Sewage charges standard adjustment area higher threshold

The National Development and Reform Commission announced on September 5 that China will adjust the levy charges. Before the end of June 2015, provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) will adjust the levy charge standards for NO x and NO x emissions to no less than 1.2 yuan per pollution equivalent, chemical oxygen demand, ammonia nitrogen, and lead in wastewater. The five major heavy metal discharge charges for mercury, chromium, cadmium and metal-like arsenic are not less than 1.4 yuan per pollution equivalent.

The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection jointly issued the "Circular on Adjusting the Levy Charges Standards and Other Related Issues." According to the notice, the state encourages key areas for pollution control and economically developed areas to establish levy standards that are higher than the above standards. All localities must establish a differential sewage charging mechanism, impose higher discharge standards on enterprises that discharge pollutants with excess emission limits or exceed-total emission targets, and enterprises that have been included in the elimination category; The collection standard.

The circular emphasized that all localities should gradually expand the scope of application of automatic monitoring data to verify sewage charges in accordance with the prescribed time and schedule, increase the collection rate, and ensure that sewage charges are fully collected. It is necessary to vigorously promote the government's purchase of services from third parties. The third party is responsible for the installation, operation and maintenance of pollution source automatic monitoring facilities to ensure that the monitoring data is true and accurate.

The notice requires that the price, finance, and environmental protection departments at all levels should, in accordance with their respective duties, strengthen the inspection of environmental law enforcement and the collection of sewage charges, and severely crack down on illegal activities such as stealing and stealing, illegally discharging toxic and hazardous pollutants, and improper use of pollution control facilities; Resolutely investigate and punish the failure to pay sewage charges or overdue payment, and impose penalties in accordance with relevant regulations. At the same time, we must do a good job in information disclosure, increase transparency in policy implementation, and actively accept social supervision.