OFFICIAL TRANSLATION

LAW ОН

ENVIRONМENТAL вкотвсттон

Pursuant to article 16 ПО.7491 dated August 1991 "Оп the mainconstitutional dispositions" at the proposal of the Council ofMinisters, the People's Assembly of Republic of A1bania

D Е С r D Е D

Chapter 1

GENERAL DISPOSITIONS

Article 1

Environmenta1 Protection constitutes а prerequisite for thesustainable development of the society, а priority of nationalconcern, the main strategic elements of which are: preventionапд reduction of po11ution of апу kindi conservation ofbio10gical diversity specific to the countryls naturalbiogeographica1 backgroundjO rational managernent of the паЕшаГ

resources and the avoidance of their overexploitation; theeco1ogical restoration of the areas damaged Ьу anthropicactivities or natural destructive phenomenaj preservation ofecological Ьа1апсе; апд life quality maintenance апд

improvernent.

Article 2

When interpreting this law

1. "Environrnent" теапз a11 the ·natural апд q.nthropic elernentsand factors, in their action and interaction. The naturalenvironmental elements are represented Ьу water, air, soi1 andsubsoi1, solar radiation, vegetable and animal organisms, withаl1 natural processes and phenomena generated Ьу theirinteraction and which affect life.

Anthropic factors are represented bythe existence of humansociety and its economical апд social activity.

2. "Environmenta1 protection" теапз the activity which aimsat the prevention or deterioration, regeneration,environmental preservation and improvement.

З. "Environmental po11ution" mеапз the change in its qualityаз а resu1t of the creation and insertion of physical,chemical or biological factors of the natural or anthropicresources, inside or outside the country.

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4. "Environmental imDairment" теаП5 demolition of thephY5ica1, chemical and structura1 feature5 of а natura1eco5ystem; reduction of bio1ogica1 activity and diversity ofnatura1 апд anthropic ecosystem; de5truction of eco1ogica1Ьа1апсе апд life qua1ity caused main1y Ьу water, air or 50i1po11ution or improper usage.

5. "Hazardous substances" means those substance5 who5eproduction, transport, preservation or emis5ion оп

environment, а5 resu1t of their qua1ity, impair or mау impairhuman hea1th, environmental qualities, f1ora, fauna,bioceno5es, or biotops.

6. "Hazardous wastes" are erosive, toxical, excitant,exp1osive, inf1ammable cancerogenic апд radioactive mattersБиitаblе to саизе the change or the creation of anothermatter, have the qua1ity of accelerating burn5, harming thenatura1 state of water, 5oi1 or air Ьу damaging human5 orother 1iving beings in the natura1 environment.

7. "Natura1\1ega1 persons" mеапз enterprises, institutions,associations, organizations, native апд foreign individua1s,state or private that perform production, cOn5truction,service activities or апу other activity of ап economic orsocia1 character which тау cause po11ution or injury to theenvironment.

Article 3

The environmenta1 protection from pollution and the damage Ьу

gaseous, liquid, solid, or radioactive substance5 andhazardous wastes generated or di5charged Ьу indu-strial plantsand activitie5, agricultura1, communal, trade, socialcultura1, military, or transport activities that infringe оп

ecologica1 and natura1 systems, Ьа1апсе or damage materia1goods or cultura1 and historical values is compulsory for allstate bodies and natural or 1egal persons, native or foreign.

Article 4

Environmental protection from p011ution and damage inc1udesthe protection of water ecosystems, atm05phere, 50i1ecosY5tems апд protection of natura1 landscape. Detai1ed rulesand regulations about water, air, soi1, nature апд 1andscapeprotection will Ье determined Ьу specific legislation.

Article 5

Import5 of hazardous waste5 are prohibited to enter, Ье

stored, preserved or disposed in the Republic of Albania.The transportation of hazardous wastes and substances throughthe territory and territoria1 1andwaters of the Republicof Albania is permitted оп1у if it is authorized Ьу ап

international agreement or treaty to which the Republic of

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Albania is а party.In all cases, the transport оЕ waste mау Ье done only with thepermission оЕ the Minister оЕ Health and EnvironmentalProtection in accordance with the security rules defined Ьу

it.

