Today, February 24, Law No. 21,800 (the “Law”), regulating the extraction of aggregates (áridos) and amending various legal provisions, was published in the Official Gazette. The purpose of the Law is to regulate the extraction and transportation of aggregates, the certificate of origin, traceability requirements, prohibited zones, oversight mechanisms, and mine closure plans.
The key aspects of the Law are summarized below:
- Scope of Application
With respect to aggregate extraction activities, the Law applies to operations carried out in natural riverbeds that are not navigable by vessels exceeding one hundred tons, as well as in the adjacent regulatory zone to such riverbeds. This regulatory zone generally consists of a 100-meter-wide area running parallel and surrounding the natural riverbed, including the surface and subsoil, whether publicly or privately owned.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, regarding traceability obligations, the Law establishes requirements that apply regardless of the source of extraction of the material.
- New Authorization Procedure for Aggregate Extraction
If the procedure concludes favorably, the DOH will issue the corresponding technical extraction authorization resolution, which will establish the technical conditions for project execution, as well as additional requirements applicable to mechanized extractions—i.e., those carried out using heavy machinery—such as:
En caso de que dicho procedimiento concluya favorablemente, la DOH emitirá la correspondiente resolución de habilitación técnica de extracción, la cual contendrá las condiciones técnicas para la ejecución del proyecto, además de otros aspectos asociados a las extracciones mecanizadas -esto es, aquellas realizadas por medio de maquinaria pesada-, tales como los montos de las garantías que deberá entregar el titular a la DOH, y los términos del plan de cierre de la faena.
Una vez notificada dicha resolución, deberá procederse al pago de los derechos municipales que correspondan, a fin de que la municipalidad respectiva autorice la extracción de áridos mediante decreto alcaldicio. Tratándose de extracciones mecanizadas, será requisito adicional presentar ante la autoridad municipal copia del certificado de recepción de las garantías emitido por la DOH.
- The Law creates a public database to be managed by the DOH, in which information relating to aggregate extraction activities will be recorded, including, among others: • Favorable or unfavorable technical authorization resolutions; and • Prohibited aggregate extraction zones determined by the DOH in accordance with the Law.
Consiste en una base de datos de carácter público que estará a cargo de la DOH, en la que se registrará la información relativa a las extracciones de áridos, incluyendo, por ejemplo, las resoluciones de habilitación técnica favorables o desfavorables, así como las zonas de prohibición de extracción de áridos que determine la DOH, en conformidad con la Ley.
- Certificate of Origin and Traceability Obligations
All aggregate material, regardless of its source, must have a certificate of origin issued by the extraction project holder, certifying that the material originates from an authorized source. For aggregates obtained from sources not directly regulated by the Law, a copy of the respective authorization will suffice and will have the same validity as the certificate of origin.
Additionally, the Law imposes traceability obligations associated with the certificate of origin. These obligations apply not only to extraction activities, but also to the commercialization and transportation of aggregates, as well as to construction projects.
- Infractions and Criminal Offenses
Violations arising from non-compliance with traceability obligations are subject to fines that may reach up to 100 Monthly Tax Units (“UTM”), and, in case of repeated offenses, up to 200 UTM.
Unauthorized aggregate extraction or extraction carried out without the required technical authorization, as well as serious breaches of extraction conditions, may be sanctioned with fines of up to 1,000 UTM.
Furthermore, the Law criminalizes the falsification of traceability documentation and illegal aggregate extraction, establishing penalties of imprisonment in its minimum to medium degree and, in the case of falsification, an additional fine of up to 200 UTM. The Law also amends Ley N°21.595 on economic crimes, incorporating these offenses as second-category economic crimes.
- Entry into force:
The Law will enter into force one year after its publication in the Official Gazette. Within that period, the corresponding regulation must be issued to develop certain technical and procedural aspects of the Law.
For further information regarding this matter, please contact: Javier Naranjo – jnaranjo@jdf.cl Andrea Gallyas – agallyas@jdf.cl Martín Esser – messer@jdf.cl María Paz Valenzuela – mpvalenzuela@jdf.cl Javiera Rodríguez – jrodriguez@jdf.cl Josefina Ossa – jossa@jdf.cl
