Environmental Management Administration

In the event of soil and groundwater pollution, identifying the source and holding polluters responsible can be challenging. The government intervenes immediately with measures to prevent the pollution from spreading and mitigate its impact. In cases where the polluter fails to adhere to regulations and remediate the pollution, the government needs to further intervene and take initial action. Therefore, a stable financial support system is essential to fund environmental protection agencies' remediation efforts.

According to the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Act, the central government may levy Soil pollution and groundwater pollution remediation charges on specific substances and establish the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Fund. This fund is managed by the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Fund Management Board (hereinafter referred to as Management Board), which is responsible for overseeing the fund's usage and related matters.

In accordance with Article 30 of the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Act, the Management Board consists of 17 to 23 members, appointed for two-year terms, with no fewer than two-thirds being experts or scholars. The Environmental Protection Agency (now restructured as the Ministry of Environment) promulgated the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Fund Management Board Organizational Regulations on July 4, 2001, outlining the Management Board's organization and functions. The Guidelines for the Establishment of the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Fund Management Board were promulgated on March 19, 2010, and the Soil Pollution and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Fund Revenues and Expenditures, Safekeeping, and Utilization Regulations were incorporated on April 8, 2024. The Management Board convenes biannually, with additional meetings held as needed and chaired by the appointed convener.

The Management Board includes an executive secretary, appointed by the convener, to manage its affairs, and a deputy executive secretary and supporting staff for various functions.

Through the effective operation of the Management Board, a robust financial support system is established to address the challenges posed by soil and groundwater pollution. The collaboration between the central and local governments ensures the smooth execution of remediation efforts, thereby facilitating environmental protection and sustainable development goals. The establishment and operation of this system serve as a response to current environmental issues, enabling the joint protection of our land and water resources.