Functions and Powers of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) ______

Table 3. (ESM only)

Functions and powers of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) ______

(1) –Maintainanceof environmental integrity and promotion of sustainable use of natural resources;

(2) –Promotion of conservation and rehabilitation of environment;

(3) - Coordinationof environmental affairs at local, national and international levels;

(4) – Development and implementation of national environmental policies and strategies in order to integrate environmental issues and sustain developmental approaches into legal and regulatory frameworks;

(5) –Provision of environmental management services in areas of environmental impact assessment, air- and water-quality management, waste management, pollution control, and permitting of related activities;

(6) –Establishment of communication and outreach for environmental information to ensure improved awareness of environmental issues;

(7) –Implementation of bilateral or multilateral environmental agreements to which Afghanistan is a Party;

(8) –Implementation of Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES);

(9) - Signing on behalf of the government agreements regarding the protection and rehabilitation of environment;

(10) - Promotion and management of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan‘s accession to and ratification of bilateral and multilateral environmental agreements;

(11) –Coordination of preparation and implementation of a national program for environmental monitoring and effectiveutilization of the data provided by that program;

(12) - Preparation every two years in relation to urban areas and every five years in relation to rural areas, a State of the Environment report for Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for submission to President‘s Office;

(13) –Preparation of an interim State of the Environment report on emerging issues relevant to environment in Afghanistan not less than every two years;

(14) - Within period of three years of Act promulgation, development of a national environmental action plan, which assesses urgency and importance of actions that should be taken in short, medium and long-term to prevent, eliminate and reduce adverse effects as described in most recent State of the Environment report, and, in consultation with relevant ministries and institutions, determination of coordinated strategy and schedule for implementation of those actions;

(15) –Compilation periodically and publicationof reports on significant environmental indicators;

(16) –Compilation and publication on annual basis, of report detailing authorizations granted and activities undertaken byNEPA;

(17) –Assessment of effectiveness of implementation of NEPA Act and any regulations made under it to improve sustainability of use and management of natural resources and conservation and rehabilitation of environment;

(18) - Development and implementation of plans for environmental training, environmental education and environmental awareness-raising in cooperation with relevant ministries and public bodies;

(19) - Active coordination and cooperation with ministries, Provincial Councils and District and Village Councils, public bodies and private sector on all issues related to sustainable use of natural resources and conservation and rehabilitation of environment;

(20) - Monitoring implementation of objectives and provisions of this law;

(21) - Fulfilling any other functions that may be assigned by Council of Ministers.