We had a diesel or chemical spill. What must we do, and how fast?

Short answer

Stop the source and inform NCEC immediately, although none of the regulations sets a deadline in hours. A remediation plan prepared by an NCEC licensed provider must follow within 10 working days, and NCEC decides within 10 working days. You have 10 working days to object to NCEC's decision. Failing to inform NCEC as soon as soil pollution is detected can cost 10,000 to 1,000,000 riyals.

Key terms used in this guide 14 terms

Category 1 activities: Activities expected to produce low environmental impact that does not exceed the perimeter of the activity's site. Arabic: أنشطة الفئة الأولى (meaning “activities of the first category”) Permits reg. Art. 4(4), First
Compensation: Monetary amount paid by the person who causes the damage, pollution or environmental degradation, to compensate for or eliminate the resulting deterioration. It includes rehabilitation expenses if the person causing the damage did not carry out the rehabilitation. Arabic: التعويضات (meaning “the compensations”) Aqueous reg. Art. 1
Competent authority: The Ministry, any of the national centres for the environment sector, or the Public Foundation for the Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea, each within its mandate and as the regulations set. Council of Ministers Decision 406 added the Foundation to the Environmental Law definition. The Audit regulation (1446H) uses the same definition. Arabic: الجهة المختصة (meaning “the competent (specialised) authority”) Env Law Art. 1 as amended by Council of Ministers Decision 406 (1445H), Third, Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 1
Environmental audit study: The study that Category 2 and 3 activities, and any activity NCEC names in a reasoned decision, submit with the renewal of the permit to operate. It is prepared by an NCEC licensed provider using the structure in Appendix 1 of the Audit regulation. The 1446H regulation no longer defines the term. Arabic: دراسة التدقيق البيئي (meaning “environmental audit study”) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 5 and Appendix 1
Environmental degradation: Severe damage to the environment caused by the depletion of natural resources, the destruction of natural habitats, the extinction of wildlife species, or the pollution of environmental media and the deterioration of air, water and soil quality. Arabic: التدهور البيئي (meaning “environmental deterioration”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Environmental emergency: An environmental incident that poses an immediate danger causing or threatening serious environmental damage, a threat to people, or destruction of ecosystems or wildlife habitats, and that needs urgent intervention to stop it becoming a disaster. The Audit regulation (1446H) uses a shorter definition: any operational incident within an activity or facility that threatens environmental habitats or harms the environment. Arabic: الطوارئ البيئية (meaning “environmental emergencies”) Emergency reg. Art. 1, Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 1
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) study: Study aimed at determining, estimating and evaluating the environmental impact of any activity classified by the Center as category 2 or 3, with the objective of incorporating environmental considerations into the final design of the activity, along with economic, social and security considerations, and identifying the necessary alternatives and measures to protect the environment. Arabic: دراسة تقييم الأثر البيئي (meaning “study of the assessment of the environmental impact”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Environmental incident: An event caused by natural or operational factors within an activity, facility or marine vessel that has caused or may cause damage resulting in a spill or leak of harmful substances into the environment. Any incident, whatever its size or type, must be reported to NCEC immediately. Arabic: الحادثة البيئية (meaning “the environmental incident”) Emergency reg. Art. 1 and Art. 6(2)
Environmental rehabilitation: Any procedure conducted on an environmentally degraded site or one that is affected by environmental damage or pollution, to restore its natural state of environmental balance, in accordance with the standards set by the competent authority. Arabic: إعادة التأهيل البيئي (meaning “environmental re-qualification (restoring to a fit state)”) Rehab reg. Art. 1
Rehabilitation plan: Plan that must be submitted to NCEC for certain Category 1 activities designated at classification, as part of a Category 2 or 3 EIA, whenever an incident requires rehabilitation of the damaged site, or on NCEC request after inspections or audits. Arabic: خطة إعادة التأهيل البيئي للمواقع المتدهورة (meaning “plan for the environmental rehabilitation of degraded sites”) Rehab reg. Art. 5, First (1)
Remediation of polluted sites: Any procedure conducted on a polluted site to restore it to its natural state of environmental balance in accordance with the requirements of the competent authority. Arabic: معالجة المواقع الملوثة (meaning “treatment of polluted sites”) Rehab reg. Art. 1
Remediation plan: Plan that must be developed and submitted to NCEC when any environmental pollution incident occurs while the activity is being set up, operated or closed, or on NCEC request after inspections or audits. Arabic: خطة معالجة المواقع الملوثة (meaning “plan for treating polluted sites”) Rehab reg. Art. 5, Second (1)
Self plan (emergency preparedness and response): Measures to manage an activity's or facility's internal environmental emergencies. They cover preparedness for the environmental risks that threaten it and the steps after an emergency or disaster, including rehabilitation of the affected areas. Arabic: الخطط الذاتية (meaning “the self plans (own plans)”) Emergency reg. Art. 1
Service provider: A person licensed by the competent authority to provide environmental services. The Audit regulation uses the singular مقدم الخدمة (meaning the service provider) for a person licensed by the Center. Arabic: مقدمو الخدمات (meaning “the service providers (those who provide the services)”) SP reg. (1446H) Art. 1 and Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 1

