisions

第一条为保护和改善环境，防治污染和其他公害，保障公众健康，推进生态文明建设，促进经济社会可持续发展，制定本法。

Article 2 "Environment" as mentioned in this Law，It refers to the totality of various natural and artificially modified natural factors that affect human survival and development，包括大气、水、海洋、土地、矿藏、森林、草原、湿地、野生生物、自然遗迹、人文遗迹、自然保护区、风景名胜区、城市和乡村等。

Article 3 This Law shall apply to the territory of the People's Republic of China and other sea areas under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China。

Article 4 Environmental protection is a basic state policy。

国家采取有利于节约和循环利用资源、保护和改善环境、促进人与自然和谐的经济、技术政策和措施，使经济社会发展与环境保护相协调。

Article 5 Environmental protection shall adhere to the principles of protection first, prevention first, comprehensive treatment, public participation and liability for damage。

Article 6 All units and individuals shall have the obligation to protect the environment。

Local people's governments at various levels shall be responsible for the environmental quality of their respective administrative areas。

Enterprises, public institutions and other producers and business operators shall prevent and reduce environmental pollution and ecological damage, and bear responsibility for the damage caused in accordance with law。

Citizens should enhance their awareness of environmental protection, adopt a low-carbon and frugal lifestyle, and consciously fulfill their environmental protection obligations。

第七条国家支持环境保护科学技术研究、开发和应用，鼓励环境保护产业发展，促进环境保护信息化建设，提高环境保护科学技术水平。

Article 8 People's governments at all levels shall increase financial input for the protection and improvement of the environment, the prevention and control of pollution and other public hazards, and increase the efficiency of the use of financial funds。

第九条各级人民政府应当加强环境保护宣传和普及工作，鼓励基层群众性自治组织、社会组织、环境保护志愿者开展环境保护法律法规和环境保护知识的宣传，营造保护环境的良好风气。

Educational administrative departments and schools shall incorporate environmental protection knowledge into school education and cultivate students' awareness of environmental protection。

The news media shall carry out publicity of environmental protection laws and regulations and environmental protection knowledge, and supervise environmental violations by public opinion。

第十条国务院环境保护主管部门，对全国环境保护工作实施统一监督管理；县级以上地方人民政府环境保护主管部门，对本行政区域环境保护工作实施统一监督管理。

县级以上人民政府有关部门和军队环境保护部门，依照有关法律的规定对资源保护和污染防治等环境保护工作实施监督管理。

Article 11 People's governments shall give awards to units and individuals that have made outstanding achievements in protecting and improving the environment。

June 5 of each year is Environment Day。

Chapter II Supervision and administration

Article 13 People's governments at or above the county level shall incorporate environmental protection into their plans for national economic and social development。

国务院环境保护主管部门会同有关部门，根据国民经济和社会发展规划编制国家环境保护规划，报国务院批准并公布实施。

县级以上地方人民政府环境保护主管部门会同有关部门，根据国家环境保护规划的要求，编制本行政区域的环境保护规划，报同级人民政府批准并公布实施。

环境保护规划的内容应当包括生态保护和污染防治的目标、任务、保障措施等，并与主体功能区规划、土地利用总体规划和城乡规划等相衔接。

第十四条国务院有关部门和省、自治区、直辖市人民政府组织制定经济、技术政策，应当充分考虑对环境的影响，听取有关方面和专家的意见。

Article 15 The competent department of environmental protection under The State Council shall establish national standards for environmental quality。

省、自治区、直辖市人民政府对国家环境质量标准中未作规定的项目，可以制定地方环境质量标准；对国家环境质量标准中已作规定的项目，可以制定严于国家环境质量标准的地方环境质量标准。Local environmental quality standards shall be reported to the competent department of environmental protection under The State Council for the record。

The State encourages environmental benchmarking studies。

Article 16 The competent department of environmental protection under The State Council shall, in accordance with the national standards for environmental quality and the country's economic and technological conditions, establish the national standards for the discharge of pollutants。

