On August 24, 2020, the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (“SEMARNAT”) published in the Official Gazette of the Federation the “Agreement lifting the suspension of legal terms and deadlines at the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources and its Decentralized Administrative Bodies” (the “Agreement”).
It is established that, as of August 24, 2020, the suspension of legal terms and deadlines concludes with respect to the filings, proceedings and services within the jurisdiction of SEMARNAT and its decentralized administrative bodies, which had been suspended by virtue of the various Agreements published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on May 29, June 4 and July 2 of this year. All filings and proceedings submitted before SEMARNAT during the period established in the aforementioned Agreements shall be deemed to have been submitted, for any applicable legal effects, on August 24, 2020. In order to avoid the concentration of people in the areas that provide service to the general public and to continue adopting the measures necessary to preserve the health and integrity of public servants and members of society, the filings, proceedings and requests before the various directorates and decentralized administrative bodies of SEMARNAT may be carried out on the following days and hours: Directorate/Decentralized Body Enabled days and hours Filings and proceedings General Directorate of Wildlife Days: Monday and Wednesday. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For all applicable filings and proceedings. General Directorate of the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone and Coastal Environments. Days: Monday and Wednesday. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For all applicable filings and proceedings. General Directorate of Forestry and Soil Management. Days: Tuesday and Thursday. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For all applicable filings and proceedings. General Directorate of Integral Management of Hazardous Materials and Activities. Days: Tuesday and Thursday. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For all applicable filings and proceedings. General Directorate of Air Quality Management and Registry of Emissions and Transfer of Pollutants Days: Tuesday and Thursday. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For all applicable filings and proceedings. General Directorate of Environmental Impact and Risk. Days: Tuesday and Thursday. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For all applicable filings and proceedings. Federal Attorney's Office for Environmental Protection (“PROFEPA”). Days: Monday to Friday. Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Applicable to the following filings and administrative acts: a) Issuance of approval for testing and/or trial laboratories, verification units and certification bodies. b) Review, evaluation and, where applicable, certification of new vehicles at the plant. c) Obtaining an environmental certificate with an environmental audit prior to the application, without an action plan; d) Obtaining an environmental certificate with an environmental audit subsequent to the application, with an action plan; e) Application for the renewal of an environmental certificate, by environmental diagnostic report. f) Application for the renewal of an environmental certificate by environmental performance report. g) Acts of inspection, surveillance and verification related to works and activities considered essential by the health authority, as well as those carried out to protect, preserve and conserve natural resources; and h) Acts corresponding to the processing of appeals for review, requests for commutation, as well as modification and revocation; Representation Offices (Federal Delegations). Days: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For all applicable filings and proceedings. National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (including Regional Directorates) (“CONANP”). Days: Tuesday and Thursday. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (1:30 p.m. for Regional Directorates) For all applicable filings and proceedings. National Water Commission (including Basin Bodies and Local Directorates) (“CONAGUA”). Days: Monday to Friday. Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For all applicable filings and proceedings. National Agency for Industrial Safety and Environmental Protection of the Hydrocarbons Sector (“ASEA”). Days: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For all filings and proceedings within the jurisdiction of the Industrial Management Unit, the Industrial Supervision, Inspection and Surveillance Unit and the Legal Affairs Unit. Finally, the Agreement establishes that the electronic systems remain in operation for all applicable filings, requests and proceedings. For 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