Article б

The Republic оЕ Albania shall implement the principles оЕ

international conventions and treaties оп the environment towhich it is а party. In cases where it is not а party, itshall take into account, recognize and respect the generallyaccepted norms and principles оЕ international rights оп

environment.

Chapter II

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (E.I.A.)

Article 7

All the activities of natural and legal persons native orforeign, who exercise their activities in the territory of theRepublic оЕ Albania, shall Ье subject to environmental impactassessments.

Article 8

The authorities under this law shall require environmentalimpact assessments for:

1. National or local programmes and territory structuringand urban development plans as well as their amendments.

2. Projects and activities which have strong impacts оп theenvironment and which are particularly dangerous to humanhealth.

3. Projects for reconstruction and enlargement of activitiesreferred to in point two оЕ this article.

4. Projects and local activities according to the judgementand definitions made Ьу the local authority.

Article 9

The authorities which mау require environmental impactassessments under this law, are the Committee of EnvironmentalPreservation and Protection, its regional agencies, as well asthe Соmmипе, municipality, or district council according to

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the relevant territorial unit.

The experts or institutions which will perform theenvironmental impact assessment will Ье assigned Ьу the аЬоуе

mentioned authorities in each case. They will Ье compensatedaccording to the rules established Ьу the Minister of Healthand Environmental Protection.

Article 10

The Committee of Environmental Protection and Preservation(СЕРР) mау determine the projects and activities according topoint 1, 2 and 3 of article 8 of this law, which requireenvironmental impact assessments.

Assessments shall Ье made periodically Ьу order of theChairrnan of Committee of" Environmental Proteetion (СЕРР), butnot less than опее in five years.

The Cornrnittee of Environmental Protection and Preservation(СЕРР) mау require from local authorities, when necessary,that ап environrnental impact assessment Ье performed forprojeets and local aetivities.

Article 11

Rules and proeedures of required environmental irnpaetassessments are determined Ьу the Committee of EnvironmentalProtection and Preservation (СЕРР) in eooperation withrelevant ministries and other central institutions.

Article 12

Coneerned natural and legal persons shall have the right toparticipate in the consideration of results of environmentalimpaet assessrnents.

They shall Ье informed Ьу national or loeal тазз media orother appropriate means about the proeedures of theenvironmental impact assessment, not later than one monthbefore the assessment begins.

Article 13

Environmental Impact Assessments shall Ье performed Ьу expertsof relevant fields, who :

1 . Науе professional eompetenee;

2. Are independent and have по eontraetual bonds with theprojectls investor or the operator, and are not involved

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with related activities;

З. Give conclusions that comply with establishedenvironmental impact assessment procedures and admissiblenorms and standards оЕ environmental protection.

Article 14

Natural or legal persons and persons responsible for projectsreferred to in Articles 8, shall Ье obliged to forward thefollowing documentation before beginning an environrnentalimpact assessment:

1. Description of the project and activity, as well as itslocation and capacity.

2. А description of existing environmental conditions inrelation to the project or activity prior to itsimplementation.

З. Prognosis of the project's impact оп the environment.

4. Description оЕ the measures taken to prevent and prohibitadverse effects оп environment.

5. Natural and legal persons which could Ье affected Ьу

environmental pollution and damage.

б. Conclusions.

7. Other documents judged as necessary Ьу the СЕРР.

Article 15

The'competent body under this law, based оп experts'conclusions, shall render а final decision about theenvironmental impact assessment, Ьу taking these measures:

1. Total or partial prohibition or discontinuance оЕ theactivity оЕ natural and legal persons and of theimplementation оЕ projects when there is а negativeimpact оп the environment.

2. Prohibition of the continuance оЕ the assessmentprocedure if the project has ап adverse affect оп theenvironment.

The competent body shall make its decision known to theparties concerned or, if appropriate, it shall provideinformation to the public.

