On December 31, 2025, the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic took reason of the Supreme Decree of the Ministry of the Environment amending Supreme Decree No. 40 of 2012, which approves the Regulation of the Environmental Impact Assessment System (“RSEIA”).

This amendment seeks to update the criteria for entry into the SEIA due to project or activity modifications, as well as certain thresholds in the list of project typologies set out in Article 3 of the RSEIA, considering sectoral regulatory developments, technological advances, and the experience gained in the environmental assessment of existing project types.

 

1. Main amendments

 

Adjustment to the definition of “change of consideration” Article 2, letter g.1, is amended to clarify that, when determining whether a project undergoes changes of consideration, the typologies under which the project was originally approved are excluded.

However, the most significant changes are those introduced in Article 3 of the RSEIA:

• • Energy sector: Letter b.1) is redefined, requiring entry into the SEIA for high-voltage transmission lines carrying electricity at a voltage greater than 23 kV and with a route length exceeding 2 km. Thus, in addition to voltage, a length criterion is incorporated.

 

Additionally, the threshold in letter e.6) regarding the storage of liquid or gaseous fuels at service stations is increased from 200,000 liters to 850,000 liters.

 

• • Real estate sector: The threshold related to the land area “to be intervened” is adjusted in letters g.1.2(b) and g.2(b), clarifying whether it refers to the total plot where the project or activity will be carried out or only to the area actually affected by the works and/or actions.

 

• • Mining: In letter i.1), an exception is introduced for projects that have a valid and favorable Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA) for the disposal of large-scale mining waste and that contemplate tailings reprocessing within an operating mining site or the recovery/valorization of large-scale mining waste. This applies where fresh tailings are reprocessed or where the actions or works for reprocessing or valorization have a capacity of less than 25% of the nominal capacity authorized for mineral processing.

 

Además, se elimina el literal i.6., y la expresión “turba” del literal i) atendida la Ley N°21.660.

 

• • Sanitation (letter o): The concept of “treatment” is defined as activities that modify the chemical and/or biological characteristics of water or waste. The concept of “disposal” is also clarified as any procedure intended to definitively dispose of or destroy waste in authorized facilities.

 

• Sustancias peligrosas (literal ñ): se aumentan los umbrales de capacidad de almacenamiento para cada sustancia, como también, se incorporan criterios del Decreto Supremo N°57 de 2019 del Ministerio de Salud y Ministerio del Medio Ambiente para las sustancias inflamables y corrosivas o reactivas. Asimismo, aumento de umbral para el transporte de estas sustancias.

 

• Saneamiento (literal o): se define el concepto de tratamiento, entendiéndolo como las actividades en las que se vean modificadas las características químicas y/o biológicas de las aguas o residuos. También se precisa el concepto de eliminación como todo procedimiento que tiene por objeto disponer en forma definitiva o destruir un residuo en instalaciones autorizadas.

 

Furthermore, the thresholds in letters o.3 and o.4 are increased to 15,000 inhabitants and 5,000 inhabitants, respectively. Letters o.5, o.7, o.8, o.9, and o.10 are restructured, incorporating new thresholds and conditions.

 

Finally, a new requirement is incorporated into the content of the RCA, namely the identification of the project or activity typologies, as well as those applicable to its parts, works, or actions.

 

2. Entry into force

These amendments will enter into force once the decree is published in the Official Gazette.

 

If you require additional information on this matter, please contact: Javier Naranjo (jnaranjo@jdf.cl); Andrea Gallyas (agallyas@jdf.cl); Martín Esser (messer@jdf.cl); Javiera Rodríguez (jrodriguez@jdf.cl); and Josefina Ossa (jossa@jdf.cl).