省、自治区、直辖市人民政府对国家污染物排放标准中未作规定的项目，可以制定地方污染物排放标准；对国家污染物排放标准中已作规定的项目，可以制定严于国家污染物排放标准的地方污染物排放标准。Local standards for the discharge of pollutants shall be reported to the competent department of environmental protection under The State Council for the record。

Article 17 The State establishes and improves the environmental monitoring system。国务院环境保护主管部门制定监测规范，会同有关部门组织监测网络，统一规划国家环境质量监测站（点）的设置，建立监测数据共享机制，加强对环境监测的管理。

The establishment of various environmental quality monitoring stations (points) in relevant industries and professions shall comply with the requirements of laws and regulations and monitoring norms。

Monitoring institutions shall use monitoring equipment that meets national standards and comply with monitoring norms。The monitoring institution and its responsible person shall be responsible for the authenticity and accuracy of the monitoring data。

第十八条省级以上人民政府应当组织有关部门或者委托专业机构，对环境状况进行调查、评价，建立环境资源承载能力监测预警机制。

Article 19 An environmental impact assessment shall be carried out in accordance with law in the preparation of relevant development and utilization plans and the construction of projects that have an impact on the environment。

No development and utilization plan without environmental impact assessment according to law shall be organized and implemented;Construction projects without environmental impact assessment in accordance with law shall not start construction。

第二十条国家建立跨行政区域的重点区域、流域环境污染和生态破坏联合防治协调机制，实行统一规划、统一标准、统一监测、统一的防治措施。

前款规定以外的跨行政区域的环境污染和生态破坏的防治，由上级人民政府协调解决，或者由有关地方人民政府协商解决。

第二十一条国家采取财政、税收、价格、政府采购等方面的政策和措施，鼓励和支持环境保护技术装备、资源综合利用和环境服务等环境保护产业的发展。

第二十二条企业事业单位和其他生产经营者，在污染物排放符合法定要求的基础上，进一步减少污染物排放的，人民政府应当依法采取财政、税收、价格、政府采购等方面的政策和措施予以鼓励和支持。

第二十三条企业事业单位和其他生产经营者，为改善环境，依照有关规定转产、搬迁、关闭的，人民政府应当予以支持。

第二十四条县级以上人民政府环境保护主管部门及其委托的环境监察机构和其他负有环境保护监督管理职责的部门，有权对排放污染物的企业事业单位和其他生产经营者进行现场检查。The inspected person shall truthfully report the situation and provide the necessary information。The departments and institutions conducting on-site inspection and their staff shall keep the commercial secrets of the inspected。

Article 25 Enterprises, public institutions and other producers and business operators discharge pollutants in violation of laws and regulations，Causing or likely to cause serious pollution，Competent departments of environmental protection of the people's governments at or above the county level and other departments responsible for environmental supervision and administration，Facilities and equipment that cause the discharge of pollutants may be sealed up or impounded。  

Article 26 The State implements the target responsibility system and the assessment and evaluation system for environmental protection。县级以上人民政府应当将环境保护目标完成情况纳入对本级人民政府负有环境保护监督管理职责的部门及其负责人和下级人民政府及其负责人的考核内容，作为对其考核评价的重要依据。The assessment results shall be made public。

第二十七条县级以上人民政府应当每年向本级人民代表大会或者人民代表大会常务委员会报告环境状况和环境保护目标完成情况，对发生的重大环境事件应当及时向本级人民代表大会常务委员会报告，依法接受监督。

Chapter III Protection and improvement of environment

Article 28 Local people's governments at all levels shall, in accordance with environmental protection objectives and governance tasks, take effective measures to improve environmental quality。

The relevant local people's governments of key areas and river basins that fail to meet the national standards for environmental quality shall formulate plans for meeting the standards within a prescribed time limit and take measures to meet the standards on time。

