The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is empowered under the Environmental Protection Act to regulate environmental activities across Guyana. The Agency holds the authority to grant or withhold permits for development projects that may impact the environment. As the national environmental regulator, the EPA is also responsible for monitoring development activities and enforcing the provisions of the Act.
The EPA’s work is structured across specialized technical programme areas and supported by the Operations and Corporate Services, Human Resources, Finance, and Communications Departments.
This department serves as the backbone of the Agency, overseeing the issuance of environmental authorizations for developmental activities and ensuring compliance with permit conditions. It also develops standards and guidelines for operators across various economic sectors. Key programme areas under this department include:
Responsible for ensuring that all infrastructure-related activities—both in construction and operation—are properly permitted, this unit also oversees environmental compliance within the tourism sector.
Projects Authorized:
In support of Guyana’s goal to eliminate mercury use in mining by 2025, the Mining Unit focuses on developing environmental standards for land reclamation and pollution prevention. The unit is guided by the Environmental Protection Regulations in matters of authorization, compliance, and enforcement.
Projects Authorized:
The Forestry Department ensures environmental standards are upheld in logging operations, sawmills, and other forestry-related activities. It works to restore degraded lands and prevent contamination while managing and conserving forestry resources.
Projects Authorized:
This programme area handles environmental regulation within the agriculture sector.
Projects Authorized:
This department monitors and authorizes development in the oil and gas industry and is divided into upstream and downstream sub-programmes.
Projects Authorized:
This department focuses on current and emerging industrial projects requiring environmental authorization. It is divided into the following sub-programmes:
The Technical Services Department supports other technical programme areas and engages in authorizations related to emissions, air quality, noise, and water. Its responsibilities include:
This department also provides technical expertise in areas such as air, noise, hazardous waste, GIS, drone imaging, radiation, and water quality. It manages IT, database systems, and facilitates biodiversity research through permitting.
The Communications Department supports the Agency’s outreach efforts, promoting environmental awareness and public participation, especially during environmental impact assessment (EIA) scoping. The department is grounded in the belief that environmental education is “education for life,” which is crucial for fostering sustainable resource management.
Core Focus Areas:
The Complaints Department is responsible for investigating and addressing environmental pollution and non-compliance. It ensures compliance with environmental laws through inspections and enforcement actions. The department works with law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and local authorities to bring violators into compliance and, where full restoration is not possible, oversees efforts to mitigate environmental harm.
Under the Environmental Protection Act Cap 20:05, the Legal Unit provides legal guidance, drafts contracts and policies, and ensures that permit conditions comply with legal requirements. It also manages court proceedings involving the Agency and supports all programme areas with legal advice.
The EPA serves as the National Focal Point for:
This department coordinates national compliance with these agreements, manages GEF-funded projects, and leads implementation of the coastal and marine management programme.
The Public Relations Officer works closely with the Executive Director and the Communications Department to strengthen the EPA’s public image and foster greater public engagement.
This department manages the Agency’s administrative and operational needs, including transport, logistics, maintenance, security, registry, and procurement.
Core Responsibilities:
The Central Registry acts as the EPA’s document repository, storing authorizations, enforcement notices, complaints, and all official correspondence related to the Agency’s mandate.
