Environmental Protection Administration
The Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan (EPA, Chinese: 行政院環境保護署; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Hêng-chèng Īⁿ Khoân-kéng Pó-hō͘ Sú) is a cabinet-level executive agency responsible for protecting and conserving the environment in the Republic of China (Taiwan). This also includes, air quality, noise control, monitoring and inspection of environment, solid waste, recycling, sustainable development and international cooperation.[1]
| 行政院環境保護署 Huánjìng Bǎohù Shǔ (Mandarin) Fàn-kín Pó-fu Su (Hakka) | |
Logo | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | March 1971 (as Department of Environmental Health) 22 August 1987 (as EPA) |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the Republic of China |
| Headquarters | Zhongzheng, Taipei |
| Employees | 15,034 (est. 2004) |
| Minister responsible |
|
| Website | www.epa.gov.tw |
It is led by the Minister for Environment. He is supported by two deputy ministers.
History
The environmental protection agency has evolved and been part of different departments over decades. Prior to 1971, the environmental portfolio was part of the Ministry of Interior which encompasses the Health portfolio.
From March 1971 to 28 January 1982, the Department of Environmental Health was established to look after protecting the environment. Various agencies such as the Department of Health and others managed the soil and water aspects of environment.
From 29 January 1982 to 21 August 1987, the Environmental Protection Bureau was established to take over responsibility for noise and traffic control, air, water, waste management, health responsibilities under the Department of Health.[2]
From 22 August 1987 to the present,[3] the Environmental Protection Administration was established becoming the one stop shop for all environmental policies, regulation, standards and enforcement. It encompassed toxic substance management, environmental sanitation and monitoring and inspection of the environment.
In May 2022, the Executive Yuan approved the proposal to update the agency to become a ministry named Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.[4]
Department Structure
First Tier
- Office of Chief Secretary
- Office of Minister
- Office of Sustainable Development
- Greenhouse Gases Reduction Management Office
- Office of Energy and Resource Program
- Office of National Clear up Program
Second Tier
- Department of Comprehensive Planning
- Department of Air Quality Protection and Noise Control
- Department of Water Quality Protection
- Department of Waste Management
- Department of Environmental Sanitation & Toxis Substance Management
- Department of Supervision Evaluation & Dispute Resolution
- Department of Environmental Monitoring and Information Management
- Bureau of Environmental Inspection
- Air Pollution Control Fund Management Board
- Recycling Fund Management Board
- Soil and Groundwater Remediation Fund Management Board
- Environmental Analysis Laboratory
- Environmental Professionals Training Institute
Third Tier
- Offices of Personnel, Accounting, Civil Service Ethics, Statistics and Secretariat
- Committees for Legal Affairs, Petitions and Appeals
- Public Nuisance Arbitration
Fourth Tier
- Environmental Police Unit
- Local Environmental Agencies
Ministers
Non-partisan/ unknown Kuomintang (Nationalist) Democratic Progressive Party New Party
| № | Name | Term of Office | Days | Political Party | Cabinet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eugene Chien (簡又新) | 22 August 1987 | 31 May 1991 | 1378 | Kuomintang | Yu Kuo-hwa Lee Huan Hau Pei-tsun |
| 2 | Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康) | 1 June 1991 | 15 November 1992 | 533 | Kuomintang | Hau Pei-tsun |
| — | Larry Chen (陳龍吉) | 15 November 1992 | 20 November 1992 | 5 | Kuomintang | Hau Pei-tsun |
| 3 | Chang Lung-cheng (張隆盛) | 21 November 1992 | 9 June 1996 | 1296 | Kuomintang | Hau Pei-tsun Lien Chan |
| 4 | Tsai Hsun-hsiung (蔡勳雄) | 10 June 1996 | 20 May 2000 | 1440 | Kuomintang | Lien Chan Vincent Siew |
| 5 | Edgar Lin (林俊義) | 20 May 2000 | 6 March 2001 | 290 | Democratic Progressive Party | Tang Fei Chang Chun-hsiung I |
| 6 | Hau Lung-pin (郝龍斌) | 7 March 2001 | 6 October 2003 | 949 | New Party | Chang Chun-hsiung I Yu Shyi-kun |
| 7 | Chang Juu-en (張祖恩) | 6 October 2003 | 25 April 2005 | 567 | Yu Shyi-kun Frank Hsieh | |
| — | Tsay Ting-kuei (蔡丁貴) | 25 April 2005 | 7 June 2005 | 43 | Frank Hsieh | |
| 8 | Chang Kow-lung (張國龍) | 8 June 2005 | 20 May 2007 | 711 | Frank Hsieh Su Tseng-chang I | |
| 9 | Winston Dang (陳重信) | 21 May 2007 | 20 May 2008 | 365 | Democratic Progressive Party | Chang Chun-hsiung II |
| 10 | Stephen Shen (沈世宏) | 20 May 2008 | 2 March 2014 | 2112[5] | Liu Chao-shiuan Wu Den-yih Sean Chen Jiang Yi-huah | |
| 11 | Wei Kuo-yen (魏國彥) | 3 March 2014 | 19 May 2016 | 808 | Kuomintang | Jiang Yi-huah Mao Chi-kuo Chang San-cheng |
| 12 | Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) | 20 May 2016 | 3 December 2018 | 927 | Democratic Progressive Party | Lin Chuan William Lai |
| — | Tsai Hung-teh (蔡鴻德) | 4 December 2018 | 14 January 2019 | 40 | William Lai | |
| 13 | Chang Tzi-chin (張子敬) | 14 January 2019 | Incumbent | 1467 | Su Tseng-chang II | |
Transportation
The EPA building is accessible within walking distance South of Ximen MRT station of the Taipei Metro.
See also
References
- ^ 行政院環境保護署 (22 November 2011). "行政院環境保護署全球資訊網".
- ^ 系統管理者1 (9 July 2014). "組織職掌".
- ^ Lu, Meggie (22 August 2008). "EPA celebrates birthday, vows work on emissions". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- ^ "Cabinet Approves Plans to Upgrade Environment and Agriculture Agencies". ICRT. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ Longest-serving minister.
External links
- (in Chinese)
- Environmental Protection Administration at Flickr