All 49 terms in the NCEC glossary

On this page

What must you do in the first hours?
Who else needs to be told?
When do you need a remediation plan, and how fast?
What goes into the post-incident report?
Do you need an emergency preparedness plan before anything happens?
What if the spill reaches the sea or the coast?
What can go wrong?
Spill response checklist

What must you do in the first hours?

Several regulations set the same first steps:

Inform NCEC immediately after detecting any exceedance, whether caused by an emergency, an accident or normal operations, and stop the source of pollution.^{Aqueous reg. Art. 6, Fourth (4)}
Inform NCEC as soon as soil pollution is detected during an activity.^{Soil reg. Art. 7(7)}
Cease the pollution source, decontaminate and rehabilitate.^{Rehab reg. Art. 4(1)}
Notify NCEC immediately on discovering any operational incident with environmental impact, and put your internal emergency plan into action.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 13}
Give emergency responders access to the site and do not obstruct their work.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 13}

None of these texts turns 'immediately' or 'as soon as' into a number of hours.

Write it down as it happens

Log times, actions, quantities and photographs from the start. The post-incident report and the remediation plan both draw on this record.

The Emergency regulation requires everyone, including operators of marine vessels, to notify NCEC and the relevant authorities immediately on learning of any environmental incident, whatever its size or type. NCEC sets the reporting channels and publishes them on its website.^{Emergency reg. Art. 6(1) and (2)}

On learning of an incident, you must activate the measures in your approved self plan or in the national plan.^{Emergency reg. Art. 7(1)}

Like the other texts, the Emergency regulation says 'immediately' and sets no number of hours.^{Emergency reg. Art. 6(2)}

Who else needs to be told?

Operating permits carry a model condition to notify NCEC immediately of emergencies, start-ups or temporary shutdowns that may cause exceedances of environmental standards.^{Permit guide, Appendix 2, item 10}

The NCEC emergency guideline expects your plan to cover coordination with other bodies such as Civil Defence, police and ambulance services. The NCEC plan does not replace emergency plans that other authorities require.^{Emergency plan guideline, pp. 9 and 11}

No worker on site may make a public statement about an emergency.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 18}

When do you need a remediation plan, and how fast?

A remediation plan is required when any environmental pollution incident occurs while the activity is being set up, operated or closed. Operating permits also carry a model condition to submit one for any pollution incident.^{Rehab reg. Art. 5, Second (1)(a) and Permit guide, Appendix 2, item 11}

Submit the plan	10 working days
NCEC decision	10 working days
Review of a revised plan	5 working days
Objection to the decision	10 working days from notification
NCEC decision on objection	10 working days from receipt

The plan must be prepared by an NCEC licensed service provider.^{Rehab reg. Art. 5, Third}

If the incident degrades the site, a rehabilitation plan is also required. NCEC gives 10 working days to submit or update it and decides within 5 working days.^{Rehab reg. Art. 5, First (1)(c) and Appendix 1, First}

Responding to environmental emergencies and surveying the damage on site is a licensed service type under the service providers regulation.^{SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(15)}

Table source^{Rehab reg. Appendix 1, Second}

What goes into the post-incident report?

