{ "id": "norm-31201", "citation": "Resolución 134", "section": "norms", "doc_type": "resolution", "title_es": "Resolución 134 — Metodología para Viabilidad Ambiental de Obras Públicas Exentas de EIA", "title_en": "Resolution 134 — Methodology for Environmental Feasibility of Public Works Exempt from EIA", "summary_es": "Esta resolución de la Secretaría Técnica Nacional Ambiental (SETENA), emitida en el año 2000, establece una metodología específica para que las dependencias públicas evalúen la viabilidad ambiental de sus proyectos de obra pública cuando estos no están sujetos al proceso de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental (EIA). La resolución surge en el contexto de que, conforme a la legislación, muchas obras públicas requieren únicamente un pronunciamiento de viabilidad ambiental, pero no una EIA completa. Para ello, se crea un procedimiento simplificado mediante un formulario denominado 'Evalución Ambiental Inicial' (EAI), que debe ser completado por el consultor responsable del proyecto, y se establecen los montos económicos a partir de los cuales se exige este requisito. La resolución detalla el contenido del formulario EAI, que incluye la descripción del proyecto, el consumo de recursos, las emisiones y un análisis de concordancia con el Plan de Desarrollo Urbano. Asimismo, establece que la EAI debe ser presentada junto con los planos constructivos al solicitar los permisos municipales, y que las municipalidades y otras instituciones públicas solo podrán recibir y tramitar solicitudes de permisos de construcción si se ha adjuntado el formulario EAI. Con ello, la SETENA busca asegurar que las obras públicas financiadas con fondos estatales cumplan con parámetros de sostenibilidad ambiental, incluso cuando no requieren un estudio de impacto ambiental detallado.", "summary_en": "This resolution of the National Environmental Technical Secretariat (SETENA), issued in 2000, establishes a specific methodology for public agencies to evaluate the environmental feasibility of their public works projects when these are not subject to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. The regulation arises because many public works require only a pronouncement of environmental feasibility, not a full EIA. It introduces a simplified procedure using a form called 'Initial Environmental Evaluation' (EAI), to be completed by the project's responsible consultant, and sets monetary thresholds above which this requirement applies. The resolution details the EAI form content, including project description, resource consumption, emissions, and a compatibility analysis with the Urban Development Plan. It also mandates that the EAI must be submitted with construction plans when applying for municipal permits, and that municipalities and other public institutions may only receive and process construction permit applications if the EAI form is attached. Through this, SETENA aims to ensure that publicly funded works meet environmental sustainability parameters, even without a full EIA.", "court_or_agency": "", "date": "04/05/2000", "year": "2000", "topic_ids": [ "procedural-environmental", "environmental-law-7554" ], "primary_topic_id": "procedural-environmental", "es_concept_hints": [ "viabilidad ambiental", "Evaluación Ambiental Inicial (EAI)", "SETENA", "obra pública", "exención de EIA", "contratación directa", "permisos municipales", "Plan de Desarrollo Urbano" ], "concept_anchors": [], "keywords_es": [ "viabilidad ambiental", "obra pública", "SETENA", "evaluación ambiental inicial", "EAI", "impacto ambiental", "exención de EIA", "metodología de evaluación", "contratación directa", "permisos municipales", "desarrollo urbano", "infraestructura", "formulario ambiental", "gestión ambiental", "control ambiental", "licencias municipales", "fiscalización ambiental", "proyectos públicos", "costo de obra", "planos constructivos" ], "keywords_en": [ "environmental feasibility", "public works", "SETENA", "initial environmental evaluation", "EAI", "environmental impact", "EIA exemption", "assessment methodology", "direct contracting", "municipal permits", "urban development", "infrastructure", "environmental form", "environmental management", "environmental control", "municipal licenses", "environmental oversight", "public projects", "work cost", "construction plans" ], "excerpt_es": "ARTÍCULO 1. Establecer la metodología para la evaluación de la viabilidad ambiental de las obras de infraestructura pública que no requieren la presentación de una evaluación de impacto ambiental. Se aplicará el formulario Evaluación Ambiental Inicial (EAI) que estará disponible en las oficinas de SETENA y en las municipalidades. \n\nARTÍCULO 2. El propietario o el profesional responsable del proyecto deberá presentar el formulario EAI completamente lleno y firmado, adjunto a los planos constructivos, ante la municipalidad respectiva, con copia a la SETENA. \n\nARTÍCULO 3. Para los efectos de esta resolución, se entenderá por obra pública de infraestructura con costo inferior al monto establecido por la Contraloría General de la República para contratación directa, aquella que no alcanza el límite económico establecido por la Contraloría. En estos casos, se exime de la presentación del EAI.", "excerpt_en": "ARTICLE 1. Establish the methodology for evaluating the environmental feasibility of public infrastructure works that do not require the submission of an environmental impact assessment. The Initial Environmental Evaluation (EAI) form shall be used, which will