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Article 76

Assessment ехреnзез when the environmental 1mpact 1з negative,shall Ье borne Ьу the natural or legal persons who areresponsible for the environmental pollution and damage. Theorder issued Ьу the relevant competent body for payment ofassessment ехреnзез 1з f1nal.

Chapter III

LICENCES FOR ACTIVITIES ТНАТ SHALLAFFECT ENVIRONMENT

Article 17

Natural and legal persons who engage in economic and socialactivities that тау have ап impact оп the environment shall Ье

obliged to apply for а licence from the designated cornpetentauthorities under this law.

Article 18

Licences shall Ье provided for the following economic andsocial activities:

1. Construction and setting into work of various facilitiesof local and national interest.

2. Local and national programmes and plans for territorystructuring and urban development аз well аз theiramendrnents.

З. Construction of roads, railways, seaports, hydrotechnicalplants, other industrial activities, land reclamation andprojects governing the improvement of superficialwatercourses.

4. Exploration, extraction or exploitation of natural 50i1and subsoi1 minerals and resources.

5. Exploitation of mineral or biological resources in watersintended for fishing, taking into account species,зеазопз, теапз and admissible 1evels of fishing.

6. Exploitation of forests that are of сотmоп interestjcreation of forested areasi hunting, taking into accountspecies, seasons, mеапз and admissible levels of hunting.

7. Exp10itat1on of flora, fauna, natural resources, coastalzones and зеа bottoms.

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8. Орелiпg ир of new areas for grоwiлg fruits in zones withprotected water resources.

9. Production, sale or use of toxic products, as well asthose to Ье used for phytosanitarian, agricultural andsyllvicutural purposes.

10. The import алd export of toxic suЬstалсеs, апд thetransportation of toxic suЬstалсеs through the territoryof the Republic of АlЬалiа.

11. Dеtеrmiлiпg the mаплеr of trалsроrtаtiоп, the site ofdeposit, рrосеssiлg алd disposal of toxic апд hazardouswastes.

12. The import алd export of plants алd animal speciesсолsidеrеd to Ье flora or fauna.

13. Other activities that mау have ап impact оп theепvirопmелt, and which shall Ье determined Ьу Committeeof Епvirолmепtаl Protection and Preservation.

Article 19

Environmental licences referred to in Art1cle 18 of th1s lawshall Ье provided Ьу the following authorities:

1. For activities in paragraphs 10 and 11, Ьу the Ministryof Health and Environmental Protection.

2. For activ1ties of national interest and other activit1esforeseen in paragraphs 1-9 and 12, Ьу СЕРР.

з. For activities of local interest in paragraphs 1, 2, 3,S, 6, Ьу councils of соmmипе, municipalities or districtsaccording to the relevant territorial units.

4. Activities included in paragraph 13 shall Ье determinedЬу the Committee of Environmental Protection (СЕРР).

Article 20

Environmental licences shall Ье issued at the request of thenatural or legal person, based оп the technical documentationand the analysis of the impact оп the environment presented Ьу

him. The licence shall Ье given within three months from therequest апд it 1s valid frorn the time when the activitystarts until the conditions, according to which the licence isgranted, change.

The competent relevant authorities mау postpone the time ofgrапtiлg the licence for ир to 6 months when conditions areлоt satisfied under the first paragraph of this article. Theseauthorities are obliged to respond within the above time

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schedule, otherwise the licence 1s considered to Ье approved.Environmental licences shall Ьесоте invalid unless theactivity begins within опе year from the time the licence isgranted. If this schedule is not complied with, а new licenceсап Ье required.

Article 21

The competent relevant authorities тау reconsider or revoke а

licence if new and unknown ecological elements appear at thetime the licence is granted, or if new legislation оп theenvironment is passed. In order to reconsider or revoke а

licence, СЕРР in cooperation with other ministries orinstitutions, taking into account the nature of the activity,shall define schedules within which all the аЬоуе conditionsfor obtaining ап environmental licence must Ье satisfied.

Article 23

The studies and analysis of the impact оп the environmentpresented Ьу natural or legal persons applying for ап

environmental licence, and the approval of the procedure ofgranting licences Ьу the relevant competent authorities shallЬе defined Ьу the Minister of Health and EnvironmentalProtection.

