Ministry of Interior Proposes Amendment to Allow Temporary Soil Storage Sites on Non-Urban Land, Targeting June Implementation
The Ministry of the Interior has amended regulations to allow temporary facilities on non-urban land for 'major national policies.' The National Land Management Agency will apply to have soil storage designated as a major policy, allowing government or industry associations to apply for temporary sites starting as early as June.
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- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 19:48
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(Central News Agency, Taipei, 14th, by Kao Hua-chien) The Ministry of the Interior passed a legal amendment today allowing for the setup of temporary facilities to support the nation's 'major policies.' The National Land Management Agency will also request the Executive Yuan to designate temporary soil placement as a 'major policy,' enabling government agencies or industry associations to apply for setting up temporary soil storage sites on non-urban land. The temporary placement period will be three years, with a possible two-year extension, aiming for implementation in June this year.
The Ministry of the Interior's executive meeting today passed the amendment to the 'Rules for the Use Control of Non-Urban Land,' which is expected to be promulgated and implemented by the end of May.
Tsai Chang-chan, Director-General of the Ministry's National Land Management Agency, stated at a press conference that Article 6 of the original rules only allowed temporary facilities for 'major national construction projects.' However, to accommodate the nation's overall long-term development, the Executive Yuan has been promoting various 'major policies' that are not necessarily major construction projects but also require temporary facilities, such as site offices, construction machinery workshops, and soil storage.
Tsai stated that the amendment now allows for temporary facilities to support national 'major policies.' This requires approval from the Executive Yuan upon application by the central competent authority for the specific business, and will be jointly supervised by the central authority and local governments to ensure the use of non-urban land complies with planned usage. The facilities will be dismantled and the land restored to its original state upon expiration.
Tsai also said that, in line with the rule change, the National Land Management Agency, as the central authority for soil and earthworks, will uniformly request the Executive Yuan to designate temporary soil placement as a 'major policy.' Consequently, they have proposed the 'Operational Principles for the Application of Temporary Soil and Rock Placement on Non-Urban Land.' Government agencies and legally registered associations (such as real estate and construction operators) can apply to set up temporary soil storage sites on non-urban land for a period of three years, with a possible two-year extension.
Tsai said that temporary soil storage sites cannot be located in specific agricultural zones, forest zones, river zones, and first-level environmentally sensitive areas. They must also be at least 1 kilometer away from disaster-prone environmentally sensitive areas, schools, and hospitals.
Tsai stated that soil conditions are limited to sand and gravel, silt, clay, and B5-type materials are restricted to specific dedicated zones or industrial zones. A security deposit of NT$300,000 is required, which increases proportionally with the application area. The site must be equipped with fences or green belts, dust prevention, washing facilities, and surveillance cameras.
Tsai said that the current long distances to soil treatment facilities like Taipei Port, Taichung Port, and Kaohsiung's Nanxing Project result in high transportation costs. It is hoped that setting up temporary storage sites can act as a buffer, reducing vehicle queues and lowering soil treatment prices. Application demand is expected to emerge around metropolitan areas.
Tsai said that local governments should be able to start accepting applications in June. Local governments are expected to complete a preliminary review within 15 days and report to the National Land Management Agency, with the goal of completing the final review within two months.
Tsai added that besides soil storage, other major policies, such as placing disaster prevention containers, can also apply this revised mechanism for non-urban land use control, provided they are recognized by the Executive Yuan upon application by the central competent authority. (Editor: Lin Hsing-meng) 1150514
The Ministry of the Interior's executive meeting today passed the amendment to the 'Rules for the Use Control of Non-Urban Land,' which is expected to be promulgated and implemented by the end of May.
Tsai Chang-chan, Director-General of the Ministry's National Land Management Agency, stated at a press conference that Article 6 of the original rules only allowed temporary facilities for 'major national construction projects.' However, to accommodate the nation's overall long-term development, the Executive Yuan has been promoting various 'major policies' that are not necessarily major construction projects but also require temporary facilities, such as site offices, construction machinery workshops, and soil storage.
Tsai stated that the amendment now allows for temporary facilities to support national 'major policies.' This requires approval from the Executive Yuan upon application by the central competent authority for the specific business, and will be jointly supervised by the central authority and local governments to ensure the use of non-urban land complies with planned usage. The facilities will be dismantled and the land restored to its original state upon expiration.
Tsai also said that, in line with the rule change, the National Land Management Agency, as the central authority for soil and earthworks, will uniformly request the Executive Yuan to designate temporary soil placement as a 'major policy.' Consequently, they have proposed the 'Operational Principles for the Application of Temporary Soil and Rock Placement on Non-Urban Land.' Government agencies and legally registered associations (such as real estate and construction operators) can apply to set up temporary soil storage sites on non-urban land for a period of three years, with a possible two-year extension.
Tsai said that temporary soil storage sites cannot be located in specific agricultural zones, forest zones, river zones, and first-level environmentally sensitive areas. They must also be at least 1 kilometer away from disaster-prone environmentally sensitive areas, schools, and hospitals.
Tsai stated that soil conditions are limited to sand and gravel, silt, clay, and B5-type materials are restricted to specific dedicated zones or industrial zones. A security deposit of NT$300,000 is required, which increases proportionally with the application area. The site must be equipped with fences or green belts, dust prevention, washing facilities, and surveillance cameras.
Tsai said that the current long distances to soil treatment facilities like Taipei Port, Taichung Port, and Kaohsiung's Nanxing Project result in high transportation costs. It is hoped that setting up temporary storage sites can act as a buffer, reducing vehicle queues and lowering soil treatment prices. Application demand is expected to emerge around metropolitan areas.
Tsai said that local governments should be able to start accepting applications in June. Local governments are expected to complete a preliminary review within 15 days and report to the National Land Management Agency, with the goal of completing the final review within two months.
Tsai added that besides soil storage, other major policies, such as placing disaster prevention containers, can also apply this revised mechanism for non-urban land use control, provided they are recognized by the Executive Yuan upon application by the central competent authority. (Editor: Lin Hsing-meng) 1150514