An inspiration to pollution permitting system implementation in China from the United States’ stationary source supervisory mechanism

Based on an analysis of the development of pollution permitting system in China, the development charaterisitics of the permitting system and the reasons of lacking supervision and inspection were summarized. In America, US EPA issued Clean Air Act Stationary Source Compliance Monitoring Strategy (CAA CMS) in 1991 to ensure that the regulated facilities across the country are evaluated for compliance on a regular basis. The revised history, main contents, organization and guaranteeing systems, and supervision instruments of CAA CMS and the environmental benefits were analysed. Drawing on the experiences of CAA CMS, the compliance-monitoring framework in China for implementing pollution permitting system was put forward. The compliance-monitoring framework consists of central government departments, provinces/locals and enterprises. The central government departments are responsible for developing and issuing a series of rules and regulations. The provinces/locals establish and implement compliance-monitoring plans in accordance with requirements of national policies, and focus resources on those facilities that are most environmentally significant, and they are under supervision and surveillance of the superior departments and the public. The provinces/locals shall conduct inspections and evaluations of enterprises in enhancing implementation of pollution permitting system based on compliance assistance, and increase penalties of polluting enterprises. In addition to the punishment to the enterprises, it is also necessary to pursue managers the enterprises for a criminal violation.