Article 24

Economic and social activities of natural and legal personsreferred to in Article 18 under this law, depending оп thecircumstances, shall Ье closed down, prohibited or interruptedtotally or partially Ьу the relevant competent authorities.

The natural and legal persons engaging in existing activitiesthat do not satisfy the conditions for ап environmentallicence under this law, are obliged to satisfy them within thetime schedules defined Ьу the СЕРР in collaboration with otherministries and central institutions.

The existing activities that do not satisfy conditions for ап

environmental licence within the defined time schedule,depending оп the circumstantces, shall Ье closed down,prohibited or interrupted totally or partially Ьу the аЬоуе­

mentioned authorities.

Article 25

Natural and legal persons who are granted environmentallicences shall have to рау а licence Еее as defined Ьу the

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Minister оЕ Health and Environmental Protection. The licenceЕее is to Ье paid into the account оЕ the authority whichgrants the licence. Natural and legal persons who invest inthe environmental Eield shall Ье exempt Erom this Еее. Theseinvestments are defined Ьу СЕРР in collaboration with otherrelevant ministries and institutions.

Chapter IV

ТНЕ REGULATION OF AND INFORMATION ON ТНЕ

ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION

Article 26

Environmental regulation shall consist of review andconsideration of natural and anthropic elements and factors ofthe environment, observation and recording of changes andalterations, аз well as consideration of the source and саuзе

of these changes.

Data collected through regulation shall serve аз а basis forinformation оп the environmental situation, for thereconsideration or revocation of environmental licences, andfor the taking other relevant measures defined under this law.

Article 27

Regulation of the environment shall Ье the duty of theMinister of Health and Environmental Protection (СЕРР) and itsregional agencies, other ministries and central institutions,and local authorities.

Regulation shall Ье continuous, taking into account observedparameters, sources and саизез of environmental pollution anddamage.

Article 28

Specific environmental guidelines, activities and parties toЬе regulated, and the method of regulation shall Ье defined Ьу

the Ministry of Health and Environmental Protection.

Article 29

Regulatory control over the sources and causes ofenvironmental pollution and damage shall Ье exercised:

1. Ву mеапз of а legal act adopted Ьу the competent bodiesdefined in article 27 under this law.

2. At the request оЕ natural and legal persons and citizens

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that are affectedor mау Ье affected Ьу environmentalpollution and damage, as well as other organizations ofап environmental character.

Article зо

The expenses of environmental enforcement or regulation, whenenvironmental pollution or damage is verified, shall Ье borneЬу the natural or legal person responsible for the pollutionor damage.

The order issu~d Ьу the relevant competent authority, withrespect to enforcement апд regulation expenses, shall Ье

final.

Arti-cle 31

The competent agency with authority over the environmentalsituation shall decide,depending оп the circumstances, toclosedown,pr6hibit or ihterrupt totally or partiallyactivities of natural or legal persons who have causedenvironmental pollution or damage, and define the respectivelegal obligations required to improve the situation.

Article 32

Information оп the environmental situation shall consistof:

1 . Data about the condition of environmental components andelements;

2. Data about the results of actions causing or likely tocause pollution or impairment to the environment.

З. Data about activities undertaken for the purpose оЕ

environmental protection and remediation.

The information shall Ье accompanied Ьу explanations about thepossible adverse impact of delayed action оп the environmentand human health, and Ьу recommendations about actions to Ье

taken Ьу citizens in the event of expected adverse effects.

Article 33

The information оп the environmental situation shall Ье

received and stored Ьу the Committee of EnvironmentalProtection апд itsregional agencies, Ьу other ministries andcentral institutions, and councils of communes, municipalitiesor districts according to the relevant territorial units.

Natural апд legal persons shall Ье obliged to forwardinformation оп the environmental situation within 2 weeks from

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the date the request is received. The information must Ье

forwared to the competent authorities in accordance withprocedures defined Ьу the Minister of Health and EnvironmentalProtection.