Article 29 The State draws red lines for ecological protection in key ecological functional areas, sensitive and vulnerable areas of the ecological environment, and implements strict protection。

People's governments at all levels are representative of the various types of natural ecosystems in the region，Natural distribution area of rare and endangered wild animals and plants，Important water conservation area，Geological structures of great scientific and cultural value, famous karst caves and fossil distribution areas, glaciers, volcanoes, hot springs and other natural relics，As well as human relics, ancient and famous trees，Measures should be taken to protect it，Do not destroy。

第三十条开发利用自然资源，应当合理开发，保护生物多样性，保障生态安全，依法制定有关生态保护和恢复治理方案并予以实施。

The introduction of alien species and the research, development and use of biotechnology should take measures to prevent the destruction of biological diversity。

Article 31 The State establishes and improves a compensation system for ecological protection。

The state will increase financial transfer payments to ecological protection areas。The relevant local people's governments shall implement the ecological protection compensation funds to ensure that they are used for ecological protection compensation。

The State shall guide the people's governments of beneficiary areas and ecological protection areas to make compensation for ecological protection through consultation or in accordance with market rules。

Article 32 The State shall strengthen the protection of the atmosphere, water and soil, and establish and improve corresponding systems for investigation, monitoring, assessment and restoration。

Article 33 People's governments at all levels shall strengthen the protection of the agricultural environment，Promote the use of new technologies for environmental protection in agriculture，Strengthen monitoring and early warning of agricultural pollution sources，Coordinate measures taken by relevant departments，防治土壤污染和土地沙化、盐渍化、贫瘠化、石漠化、地面沉降以及防治植被破坏、水土流失、水体富营养化、水源枯竭、种源灭绝等生态失调现象，We will promote comprehensive prevention and control of plant diseases and insect pests。

People's governments at the county and township levels shall improve the level of public services for rural environmental protection and promote comprehensive improvement of the rural environment。

Article 34 The State Council and the people's governments at various levels in coastal areas shall strengthen the protection of the Marine environment。向海洋排放污染物、倾倒废弃物，进行海岸工程和海洋工程建设，应当符合法律法规规定和有关标准，防止和减少对海洋环境的污染损害。

第三十五条城乡建设应当结合当地自然环境的特点，保护植被、水域和自然景观，加强城市园林、绿地和风景名胜区的建设与管理。

Article 36 The State encourages and guides citizens, legal persons and other organizations to use products and recycled products conducive to the protection of the environment and to reduce the generation of waste。

国家机关和使用财政资金的其他组织应当优先采购和使用节能、节水、节材等有利于保护环境的产品、设备和设施。

Article 37 Local people's governments at all levels shall take measures to organize the classified treatment, recycling and utilization of household waste。

第三十八条公民应当遵守环境保护法律法规，配合实施环境保护措施，按照规定对生活废弃物进行分类放置，减少日常生活对环境造成的损害。

第三十九条国家建立、健全环境与健康监测、调查和风险评估制度；鼓励和组织开展环境质量对公众健康影响的研究，采取措施预防和控制与环境污染有关的疾病。

Chapter IV Prevention and Control of Pollution and Other Public Hazards

Article 40 The State promotes cleaner production and the recycling of resources。

The relevant departments under The State Council and the local people's governments at various levels shall take measures to promote the production and use of clean energy。

企业应当优先使用清洁能源，采用资源利用率高、污染物排放量少的工艺、设备以及废弃物综合利用技术和污染物无害化处理技术，减少污染物的产生。

Article 41 Facilities for the prevention and control of pollution in a construction project shall be designed, constructed and put into operation at the same time as the main part of the project。Facilities for the prevention and control of pollution shall comply with the requirements of the approved environmental impact assessment documents, and shall not be dismantled or left idle without authorization。

Article 42 Enterprises, public institutions and other producers and business operators discharging pollutants，Measures should be taken，防治在生产建设或者其他活动中产生的废气、废水、废渣、医疗废物、粉尘、恶臭气体、放射性物质以及噪声、振动、光辐射、电磁辐射等对环境的污染和危害。

