January 24, 2025
By Abdullah Rasheed, Abu Dhabi Editor
Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi (EAD) has temporarily halted operations at two industrial facilities and imposed a financial penalty on one of them for repeated violations of environmental regulations.
The violations, including failure to meet public health and environmental safety standards, prompted the agency’s action aimed at preserving the emirate’s quality of life.
The decision follows routine inspections, escalated enforcement actions, and reports from air quality monitoring stations. The reports revealed that the facilities’ emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exceeded permissible limits, leading to potential harm to both human health and the surrounding environment.
Failure to implement corrective measures
Eng. Faisal Al Hammadi, Executive Director of the Environmental Quality Sector at EAD, said that the agency’s primary role is to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations in Abu Dhabi. He noted that the agency’s decisions are based on periodic monitoring reports, on-site inspections, and public complaints.
Al Hammadi further explained that the two facilities violated several regulations, including neglecting to take necessary steps to reduce harmful emissions. Additionally, the facilities failed to inform the agency of technical changes to their operations, as required by their environmental licenses.
New guidelines
In addition to these enforcement actions, the Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi has introduced new regulations for assessing and managing soil pollution risks. These guidelines are designed to ensure proper evaluation and management of soil contamination and to establish corrective measures that promote sound environmental practices.
The new decision aligns with Law No. (16) of 2005, which empowers the agency to issue regulations aimed at combating pollution and safeguarding air, water, soil, and natural resources. The agency coordinated with relevant authorities to develop this decision, following Abu Dhabi’s established legislative framework.
The provisions of this decision apply to protected terrestrial areas, unused lands, and contaminated or potentially contaminated sites within the geographic scope of environmental licenses issued by the agency.
Risk assessment procedures
The new regulations outline procedures for assessing soil pollution risks at specific sites, in accordance with the environmental impact assessments required for projects seeking environmental licenses. It also details rehabilitation measures for contaminated sites, calling for the preparation and execution of corrective and environmental management plans based on both preliminary and detailed evaluations.
Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi, said that the decision is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the legislative framework for environmental preservation, including soil protection. These efforts aim to mitigate potential negative impacts from industrial, developmental, and tourism activities, ensuring a sustainable environment for future generations.
She added that the agency will implement these new regulations in collaboration with strategic partners, utilising systematic and organised procedures to achieve the decision’s goals effectively
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