Environmental Inspection Training in Vietnam Le Quoc Trung Chief Inspector Department of Inspectorate Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment

Basis for Establishing the Environmental Inspection Training Program in Vietnam Environment Protection Law approved on November 29, 2005 is the highest Art. to regulate systematically environmental protection relating activities; to regulate clearly environmental protection responsibilities; and to be able to apply a variety of strong legal tools, methods and “strictly” sanction Decree No. 81/2006/ND-CP of Vietnam’s Government on Administration Sanction of Environmental Violation

Basis for Establishing the Environmental Inspection Training Program in Vietnam Decision No. 64/2003/QD-TTg signed on Apr 22, 2003 by the Prime Minister on the approval of the plan to thoroughly handle serious pollution-causing facilities Goal: current 4,295 seriously pollution-causing facilities and new occurred facilities will be handled thoroughly by MoNRE is responsible for supervision, checking, conducting inspections, and enforcement to implement the plan Challenge- lack of skilled inspectors Annual specialized inspection training program of MoNRE

Objectives of Environmental Inspection Training Program To build well-trained and skilled environmental inspection staff to: Handle immediate requirements Improve the quality and quantity of environmental inspection Train inspectors through a train-the-trainer (ToT) program

Environmental Inspection Training Course in 2006 Conducted by U.S. EPA, supported by AECEN in Hanoi, December participants including key inspectors and leaders from MoNRE and 16 DoNREs First course specializing in environmental inspection ever conducted in Vietnam New environmental inspection methods and procedures were introduced Led to further cooperation with AECEN:  Conducting intensive courses on environmental inspection throughout Vietnam in 2007  Developing a technical handbook as a reference document for all inspectors

Environmental Inspection Training Course in 2007 Course Objectives  To give inspectorate staff the required tools to comply with environmental protection regulations  To implement the plan mentioned in Decision No. 64  To further AECEN’s objective to promote environmental compliance and enforcement via exchange and sharing policies and best practices

Environmental Inspection Training Course in 2007 Training Approach  More innovative training method and approach: two- way communication, ToT, onsite visits  Facilitated regional counterpart exchange with assistance from AECEN  3-day training courses in 3 cities (Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong) with certain topics  Course contents: new Environment Protection Law and its legal documents; Decree No.12; Inspection Procedures & Steps; 6 Specialized Inspection Topics

Environmental Inspection Training Course in 2007 Training Approach (cont.)  Topics of inspection in 6 industrial sectors: Food processing, Breweries; Textile and Dying; Industrial Zone; Cement Plants and Mineral Exploitation Areas  Experience and best practices shared by experts from Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan  Performed model inspections and led group discussions  Output of the training provides a basis for establishing “the Environmental Inspector’s Handbook” next year

The Environmental Inspection Training Course in 2007 Attendance  Highest number of participants ever for MoNRE training  235 staff (179 males and 56 females) from MoNRE and 64 DoNREs throughout the country  8 Directors of DoNREs  60 Heads of Provincial Inspectorate  Trainers: PhD, MSc, Senior Officials of Central Environment Management Agencies, and Regional Experts

Environmental Inspection Training Course in 2007 Trainer from MoNRE’s Inspectorate Trainees working in groups

Environmental Inspection Training Course in 2007 Training Course in Can Tho Dr. Dang Van Loi, VEPA

Environmental Inspection Training Course in 2007 Post-course Activities  Gathered and consolidated training materials, evaluations and participants’ feedback  Developed outline of “the Environmental Inspector’s Handbook”

Next Steps in 2008 Develop and disseminate “the Environmental Inspector’s Handbook” with partial support from AECEN:  Procedures for inspectors throughout Vietnam  A method to review the current legal documents and request for revision if necessary Participate in technical exchange program with other countries in the region Conduct ToT course for provincial inspectors

Thank you for your attention!