Saudi Arabian police forces already protect their citizens.  Starting next year, they will also protect the environment.

Last week the Saudi Arabian Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) announced that police precints across the country would be receiving green policy guardians who would perform inspections and ensure compliance with environmental standards.

According to PME President, Prince Turki bin Nasser, the green guardians are currently being discussed with the Ministry of the Interior and are scheduled to be on the streets within a year.

Prince Turki bin Nasser also said that “over the past two years we have studied the damage inflicted on the environment by service stations in the kingdom.”   The investigations have led to the discovery that many gas stations in Saudi Arabia illegally dump used oil and other hazardous waste.

The PME has announced that, as a result of its studies, it would be inspecting gas stations to make sure that they are complying with environmental standards that help reduce pollution from leaks.  Government studies show that leaks in the tanks used to store gas and oil have resulted in groundwater pollution.  The pollution affects farms, water wells, and the health of Saudi Arabian citizens.

After discussing the matter with the Ministry of the Interior, the PME made the following decisions about enforcing environmental standards in gas stations:

- Gas stations will be subject to a mandatory annual inspection by PME inspectors

- Gas stations will be required to bore wells so that PME inspectors can collect local groundwater samples

- Certificates will be provided to gas stations that pass the inspections, and without such certificates the stations will not be allowed to operate

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