The Department of Marine Ecology and Environment of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment ("MEE") has recently issued the Announcement on the Acceptance of Applications for Ocean Dumping Permits for Waste and for the Discharge of Oil-based Drilling Muds and Drill Cuttings into the Ocean from Offshore Oil Exploration and Exploitation (the "Announcement").
According to the Announcement, the MEE's Department of Marine Ecology and Environment will start to accept nationwide applications, from the date this Announcement is released, for ocean dumping permits for waste and for the discharge of oil-based drilling muds and drill cuttings into the sea from offshore oil exploration and exploitation, and details about matters in this regard could be found in the Service Guide to the Issue of Ocean Dumping Permits for Waste (for Trial Implementation) (the "Guide") and in the Service Guide to the Examination and Approval Matters for Applications for the Discharge of Oil-based Drilling Muds and Drill Cuttings into the Ocean from Offshore Oil Exploration and Exploitation (for Trial Implementation). The Guide expressly states that, waste owners and units undertaking dredging projects, or units specifically in charge of dumping operations having concluded contracts with them for this purpose, will be applicants; the aforesaid applications will be approved, provided that three requirements, one of which reads "an appropriate site is available for the dumping of waste", are fulfilled. Moreover, the Guide provides for the list of documents required for the examination, handling procedures, payment of fees, etc.