be available at SETENA offices and in municipalities. \n\nARTICLE 2. The owner or the responsible professional of the project shall submit the EAI form completely filled out and signed, attached to the construction plans, to the respective municipality, with a copy to SETENA. \n\nARTICLE 3. For the purposes of this resolution, a public infrastructure work with a cost lower than the amount established by the Comptroller General of the Republic for direct contracting shall be understood as one that does not reach the economic limit set by the Comptroller. In these cases, the submission of the EAI is exempted.", "outcome": { "label_en": "Methodology established", "label_es": "Metodología establecida", "summary_en": "The resolution establishes the Initial Environmental Evaluation (EAI) methodology for public works not requiring an EIA, defining the form, cost thresholds, and the obligation to submit it to municipalities as a prerequisite for construction permits.", "summary_es": "La resolución establece la metodología de Evaluación Ambiental Inicial (EAI) para obras públicas que no requieren EIA, definiendo el formulario, los umbrales de costo y la obligación de presentarlo ante municipalidades como requisito para permisos de construcción." }, "pull_quotes": [ { "context": "Parte Dispositiva", "quote_en": "ARTICLE 1. Establish the methodology for evaluating the environmental feasibility of public infrastructure works that do not require the submission of an environmental impact assessment.", "quote_es": "ARTÍCULO 1. Establecer la metodología para la evaluación de la viabilidad ambiental de las obras de infraestructura pública que no requieren la presentación de una evaluación de impacto ambiental." }, { "context": "Exención por monto", "quote_en": "ARTICLE 3. ...the submission of the EAI is exempted.", "quote_es": "ARTÍCULO 3. ...se exime de la presentación del EAI." } ], "cites": [], "cited_by": [], "references": { "internal": [], "external": [] }, "source_url": "https://pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?param1=NRTC&nValor1=1&nValor2=31201&strTipM=TC&nValor3=0", "tier": 2, "_editorial_citation_count": 0, "regulations_by_article": null, "amendments_by_article": null, "dictamen_by_article": null, "concordancias_by_article": null, "afectaciones_by_article": null, "resoluciones_by_article": null, "cited_by_votos": [], "cited_norms": [], "cited_norms_inverted": [], "sentencias_relacionadas": [], "temas_y_subtemas": [], "cascade_only": false, "amendment_count": 0, "body_es_text": "", "body_en_text": "Nº 134\n\nENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIC LAW\n\nLAW Nº 7554\n\nTHE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF COSTA RICA\n\nDECREES:\n\nENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIC LAW\n\nTITLE I\n\nGENERAL PROVISIONS\n\nCHAPTER I\n\nSole Chapter\n\nArticle 1.- Objectives\n\nThe objective of this law is to provide the State and the citizens with the necessary instruments to achieve an environment that is healthy and ecologically balanced. The State, through its institutions, authorities, and officials, is the guarantor of the defense and preservation of the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources, and has the primary obligation to prevent and, where appropriate, sanction environmental contamination.\n\nArticle 2.- Principles\n\na) The environment is a common heritage, belonging to one and all; its protection and the improvement, conservation, and restoration of both human and natural heritage are the joint and several (mancomunada) responsibility of the State, local governments, and each inhabitant of the country.\n\nb) The sustainable use of the elements of environmental heritage, as well as the prevention of its deterioration, degradation, or destruction, are matters of social interest and public utility.\n\nc) Whoever pollutes the environment or causes it damage shall be responsible for repairing the harm caused, restoring the damaged element, and financially compensating, as provided by law, for any losses and damages that cannot be repaired or restored.\n\nd) The prevention, precaution, and citizen participation are the fundamental elements for the achievement of collective objectives concerning the environment.\n\ne) The actions of the Public Administration shall be guided by the principle of strict and explicit subjection to the law, and motivated by objective environmental protection interests, including the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, among others.\n\nf) The environmental variable shall be timely considered, by way of an environmental impact assessment (evaluación de impacto ambiental), in all activities of the Public Administration, as well as in the execution and approval of plans and programs.\n\ng) This law does not exempt from compliance with other laws and regulations referring to matters regulated and related to the defense, conservation, improvement, and restoration of the environment.\n\nh) The harmonization of the environmental variable with actions related to productive, economic, social, and cultural activities of the population is a priority.\n\ni) The basic guidelines of an Integrated Coastal Zone Management policy shall be promoted.\n\nj) The public environmental management processes shall be based on the best scientific and technical information available nationally and internationally. This principle shall also be applicable to private forms of environmental management.