Article 34

The authorities referred to in Article 33 under this law shallpublicize information which contains data оп the change ofenvironmental situation, Ьу mass media or Ьу апу othermeans,in а form that is accessible to citizens.

Confidential information defined in special dispositions,shall Ье presented in writing without the right ofdissemination.

Article 35

Immediately after observing pollution and damage to theenvironment, the authorities defined in article 33, as well asthe natural or legal persons, must inform the population aboutthe occurred environmental adverse alteration, the measurestaken to reduce or limit it, as well as the appropriateconduct of citizens concerning health protection and theirsecurity.

Article 3б

Natural and legal persons shall inform their buyers orcustomers during the time of sale or performance of service,in writing or orally, about dangerous components of goods andservices and about their possible adverse effects and impactsоп the environment and human health

Chapter V

DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF CENTRAL AND LOCALAUTHORITIES ОМ ENVIRONMENT

Article 37

The Minister of Health and Environmental Protection implementsand develops the policy of the Government in the environmentalfield for the purpose of obtaining sustainable economic andsocial development and life quality maintenance andimprovement. This policy i5 implemented through the Cornmitteeof Environmental Protection.

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Article 38

The Minister оЕ Health and Environmental Protection shall havefollowing authority in the environmental field.

а. Не shall process and define the governmental strategy inthe environmental field, coordinate the controlling functionsof ministries, other central institutions and localauthorities and also approve the particular environmentalstandards and activities subject to regulation

Ь. Не shall prepare the аппиаl report оп the environmentalsituation and present it to the Council of Ministers.

The Council оЕ Ministers after considering the report shallpresent it for adoption to the People's Assembly. The approvedreport shall Ье published as the Аппиаl Report оп theEnvironmental Situation.

с. Не shall deterrnine the main policies and definepriorities in investments to protect the environment, whichare consistent with economic and social development and thereal possibilities of the country.

d. Не shall determine and distribute funds for scientificresearch projects and study programmes for the purpose oftaking important measures to protect the environment, utilizepurely ecological technologies, obtain apparatuses and trainexperts in the country or abroad.

е. Не shall represent our country in internationalactivities, and intergovernmental and interstate organizationsin the field of environmental protection.

f. In cooperation with the ministries and other relevantinstitutions he shall approve regulations and guidelines forspecially endangered areas and projects for naturalenvironmental rejuvenation.

Article 39

The Committee of Environmental Protection and Preservation isа specialized central agency in the environmental field underthe Minister cf Health and Envircnmental Protection. Itscomposition is apprcved Ьу the Minister of Health апд

Environmental Protecticn after propcsal of the Chairman of theCommittee of Environmental Protection.

The Committee has regional agencies that are dependent оп it.The duties and rights of these agencies are defined Ьу theMinister of Health and Envircnmental Protection.

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Article 40

Committee of Environmental Protection апд Preservation (СЕРР)

shall have the following authority:

а. It shall pursue the implementation of the law and theacts of the Council of Ministers about environmentalprotection issues, апд forward to the highest bodies variousstudies апд proposals оп organization, management апд

solutions to environmental protection issues.

Ь. It shall assist апд have authority over ministries, othercentral institutions, local authorities апд natural or legalpersons for the work they shall do when applying regulationsоп environmental protection.

с. It shall prepare the draft agreements, protocols,projects and programmes that shall Ье implemented in theframework of bilateral апд multilateral cooperation with therelevant bodies of the other states and internationalorganizations оЕ environmental protection, and follow ир theirimplementation.

с. Тп cooperation with ministries апд other centralinstitutions апд local authorities, it shall manage themonitoring of pollution for the purpose of determining theenvironmental situation апд оп the basis of the data ofindustrial, urban, agricultura1 pollution 1eve1s апд otherhazardous, chemical-toxica1 and radioactive substances itsha11 propose concrete measures for the protection оЕ thepurity of air, water, soi1 апд flora and fauna of the country.