Enterprises and institutions that discharge pollutants shall establish a responsibility system for environmental protection and clarify the responsibilities of the person in charge of the unit and relevant personnel。

Key pollutant discharge units shall install and use monitoring equipment in accordance with relevant state regulations and monitoring norms, ensure the normal operation of monitoring equipment, and keep original monitoring records。

严禁通过暗管、渗井、渗坑、灌注或者篡改、伪造监测数据，或者不正常运行防治污染设施等逃避监管的方式违法排放污染物。

Article 43 Enterprises, public institutions and other producers and business operators that discharge pollutants shall pay pollutant discharge fees in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State。All pollution discharge fees shall be used exclusively for the prevention and control of environmental pollution, and no unit or individual may withhold, divert or misappropriate them for other purposes。

Where an environmental protection tax is levied in accordance with the provisions of the law, no pollution discharge fee shall be levied。

Article 44 The State applies a system of total emission control for key pollutants。The total emission control targets for key pollutants shall be assigned by The State Council and implemented by the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government。企业事业单位在执行国家和地方污染物排放标准的同时，应当遵守分解落实到本单位的重点污染物排放总量控制指标。

对超过国家重点污染物排放总量控制指标或者未完成国家确定的环境质量目标的地区，省级以上人民政府环境保护主管部门应当暂停审批其新增重点污染物排放总量的建设项目环境影响评价文件。

Article 45 The State shall, in accordance with the law, implement a system of discharge permit administration。

实行排污许可管理的企业事业单位和其他生产经营者应当按照排污许可证的要求排放污染物；未取得排污许可证的，不得排放污染物。

Article 46 The State applies a system of elimination to processes, equipment and products that seriously pollute the environment。No unit or individual may produce, sell, transfer or use processes, equipment or products that seriously pollute the environment。

It is prohibited to introduce technology, equipment, materials and products that do not conform to China's regulations on environmental protection。

第四十七条各级人民政府及其有关部门和企业事业单位，应当依照《十大网堵平台》的规定，做好突发环境事件的风险控制、应急准备、应急处置和事后恢复等工作。

县级以上人民政府应当建立环境污染公共监测预警机制，组织制定预警方案；环境受到污染，可能影响公众健康和环境安全时，依法及时公布预警信息，启动应急措施。

Enterprises and institutions shall, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State, formulate emergency plans for environmental emergencies and submit them to competent environmental protection departments and relevant departments for the record。在发生或者可能发生突发环境事件时，企业事业单位应当立即采取措施处理，及时通报可能受到危害的单位和居民，并向环境保护主管部门和有关部门报告。

突发环境事件应急处置工作结束后，有关人民政府应当立即组织评估事件造成的环境影响和损失，并及时将评估结果向社会公布。

第四十八条生产、储存、运输、销售、使用、处置化学物品和含有放射性物质的物品，应当遵守国家有关规定，防止污染环境。

第四十九条各级人民政府及其农业等有关部门和机构应当指导农业生产经营者科学种植和养殖，科学合理施用农药、化肥等农业投入品，科学处置农用薄膜、农作物秸秆等农业废弃物，防止农业面源污染。

It is prohibited to put solid waste and wastewater that do not meet agricultural standards and environmental protection standards into farmland。Measures shall be taken to prevent environmental pollution by heavy metals and other toxic and harmful substances in the application of agricultural inputs such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers and in irrigation。

The site selection, construction and management of livestock and poultry farms, breeding communities, and designated slaughtering enterprises shall comply with relevant laws and regulations。Units and individuals engaged in livestock breeding and slaughtering shall take measures to scientifically dispose of wastes such as feces, carcasses and sewage of livestock and poultry so as to prevent environmental pollution。

The people's government at the county level shall be responsible for organizing the disposal of rural household waste。

