This project was implemented over the period from March 12 to December 31, 2010. The main objective of the project was to estimate the amount of water pollution control fees payable, on the basis of controlled industry effuent water quality, water volume data, and the regulations governing collection of water pollution control fees (published in 2006), with the aim of appraising the impact of water pollution control fees on industry, and facilitating the formulation of response measures, while also providing the basis for a review of Taiwan’s water pollution control fees collection system. We also examined Taiwan’s experience with other types of pollution-related fees that were already being collected, including air pollution fees, soil and groundwater pollution remediation fees, waste clearance and treatment fees, etc., to support the formulation of fee collection methods and ancillary measures for water pollution control fees, so that collection of water pollution control fees can proceed smoothly once the Water Pollution Control Fund budget has been approved by the Legislative Yuan. As regards the results achieved in FY2010, using FY2009 data for the number of enterprises covered by the water pollution source control data management system, as well as industrial district waste water evacuation system data, we were able to determine that the number of enterprises subject to water pollution control fees in the first year of fee collection will be approximately 11,000 firms; we estimate that the total amount of water pollution control fees payable during the first collection period (i.e. the first six months) will be approximately NT$143 million. We also examined the experience of both Taiwan and other countries in the operation of environmental tax collection systems, formulated measures to reduce the negative impact on industry, and completed the revised draft version of the Water Pollution Control Fee Collection Regulations. In addition, we formulated the Directions for Central and Local Government Allocation of the Water Pollution Control Fee and the Regulations For Revenue and Expenditure,Safekeeping and Utilization of the Water Pollution Control Fund, and decided on the procedures for regulatory operations announcements and public hearings, to help ensure that the fee collection system is as comprehensive as possible. We also formulated standard operating procedures and reporting forms for water pollution control fee collection operations, drew up operational procedures for outsourcing the collection of water pollution control fees to financial institutions, prepared a proposed division of responsibility between central and local government authorities, formulated the architecture for the water pollution remediation fee report review data management system, and completed the establishment of the water pollution control fee collection guidance website, along with various other ancillary measures. It is anticipated that these achievements will undertake the various aspects of water pollution control fee collection smoothly once the Water Pollution Control Fund budget has been approved by the Legislative Yuan.

Water Pollution Control Fees, Water Pollution Control Fund, Impact on Industry, Ancillary Measures