Environmental engineers are responsible for the sustainable management of natural resources, the protection of ecosystems, and the mitigation of environmental impacts through innovative solutions in pollution control, waste management, and resource conservation. This is why we acquire knowledge of environmental processes and dynamics. Industrial and urban processes are subject to environmental regulations established by both international bodies and state authorities.
Part of becoming an engineer is understanding how much of our work is governed by regulations, laws, and standards. While university education provides you with the technical, critical, and scientific knowledge necessary for your field, it also prepares you to navigate the constraints and requirements imposed by the legal and regulatory frameworks within which you will operate.
In many cases, engineers follow pre-defined standards to assess compliance with environmental laws. One key institution in this process is the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente), which ensures adherence to environmental laws and regulations. MiAmbiente was established under Law 41 of 1998, and later, under Law 8 of 2015, the basis for the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems was further reinforced. Further on I will note some of the laws that should be important to us and their main articles and/or remarks.
The executive arm of the Comisión Panameña de Normas Industriales y Técnicas (COPANIT) is the Directorate of Standards and Industrial Technology (DGNTI). COPANIT's main objectives are the development of standards, standardization, and quality certification in Panama.
There are many COPANIT regulations; in fact, there are over 500 covering different sectors, such as construction, buildings, food, electricity, chemistry, and many other. Each COPANIT regulation ensures that the industry is adhering to minimum international standards in terms of quality and safety (both human and environmental). This means that COPANIT laws align with internationally recognized standards, ensuring that the production of goods can compete in the global market and that environmental laws comply with international norms.
What does COPANIT have to do with Environmental Engineering?
Well, many environmental processes are standardized by COPANIT to avoid environmental contamination, promote public health and sustainability. Some examples are the disposal of water into natural effluents, the reuse of gray water, water quality, and sludge disposal. Environmental engineers are expected to review these regulations to ensure that any affected waterbody meets the minimum water quality requirements. However, obtaining water quality parameters from water bodies is not an easy task, as it may require expensive and/or certified equipment for various water quality parameters, as well as visits to the different sites that may be affected or that we are interested in.
Asamblea Nacional, Republica De Panama. (2006). Ley No. 44. In G.O. 25680. https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/pan74443.pdf
DGNTI. (2024). ISO. https://www.iso.org/member/2031.html
Ministerio De Economia y Finanzas. (2009). Decreto Ejecutivo. In Gaceta Oficial (p. 38). https://docs.panama.justia.com/federales/decretos-ejecutivos/123-de-2009-aug-24-2009.pdf
Republica, E., Ministerio de Agricultura, Comercio e Industrias, Comisión Nacional de Aguas, Ministerio de Trabajo, Previsión Social y Salud Pública, Instituto de Recursos y Electrificación, Instituto de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Nacionales, Comisión de Reforma Agraria, & Sociedad Panameña de Ingenieros y Arquitectos. (1966). DECRETO LEY No.35 Reglamenta el uso de las aguas. In Consejo de Gabinete & Comisión Legislativa Permanente de la Asamblea Nacional, Decreto Ley. https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/pan3019.pdf
Sala-Seem. (2018, March 3). Inicio. SALA - Secretaría Para La Aplicación De La Legislación Ambiental. https://sala-seem.org/Post date: 2024-10-19
Last edit: 2024-11-26