第五十条各级人民政府应当在财政预算中安排资金，支持农村饮用水水源地保护、生活污水和其他废弃物处理、畜禽养殖和屠宰污染防治、土壤污染防治和农村工矿污染治理等环境保护工作。

第五十一条各级人民政府应当统筹城乡建设污水处理设施及配套管网，固体废物的收集、运输和处置等环境卫生设施，危险废物集中处置设施、场所以及其他环境保护公共设施，并保障其正常运行。

Article 52 The State encourages the insurance of environmental pollution liability。 

Chapter V Information disclosure and public participation 

Article 53 Citizens, legal persons and other organizations shall have the right to obtain environmental information, participate in and supervise environmental protection according to law。

各级人民政府环境保护主管部门和其他负有环境保护监督管理职责的部门，应当依法公开环境信息、完善公众参与程序，为公民、法人和其他组织参与和监督环境保护提供便利。

Article 54 The competent department of environmental protection under The State Council shall uniformly publish national environmental quality, monitoring information on key pollution sources and other major environmental information。The competent departments of environmental protection under the people's governments at or above the provincial level regularly issue environmental status bulletins。

Competent departments of environmental protection of the people's governments at or above the county level and other departments responsible for environmental supervision and administration，应当依法公开环境质量、环境监测、突发环境事件以及环境行政许可、行政处罚、排污费的征收和使用情况等信息。

县级以上地方人民政府环境保护主管部门和其他负有环境保护监督管理职责的部门，应当将企业事业单位和其他生产经营者的环境违法信息记入社会诚信档案，及时向社会公布违法者名单。

第五十五条重点排污单位应当如实向社会公开其主要污染物的名称、排放方式、排放浓度和总量、超标排放情况，以及防治污染设施的建设和运行情况，接受社会监督。

第五十六条对依法应当编制环境影响报告书的建设项目，建设单位应当在编制时向可能受影响的公众说明情况，充分征求意见。

负责审批建设项目环境影响评价文件的部门在收到建设项目环境影响报告书后，除涉及国家秘密和商业秘密的事项外，应当全文公开；发现建设项目未充分征求公众意见的，应当责成建设单位征求公众意见。

第五十七条公民、法人和其他组织发现任何单位和个人有污染环境和破坏生态行为的，有权向环境保护主管部门或者其他负有环境保护监督管理职责的部门举报。

公民、法人和其他组织发现地方各级人民政府、Competent departments of environmental protection of the people's governments at or above the county level and other departments responsible for environmental supervision and administration不依法履行职责的，有权向其上级机关或者监察机关举报。

The organ receiving the report shall keep confidential the relevant information of the informant and protect the legitimate rights and interests of the informant。

第五十八条对污染环境、破坏生态，损害社会公共利益的行为，符合下列条件的社会组织可以向人民法院提起诉讼：

(1) registering with the civil affairs department of the people's government at or above the city level divided into districts according to law;

(2) specializing in environmental protection public welfare activities for more than five consecutive years and have no illegal records。

If a social organization meeting the provisions of the preceding paragraph brings a lawsuit to a people's court, the people's court shall accept it according to law。

Social organizations that initiate litigation shall not seek economic benefits through litigation。

Chapter VI Legal liability

第五十九条企业事业单位和其他生产经营者违法排放污染物，受到罚款处罚，被责令改正，拒不改正的，依法作出处罚决定的行政机关可以自责令改正之日的次日起，按照原处罚数额按日连续处罚。

前款规定的罚款处罚，依照有关法律法规按照防治污染设施的运行成本、违法行为造成的直接损失或者违法所得等因素确定的规定执行。

Local regulations may, according to the actual needs of environmental protection, increase the types of illegal acts that are punished on a continuous daily basis as provided for in the first paragraph。

第六十条企业事业单位和其他生产经营者超过污染物排放标准或者超过重点污染物排放总量控制指标排放污染物的，The competent environmental protection department of the people's government at or above the county level may order it to take measures such as restricting production or stopping production for rectification;serious，The report shall be submitted for approval by the people's government with the power of approval，Order to suspend business or close down。

