A provisional regulation that requires public environmental impact hearings on construction and new business projects went into effect on July 1.

The State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) regulation requires that public hearings be held on small projects that might cause unpleasant smells, noise, residue or other forms of pollution that affect the living environment of local residents.

Medium and large projects, which may have greater impact on the environment, will also be subject to public hearings.

Public hearings will be held on sectoral development programs -- including those in heavy industry, agriculture, forestry, energy and tourism -- which may have environmental side effects and are directly linked to public interests.

The regulation is already being put to use. For example, the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau will hold a public hearing this Friday to solicit input on high-voltage wires built near the Summer Palace. Local residents and construction company residents will be among those attending the hearing.

According to the China Times, dozens of pylons transporting high-voltage electricity have surrounded the northern and northwestern parts of the Summer Palace, a major tourist attraction. Many local residents have expressed concern about the health of their children, as a kindergarten is being built close to the pylons and there is a body of scientific evidence suggesting that there is a correlation between electromagnetic forces from such power lines and childhood cancer.

A member of SEPA's Law and Regulation Department surnamed Zhao said the regulation was enacted because of increasing public concern about construction projects.

Environmental authorities will be required to review results the opinions and concerns expressed during the hearings and consider this feedback in making their decisions, he said. Regardless of what their ultimate decision is, the authorities will have to provide a public explanation of it.

Any environmental authorities that do not schedule or advertise hearings, thus rendering them useless, will be subject to penalties, he added.

Xia Guang, director of SEPA's Policy Research Center, said, "The regulations will strengthen public participation in decision-making regarding environmental issues."

SEPA Vice-Minister Pan Yue said the general public should be given more opportunities to participate in the policymaking process. He urged environmental authorities to regulate administrative approvals and protect the interests of all citizens, businesses and other organizations.

(China Daily August 11, 2004)