| Decoupling of EIA agencies from the Environmental Protection Department | l Exists “Government-affiliated Intermediary Agency” | l All the “Government-affiliated Intermediary Agencies” change to enterprises or withdraw from the EIA service market. | 2015.3.25 Plan for decoupling of EIA agencies |
| Canceling the qualification management of EIA agencies | l The EIA agencies are classified into three grades, which require a different number of engineers. | l Grade management is canceled. The government does not issue a certificate to EIA agencies. l Companies can prepare EISs. | 2016.7.2 EIA law (2018) |
| Canceling the preconditions of EIA review | l For the project related to soil and water conservation, the conservation methods should be reviewed firstly by the industrial authorities. | l The preconditions have been canceled. | 2017.10.1 REPMCP |
| Simplifying the EIA approval process | l EIRF required to be reviewed by EPBs. | l EIRF only needs to do online registration. l The required documents of some projects are simplified from complete EIR to simplified EIF, or from EIF to EIRF. l The review jurisdiction of some projects which have limited environmental consequences is delegated to lower levels. | Catalog of Project EIA |
| Increasing penalties for violations | l The cost of breaking the law is low. | l The fine for proceeding to construction before getting approval is increased as high as 1% - 5% of the gross investment. l Implements the double-penalty system. | 2016.7.2 EIA law (2018) |
| Enhancing interim and post-event supervision | l Pays most attention to the EIA review. | l Adopts online and offline supervision methods. l Creates the “intelligence EIA” system. l Conducts the periodic selective examination of EISs. l Adopts a lifelong responsibility system and social credit management system. | 2018.1.25 Advice on strengthening the interim and post-event supervision |
| Increasing public participation | l Three publicity. l Requires to publicize the brief version of EIR. l Mainly uses government websites, newspapers and posters. | l The publicity covers the whole EIA process. Six publicity and above are required. l The contents of each publicity are enriched, and the whole EIR requires to be exposed. l It also recommends the use of social media platforms such as WeChat and Weibo. | 2019.1.1 MPPEIA |