\n\nTITLE II\n\nPARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS\n\nCHAPTER I\n\nRights and Guarantees\n\nArticle 3.- Citizen participation\n\nEvery person has the right to participate in the definition and application of policies, legal instruments, plans, and programs regarding environmental matters.\n\nThe State shall promote and facilitate the integration of groups and organizations in environmental management processes, as established by the law and its regulations.\n\nArticle 4.- Right to information\n\nEvery person has the right to timely information, from the Public Administration, on the policies, plans, and programs related to environmental heritage.\n\nTo make this right effective, the State shall maintain updated records of environmental interest, carry out environmental education programs and projects, support environmental citizen organizations, and provide them with financial participation resources according to its possibilities.\n\nArticle 5.- Access to environmental justice\n\nAny person may file environmental complaints and reports with the authorities, and the appropriate bodies shall have the obligation to substantiate them.\n\nTITLE III\n\nENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT\n\nCHAPTER I\n\nEnvironmental Impact Assessment\n\nArticle 6.- Environmental impact assessment\n\nHuman activities that, by their very nature, alter or destroy elements of the environment or generate waste, toxic, or hazardous materials, shall be subject to an environmental impact assessment, for which the competent bodies shall be the responsible entities in accordance with current legislation.\n\nThe environmental impact assessment shall constitute the authorized preventive instrument for the rational administration of resources and shall be approved by the corresponding body, before the activity, work, or project in question is initiated. The legislation of the corresponding bodies shall regulate the phase of public participation in the environmental impact assessment process.\n\nCompetent bodies shall be understood to mean the Secretariats, Ministries, and other State bodies, which by law have assigned powers to grant environmental viability for specific activities. In the case of activities not assigned to specific bodies, the environmental impact assessment shall correspond to SETENA, in accordance with the procedure established by the applicable regulations. The implementing regulations shall define the bodies that must carry out the evaluation.\n\nArticle 7.- Cases requiring an environmental impact assessment\n\nTo decide the environmental viability of an activity, work, or project, an environmental impact assessment must be carried out as a prior and essential requirement.\n\nThose activities, works, or projects that require carrying out an environmental impact assessment, and the corresponding criteria and procedures for their evaluation, shall be defined by the implementing regulations, which shall include a graduated list according to the magnitude of their possible impacts and the nature of the activity, in accordance with the guidelines established by this law and by other relevant legal provisions in this field.\n\nArticle 8.- Environmental Management Document\n\nFor environmental management purposes, the document that evaluates the possible environmental impacts of an activity, work, or project is called the Environmental Management Document (Documento de Gestión Ambiental, DGA). The DGA will be called, depending on the level of detail and depth of the studies required, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) study, environmental viability (viabilidad ambiental) document, or others, as established by the implementing regulations.\n\nArticle 9.- Environmental Management Document content\n\nThe Environmental Management Document shall include a description of the physical environment, the land, the ecological limits of the areas and sites in which the activity, work, or project is to be carried out; a technical description of the same; the design, formulation of personnel and control measures, and contingency and emergency plans; and a forecast of the impacts, direct or indirect, that the execution of the activity, work, or project will have on the environmental heritage and the actions proposed to minimize them. It shall also include the analysis of the sites where the works and activities will be located and the justification for the alternative selected.\n\nThe implementing regulations shall detail the scope of these documents.\n\nArticle 10.- Binding recommendation\n\nThe recommendation resulting from the environmental impact assessment shall be binding for the competent bodies to grant the respective authorization. The laws referred to in Article 6 of this title shall determine the nature of the body that must render a final decision on the environmental viability and whether the recommendation is binding.\n\nArticle 11.- Application to the environmental impact assessment regulations\n\nThe implementing regulations shall develop the provisions of this title, and the competent bodies shall issue the complementary internal provisions as necessary to fulfill the purposes of this law.\n\nArticle 12.- Exemption from payment\n\nAny person who files a complaint, an appeal, or who participates, in any capacity, in a proceeding that protects environmental heritage shall be exempt from payment of all kinds. Any person who, in defense of the environment, assumes the status of a party and requires legal assistance, shall be entitled to free legal aid." }