Environmental Planning and Protection(Spot Fines) Regulations, 2024 (S.I. No. 78 of 2024)

EXTRAORDINARY OFFICIAL GAZETTE THE BAHAMAS PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY NASSAU 20th September, 2024 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION (SPOT FINES) REGULATIONS, 2024 Arrangement of Regulations Regulation 1. Citation................................................................................................................2 2. Spot fines.............................................................................................................2 3. Notice...................................................................................................................2 SCHEDULE 3 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION (SPOT FINES) REGULATIONS, 2024 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION ACT, 2019 (NO. 40 OF 2019) ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION (SPOT FINES) REGULATIONS, 2024 The Minister in exercise of the powers conferred by section 65 of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019, makes the following Regulations — 1. Citation. These Regulations may be cited as the Environmental Planning and Protection (Spot Fines) Regulations, 2024. 2. Spot fines. The fines payable for spot fine offenses are set out in Part I of the Schedule. 3. Notice. The notice pursuant to section 60A of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 shall be in the Form as set out in Part II of the Schedule. Page - 2 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION (SPOT FINES) REGULATIONS, 2024 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION ACT, 2019 (NO. 40 OF 2019) ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION (SPOT FINES) REGULATIONS, 2024 The Minister in exercise of the powers conferred by section 65 of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019, makes the following Regulations — 1. Citation. These Regulations may be cited as the Environmental Planning and Protection (Spot Fines) Regulations, 2024. 2. Spot fines. The fines payable for spot fine offenses are set out in Part I of the Schedule. 3. Notice. The notice pursuant to section 60A of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 shall be in the Form as set out in Part II of the Schedule. Page - 2 MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES S.I. No. 78 of 2024 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION (SPOT FINES) REGULATIONS, 2024 SCHEDULE (regulation 2) PART I SPOT FINES OFFENCE LAW FINE $ 1. Commencing project works without approval of Certificate of Environmental Clearance Section 11(2) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 10,000 2. Damage to coral reefs Section 20(1) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 20,000 3. Non-compliance with Notice of Non-Protected Wildlife Section (1)(2) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 20,000 4. Non-compliance with Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Species Order Section 23(3) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 20,000 5. Non-compliance with Closed Area Order Section 24(3) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 10,000 6. Non-compliance with Pollution Control Permit Section 26(1) of the Environmental 20,000 Page - 3 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION (SPOT FINES) REGULATIONS, 2024 Planning and Protection Act, 2019 7. Discharge of hazardous substance into Bahamian waters Section 30(2) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 20,000 8. Falsifying or Misleading Information Sections 27, 30(c) and 33 of the Biological and Traditional Knowledge Act, 2021 10,000 9. Breach of Scientific Research Permit Section 41(3) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 Section 23(1) and 25 of the Biological and Traditional Knowledge Act, 2021 15,000 10. Conducting research without Scientific Research Permit Section 41(2) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 Section 26 of the Biological and Traditional Knowledge Act, 2021 20,000 11. Damage to environment and death or harm to persons Section 55(1) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 20,000 Page - 4 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION (SPOT FINES) REGULATIONS, 2024 Section 35(1) of the Biological and Traditional Knowledge Act, 2021 12. Discharge to water resource Section 56(1) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 20,000 13. Obstruction of environmental officers Section 58(a) and (b) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 5,000 14. Unauthorized use of single use plastic bags and utensils, and Styrofoam food containers Section 7(3) of the Environmental Protection (Control of Plastic Pollution) Act, 2019 1,000 15. Assaults, etc. of environmental officer in the execution of his duty Section 10(3) of the Environmental Protection (Control of Plastic Pollution) Act, 2019 Section 58 of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 5,000 16. Unlawful possession of biological resources Section 28 of the Biological and Traditional Knowledge Act, 2021 20,000 Page - 5ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION (SPOT FINES) REGULATIONS, 2024 Section 35(1) of the Biological and Traditional Knowledge Act, 2021 12.Discharge to water resourceSection 56(1) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 20,000 13.Obstruction of environmental officersSection 58(a) and (b) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 5,000 14.Unauthorized use of single use plastic bags and utensils, and Styrofoam food containers Section 7(3) of the Environmental Protection (Control of Plastic Pollution) Act, 2019 1,000 15.Assaults, etc. of environmental officer in the execution of his duty Section 10(3) of the Environmental Protection (Control of Plastic Pollution) Act, 2019 Section 58 of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 5,000 16.Unlawful possession of biological resourcesSection 28 of the Biological and Traditional Knowledge Act, 2021 20,000 