Thailand PCD’s 3-Years Action Plan (part 1)

In Thailand, Royal Decree on Good Governance and Administrative Procedures (No. 2) B.E. 2562, required all government agencies to prepare its own action plan. By establishing a five-year plan which must be compatible with National Strategy, Master Plans under National Strategy, Country Reform Plan, National Economic and Social Development Plan and Policy of the current Cabinet. At the beginning, the government agency action plan shall be made into a three-year plan for a period from the budget year 2020 to 2022. Hence, Pollution Control Department (PCD), Thailand has published its 3-year action plan (2020 – 2022) which will be used as an instrument to drive the national strategy into action, to set the direction of the organization’s mission, and to serve as mutual agreement within the organization.

The target of the plan is to solve pollution problems and maintain environmental quality. The plan also has a vision that is “Protect the Environment, Control Pollution, to Ensure that Environmental Quality is within the Standards by 2026” and can be grouped in to 6 main sections, namely

1. Air Quality and Noise Management Action Plan
2. Water Quality Management Action Plan
3. Waste and Domestic Hazardous Waste Management Action Plan
4. Environmentally Friendly Production and Consumption Action Plan
5. Increasing Efficiency of Pollution Management Action Plan and
6. Organization Management Action Plan.

Each of section can be summarized below.

(1)  Air Quality and Noise Management Action Plan:

With main target on “Air quality meets the specified target” in 4 main critical areas (Bangkok, Saraburi province, Rayong province, and 9 northern provinces). Main projects under the action plan are:

1. To establishment of effective management guidelines and operations to reduce air and noise pollution in critical areas
2. To establishment of measures to manage and prevent air and noise pollution to reduce air and noise emission from sources
3. To review, improve and set up new ambient air quality, noise and vibration standards
4. To review, improve, and establish standards for the control of air pollution from sources, both in terms of concentration and loading
5. To determine carrying capacity of air pollution in critical/target Areas
6. To maintenance and improvement of air and noise quality measurement stations nationwide
7. To set up additional air quality monitoring stations
8. To monitor, predict and warning of air quality situations; and
9. To set up the format, mechanism and procedure for local government to monitor air quality in certain area and notify pollution control department.

(2) Water Quality Management Action Plan:

With main target on “Water quality of surface water and sea water are suitable for use” and objective is “The target area has been helped in managing water quality problems”. Main projects under action plan are:

1. To set up action plan to improve water quality according to the specified utilization types. Drive implementation with relevant government agencies
2. To support local government and wastewater management authority in construction and rehabilitation of wastewater treatment plant as appropriate for the local conditions and potential of the area, as well as maintenance of existing wastewater treatment plants
3. To encourage pollution sources to reduce water consumption and manage waste water to meet standards before being discharged into the environment
4. To encourage people to reduce water use and install standard wastewater treatment systems for households
5. To push relevant agencies to apply wastewater management standards as conditions for the approval of construction
6. To review, improve and establish water quality standards and standards for controlling water pollution, water quality standards in surface water, marine environment
7. To study and support on suitable methods for collecting water conservation fees which can be used for waste water management
8. To monitor water quality, sediment and aquatic animals in surface water, coastal water and offshore water throughout the country
9. To install, maintain, and improve water quality monitoring stations nationwide
10. To monitor and alert on water quality condition in order to solve emergency problems that affect surface and sea water quality
11. To define format, mechanism, and procedure for local government to monitor water quality in their area as well as report and alert
12. To determine carrying capacity of the target water resource
13. To determine Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) which is a pollution rate that is allowed to discharge to water resource. And specify the proportion of pollution each type of pollution sources can discharge as well as a method to control such loading; and
14. To use a “Permit System” as a system to control pollution loading allowed to discharge from each source.

(3) Waste and Domestic Hazardous Waste Management Action Plan:

With main target on “Hazardous waste and waste are handled correctly and does not affect the environment and public health” and objective is “Number of provinces that receive advice on waste and hazardous waste management”. Main projects under action plan are:

1. To coordinate with related local governments for proper management of community waste and hazardous waste in each area
2. To promote the consolidation of areas for waste management of local government and promote investment of private sector in waste and hazardous waste management
3. To establish criteria or technical guidelines for increasing the efficiency of pollution management from waste and hazardous waste disposal, including help on improvement / rehabilitation of waste disposal sites
4. To issue measures and drive community hazardous waste management measures, WEEE and used chemical packaging
5. To drive the implementation of the Plastic Waste Management Roadmap 2018-2030 and (Draft) Plastic Waste Management Action Plan 2018 – 2022 by promoting reduction of plastic waste according to the principles of recycle (Circular Economy) and control/restrict use of plastic products that are disposable (single-use plastic) to meet with target
6. To drive waste reduction and waste separation measures in government agencies including abolition of foam and reducing the use of single use plastic in government agencies
7. To participate in solving the problem of illegal dumping of hazardous waste and electronic waste
8. To study and research new waste and hazardous waste management system that might occur from the development of new technologies or certain types of products that are likely to cause problems in the future
9. To develop emission standards from waste disposal sites; and
10. To conduct monitoring of environmental impact from waste disposal sites.

(As to the remaining sections, we will continue our discussion on the “3-year plan of the pollution control department (part 2)” at a later date.)

An original text of “3-year action plan (2020 – 2022)” can be downloaded at the following URL:
http://infofile.pcd.go.th/mgt/Pcd_plan63-65.pdf

NOTE:
This article is my personal opinion and might not reflect my organization policy.