On August 24, 2020 the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (“SEMARNAT”) published the “Ruling lifting the suspension of legal terms and time periods in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and its Administrative Agencies” (“Ruling”) in the Federal Official Gazette.
The Ruling lifts, as of August 24, 2020, the suspension of legal terms and time periods for purposes of filings, procedures and services before SEMARNAT and its administrative agencies, which were suspended through the various Rulings published in the Federal Official Gazette on May 29, June 4 and July 2 of this year.
All the filings and procedures submitted before SEMARNAT during the period established in the above referenced Rulings will be understood as filed for all legal purposes on August 24, 2020.
In order to prevent the concentration of people in the areas that provide services to the public and continue adopting the necessary measures to preserve the health and integrity of public officers and members of society, the filings, procedures and petitions before the administrative offices and agencies of SEMARNAT may be carried out according to the following days and times:
| Office/Agency | Days and times open | Filings and procedures |
| Wildlife Office | Days: Mondays and Wednesdays. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | For all applicable filings and procedures. |
| Federal Maritime Land Zone and Coastal Environments Office. | Days: Mondays and Wednesdays. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | For all applicable filings and procedures. |
| Forestry and Soil Management Office. | Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | For all applicable filings and procedures. |
| Hazardous Materials and Activities Integral Management Office. | Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | For all applicable filings and procedures. |
| Air Quality Management, Air Emissions Registry and Transfer of Pollutants Office. | Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | For all applicable filings and procedures. |
| Environmental Impact and Risk Office. | Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | For all applicable filings and procedures. |
| Federal Environmental Protection Agency. (“PROFEPA”). | Days: Mondays to Fridays. Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | Applicable to the following filings and administrative acts: a) Issuance of the approval for the testing and/or trial labs, verification units and certification bodies. b) Review, evaluation and certification of new vehicles in plant. c) Obtaining an environmental certificate, with a prior environmental audit and without an action plan. d) Obtaining an environmental certificate, with a subsequent environmental audit and with an action plan. e) Request for renewal of an environmental certificate, by environmental diagnosis report. f) Request for renewal of an environmental certificate by environmental performance report. g) Acts of inspection, oversight and verification, related to works and activities considered essential by the health authority, and those done to protect, preserve and conserve natural resources; and h) Acts corresponding to the processing of appeal procedures, requests for commutation, modification, and revocation; |
| Representation Offices (Federal Delegations). | Days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | For all applicable filings and procedures. |
| Protected Natural Areas National Commission (including Regional Offices) (“CONANP”). | Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (1:30 pm for Regional Offices) | For all applicable filings and procedures. |
| National Water Commission (including Watershed Offices and Local Offices) (“CONAGUA”). | Days: Mondays to Fridays. Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | For all applicable filings and procedures. |
| National Industrial Safety and Environmental Protection of the Hydrocarbons Sector Agency (“ASEA”). | Days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | For all filings and procedures handled by the Industrial Management Unit, the Industrial Supervision, Inspection and Oversight Unit and the Legal Affairs Unit. |
Finally, the Ruling establishes that the electronic systems will remain functioning for all the applicable filings, petitions and procedures.
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