After the emergency, the NCEC emergency guideline asks for a technical report that covers:^{Emergency plan guideline, pp. 13 and 14}

A general description of the emergency, its source and its root cause.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 13}
The response actions taken and the lessons learned.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 13}
Environmental monitoring data and results on pollution levels both during and after the emergency.^{Emergency reg. Art. 8(1)(d)}
The damage caused and the cost of treating it.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 14}
Corrective actions, including updating the internal emergency plan.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 14}

You must also prepare a corrective action plan that includes a rehabilitation plan for the affected environment. It must be amended in line with NCEC comments within 30 working days.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 14}

NCEC may require the party that caused the emergency to provide bank guarantees covering pollution and degradation costs. The causer bears the cost of NCEC's damage studies, clean-up, rehabilitation and compensation. Neither the regulation nor the guideline sets an amount.^{Emergency reg. Art. 9(1) and Art. 10(1)}

The Emergency regulation sets the deadline for the corrective action plan. It is due within 30 working days of the end of the emergency and covers:^{Emergency reg. Art. 8(2)}

A summary of the emergency, an analysis of its root causes and how it was managed.^{Emergency reg. Art. 8(2)(a)}
Shortcomings in preparedness and response.^{Emergency reg. Art. 8(2)(b)}
Proposed measures to fix those shortcomings, with their cost and timetable.^{Emergency reg. Art. 8(2)(c)}
Rehabilitation requirements for the affected areas under the Rehabilitation regulation.^{Emergency reg. Art. 8(2)(d)}
Any other related data NCEC asks for.^{Emergency reg. Art. 8(2)(e)}

The regulation confirms that you amend the plan in line with NCEC comments within 30 working days at most, or as NCEC decides. NCEC calculates the compensation and the rehabilitation of affected areas.^{Emergency reg. Art. 8(3) and (4)}

Do you need an emergency preparedness plan before anything happens?

Activities that need an emergency preparedness and response plan must submit it to NCEC for approval. The NCEC guideline says the plan is prepared by a provider licensed by NCEC. The regulation requires the plan in three cases:^{Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (1), Emergency plan guideline, pp. 6 and 13}

As part of an EIA, where NCEC reviews it within the study.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 13}
On NCEC request based on inspection results, periodic follow-up or its classification of the activity as a sensitive facility, with a decision within 30 working days of a complete application and payment of fees.^{Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (1)(c) and Second (2)}
As part of an environmental audit study, where the plan forms part of the study.^{Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (1)(b)}

When NCEC notifies you to prepare or update a plan, it sets a deadline of no more than 30 working days. It may extend this by up to 30 more working days.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 5}

Drills of the internal plan need NCEC approval.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 12}

The NCEC fee for reviewing an emergency preparedness and response plan is capped at 2,000 riyals per plan.^{Fees reg. Appendix 1, item 6}

The regulation itself sets the deadline NCEC gives for a requested plan at no more than 30 working days from notification, extendable by up to 30 working days.^{Emergency reg. Art. 4, Second (1)}

If NCEC asks for more documents or information, it makes a final decision within 30 working days of receiving the amended plan and may add 5 working days. A rejection must give reasons, and you then prepare a new plan with the required changes.^{Emergency reg. Art. 4, Second (2)(b) and (c)}

You can object to a rejection within 10 working days of the decision, and late objections are not accepted. NCEC decides within 15 working days of receipt and may add 5 working days.^{Emergency reg. Art. 4, Second (4) and (5)}

Once a plan is approved, you need NCEC approval before amending or updating it, or changing the staff, equipment or means it relies on.^{Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (5)}

You must also carry out a self-audit of preparedness and readiness at least once a year and send NCEC the report within 30 days of the end of the audit.^{Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (10)}

What if the spill reaches the sea or the coast?

The owner or operator of a marine vessel, or the person responsible for the activity, must notify NCEC on learning of any oil spill, release of other harmful substances, loss of cargo or accident that may have an environmental impact in the marine or coastal environment. They must immediately take measures to contain the impact, limit its spread and treat its effects.^{Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 4(5)}

Not notifying NCEC immediately carries 10,000 to 1,000,000 riyals. Not taking the necessary measures to contain leaks in the marine and coastal environment carries 50,000 to 5,000,000 riyals. Both are serious, are set by the damage and the area affected, and oblige the violator to correct the violation, repair the damage and pay compensation.^{Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, rows 35 and 37}

An incident that causes environmental damage, or involves contact or collision with coral reefs or marine wildlife, must also be reported to the competent authority immediately. Not doing so carries 10,000 to 500,000 riyals.^{Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 36}

The regulation prohibits discharging oils, their derivatives or fuel into the marine and coastal environment.^{Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 4(2)}

What can go wrong?

