Getting to know RKL-RPL, an Important Element in the Amdal Document

Getting to know RKL-RPL, an Important Element in the Amdal Document

“Since the issuance of the Job Creation Act, the term Environmental Permit previously contained in the Environmental Protection and Management Act has been changed to Environmental Approval.”

One of the documents that must be fulfilled by business actors to obtain a business license is Environmental Approval.

Every business plan or activity that has a significant impact on the environment must have an Environmental Impact Analysis, commonly called an Amdal.

Based on Government Regulation Number 22 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of Environmental Protection and Management (PP Number 22 of 2021), an important impact is a very basic change in the environment and is caused by a business and/or activity.

Therefore, every business actor who is judged to have the potential to damage the environment is obliged to pocket an Amdal.

In preparing the Amdal, several components are required. One of them is the Environment Management Plan-Environment Monitoring Plan (RKL-RPL) document.

Referring to PP No. 22 of 2021, RKL is an effort to handle impacts on the Environment caused by business plans and/or activities.

Meanwhile, RPL is an effort to monitor environmental components that are affected by the planned business and/or activity.

RKL and RPL are required to submit periodically every 6 months through the Information system or Environmental Document Assessment to the Minister of Environment and Forestry, governors, or regents/mayors.

Purpose of RKL-RPL

RKL is an environmental management that aims to (Appendix II of PP Number 22 of 2021):

1. Avoid or prevent negative environmental impacts
2. Environmental Management aims to overcome, minimize, or control negative impacts both arising during the Business and/or
3. Activity; and/or increase the positive impact so that the impact can provide greater benefits both to the person in charge of the Business and/or Activity as well as other parties, especially the community who also enjoys the positive impact.

Meanwhile, RPL could be used to understand phenomena that occur at various levels, starting from the project level (to understand the behavior of impacts arising from businesses and/or activities), to regional or even regional levels, depending on the scale of the resulting impacts.

Guidelines for Preparation of RKL-RPL Documents

In preparing the Environmental Management Plan (RKL) it should be based on several principles, namely (Appendix II of PP Number 22 of 2021):

1. Managed Environmental Impacts are determined based on significant impacts and other impacts
2. Sources of environmental impacts are determined according to the type and stage of activity
3. Indicators of the success of environmental management are determined according to environmental quality standards, damage standard criteria, study results, and other criteria
4. The form of environmental management is determined according to the technological, institutional, and/or socio-economic approach
5. The location of environmental management is determined according to the nature of the distribution of impacts to be managed
6. The period of environmental management is determined according to the stages of implementing the activities
7. Environmental management institutions are determined according to their authority
8. The number and types of Environmental Protection and Management Law(PPLH) permits are identified according to the provisions
9. Environmental management plan maps are made according to cartographic principles

Similar to the preparation of the RKL, in formulating the Environment Monitoring Plan (RPL) several factors shall also be considered, including (Appendix II of PP Number 22 of 2021):

1. Environmental components/parameters that are monitored include environmental components/parameters that undergo fundamental changes or are affected by significant impacts and environmental components/parameters that are affected by other environmental impacts.
2. The monitored aspects need to pay attention to the Significant Impacts stated in the Environmental Impact Analysis and other environmental impacts, and the nature of the environmental impact management formulated in the environmental management plan.
3. Monitoring can be carried out on the source causing the impact and/or on the affected environmental components/parameters. Monitoring these two things will also be able to assess/testing the effectiveness of the environmental management activities being carried out.
4. Environmental monitoring must be economically feasible. The costs incurred for monitoring need to be considered considering that monitoring activities take place throughout the life of the business and/or activity.
5. Plan for data collection and analysis of aspects that need to be monitored, including:
   • Types of data collected
   • Monitoring location
   • Frequency and duration of monitoring
   • Data collection methods (including equipment and instruments used for data collection)
   • Data analysis method
6. The environmental monitoring plan needs to include environmental monitoring institutions.

RKL-RPL Document Content

Several parts are contained in the RKL-RPL Document, namely (Appendix II of PP Number 22 of 2021):

1. Introduction
   Elaborating on statements regarding the aims and objectives of implementing RKL-RPL in general and clearly. In addition, it also describes the environmental policy statement of the person in charge of the business and/or activity.
2. Environmental Management Plan compiled in the form of a matrix
   Describes the forms of environmental management carried out for the impacts caused to avoid, prevent, minimize and/or control negative impacts and increase positive impacts. The description is presented regarding several aspects or elements, which include:
   1. Environmental impact
   2. Source of impact
   3. Indicators of the success of environmental management
   4. Forms of environmental management
   5. Location of environmental management
   6. Environmental management period
   7. Environmental management institutions
3. RPL arranged in matrix form
   Describe briefly and clearly, the monitoring plan for the impacts caused. The description is submitted by referring to several aspects or elements, which include:
   1. Monitored environmental impacts
   2. Forms of environmental monitoring
   3. Environmental monitoring agency
4. Statement of commitment to implementing RKL-RPL
5. The statement of the person in charge of the Business and/or Activity contains a statement from the initiator to implement the RKL-RPL which is signed on stamped paper.
6. Bibliography
7. Attachment

In addition, in submitting the RKL-RPL document, it shall also be accompanied by a technical approval consisting of:

1. Fulfillment of Wastewater Quality Standards
2. Compliance with Emission Quality Standards
3. Hazardous Waste Management, and
4. Analysis of traffic impact

Do you still confused about taking care of the RKL-RPL in the preparation of the Amdal? Please consult us, Prolegal!

Author: Faiz Azhanzi Yazid
Editor: Bidari Aufa Sinarizqi
Translator: Angelie Kartika Putri