| Legislative： |
1.All of the 53 articles were established and promulgated on February 6, 2003 by Presidential Decree No. Hua-Zong-I-Yi-Zi-09200019270.
2.Amendment to Articles 3, 4, 6, 10, 14, 24, and 33, and addition of Articles 7-1, and 7-2 promulgated on January 9, 2008 by Presidential Decree No. Hua-Zong-I-Yi-Zi-09700000851.
3.Amendment to Articles 36 promulgated on February 3, 2021 by Presidential Decree No. Hua-Zong-I-Jing-Zi-11000008871.
4.Amendment to Articles 36 promulgated on December 27, 2023 by Presidential Decree No. Hua-Zong-I-Jing-Zi-11200113061. |
| Content： |
Chapter Ⅰ General
Article 1
To excavate sand and gravel resources rationally, protect natural environments, integrate
administrative system, and prevent inappropriate sand and gravel excavation that may result in
related hazards, this Act is then made accordingly for the purpose of achieving sustained national
development. Provisions of other Acts shall apply when such are not included in this Act.
Article 2
The Government authority as referred hereunder shall be Ministry of Economic Affairs at Central
Government, Municipal Government at Municipal City and County (City) Governments at County
(City).
Article 3
To excavate sand and gravel, the excavation permit need to be obtained according to the regulations
listed in this Act. However, if the following conditions occur, the acquisition of the excavation
permit shall be exempted.
1. Small quantity sand and gravel excavation for household usage.
2. Sand and gravel obtained through land preparation and construction related works.
3. Sand and gravel obtained along with the mining operation in which sand and gravel are
co-existed with the mineral deposit in the same mine of the owner of mine operation right.
4. Sand and gravel obtained for the purpose of urgent reconstruction of public works due to natural
disaster.
5. Sand and gravel obtained for important construction work initiated by governmental departments.
6. Brick, tile or ceramic industries excavate sand and gravel for it own usage.
The location, acreage, quantity and excavation duration of the sand and gravel excavation
administrative regulations listed in above paragraphs 1 to 5 shall be determined by Central
Government Authority.
Article 4
The terminology used in this Act are defined as follows:
1. Sand and gravel: Natural resources such as soil (including clay and silt) , sand, gravel and stone,
etc which are not included in Article 3 of MiningAct along with other minerals.
2. Land sand and gravel: The sand and gravel deposited in land.
3. River and water sand and gravel: The sand and gravel deposited in river and lake and their
vicinity area.
4. Costal and sea sand and gravel: The sand and gravel deposited along the costal line and outside of
costal line.
5. Sand and gravel excavation area: The field that is approved for sand and gravel excavation by
Government Authority.
6. Sand and gravel excavation field: The site that is used for sand and gravel excavation, storage,
and its related operations such as handling, crushing, washing and beneficiation.
7. Sand and gravel excavation person: Person or entity who hold the sand and gravel excavation
permit.
8. Person who is responsible for sand and gravel excavation field: Person who actually managing
the overall operation of sand and gravel excavation field.
9. Technical manager of the sand and gravel excavation field: The technical person who managing
the technical and safety aspects of the sand and gravel field.
10. Total quantity control: The restrictive measures imposed to control the total quantity of sand and
gravel excavation for a specific area.
Chapter Ⅱ Sand and Gravel Excavation Permit
Section 1 Conditions for applying permit
Article 5
Citizen of the Republic of China may apply for sand and gravel excavation permit pursuant to this
Act.
Government Authority apply or accept application for sand and gravel excavation permit shall
comply with the provisions listed in this Act and consider the specific local government regulations
for sand and gravel excavation total quantity control.
The operating regulations for sand and gravel total quantity control shall be determined by the
Central Government Authority.
Article 6
For river and water sand and gravel, its excavation duration is limited to three years and can not be
extended when expired. For land and costal line and sea sand and gravel, its excavation duration is
limited to 10 years and can be extended for the same duration after expiration.
Article 7
To apply sand and gravel excavation, the excavation area is limited to less than 20 acres for river
and water sand and gravel, 100 acres for both costal and sea sand and gravel and land sand and
gravel.
