The Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr Edna Molewa has appointed the Environmental Assessment Practitioner Association of South Africa (EAPASA) as the sole registration ...

The Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr Edna Molewa has appointed the Environmental Assessment Practitioner Association of South Africa (EAPASA) as the sole registration authority in terms of Section 24H of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) for a period of five years, effective from 08 February 2018.

This appointment effectively means that in order to practice as an EAP, all Environmental Authorisation Practitioners (EAP) must be registered with EAPASA effective 24 months from the date of the appointment of EAPASA.  An Environmental Authorisation Practitioner is an individual responsible for the planning, management, coordination or review of environmental impact assessments, strategic environmental assessments, environmental management programmes or any other appropriate environmental instruments introduced through regulations.

Minister Molewa is convinced that EAPASA will completely execute the Section 24H Registration Authority Regulations, 2016, in order to ensure consistency in the application of standards across all the professions involved in this field, and throughout the country.

The EAPASA has determined and recommended fees for the application for registration and renewal of registration, for the lodging of appeals and annual fees for registered candidates and registered EAPs.  These fees are currently under consideration and will be published in the Gazette, once approved.

What is EAPASA

The Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA) was established in 2012.  It exists to promote, on a non-profit basis, the advancement of the practice and quality of environmental assessment in South Africa in the public interest, in the interest of the environment and in terms of relevant legislation. EAPASA is a Registration Authority which registers Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs) based on the set of core competencies under the Section 24H Registration Authority Regulations of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), Act 107 of 1998, as amended.

EAPASA's

The Vision and Mission of EAPASA is to promote public interest through the improvement of the quality of environmental assessment practice in South Africa. This is undertaken by establishing, promoting, and maintaining the registration of Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs) in South Africa in terms of Section 24H of the National Environmental Management Act (107 of 1998). The above has been achieved by making EAPASA a Registration Authority which ensures a regulated, consistent, and improved standard of environmental impact assessment in South Africa.

EAPASA's Objectives

1) To provide relevant authorities, development proponents & the public in general with quality assurance regarding EAPs by:

• Establishing criteria (education, professional experience, competency and continued professional development requirements) and procedures for registration and sanction of EAPs
• Upholding a defined Code of Ethical Conduct and Practice and acting in the best interest of the environment, sustainable development and the public good
• Establishing disciplinary procedures and sanction mechanisms

2) To promote continued professional development for EAPs in South Africa;

3) To promote the transformation of EA practice through the empowerment of black and female professionals; and

4) To promote awareness of the purpose and practice of environmental assessment in South Africa.

To find out more details and registration: https://eapasa.org/about-us/