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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT
Department of Environment (DOE) was originally created as Environment Division under the Ministry of Local Government and Environment on 15 April 1975. Environment Division was then placed under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment in March 1976. Based on the importance of environmental protection and conservation, on 1 September 1983, the Environment Division has been upgraded to a Department known as the Department of Environment. On March 2004, DOE was then placed under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT
The establishment of Department of Environment is based on the Environmental Quality Act, 1974 which was enacted in March 1974 and came into force on 15 April 1975. The main function of the DOE is to prevent, eliminate, control pollution and improve the environment, consistent with the purposes of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and the regulations thereunder.
The National Policy on the environment is based on 8 principles that harmonies economic development goals with environmental imperatives. These interrelated and mutually supporting principles are: Stewardship of the Environment Exercise respect and care for the environment in accordance with the highest moral and ethical standards. Conservation of Natures Vitality and Diversity Conserve natural ecosystems to ensure integrity of biodiversity and life support systems.
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Continuous Improvement in the Quality of the Environment Ensure continuous improvement in the productivity and quality of the environment while pursuing economic growth and human development objectives. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources Manage natural resource utilization to sustain the resource base and prevent degradation of the environment. Integrated Decision-Making Integrate environmental dimensions in the planning and implementation of the policies, objective and mandates of all sectors to protect the environment.
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Role of Private Sector Strengthen the role of the private sector in environmental protection and management. Commitment and Accountability Ensure the highest commitment to environmental protection and accountability by all decision-makers in the public and private sectors, resource users, non-Governmental organizations and the general public, in formulating, planning and implementing their activities Active participation in the International Community Participate actively and effectively in regional and global efforts towards environmental conservations and enhancement. Important link: http://www.nre.gov.my/English/Environment/Pages/environment.a spx and http://www.doe.gov.my/portal/
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The regulatory and legal framework governing environmental issues is set out in the Environmental Quality Act 1974, commonly referred to as the EQA. The EQA establishes the Director-General of Environmental Quality who heads the DOE and the Environmental Quality Council comprising Government and industry representatives. The EQA is designed for the prevention, abatement, control of pollution and enhancement of the environment.
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To date, Minister has promulgated thirteen sets of environmental regulations, governing specific industries, such as the following: Licensing regulations Clean Air regulations Compounding of Offence rules Sewage and Industrial Effluents regulations Motor Vehicle Noise regulations Environmental Impact Assessment List of Prescribed Activities Three sets of regulations pertaining to generation, treatment and disposal of Scheduled Wastes Control of Smoke and Gas Emission rules
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
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Malaysia has many agencies and laws that are responsible for the control of traffic on toxic and dangerous products and wastes. These include : Petroleum Development Act 1974 Petroleum Mining Act 1966 Petroleum (Safety Measures) Act 1984 Dangerous Trade Enactment Poisons Act 1955 Poisons (Agricultural and Industrial) Ordinance Pesticides Act 1974 Explosives Act 1975 The Technical Instruction for Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
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The National Water Services Act 2006 or the Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara Act 2006 which came into effect on 1 February 2007 is enforced by the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communication. This Act was enforced to establish a body known as the Suruhanjaya Perkihdmatan Air Negara (SPAN), or the National Water Services Commission to regulate and enforce the provisions of the Water Industry Services Act 2006 (Act 655) known as WSIA.
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The Commission, which is fully functional since 1 January 2008, is a central regulatory agency to oversee adequate, clean and healthy water supply including the treated water supply. The Commission shall have all the functions conferred on it under the water supply and sewerage services laws and shall also have the following functions:
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to implement and enforce the water supply and sewerage services laws and to recommend reforms to the water supply and sewerage services laws; to ensure the productivity of the water supply and sewerage services industry and the monitoring of operators compliance with stipulated services standards, contractual obligations and relevant laws and guidelines; to ensure national development goals pertaining to coverage, supply and access to water supply services and sewerage services are achieved;
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The Water Services Industry Act 2006 (WSIA) which came into force on 1 January 2008 is a federal law and enacted to regulate water supply services and sewerage service industry. The WSIA is enacted for the following objectives:
to ensure uniformity of law and policy to make a law for the proper control and regulation of water supply services throughout Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territories of Putrajaya and Labuan;
maya@kuittho.edu.my, copyright 2007 15
Water Services Industry (Licensing) Regulations 2007) prescribes all matters relating to the issuance of individual licenses and registration of class licenses granted under WSIA. Water Services Industry (Permit) Rules2007 issues rules on all matters relating to the issuance of permits granted under WSIA. Water Services Industry (Licensing) (Exemption) Order 2007 exempts a person from individual or class licensing requirement, by order of the Minister.