Within the sand and gravel excavation permitted area, the excavation shall be limited to the
permitted depth from the excavation boundary vertically downward. The criteria for the depth of
excavation shall be promulgated through Central Government Authority after consulting with
related Government Authorities.
Article 7-1
For the needs of public construction and economic development, governing authority may select
suitable location and delimit designated sand and gravel excavation area after on site inspection
accompanied with water resources, fishing, soil and water conservation, environmental protection,
land use and management, and other related authorities.
The delimitation of sand and gravel excavation designated area by Municipal Government at
Municipal City under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government and County and City
Government at County and City need to apply for permission from central governing agency.
The private land within the range of sand and gravel excavation designated area shall be
expropriated ; for public land shall be appropriated through required regulations.
The governing authority that delimitate sand and gravel excavation designated area shall conduct
development and excavation planning. After conducting environmental impact assessment, water
and soil conservation audition and non-urban land converting classification or urban land converting
procedures, the sand and gravel excavation designated area can then be declared to accept sand and
gravel excavation permit application.
The application of sand and gravel excavation within sand and gravel excavation designated area
shall follow original excavation plan designed by governing authority to prevent repeating
procedures described in the above listed articles.
Sand and gravel excavation person shall be recognized as an obligor and development entity and
conduct development entity converting under environmental impact assessment regulations.
In article 3, the private land owner can use expropriated compensation to become share holder or
partner of sand and gravel excavation person under the agreement of sand and gravel compensation
person.
Article 7-2
The sand and gravel excavation designated area delimited by central governing authority, the central
governing authority shall examine the application for excavation and issue the permit, and monitor
and administrate the conduction of excavation.The sand and gravel excavation designated area
delimited by Municipal Government at Municipal City under the direct jurisdiction of the Central
Government and County and City Government at County and City shall be executed by Municipal
Government at Municipal City under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government and County
and City Government at County and City.
The sand and gravel excavation designated area delimited by central governing authority, its
application, monitoring, administration and penalty shall comply with Sand and Gravel Excavation
Act.
Article 8
For the excavation of river sand and gravel, Municipal or County (city) governments shall conduct
site investigation along with River Management Office after receiving the applications of sand and
gravel excavation and river use, including application form and drawings. After obtaining the river
use permit issued from River Management Office, Municipal or County (City) Governments shall
process and transmit to the applicant.
For the works of river and reservoir dredging and maintaining waterway conducted by Water
Resources Agency, the excavation of sand and gravel complying with Water Resources Act shall be
exempted from the restrictions listed in the provision of this Act.
Article 9
To apply the land for sand and gravel excavation, for public land, the Land Management Office may
lease the land or agree the use of land for sand and gravel excavation, and acquire rent or land use
fee.
The rent or land use fee shall be determined by the Land Management Office that lease or agree the
use of land for sand and gravel excavation. To excavate sand and gravel in the sea outside of dike
shall be free of charge.
Section 2 Application and drawings
Article 10
To apply sand and gravel excavation permit, the following documents shall be prepared and
submitted to Municipal or County (city) governments. If the required documents are not collected
completely, the government authority has the right to reject the application.
1. Application form and sketch of applied area.
2. Receipt of application fee.
3. Sand and gravel excavation plan and drawings.
4. Letter of consent for sand and gravel excavation from land owner, user or administrator of the
applied area or certain certificates that permit the use of agree to conduct planning for public land
sand and gravel excavation. For the application of costal and sea sand and gravel excavation, the
above mentioned documents are not required.
5. Other related documents specified by central governing authority.
The applicant applying for sand and gravel excavation in others mining area shall provide letter of
consent issued by the mining right holder before the due date set by Municipal Government at
Municipal City under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government and County and City
Government at County and City. For sand and gravel excavation in others mining area but excavate
different deposit, if the letter of consent can not be obtained, the reasons and documents that may
prove the contact and or negotiation had been made with the mining right holder need to be
provided.
The required sand and gravel excavation plan and drawings described in Paragraph 1 Subparagraph
3 need to be certified by registered professional mining engineer or other related professional
engineers.