д. It shall study the country's need for specialists andcoordinate the qua1ifications and specia1ization of experts inthe environmental protection fie1d.

dh. It shall organize апд support the spreading of educationапд participation of the public in the protection of theenvironment. It shal1 organize, track and popu1arizescientific publications in the fie1d of environmentalprotection.

g. It sha11 manage апд distribute environmenta1 funds createdaccording to this 1aw and funds for investments foreseen inthe state budget for environment.

h. Тп cooperation with ministries апд other centralinstitutions:

- it shall adopt admissible limits оЕ gaseous, liquid or solidапд radioactive pollutants discharged in water, air апд soi1as we11 as the admissible 1imits оЕ harmfu1 and toxica1substances or hazardous wastes.

- it shall adopt ru1es for the storage, disposal,conservation, transport апд classification of hazardous wastes

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and substances.

- it shall designate the list of substances that containhazardous wastes.

Article 41

The Inspectorate о! Environmental Protection is organized andreports to the Committee о! Environmental Protection. It shallconsist о! the chief inspector and other inspectors in itsregional branches in particular districts.

ТЬе duties, rights and authority of the Inspectorate ofEnvironmental Protection and Preservation (IEPP) shall Ье

defined Ьу the Minister of Health аnд EnvironmentalProtection. ТЬе Inspectorate of Environmental Protection, whenaccomplishing its duties under this law, shall coordinate itswork with other inspectorates and law enforcement organs.

Article 42

ТЬе councils of Communes, municipalities or districts and therelevant administrative units shall Ьауе the following mainrights and duties.

1. ТЬеу shall irnplement the law and the acts of the Councilof Ministers оп environmental protection issues.

2. ТЬеу shall take measures аnд ensure the protection andenvironmental rejuvenation.

3. ТЬеу shall compile, explain and publish theirenvironmental protection programmes in cooperation with thecompetent specialized authorities.

4. ТЬеу shall inforrn the population of the environrnentalsituation and other local activities that are subject toenvironmental impact assessments.

5. They shall exercise control over the environrnentalsituation under the provisions of this law.

б. ТЬеу shall manage and distribute local environmentalfunds created under this law.

7. ТЬеу shall define the sites о! disposal and processing о!

industrial and domestic wastes, so that they do not розе а

risk to the environment.

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Chapter VI

RESPONSIBILITIES AND SANCTIONS

Article 43

Natural and legal persons who саизе damage to naturalresources, which results in environmental pollution andimpairment, shall Ье compelled to рау compensation for theresulting damage.

Complaints for compensation for damage mау Ье presented to thecourt Ьу natural or legal persons who have suffered harm.

Article 44

Compensation for damage resulting from environmentaltransboundary pollution and impairrnent shall Ье arranged forin accordance with the international agreements, conventions,treaties, to which the Republic оЕ Albania is а Party, or incases where it is not а party, it shall Ье arranged for in а

manner that is consistent with generally accepted principlesand norrns of international rights in the environrnental field.

Article 4S

Infringements оЕ this law, when they shall not constitute а

penal act, shall Ье adrninistrative violation in theenvironmental field.

1. Transportation without а licence оЕ hazardous wastes andsubstances through the territory and territorial landwaters оЕ

the Republic оЕ Albania.

2. Import of hazardous wastes and substances for the purposeоЕ preservation, storage or disposal.

3. Violation оЕ insurance rules defined Ьу the Minister оЕ

Health and Environmental Protection when transportinghazardous wastes and substances.

4. Failure to send, when due, data оп the environmentalsituation.

5. Failure to include information оп the environmentalsituation which includes advice about the manner оЕ action оЕ

citizens when adverse consequences to the environment areanticipated.

6. Failure сЕ natural or legal persons to inform the peopleоЕ environmental pollution and damage caused Ьу them, themeasures taken to contain or rernedy the damage, and the

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citiziens' appropriate manner of action.

7. Failure to provide buyers or customers with relevantinformation about hazardous goods and services and theirpossible adverse effects and impacts.

8. Objection to or failure Ьу the natural or legal personsto perform ап environmental impact assessment.

9. Failure to provide designated documents to theauthorities responsible for environmental impac~ assessments.

10. Violation of the environmental impact assessmentprocedure Ьу experts.

11. Engaging in economic and social activities, which mау

affect environment, without obtaining the relevant licencefrom the competent state authority.