These are the costliest mistakes after a spill:

What can go wrong

Reporting late. Failing to inform NCEC as soon as soil pollution is detected carries 10,000 to 1,000,000 riyals.^{Soil reg. Table (1) item 7}
Late notice of water pollution carries 10,000 to 100,000 riyals on top of the penalty for the exceedance itself.^{Aqueous reg. Table (2) No. 17}
Letting the spill pollute soil. An activity that damages or pollutes soil carries 20,000 to 10,000,000 riyals.^{Soil reg. Table (1) item 1}
Disposing of hazardous waste in environmental media is an act under Article 35 of the Environmental Law. That makes the violation serious, and an expert committee sets the penalty.^{Soil reg. Art. 8(2) and (3)(a)}
Starting the clean-up before NCEC approves the plan carries 10,000, 20,000 or 30,000 riyals for Category 1, 2 or 3.^{Rehab reg. Table (1) item 7}
Not reporting a new incident during the clean-up carries 10,000, 20,000 or 30,000 riyals by category.^{Rehab reg. Art. 7(3) and Table (1) item 5}
Staff posting about the spill. No worker may make a public statement about an emergency.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 18}
Diesel reaching trees or shrubs on vegetation cover lands is a separate logging violation of 10,000 riyals per tree for a first offence.^{Logging reg. Table (1) (2024) item 22}
Not notifying NCEC immediately of an emergency carries 10,000 to 1,000,000 riyals under the Emergency regulation.^{Emergency reg. Table 1, row 12}
Not taking the necessary measures to contain leaks and protect environmental media carries 50,000 to 5,000,000 riyals, set by the damage, with a duty to treat the damage and pay compensation.^{Emergency reg. Table 1, row 14}
Not implementing your self plan when an emergency occurs carries 20,000 to 1,000,000 riyals, set by the damage.^{Emergency reg. Table 1, row 3}
Using chemical dispersants without NCEC approval carries 10,000 riyals per cubic metre of dispersant used.^{Emergency reg. Table 1, row 13}
Not submitting the technical report after the emergency carries 5,000 to 100,000 riyals. Not preparing or implementing the corrective action plan carries the same range.^{Emergency reg. Table 1, rows 6 and 7}

Spill response checklist

Use this order on the day of the spill:

Stop the source and contain the spill.^{Rehab reg. Art. 4(1)}
Inform NCEC immediately and record the time.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 13}
Put the internal emergency plan into action.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 13}
Appoint an NCEC licensed provider to prepare the remediation plan within the 10 working day window.^{Rehab reg. Appendix 1, Second (1)}
Dispose of clean-up waste, such as contaminated soil and used absorbents, only through a waste service provider licensed by the competent authorities, and keep the transport and disposal contracts for the plan approval request.^{Rehab guide, section 5 (Appendix 1), item (e), and section 4(f)}
Start the post-incident technical report.^{Emergency plan guideline, p. 13}

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References

Each small number in this guide shows the article or section that point comes from. Hover over or tap a number to see it, or open the full list below.

