The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) has suspended the operational activities of the Roads & General Contracting Projects Company (RAPCO) for breaching environmental laws and regulations.

EAD’s decision to suspend the company came after the company began its operations without obtaining the necessary prior authorization and without notifying the Agency. The decision was issued based on the Federal Law No. (24) of 1999 for the Protection and Development of the Environment. This federal law aims to control all forms of pollution and was issued to avoid any immediate or long-term harmful effects resulting from planning for economic, agricultural or industrial development.

Operational activities for this company will be allowed to resume only if environmental requirements are met, practices and procedures are followed and appropriately enforced to ensure the safety of the environment and the public’s health.

Among other irregularities committed by the company was the non-renewal of environmental licenses, in addition to the lack of access to the necessary approvals by the relevant authorities. The company was also operating its plant without installing the necessary air vacuums and without controlling the harmful emissions. This resulted in the emergence of dense clouds of smoke in Al Mafraq Industrial Area, causing damage to public health, in violation of Articles No. (2) and No. (4) of Cabinet Resolution No (12) of 2006 concerning air pollution.

EAD had previously communicated with the company more than once during the periodic inspections undertaken by the Agency. During these many communications, EAD reiterated to the company the need to inform the Agency when it began its operations and the need to provide the Agency with the necessary environmental studies. Providing this information to the Agency would help to determine the risks resulting from this kind of industry, with the aim of reducing its impacts on public health.

According to Article No. (4) of Federal Law No. (24) of 1999, "no project or establishment shall start the activity before obtaining the license aforementioned in the previous article including environmental impact assessment." Moreover, Article No. (14) of Law No. (16) of 2005 pertaining to the reorganization of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi states that “it shall be prohibited for any establishment or any individual to carry out any activity that could negatively affect the lives of human beings and the safety of the environment before obtaining a license from the Agency."

 

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