A fuel spill during unloading, a tank leak, a fire in a chemical warehouse, or a failure of an emission control unit: an environmental incident happens in minutes, but how it is handled in the first hours determines the extent of the damage and of the liability. The Environment Law's implementing regulations require "immediate" notification in several places. This article brings together what the regulations say about environmental emergencies and reporting, the response steps and how to prepare before an incident happens.
What is an environmental emergency in the regulations?
The Environmental Permits Regulation and the Inspection and Audit Regulation define an environmental emergency as any operational incident within an activity or facility that threatens habitats or harms the environment. The test is the potential effect on the environment, not just the size of the incident.
When must you report immediately?
| Situation | Obligation | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Emergencies, start-ups or temporary shutdowns that may exceed emission standards | Notify NCEC immediately | Air Quality Regulation |
| Soil contamination detected within the facility's activity | Failing to notify immediately is prohibited | Soil Pollution Regulation |
| An incident during a rehabilitation or remediation plan | Notify NCEC as soon as it occurs | Rehabilitation Regulation |
| Emergencies or serious errors at a waste service provider | Notify MWAN and report causes, measures and effects | Waste Management Law |
What happens after the incident?
- Emergency inspection: one of the inspection types in the Inspection and Audit Regulation is inspection after environmental emergencies, to confirm that all corrective and precautionary measures were taken.
- A contaminated site remediation plan: the Rehabilitation Regulation requires one to be prepared and submitted to NCEC after any pollution incident during construction, operation or closure, and a rehabilitation plan to be prepared or updated after an incident that requires it.
- Liability and compensation: the polluter bears compensation under the polluter-pays principle and must remove the effects and rehabilitate the site.
First response: the order of steps
- People first: evacuate the area, protect workers and call Civil Defense in case of fire or danger to life.
- Stop the source: close the valve or stop the pump or process if it is safe to do so.
- Contain: keep the spill away from soil, drains and wadis using absorbents and barriers.
- Report: notify the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) of the environmental incident, and other authorities depending on its nature.
- Document: time, substance, estimated quantity, actions, photographs and the names of those who responded.
- Clean up and dispose: collect contaminated materials and affected soil and hand them to a licensed carrier as hazardous waste.
- Investigate: identify the root cause and a measure to prevent recurrence, and update the environmental management plan.
Preparing before an incident
- An environmental emergency plan within the environmental management plan, covering the likely scenarios at your facility and the response to each.
- Containment equipment ready at storage, unloading and filling areas.
- A named person responsible for reporting, with authority phone numbers posted on site.
- Regular training for workers on containment and reporting.
- Preventive maintenance of tanks, pipes and control systems; the Air Quality Regulation requires regular maintenance and precautions to prevent any leak or emission exceeding the standards.
Mistakes that make an incident worse
- Washing a spill with water into the drain or the street.
- Delaying reporting in the hope the incident goes unnoticed.
- Burying contaminated soil on site instead of handing it to a licensed carrier.
- No documentation, making it hard to prove a responsible response later.
Frequently Asked Questions about Environmental Incidents
What counts as an environmental incident?
Any operational incident that threatens habitats or harms the environment, such as a spill, leak, emergency emission or fire that pollutes air, soil or water.
Does a small spill need to be reported?
If it reaches the soil and contaminates it, the soil regulation prohibits failing to notify NCEC immediately. Treat and document every spill and assess the need to report with your consultant.
Is a facility liable even if the incident was accidental?
The polluter bears removal, rehabilitation and compensation under the polluter-pays principle. A good response, prompt reporting and documentation limit the damage and show compliance.
Who prepares the site remediation plan after an incident?
An NCEC-licensed service provider, and the plan is submitted to NCEC for approval before implementation.
How Abak Green helps
We prepare your facility's environmental emergency plan within the environmental management plan, specify containment equipment and its locations, and train your team. When an incident occurs we help with documentation and reporting, and prepare and follow the contaminated site remediation plan. Contact us to prepare your emergency plan.
Official references
- Implementing Regulation for Air Quality — Umm Al-Qura (Arabic)
- Implementing Regulation for Preventing and Treating Soil Pollution — Umm Al-Qura (Arabic)
- Implementing Regulation for Environmental Rehabilitation and Contaminated Sites — Umm Al-Qura (Arabic)
- Implementing Regulation for Environmental Inspection and Audit — Umm Al-Qura (Arabic)
- Waste Management Law — Umm Al-Qura (Arabic)
