NEPA Ready To Assist With Renewal Of Beach Licences, Environmental Permits

The Applications Secretariat Branch of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) says its officers are ready to assist beach licence and environmental permit holders through the renewal process.

Holders of these licences and permits are required to renew them before March 31.

Manager of NEPA’s Applications Secretariat Branch, Miguel Nelson, said that the status of the operations and level of compliance with the conditions of the previous permits and licences are critical in the renewal process.

Addressing a recent JIS Think Tank, he said that although significant breaches and threats to the natural environment and resources would cause the agency to not renew, the first course of action is to get the business operator to remedy the breach.

“Primarily, the objective would be to get the person in compliance. So, we would want to, initially, proceed with the serving of administrative documents such as a site warning notice or a warning letter etc., to notify the person just in case they did not know. That way, they can make the necessary arrangements to come into compliance and have their permits renewed,” he noted.

Mr. Nelson said that NEPA is open to dialogue with permit and licence holders about challenges they may have with renewing their documents and paying the requisite fees.

“If there are issues or challenges, they can say that to us. If you are not sure of the process, feel free to contact us, and any of our customer service officers will be willing and happy to assist and provide guidance,” he pointed out.

The Natural Resources Conservation (Permits and Licences) (Amendment) Regulations, 2015 stipulates that any permit granted before April 1, 2015 expired on April 1, 2020, and the permit will need to be renewed by way of an application together with the prescribed fee.

Among the groups now obligated to renew their documents are first-time environmental permit holders who, prior to 2015, did not require one for operations, and permit holders who were granted permits for ongoing operations prior to April 1, 2015.

Beach licence and environmental permit holders can call NEPA at 876-754-7540 ext. 2102, email applications@nepa.gov.jm or visit the Applications Secretariat Branch at 10 Caledonia Avenue, Kingston 5 for assistance.