Show all 55 references and the 9 regulation texts

Aqueous reg. Art. 6, Fourth (4)
Soil reg. Art. 7(7)
Rehab reg. Art. 4(1)
Emergency plan guideline, p. 13
Emergency reg. Art. 6(1) and (2)
Emergency reg. Art. 7(1)
Emergency reg. Art. 6(2)
Permit guide, Appendix 2, item 10
Emergency plan guideline, pp. 9 and 11
Emergency plan guideline, p. 18
Rehab reg. Art. 5, Second (1)(a) and Permit guide, Appendix 2, item 11
Rehab reg. Appendix 1, Second
Rehab reg. Art. 5, Third
Rehab reg. Art. 5, First (1)(c) and Appendix 1, First
SP reg. (1446H) Art. 4(15)
Emergency plan guideline, pp. 13 and 14
Emergency reg. Art. 8(1)(d)
Emergency plan guideline, p. 14
Emergency reg. Art. 9(1) and Art. 10(1)
Emergency reg. Art. 8(2)
Emergency reg. Art. 8(2)(a)
Emergency reg. Art. 8(2)(b)
Emergency reg. Art. 8(2)(c)
Emergency reg. Art. 8(2)(d)
Emergency reg. Art. 8(2)(e)
Emergency reg. Art. 8(3) and (4)
Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (1), Emergency plan guideline, pp. 6 and 13
Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (1)(c) and Second (2)
Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (1)(b)
Emergency plan guideline, p. 5
Emergency plan guideline, p. 12
Fees reg. Appendix 1, item 6
Emergency reg. Art. 4, Second (1)
Emergency reg. Art. 4, Second (2)(b) and (c)
Emergency reg. Art. 4, Second (4) and (5)
Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (5)
Emergency reg. Art. 4, First (10)
Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 4(5)
Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, rows 35 and 37
Marine reg. (1448H) Table 1, row 36
Marine reg. (1448H) Art. 4(2)
Soil reg. Table (1) item 7
Aqueous reg. Table (2) No. 17
Soil reg. Table (1) item 1
Soil reg. Art. 8(2) and (3)(a)
Rehab reg. Table (1) item 7
Rehab reg. Art. 7(3) and Table (1) item 5
Logging reg. Table (1) (2024) item 22
Emergency reg. Table 1, row 12
Emergency reg. Table 1, row 14
Emergency reg. Table 1, row 3
Emergency reg. Table 1, row 13
Emergency reg. Table 1, rows 6 and 7
Rehab reg. Appendix 1, Second (1)
Rehab guide, section 5 (Appendix 1), item (e), and section 4(f)

How to read these references 11 texts cited

Aqueous reg.: Executive Regulations for the Protection of Aqueous Media from Pollution
Soil reg.: Executive Regulation for the Prevention and Remediation of Soil Pollution
Rehab reg.: Executive Regulations for the Environmental Rehabilitation of Degraded Sites and Remediation of Polluted Sites
Emergency plan guide: NCEC Environmental Guidelines for Preparing Preparedness and Response Plans for Environmental Emergencies and Disasters (EP-M-45)
Emergency reg.: Executive Regulation on the Controls for Preparing and Implementing Preparedness and Response Plans for Environmental Emergencies and Disasters
Permit guide: A guide to issuing and renewing environmental permits for the construction and operation of activities (NCEC, LO-1-M-005)
SP reg. (1446H): Executive Regulation for Environmental Service Providers (1446H)
Fees reg.: Executive Regulation for Controls and Procedures Pertaining to Financial Dues for Environmental Licenses, Permits and Services
Marine reg. (1448H): Executive Regulation for the Sustainable Management of the Marine and Coastal Environment (1448H update)
Logging reg.: Executive Regulation for Logging
Rehab guide: NCEC guide to requirements for preparing and implementing rehabilitation and remediation plans (LO-1-M-002)

Art. 7(4)(b) means Article 7, paragraph 4, item (b).
First, Second and Third are the numbered parts some articles are divided into. The Arabic texts write them أولاً، ثانياً، ثالثاً (meaning first, second, third).
H after a year marks the Hijri (Islamic calendar) year. 1446H ran from July 2024 to June 2025.

Every text we cite is listed on our regulations page.

Regulation texts this guide is written from

Executive Regulations for the Protection of Aqueous Media from Pollution
Executive Regulation for the Prevention and Remediation of Soil Pollution
Executive Regulations for the Environmental Rehabilitation of Degraded Sites and Remediation of Polluted Sites
NCEC Environmental Guidelines for Preparing Preparedness and Response Plans for Environmental Emergencies and Disasters (EP-M-45-V01)
NCEC guide to issuing and renewing environmental permits for the construction and operation of activities (LO-1-M-005)
NCEC guide to requirements for preparing and implementing rehabilitation and remediation plans (LO-1-M-002-V01)
Executive Regulation for Financial Dues for Environmental Licenses, Permits and Services
Executive Regulation for Environmental Service Providers
Executive Regulation for Logging

This guide is general information written from the regulation texts listed above. It is not legal advice. Regulations change, and the official text always prevails. Spotted something out of date? Request a change.