Transcript Document

LEGAL PERSPECTIVES ON
RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION OF
THE ENVIRONMENT
By
GIFT NHLAPHO
Legal Advisor
National Nuclear Regulator
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Purpose of Presentation
•
To outline the legal basis underlying obligations
for the protection of the environment.
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Brief background on the protection of
the environment principle
• Interaction between humans and the environment:
 Social Causes (increased population growth) & Economic
Causes (process of industrialization) led to,
 Socio-economic causes (increased waste generation) &
increased pressures on resources (environmental causes),
this led to,
 Environmental effects such as environmental degradation
and pollution on global, regional and local scales
This resulted in a need to regulate human activities and the
effects of human activities on the total environment.
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International initiatives
• The 1987 Brundtland Report:
This Report defined “sustainable development” as
development “meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs.”
This Report provided a starting point for sustainable
development requirements.
• Rio Declaration (Agenda 21); Stockholm Convention; Basel
Convention; JHB Summit
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International initiatives
cont...
• The international initiatives and environmental instruments
culminated in the development of Integrated Environmental
Management principles such as:
 The Precautionary Approach;
 The Polluter Pays Principle;
 Duty of Care from Cradle to Grave;
 Integrated & Holistic Approach;
 Participation, transparency & democracy;
 Accountability & liability;
 Environmental awareness & education;
 Continual improvement;
 Consideration of alternatives;
 Carrying capacity of environmental resources.
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SA Legal Perspectives:
Historical Overview
• The Environment Conservation Act, 1989 (Act No. 73 of
1989) (ECA) coordinated all matters concerning
environmental conservation. The ECA focused on the
“ecological approach” to the environment.
• In 1995 a Consultative National Environmental Policy
Process (CONNEP) was launched.
• The CONNEP Process identified the following historical
deficiencies:
 Limited legal definition of environment (ECA);
 Fragmented environmental laws;
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Historical Overview cont...
Lack of implementation of environmental laws;
Limited application of common law remedies;
Limited access to justice;
Limited or no participation in environmental decision
making;
 Limited or no environmental education.
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The CONNEP Process resulted in the formulation of the
1997 White Paper on National Environmental Management.
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Radiological protection of the
environment: Current Legal Basis
(1) The Constitution of South Africa Act, 1996
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Supreme law of SA;
Law or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid;
Obligations imposed by it must be fulfilled;
Contains a Bill of Rights applicable to all law and binding upon
the legislature, executive, judiciary and all organs of state &
natural and juristic persons;
No other law or government action can supersede the provisions of
the Constitution.
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Radiological protection of the
environment: Current Legal Basis cont..
• The Bill of Rights: Section 24 – Environmental Right
 Section 24 provides that everyone has the right(a) To an environment that is not harmful to their health or
well-being; and
(b) To have the environment protected, for the benefit of
present and future generations, through reasonable
legislative and other measures that –
(i) prevent pollution & ecological degradation;
(ii) promote conservation; and
(iii) secure ecologically sustainable development & use of
natural resources while promoting justifiable economic &
social development.
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Radiological protection of the
environment: Current Legal Basis cont..
(2) The National Environmental Management Act, 1998
(Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA)
•
NEMA implements the 1997 White Paper Policy on National
Environmental Management which Policy undertakes to give
effect to the rights in the Constitution that relate to the
environment & defines sustainable development as a combination
of social, economic & environmental factors. The Policy
entrenches environmental sustainability in policy and practice;
•
Following NEMA, DEAT undertook a law reform process to
provide a consolidated legislative framework for environmental
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management in SA aimed at promoting sustainable development.
Radiological protection of the
environment: Current Legal Basis cont..
• NEMA Definition of ‘environment’:
“Environment” means surroundings within which humans exist
and that are made up of  Land, water and atmosphere of the earth;
 Micro-organisms, plant and animal life;
 Any part or combination of the above, and the
interrelationships among and between them; and
 The physical, chemical, aesthetic and cultural properties and
conditions of the foregoing that influence human health and
well being.