Page - 5 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION (SPOT FINES) REGULATIONS, 2024 17. Unlawful export or transfer of biological resources Section 29 of the Biological and Traditional Knowledge Act, 2021 15,000 18. Failure to comply with any of the conditions specified in a permit Section 26 of the Biological and Traditional Knowledge Act, 2021 15,000 19. Failure to comply with any of the conditions specified in a certificate of environmental clearance Section 11(3) of the Environmental Planning and Protection Act, 2019 20,000 20. Solicitation of unauthorized confidential information Section 35(1) of the Biological and Traditional Knowledge Act, 2021 20,000 Note: The description of an offence in the first column of this Schedule is only intended as an indication in general terms of the nature of the offence and is not to be construed in any way as altering or qualifying the provisions of the relevant Regulations or sections of the statute. Page - 6 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION (SPOT FINES) REGULATIONS, 2024 PART II FORM OF NOTICE NOTICE OFFERING WAIVER OF APPEARANCE BEFORE MAGISTRATE AND OF NO EVIDENCE OF THE COMMISSION OF OFFENCE BEING AVAILABLE TO: (Offender) ….............................................................................................. of …....................................................................................................................... Licence No …........................................................................................................ Vessel Registration No. …..................................................................................... Registered Owner's Name …................................................................................. Take Notice that I, ….......................................................................................... …. (rank and name of officer) have reason to believe that the offence of ….......................................................... (name offence and give particulars) has been committed by you …............................................................................... You may waive your obligation to appear before the Magistrate and have no conviction for the offence recorded if you sign this notice in the appropriate place below admitting guilt of the offence and returning the signed notice together with the fixed penalty of $...................... before the …........................ day of …..................................... 20.......... to the clerk of the Magistrate's Court # ….... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . situated at ….............................................................................. Failure to return the signed notice together with the above sum in payment of the fixed penalty in the manner and within the time specified above will result in your trial for the above offence before the Magistrate of the aforementioned Magistrate's Court at …........................... o'clock in the morning of …......................20....... and for which trial you are hereby requested to attend before that Magistrate at that time. …........................................... Signature of Officer I admit to the above offence and make the payment of the sum of $ …................. …........................................... Signature of Offender Made this day of , 2024. Minister responsible for the Environment Page - 7 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND PROTECTION (SPOT FINES) REGULATIONS, 2024 PART II FORM OF NOTICE NOTICE OFFERING WAIVER OF APPEARANCE BEFORE MAGISTRATE AND OF NO EVIDENCE OF THE COMMISSION OF OFFENCE BEING AVAILABLE TO: (Offender) ….............................................................................................. of …....................................................................................................................... Licence No …........................................................................................................ Vessel Registration No. …..................................................................................... Registered Owner's Name …................................................................................. Take Notice that I, ….......................................................................................... …. (rank and name of officer) have reason to believe that the offence of ….......................................................... (name offence and give particulars) has been committed by you …............................................................................... You may waive your obligation to appear before the Magistrate and have no conviction for the offence recorded if you sign this notice in the appropriate place below admitting guilt of the offence and returning the signed notice together with the fixed penalty of $...................... before the …........................ day of …..................................... 20.......... to the clerk of the Magistrate's Court # ….... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . situated at ….............................................................................. Failure to return the signed notice together with the above sum in payment of the fixed penalty in the manner and within the time specified above will result in your trial for the above offence before the Magistrate of the aforementioned Magistrate's Court at …........................... o'clock in the morning of …......................20....... and for which trial you are hereby requested to attend before that Magistrate at that time. …........................................... Signature of Officer I admit to the above offence and make the payment of the sum of $ …................. …........................................... Signature of Offender Made this day of , 2024. Minister responsible for the Environment Page - 7 Made this 20th day of September, 2024. Signed VAUGHN MILLER Minister responsible for the Environment