Module Application
- Does the organisation conduct industrial, agricultural, developmental or other activities on its premises that are likely to impact the local area in respect of an environmental matter (such as the quality of air, water, land or habitat/vegetation)?
- Does the organisation occupy land that is contaminated or engage in activities that may cause environmental harm such as releasing into waterways, clearing vegetation, disturbing land or habitats, emitting gases, and spilling liquids?
Module Scope
The ENVIRONMENT module informs the Singaporean entity or organisation of their legislated legal obligations to the environment. The module also demonstrates effective practical advice and assistance to the entity to implement procedures and processes that will ensure compliance and regulatory accountability throughout all levels of the entity.
To fulfil its purpose the module focuses on providing practical assistance to the organisation or entity establishing and maintaining a robust foundational framework that determines;
- How the systems and processes will function;
- Who is the responsible decision maker;
- What matters are relevant to the decision-making process; and
- Whether the desired outcome has been achieved.
The aim of the module is to equip the subscriber with knowledge of their environmental obligations and the skills they require to establish relevant systems and processes to ensure compliance throughout their organisation.
The broad scope of the ENVIRONMENT module is to provide answers to these questions;
- What are our legal obligations?
- From where are our legal obligations derived?
- How can we ensure that we are complying with our legal obligations?
- What are the consequences if we are not complying with our legal obligations?
The ENVIRONMENT module covers all legislated environmental legal obligations of Singaporean organisations or entities and demonstrates practical assistance and guidance to ensure that these obligations are complied with through the implementation and maintenance of best practice processes throughout the organisation. The module also covers the role of the regulator as well as exemptions to the obligations, if applicable, and how they may or may not apply in particular circumstances.
The module fulfils this objective by comprehensively covering three areas;
- Legislation;
- Obligations; and
- Consequences
- The legislative and regulatory landscape from which the primary legal obligations are derived;
- Environmental Public Health Act 2002 (Cap 95) (SNG)
- Environmental Public Health (Construction Sites) Regulations (SNG)
- Environmental Public Health (Appointment of Environmental Control Officers) Order (SNG)
- Environmental Public Health (Composition of Offenses) Rules (SNG)
- Environmental Protection and Management Act 2002 (Cap 94A) (SNG)
- Environmental Protection and Management (Composition of Offences) Regulations (SNG)
- Sewerage and Drainage Act 2001 (Cap 294) (SNG)
- Sewerage and Drainage (Composition of Offences) Regulations (SNG)
- Sewerage and Drainage (Trade Effluent) Regulations (SNG)
- Sewerage and Drainage (Exemption – Approval for Discharge of Trade Effluent) Notification 2013 (SNG)
- Environmental Protection and Management (Air Impurities) Regulations (SNG)
- Environmental Protection and Management (Prohibition on the Use of Open Fires) Order (SNG)
- Road Traffic Act (Cap 276) (SNG)
- Carbon Pricing Act 2018 (SNG)
- Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (Cap 30C) (SNG)
- Building Maintenance (Strata Management) Regulations 2005 (SNG)
- Building Maintenance and Strata Management (Composition of Offences) Regulations 2005 (SNG)
- Environmental Protection and Management (Boundary Noise Limits for Factory Premises) Regulations (SNG)
- Radiation Protection Act (Cap 262) (SNG)
- Radiation Protection (Exemption for Transit, Transhipment and Carriage of Conveyance Equipment) Regulations 2014 (SNG)
- Radiation Protection (Ionising Radiation) Regulations (Cap 262) (SNG)
- Radiation Protection (Non-Ionising Radiation) Regulations (Cap 262) (SNG)
- Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act (Cap 37B) (SNG)
- Biological Agents and Toxins Act (Cap 24A) (SNG)
- Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act (Cap 59) (SNG)
- Energy Conservation Act (Cap 92C) (SNG)
- Parks and Trees Act (Cap 216) (SNG)
- Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act (Cap 92A) (SNG)
- Wildlife Act (Cap 351) (SNG)
- Animals and Birds Act (Cap 7) (SNG)
- Control of Plants Act (Cap 57A) (SNG)
- The specific areas where legal and regulatory obligations apply to the Singaporean organisation or entity;
- General approvals;
- Use of premises;
- Industrial plant works;
- Licence system; and
- Environmental control personnel.
- General pollution control measures;
- Studies;
- Prevention;
- Monitoring;
- Reporting;
- Insurance;
- Stop orders and remediation; and
- Appointment of environmental control personnel.
- Water management;
- Storage and transportation of potentially water-polluting matters;
- Disposal and discharge into water system;
- Water catchments;
- Water extraction;
- Water supply and consumption;
- Cooling towers and water fountains;
- Drainage;
- Sewerage;
- Qualified persons for works related to water and sewerage systems;
- Excavation; and
- Stop orders and remediation of contaminated water body.
- Air pollution;
- Industrial and trade premises;
- Emissions from road vehicles;
- Ownership and usage of road vehicles;
- Emissions from off-road diesel engines;
- Greenhouse gas emissions;
- Ozone depleting substances;
- Haze; and
- Smoke and odours.
- Land pollution;
- Permission for discharge of polluting matters to land;
- Treatment of trade effluent before discharge to land;
- Reporting of particulars of trade effluent discharged to land; and
- Remediation of contaminated land.
- Noise pollution;
- Workplaces in general;
- Construction works;
- Factories; and
- Road vehicles.
- Radiation;
- Licensing systems;
- Transport of radioactive materials;
- Disposal of radioactive materials;
- Ionising radiation;
- Non-ionising radiation;
- Record-keeping and reporting; and
- Hazardous substance;
- Import and manufacture;
- Transportation;
- Storage, sale and supply,
- Public exposure from workplaces and installations;
- Adverse incidents and corrective actions;
- Asbestos;
- Chemical weapons and biological agents and toxins; and
- Substances for the control of pests and vectors.
- Waste management;
- Waste generation;
- District pneumatic waste conveyance system;
- Waste collection;
- Waste import, transit and export;
- Waste transportation;
- Disposal facilities;
- Mixing of waste;
- Electrical and electronic waste;
- Food waste and manure;
- Packaging;
- Producer responsibility schemes; and
- Adverse incidents, toxicity analyses and corrective actions.
- Energy;
- Energy supplies;
- Energy management practices of non-transport sector players;
- Energy management practices of transport sector players;
- Buildings;
- Electrical goods; and
- Energy survey participation.
- Ecology and biodiversity;
- Haitats;
- Endangered species;
- Animals; and
- Plants.
Significant consequences can apply to Singaporean organisations or entities, their employees and authorised individuals found to have breached or not complied with their legal obligations. These consequences vary considerably between jurisdictions and depending on the nature and extent of the breach or failure. The ENVIRONMENT module covers specific consequences in detail. They can include monetary penalties, disciplinary measures, legal consequences and even terms of imprisonment for individuals found to have committed serious criminal offences.
The ENVIRONMENT module provides comprehensive coverage of the vast majority of environmental obligations however it does not cover obligations that are limited to a small number of highly specialised organisations such as those operating nuclear facilities.
The ENVIRONMENT module also does not cover the rights or entitlements of individuals who have suffered damages or losses due to breaches of obligations by Singaporean organisations or entities. The module does not cover the process that an entity or an individual would follow to report or seek compensation for the breach or their loss.