第六十一条建设单位未依法提交建设项目环境影响评价文件或者环境影响评价文件未经批准，擅自开工建设的，由负有环境保护监督管理职责的部门责令停止建设，处以罚款，并可以责令恢复原状。

第六十二条违反本法规定，重点排污单位不公开或者不如实公开环境信息的，由县级以上地方人民政府环境保护主管部门责令公开，处以罚款，并予以公告。

Article 63 Enterprises, public institutions and other producers and business operators commit any of the following acts，Not yet constituted a crime，Except to be punished in accordance with relevant laws and regulations，The competent environmental protection department of the people's government at or above the county level or other relevant departments shall transfer the case to the public security organ，Persons in charge and other persons directly responsible for them，Shall be detained for not less than 10 days but not more than 15 days;Lesser circumstances，To be detained for not less than five days but not more than 10 days:

(1) where a construction project fails to carry out an environmental impact assessment according to law and is ordered to stop construction or refuses to carry out the implementation;

(2) discharges pollutants without obtaining a discharge permit in violation of the law, is ordered to stop discharging pollutants, and refuses to comply;

（三）通过暗管、渗井、渗坑、灌注或者篡改、伪造监测数据，或者不正常运行防治污染设施等逃避监管的方式违法排放污染物的；

(4) producing or using a pesticide whose production or use is expressly prohibited by the State, and being ordered to make corrections, but refusing to do so。

第六十四条因污染环境和破坏生态造成损害的，应当依照《十大网堵平台》的有关规定承担侵权责任。

Article 65 Environmental impact assessment institutions, environmental monitoring institutions and institutions engaged in the maintenance and operation of environmental monitoring equipment and pollution prevention and control facilities，Committing fraud in relation to environmental services，Responsible for causing environmental pollution and ecological damage，Except to be punished in accordance with relevant laws and regulations，They shall also be jointly and severally liable with other persons responsible for environmental pollution and ecological damage。

Article 66 The limitation period for bringing an action for compensation for environmental damage shall be three years, counted from the time when the parties knew or should have known that they had suffered the damage。

Article 67 The people's governments at higher levels and their competent environmental protection departments shall strengthen supervision over the environmental protection work of the people's governments at lower levels and their relevant departments。If a relevant staff member is found to have committed an illegal act and should be given sanctions according to law, a proposal for sanctions shall be made to the organ appointing or removing him or her or to the supervisory organ。

依法应当给予行政处罚，而有关环境保护主管部门不给予行政处罚的，上级人民政府环境保护主管部门可以直接作出行政处罚的决定。

第六十八条地方各级人民政府、Competent departments of environmental protection of the people's governments at or above the county level and other departments responsible for environmental supervision and administration有下列行为之一的，The persons directly in charge and other persons directly responsible shall be given demerit notes, major demerit notes or demoted;Causing serious consequences，Be given the sanction of dismissal or dismissal，Its chief executive should take the blame and resign:

(1) the granting of administrative license does not meet the conditions of administrative license;

(2) Covering up environmental violations;

(3) where a decision to order business suspension or closure should be made according to law but is not made;

（四）对超标排放污染物、采用逃避监管的方式排放污染物、造成环境事故以及不落实生态保护措施造成生态破坏等行为，发现或者接到举报未及时查处的；

(5) In violation of the provisions of this Law, sealing up or detaining the facilities and equipment of enterprises, institutions and other producers and business operators;

(6) tampering with or forgery or instigating tampering with or forgery of monitoring data;

(7) failing to disclose environmental information that should be disclosed in accordance with the law;

(8) withholding, diverting or misappropriating the collected sewage discharge fees for other purposes;

(9) Other illegal acts as prescribed by laws and regulations。

Article 69 Whoever violates the provisions of this Law and constitutes a crime shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to law。

Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions

Article 70 This Law shall come into force as of January 1, 2015。