Article 11
The required sand and gravel excavation plan and drawings described in Paragraph 1 Subparagraph
3 should include the following items:
1. Excavation plan.
2. Water and soil conservation and environmental maintaining measures.
3. Land reclamation and maintaining measures after the depletion of sand and gravel or no intention
to continue the operation.
4. Transportation plan.
5. Public facilities maintaining plan.
6. Drawings of sand and gravel excavating operation.
7. Surveying map of the sand and gravel excavation area.
8. Location of sand and gravel excavation area and related road map.
9. Other items that need to be included or documents required by Central Government Authority.
Article 12
Boundary of the applying area, acreage and the depth described in Article7 Paragraph 2 of this Act
shall be surveyed following the procedures and methods that are promulgated by Central
Government Authority.
Section 3 Examine and registration
Article 13
For the application of sand and gravel excavating permit, Municipal or County (City) Governments
shall examine related documents and drawings submitted. For those documents and drawings
submitted are insufficient or incomplete, Municipal or County (City) Governments should notify the
applicant the reasons and request those insufficient and incomplete documents and drawings to be
submitted within thirty days. Fail to submit or incomplete required documents and drawings before
deadline, the application shall be rejected.
Article 14
When examining the application for sand and gravel excavation permit, the municipal or county
(city) government shall conduct investigation along with other governmental agencies including
water, fishery, water and land conservation, traffic, environmental protection and land use, land
administration and other related agencies. After examining the application by the related
governmental agencies and no violation of any laws or regulations are found, the application will
then be reviewed by central government authority and issue sand and gravel excavation permit.
Article 15
Sand and gravel excavation approved by Municipal or County (City) Governments shall be recorded
in the sand and gravel excavation site registration and reported to Central Government Authority for
reference along with related plans and drawings.
For those sand and gravel excavation area been approved, Municipal or County (City) Governments
shall prepare traffic connection map of the approved sand and gravel excavation area for public
reference.
Section 4 Extension
Article 16
Sand and gravel excavation party apply for permit extension complying with the requirements listed
in Article 6 shall submit the request for extension six month prior to initial permit expiration. For
those sand and gravel excavation permit period within one year, the application for extension shall
be submitted two month prior to the expiration of the initial permit period.
Article 17
Provision under Articles 10, 13 and 15 shall apply the application for the extension of sand and
gravel excavation.
Section 5 Commencement, area reduction, revision and extinction
Article 18
Sand and gravel excavation party shall prepare all required documents and drawings and submit to
Municipal or County (City) Governments and apply the issuance of sand and gravel excavation
registration and commence the operation within six month after the date obtaining the permit.
For those who posses rational reasons, extension may be applied before the expiration date of the
required six month period mentioned above shall be limited to two extensions.
Article 19
Prior to applying for issuance of sand and gravel excavation field registration, the sand and gravel
excavation party shall set up boundary marker and sign boards, and shall provide proper
maintenance.
The specification of boundary markers and sign boards shall be determined by Central Government
Authority.
Article 20
Sand and gravel excavation party shall excavate sand and gravel in accordance with the approved
sand and gravel excavation plan and conduct related works including water and soil conservation,
environmental protection, reclamation and hazardous prevention.
Article 21
If the approved sand and gravel excavation plan need to be revised due to hazardous prevention
works or sand and gravel resource conservation reasons, it shall be reported to Municipal or County
(City) Governments. The loss of sand and gravel excavation party may claim for rational
compensation from Municipal or County (City) Governments.
Article 22
Sand and gravel excavation party apply for area reduction or revision of sand and gravel excavation
field to Municipal or County (City) Governments shall prepare the following documents.
1. The documents specified under Paragraphs 1 to 3 and Paragraph 5 in Article 10. When applying
for revision, shall submit the documents specified under Paragraph 4 of the same Article.
2. Relation map of new and old sand and gravel excavation area.
3. Statement of reasons.
Article 23
Municipal or County (City) Governments shall revoke sand and gravel excavation permit obtained
illegally.
Article 24
If one of the following occurs to the sand and gravel excavation party, the Municipal or County
(City) Governments shall report to the Central Government Authority to examine and revoke the
sand and gravel excavation permit.
