On 13 October 2015, the Minister of Environmental Affairs published the National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Bill ("the NEMLA Bill") in Government Gazette 39287 for public comment.

The purpose of the Bill is to amend and clarify certain provisions and definitions under National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998  (click here for key changes to NEMA) and the following Specific Environmental Management Acts (SEMAs):

• National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 (NEMPAA)
• National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 (NEMBA)
• National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004 (NEMAQA)
• National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act 24 of 2008 (ICMA)
• National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008 (NEMWA)
• National Environmental Management Amendment Act  62 of 2008 (NEMAA) and
• National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Act 25 of 2014 (NEMLA).

The comment period for the Bill closes on 12 November 2015.

NOTE: The changes proposed by the NEMLA Bill will only become part of our law once the Bill has been signed and assented to by the President, making it an Act of Parliament, and thereafter, published in the Government Gazette.