On May 29, 2020 the Federal Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (“SEMARNAT”) published in the evening edition of the Official Federal Gazette the “Ruling indicating the days that will be considered as non-business days for the purposes of administrative acts and procedures carried out by the Federal Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and its decentralized administrative agencies, with the exception of the indicated procedures and acts” (“Ruling”).
The Ruling provides that the suspension of legal terms and time periods for acts and proceedings carried out before SEMARNAT will be extended from June 1 until the health authorities establishes that there is no epidemiological risk related to the gradual reopening of the activities.
The Ruling also establishes that during said period the following are allowed to carry out the administrative acts, diligences, actions related to essential activities:
| Matters | Business days and hours enabled/Exceptions |
| Forestry. | Days: Tuesday and Thursday, from June 2 until the health authorities determine that there is no epidemiological risk. Hours: From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m |
| Chemical Substances and Hazardous Waste subject to international treaties. | Days: Tuesday and Thursday, from June 2 until the health authorities determine that there is no epidemiological risk. Hours: From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m |
| Air emissions. | The electronic system for regular submission remains available from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and the following emails are enabled: |
| Protected Natural Areas. | The activities and deadlines set forth in the Sustainable Development Conservation Program (“PROCODES”) and in the Protection and Restoration of Ecosystems and Species at Risk Program (“PROREST”) will not be suspended. |
| Acquisition, leasing and services procedures. | The activities and deadlines for acquisitions, leasing and services procedures, as well as the execution of the corresponding legal acts, will not be suspended. |
| Environmental Impact. | Days: Tuesday and Thursday, from June 2 until the health authorities determine that there is no epidemiological risk. Hours: From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (only for essential activities and priority projects) |
| Biological Infectious Hazardous Waste. | Days: Tuesday and Thursday, from June 2 until the health authorities determine that there is no epidemiological risk. Hours: From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m |
| Obtaining and renewing the Environmental Certificate. | Days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from June 1 until the health authorities determine that there is no epidemiological risk. Hours: From 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. |
Furthermore, the Ruling enables Wednesdays from June 3 until the authorities determine that there is no epidemiological risk from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., to carry out acts and procedures before the Industrial Management Unit of the National Agency for Industrial Safety and Environmental Protection of the Hydrocarbons Sector (“ASEA”) regarding the following activities:
a. Surface reconnaissance and exploration, and hydrocarbon exploration and extraction;
b. Treatment, refining, transfer, commercialization, transportation and storage of oil;
c. Processing, compression, liquefaction, decompression and regasification of Natural Gas;
d. Transportation, storage, distribution and sale of liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas and oil, and
e. Pipeline transportation and storage related to petrochemical pipelines resulting from natural gas processing and oil refining.
Finally, the Ruling enables from June 1 until the authority determines that there is no epidemiological risk the hours 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday, for acts and proceedings carried out before the National Water Commission (“CONAGUA”), related to permit for hydraulic infrastructure works.
To obtain additional information contact our experts:
Edmond Grieger, Partner: +52 (55) 5258 1048 | egrieger@vwys.com.mx
Rebeca Márquez, Associate: +52 (55) 5258 1048 | rmarquez@vwys.com.mx
Ariel Garfio, Associate: +52 (55) 5258 1048 | agarfio@vwys.com.mx
Roberto Flores, Associate: +52 (55) 5258 1048 | rflores@vwys.com.mx