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The air quality standards are set by Department of Environment Malaysia (DOE) with reference of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).
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Recommended Malaysian Air Quality Standards (At 25 degree Celsius and 101.13 kPa)
Averaging Time Malaysia Guideline (ppm) (g/m3)
Pollutant Ozone (O3) Carbon Monoxide (CO)# Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
1 Hour
8 Hour 1 Hour 8 Hour 1 Hour 10 Minute 1 Hour 24 Hour 24 Hour
0.10
0.06 30 9 0.17 0.19 0.13 0.04
200
120 35 mg/m3 10 mg/m3 320 500 350 105 260 90 150 50 1.5
Particles TSP
1 Year 24 Hour
1 Year 3 Month
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The objective of these standards is not only to give guidelines for continual quality of water supplied to public but also to ensure effective protection of public health besides to improve the management of the water utilities.
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Malaysian National Standard for Drinking Water Quality recommends levels for both raw water quality and drinking water quality
The
Physical,
standards ensure that the drinking water is safe to drink and not hazardous to health or objectionable to the physical senses of consumers
chemical, microbiologic al and radiological parameters are included with frequency of testing
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Turbidity
Suspended Solid DO Color Aluminium
Fluoride
NTU
mg/l ppm TCU mg/l ppm ppm ppm
300
100 4-7 300 < 0.1 < 1.5 -
<5
8 -10 < 15 < 0.2 0.5 0.7 1.5 2.5 < 1.5
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Malaysia: National Guidelines for Raw Drinking Water Quality (Revised December 2000)
Benchmark 250 mg/l 500 mg/l 10 mg/l Must not be detected in any 100 ml sample
0.1 mg/l 0.05 mg/l 3 mg/l 0.01 mg/l 0.01 mg/l 250 mg/l 0.002 mg/l 1000 mg/l 0.3 mg/l 1.0 mg/l 0.01 mg/l 0.003 mg/l 0.001 mg
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Testing of water
Department of Environment
Ministry of Health
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IV V
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3. WASTEWATER STANDARD
The ultimate goal of wastewater management is the protection of the environment in a manner commensurate with better waste quality, publics health, economic, social and political comments. The effluents from industries and sewerage are required to be treated to a certain quality before they are discharged into the water course.
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Typical Connection
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40 5.5 - 9.0
50 100 100 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 1.0 2.0 0.5 10.0
Third Schedule of Environmental Quality Act, 1974 under the Environmental Quality (Sewage and Industrial Effluent) Regulation, 1979, regulation 8(1), 8(2) and 8(3). Represent maximum or absolute values which may not be exceeded. Measurement is taken using a single grab sample rather than a time averaged composite sample
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The aim of EIA is to assess the overall impact on the environment of development projects proposed by the public and private sectors. The objectives of EIA are: To examine and select the best from the project options available To identify and incorporate into the project plan appropriate abatement and mitigation measures To predict the significant residual environmental impacts To identify the environmental costs and benefits of the project to the community.
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EIA is essentially a planning tool for preventing environmental problems due to action. It seeks to avoid costly mistakes in project implementation, or modifications in order to make the action environmentally acceptable. In Malaysia, EIA is required under section 34A of the EQA.
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CONCLUSION
Addressing environmental issues is imperative in the quest of making Malaysia an advanced nation. Law and legal obligations must be considered obligation must be considered when undertaking any development, which may impact the environment, no matter how small. Professionals and people of various backgrounds play a major role in using their skills to manage and control pollution. The oft-quoted native Indian proverb which was at the heart of the Brundtland Report rings true: We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we owe it to our children.
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