1. Result in apparent environment and ecology impact and was found to be true after investigation,
and the sand and gravel excavation party fail to improve or improve ineffectively, after been
notified.
2. Without applying for sand and gravel excavation field registration in accordance with the
provision under Paragraph 1 in Article 18.
3. Without commencing the sand and gravel excavation operation within six month after obtaining
sand and gravel excavation field registration, or suspending sand and gravel excavation operation
for more than six month after commencing excavation; however, with appropriate reason and
request granted shall be exempted.
4. Without operating sand and gravel excavation by its own or excavating outside of the approved
area.
5. Without following the approved sand and gravel excavation plan to excavate sand and gravel and
fail to improve or unable to improve within preset deadline after notification.
6. Without following the notice to suspend part or all excavating operation after notified by
Municipal or County (City) Governments in accordance with Article 34.
7. Fail to pay for the rental or public land use fee.
8. After the depletion of the sand and gravel or without the intention to continue the operation but
fail to comply with the requirements under the provisions described in Article 36.
9. Fail to comply with Article 48 to pay environmental maintaining fee, then one month after
notified by Municipal Government at Municipal City under the direct jurisdiction of the Central
Government and County and City Government without paying the fee before the due date.
Article 25
When abolishing or revoking sand and gravel excavation permission, the sand and gravel
excavation permit and sand and gravel excavation field registration shall be nullified.
Article 26
When the sand and gravel is depleted or without the intension to continue the operation, the sand
and gravel excavation party shall arrange nullification of sand and gravel excavation permit and
sand and gravel excavation field registration to the Municipal or County (City) Governments, after
conducting reclamation operation in accordance with the original approved sand and gravel
excavation plan and related laws and regulations. Fail to arrange such nullification, Municipal or
County (City) Governments shall abolish discretionally.
Article 27
At the expiration, revocation or abolition of Sand and Gravel Excavation Permit, the excavation
party shall perform the restoration in accordance with the approved sand and gravel excavation plan
and related Acts and regulations.
Article 28
After using leased land for sand and gravel excavation, or stopping used the land after restoration,
when land damaged, the excavation party shall make comparable compensation depends on the
extent of damage.
Chapter Ⅲ Safety in Sand and Gravel Excavation Field
Article 29
Sand and gravel excavation party shall designate responsible person and technical officer of
excavation field, and the details shall be reported to the Municipal or County (City) Governments
for reference, and the same as modification.
The qualification, employment and discharging of responsible person and technical officer of sand
and gravel excavation field shall be determined by Central Government Authorities.
Article 30
Sand and gravel excavation party shall be responsible for the equipment, funds and personnel for
the safety of excavation field, as required under Labor Safety and Health Law and regulations, and
shall undertake the following safety measures:
1. Prevention of collapse or sliding of laccolites, sand and gravel layer or waste stockpile.
2. Control of emission of hazardous gas and dust from the working premises.
3. Prevention of possible hazards occurred in using mechanical, electrical, moving and power
equipment.
4. Prevention of possible hazards occurred in storing, moving or using explosives.
5. Prevention of abused removal resources or random disposal.
6. Supply of safety preventing equipment for working persons.
7. Other safety measures as required by government authorities.
The designing, management and maintenance of the safety measures as stated above shall be
undertaken by the responsible person of excavation field.
Article 31
At the occurrence of disaster, the responsible person of the sand and gravel excavation field shall
handle in accordance with related Acts or Regulations, in addition, shall promptly report the
situation to the Municipal or County (City) Governments for relaying to Central Government
Authorities within 24 hours.
At the location in sand and gravel excavation field with immediate risk, the responsible person of
excavation field shall order to stop operating promptly and evacuating the workers to safe locations.
Chapter Ⅳ Supervision
Article 32
Sand and gravel excavation party shall report the amount of production and sales to the Municipal
or County (City) Governments on regular basis.
Central Government Authorities shall make regular investigation of the amount of production and
sales.
