The Guatemalan Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources will enact a regulation requiring environmental impact studies prior to construction of factories or other productive installations. The new rule, a project that has been held up since 1986, “is ready and all that is needed is the signature” of President Alfonso Portillo, ministry spokeswoman Patricia Ramírez told Tierramérica. Portillo is expected to sign the bill early this month.

Once in place, the rule will standardize the environmental impact research process, streamline granting of licenses to new businesses and applying sanctions.