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Radiological protection of the
environment: Current Legal Basis cont..
• Section 2 - NEMA Principles:
Provides that the principles set out in section 2 of NEMA apply
throughout SA to the actions of all organs of state that may
significantly affect the environment and –
(a) ...
(b) ...
(c) Serve as guidelines by reference to which any organ of state must
exercise any function when taking any decision in terms of NEMA or
any statutory provision concerning the protection of the
environment;
(d) ...; and
(e) Guide the interpretation, administration and implementation of
NEMA, and any other law concerned with the protection or
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management of the environment.
Radiological protection of the
environment: Current Legal Basis cont..
(3) The National Nuclear Regulator Act, 1999 (Act No. 47 of 1999)
This is the primary legislation for nuclear matters.
The NNR Act provides for the Regulator to regulate nuclear
Activities. It also provides for safety standards and regulatory
practices for protection of persons, property and the environment
against nuclear damage.
• In terms of section 36 Regulations on Safety Standards &
Regulatory Practices have been promulgated under GN R388:
GG 28755 of 28 April 2006
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Importance of Sect 24-Environmental
Right & NEMA Principles
Constitutional Case Law:
Fuel Retailers Association of Southern Africa v D-G
Environmental Management: Dept of Agriculture, Conservation
& Environment: Mpumalanga Province and Others (2007)
In this case the CC had to answer a question concerning the
obligations of state organs when making decisions that may have
substantial impact on the environment.
Facts: The Dept of Agriculture had granted authority in terms
of section 22 of ECA to a Trust to construct a filling station on
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a property.
Importance of Sect 24-Environmental
Right & NEMA Principles
Facts cont…
The RoD noted that the property had been rezoned and that all
identified and perceived impacts were satisfactorily dealt with in the
scoping report.
Fuel Retailers challenged the decision mainly on the ground that
the need, desirability and sustainability of the proposed filling
station had not been considered, a matter which they were
obliged to consider.
The Dept contended that the need and desirability were considered by
the local authority when it decided the rezoning, therefore it did not
have to reassess these considerations.
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Case law cont...
• The Pretoria High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal
agreed with the Dept. Fuel Retailers referred the matter to
the CC.
Arguments at the CC:
 Fuel Retailers argued that the environmental authorities
themselves were obliged to consider the socio-economic impact
of constructing the proposed filling station & relied on sec
24(b)(iii) of the Constitution and sections 2(4)(a), 2(3), 2(4)(g),
2(4)(i) of NEMA.
 Dept argued that rezoning forms part and parcel of the
process of an application for authorization in terms of sec 22
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of ECA.
Case law cont...
 Fuel Retailers argued that the two processes are distinct and
separate: the local authority considers an application for rezoning
from a town planning perspective and environmental authorities are
required to consider the impact of the proposed development on the
environment and socio-economic conditions.
CC Decision:
 The CC concluded that the Constitution & environmental legislation
introduce a new criterion for considering future developments. Pure
economic factors are no longer decisive.
 The need for development must now be determined by its impact on
the environment, sustainable development and social and economic
interests.
 The duty of environmental authorities is to integrate these factors
into decision making and make decisions that are informed by these
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considerations.
Case law cont...
CC Decision...
 The environmental authorities left the consideration of
the vital aspect of their environmental obligation
imposed by NEMA entirely to the local authority and
this is not the proper discharge of their statutory duty.
 This amounts to unlawful delegation of their duties to
the local authority and this they cannot do.
 NEMA specifically enjoins the environmental authorities
to consider, assess and evaluate the social and economic
impact of the proposed filling station and thereafter to
make a decision that is appropriate in the light of such
assessment.
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Way forward
• Adoption of international treaties and conventions:
Process of section 231 of the Constitution – Signing/Ratification
and adoption into legislation to be enforceable in SA;
• Adoption of ‘best practice’ documents/processes:
These may be built into our legislative framework through
Regulations to give them legal effect and status;
• Change of mindsets to appreciate the environmental
direction undertaken by the Govt.
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Questions ??
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