Article 33
In order to protect water resources, water conservancy, traffic safety, urban development,
environment and landscape or other public benefits, Related purpose government authorities may
apply for designating sand and gravel excavation prohibited area from central governing authority;
the sand and gravel excavation party suffered damage from such designation of prohibited area may
claim comparable compensation from the Purpose Government Authorities which ordering or
requesting such designation.
In order to maintain and adjust sand and gravel supply and demand balance, Central government
authority may designate sand and gravel excavation prohibited area; the sand and gravel excavation
party suffered damage from such designation of prohibited area may claim comparable
compensation from the Central Government Authority.
Disputing over compensation between the sand and gravel excavation party and the purpose
government authorities applied for the designation prohibited area shall be reconciled by Central
Government Authorities.
After designated sand and gravel excavation prohibited area, the Municipal Governments or County
(City) Governments shall revoke the sand and gravel excavation permission, in whole or in part of
the excavation area located within the designated prohibited area.
The residual sand and gravel excavation area after designating for prohibited area, which worth to
or the excavation party has the intention to continue operating, the excavation party shall re-submit
sand and gravel excavation plan for the residual area to the Municipal or County (City)
Governments to apply for Sand and Gravel Excavation Permit and Sand and Gravel Excavation
Field Registration. The valid period shall be limited to the period originally granted period.
The requirements of applying the residual sand and gravel excavation area as mentioned above shall
be allowed under Article 11.
Article 34
The Municipal or County (City) Governments shall implement safety inspection to each sand and
gravel excavation field. Those failed the inspection shall be instructed to improve within designated
period; failing to improve within the designated period or disaster occurred or at the risk of
occurrence of disaster, the operation of whole of part of the excavation area shall order to suspend.
When necessary, central government authorities may designate persons to take supervision and take
control.
Sand and gravel excavation party or the responsible person of the excavation field shall not refuse,
evade or obstruct the inspection stated above.
Article 35
In transporting sand and gravel out of the field, the responsible person of the excavation field shall
issue triplicate shipping order for the carrier to bring along for inspection from time to time.
In transporting sand and gravel out of the field, the responsible person shall load in purpose built
vehicles or carriage.
The purpose built vehicle or carriage shall be as defined in Road Traffic Safety Rules.
Trucking in small quantity shall not be restricted by the provision of 2nd paragraph. The standard of
small quantity shall be defined by Central Government Authorities.
Chapter Ⅴ Penal Provisions
Article 36
Sand and gravel excavation without permission shall be subjected to a fine more than NT$
1,000,000 and under NT$ 5,000,000. The Municipal Governments or County (City) Governments
shall give deadline for arranging restoration and removal of equipment; failing designated deadline
is subject to continuous daily fine of more than NT$ 100,000 and under NT$ 1,000,000 till the
compliance, and the facility or machinery shall be confiscated. When necessary, the Municipal
Governments or County (City) Governments may perform in subrogation and remove the facilities,
and the cost will charge the illegal sand and gravel excavation party.
Sand and gravel excavation without permission by using vessels or other machinery equipment in
the following areas shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than one year but not more than
seven years; in addition thereto, a fine of not more than NT$ 100,000,000 may be imposed.
1.The internal waters (excluding inland waters) and the territorial sea of the Republic of China.
2.The restricted or prohibited waters in the Kinmen (including the Dongding and the Wuqiu), the
Matsu (including the Dongyin and the Liangdao), and the Nansha Islands announced in accordance
with Paragraph 2 of Article 29 of Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area
and the Mainland Area.
The vessels or other machinery equipment used in committing an offense set forth in the preceding
paragraph shall be confiscated, regardless of whether they belong to the offender. Those which have
been finally adjudicated to be confiscated, may, in light of the particular circumstance of each case,
be auctioned or sold, or be disposed of in one of the following ways on a special case-by-case basis after approval:
1.Preservation for public use without compensation.
2.Obsoletion.
3.Taking other appropriate measures.
Article 37
Failing to comply with the order to suspend working in completely or in partly as given by the
Municipal Governments or County (City) Governments shall be subjected to a fine more than NT$
1,000,000 and under NT$ 5,000,000.
