The Department of the Environment (DOE) hereby reminds effluent generators (companies producing effluent) that the License to Discharge Effluent expires March 31st every year. A valid license to discharge effluent is required to comply with the Environmental Protection (Effluent Limitations) Regulations. These regulations establish that “it is illegal to dispose of effluent (wastewater) without a license or written permission from the DOE.”

DOE advises companies to apply for renewal of their license well in advance of its expiration. A copy of the completed application, proof of payment along with progress report should be submitted to the DOE for processing of the license. The progress report should include:

1. A GPS coordinate for all the discharge point(s), and the volume of effluent for 2021 from the waste system at each location.
2. All analytical results of effluent monitoring (sampling) taken throughout the year 2021 as required by the License to Discharge Effluent.
3. Any modification, new technology, new disposal methods, etc. that the company has implemented during the past year.
4. Modification that the company proposes to make during 2022/2023 in order to improve the present wastewater management system.

Given the safeguard measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the application and licensing process has been integrated into the DOE’s Online Permits Application and Licensing System (OPAL). Therefore, effluent generators are now required to submit their application using the OPAL website (https://opal.doe.gov.bz/). The DOE is planning an online session on February 10, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. to explain the new procedures and requirements.

Payment of the application fee can be made at the Government of Belize Treasury or any District Sub-Treasury to account number: 23328/11718/120/15 or may be done online using the following information.

Name of Account: GOB-Belmopan Sub-Treasury
Name of Bank: Heritage Bank
Account Number: 1068623

Or

Name of Account: Government of Belize
Name of Bank: Belize Bank
Account Number: 129907010120001

For more information, contact the Chief Environmental Officer at [email protected] and/or [email protected] or visit the website at www.doe.gov.bz

RENEWAL OF EFFLUENT LICENSE - RESCHEDULING OF ONLINE TRAINING SESSION

Belmopan, Belize. February 9, 2022. The Department of the Environment (DOE) hereby informs effluent generators that the training session on the Online Permits Application and Licencing System (OPAL) to explain the new procedures and requirements is being postponed. This postponement has become necessary to ensure greater participation from effluent generators.

The online training session is now schedule for February 18, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. The DOE urges all effluent generators to continue to confirm their participation and apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.

For more information, feel free to contact the Chief Environmental Officer at [email protected] and/or [email protected] or visit the website at www.doe.gov.bz.