12. Violation of rules апд guidelines determined Ьу theMinister of Health and Environmental Protection for speciallyendangered environmental zones.

13. Violation of admissible limits of pollutant substancesdefined Ьу the National Environment Agency.

14. Violation of regulations for the storage, transportdeposit, preservation апд disposal of hazardous wastes andsubstances defined Ьу the Cornmittee of EnvironmentalProtection.

Article 46

Administrative violations foreseen in article 44 under thislaw shall Ье punished with а fine of 1000 to 50.000 lekifor natural persons and 5000 to 500.000 leki for legalpersons. In addition to punishment with а fine it тау Ье

decided to seize the теапз which caused environmentalpollution and damage or to revoke the licence.

For foreign natural and legal persons that conduct theiractivity in the territory of the Republic of Albania, the fineshall Ье paid in foreign currency according to the аЬоуе

measures, converted Ьу the official rate notified Ьу the Bankof Albania at the дау of the ascertainment of the violation.

Article 47

The authorized specialists of the Ministries of Health апд

Environmental Protection, specialists of the Committee ofEnvironmental Protection апд Preservation authorized Ьу theChairman of СЕРР апд its regional agencies in districts апд

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the inspectors of the inspectorate of environmental Protectionto this Committee have the authority to impose а fine aboutadministrative violation.

Complaints relating to administrative penalties mау Ье made,within five days from the date the announcement of thedecision is issued or its notification, respectively to theMinister of Health and Environmental Protection, Chairman ofCommittee of Environmental Protection and Preservation,Chairman of the regional branch, Chief Inspector of theInspectorate of environmental protection. The decisons оЕ

these authorities shall Ье peremptory.

Article 48

The fines shall Ье deposited in the Bank in the account of therelevant authorities, whose specialists have imposed thesepenalties and paid within опе month from the date when itbecomes а peremptory verdict. For every day of delay afterthis schedule to опе month the fine shall increase 10 per centover its value.

If the аЬоуе time schedule is ехсеедед, the collection of thefines Ьу the Bank shall Ье compulsory when the natural orlegal persons shall have current accounts, or based оп the lawof drawing state income, if they do not have а current bankaccount.

Article 49

Natural апд legal persons mау make objections апд complaintsabout the closing down, prohibition, total or partialinterruption оЕ their activities Ьу the authorized competentbodies under article 15, 24, 31 оЕ this law, to the Courtwithin 15 days from the date the injunction is imposed.

Chapter VIII

FINAL DISPOSITIONS

Article 50

The income from taxes and fines that is generated under thislaw, shall Ье paid into the account of the relevant bodies forthe purpose of creating funds for the environment.

Environmental funds shall Ье used аз financial support for thefollowing activities:

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1. Taking of measures in the elimination of ~olluticn

sources.

2. Designing of projects and taking of rehabilation measuresin ecologically damaged zones.

3. Scientific research, ~erformance of studies and trainingof specialists.

4. Provision of the staff and offices with the necessarymeans and supplies.

S. Remuneration of environmental specialists, experts andinstitutions which carry out EIA.

б. То afford the administrative expenses re~ated to thesupervision of EIA monitoring programmes or other prcgrammesof this type.

Article 51

The environmental protection specialists in accomplishingtheir duties under this law shall cooperate with the pcliceaccording to special guidelines adopted Ьу the Minister ofHealth and Environmental Protection and the Ministry cf PublicOrder.

Article 52

The detailed regulations in the implementation оЕ this lawshall Ье defined Ьу the Council о! Ministers.

Article 53

The decree по. 5105, dated 30 OctoЬer 1973 "Оп theEnvironmental Preservation and Protection", the decree по.

7451 dated 5 January 1991 "Оп some changes оп the decree по.

5105 dated 30 October 1973","On Environmental Preservation andProtection", decree no.7451, dated 5 January 1991 "Оп theEstablishment оЕ the Committee of Environmental Preservationапд Protection" as well as апу provision which contradictsthis law is abrogated.