Article 38
Sand and gravel excavation party failed performing restoration in accordance with Article 26 or 27
shall be subjected to a fine more than NT$ 500,000 and under NT$ 2,500,000 and shall be
performed restoration within a specified period. Failing or incomplete restoration within the
specified period may be fined continuously, and when necessary, the Municipal Governments or
County (City) Governments may perform in subrogation and remove the facilities, and the cost will
charge the illegal excavation party.
Article 39
With one of the following situation shall be subjected to a fine more than NT$ 500,000 and under
NT$ 2,500,000.
1. Failing in excavation sand and gravel, implementing soil and water conservation, environment
protection, restoration and hazard prevention in accordance with the Sand and Gravel Excavation
Plan as specified under Article 20.
2. Failing in undertaking safety measure or providing design, management and maintenance of
safety measure as specified under Article 30.
Violating the above requirements led to disaster or impact environment, the government authorities
shall not be accepted any and all application for Sand and Gravel Excavation Permit by the same
excavation party.
Article 40
With one of the following defects shall be subjected to a fine more than NT$ 200,000 and under
NT$ 1,000,000.
1. Failing in reporting to the Municipal or County (City) Governments in accordance with Para. 1,
Article 31 at the occurrence of disaster in sand and gravel excavation field.
2. Refusing, evading or interfering the inspection as specified under Para. 1, Article 34.
Article 41
With one of the following defects shall be subjected to a fine more than NT$ 3,000 and under NT$
300,000.
1. Failing in reporting excavation and selling quantity in accordance with Para. 1, Article 32.
2. Failure of responsible person of sand and gravel excavation field in issuing triplicate shipping
orders in accordance with Paragraph 1, Article 35.
3. Failure of carrier in bringing triplicate shipping orders in accordance with Paragraph 1, Article
35.
4. Failure of responsible person of sand and gravel excavation field to load the sand and gravel in
purpose built vehicle or truck for transporting out of excavation field in accordance with Paragraph
2, Article 35.
Article 42
Sand and gravel excavation party receiving benefit in violating the provisions of the Act in excess of
the maximum fine is subject to added fine within the scope of such benefit, without being limited by
the maximum amount of fine specified.
Article 43
Cases violating the Act, which involves criminal charge shall be handled to judicial institute.
Article 44
The penalty for violation of the Act shall be imposed by the Municipal Governments or County
(City) Governments, except otherwise provided in the Act.
Article 45
Failure to pay the fine imposed pursuant to the Act within the set deadline shall be referred to the
court for compulsory execution.
Chapter Ⅵ Supplementary Provisions
Article 46
The deadline for rejecting/approving application of Sand and Gravel Excavation Permit shall be
announced by Central Government Authorities.
Article 47
Sand and Gravel Excavation Permit and the certificate of Sand and Gravel Excavation Registration
obtained prior to the enforcement rules of the Act shall be renewed with the Municipal Governments
or County (City) Governments, within three months after the implementation of the Act. The
original permits/registrations shall be invalid if renewal had not been arranged.
Sand and gravel excavation party may continue such operation prior to the approval or rejection of
application for renewing the Sand and Gravel Excavation Permit and the certificate of Sand and
Gravel Excavation Registration in accordance with the above provision together with application of
extension.
Article 48
The Municipal Governments or County (City) Governments shall collect environment maintenance
fee when issuing Sand and Gravel Excavation Permit as the funds for the Municipal Governments
or County (City) Governments for the public construction works in soil and water conservation,
environment protection and road traffic.
The above environment maintenance fee may be collected basis the permitted removal quantity. The
base of collection shall be formulated by the Central Government Authorities.
Article 49
The Municipal Governments or County (City) Governments shall collect reviewing fee,
investigation fee, licensing fee or registration fee when accepting the application for permit,
investigation, registration or issuance of Permit/Registration. The base of collection shall be
formulated by the Central Government Authorities.
Article 50
The forms of various documents, permit and registration shall be formulated by the Central
Government Authorities.
Article 51
The central government authorities shall periodically investigate the matters handled by the
Municipal or County (City) Governments.
Article 52
The enforcement regulations of the Act will be prepared by Central Government Authorities.
Article 53
The Act shall become effective from the date of promulgation. |