Environmental Protection Law (2006)

Subject

Environment gen., Water

Keyword

Framework law Basic legislation Pollution control Polluter pays principle Precautionary principle EIA Access-to-information Monitoring Liability/compensation Freshwater pollution Sustainable development

Geographical area

Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries, Northern Europe

Abstract

This Law provides for environmental protection. Its purpose is to ensure the preservation and recovery of the quality of the environment, as well as the sustainable utilisation of natural resources. Provisions of this Law shall also be applicable to continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Latvia. The conditions of Chapter VI1 of this Law in accordance with international law shall be applied in relation to the discharge of dangerous and other polluting substances into the internal waters of Latvia; into the territorial waters of Latvia; into the exclusive economic zone of Latvia, or equivalent zone, which is established in accordance with international law; into straits used for international navigation subject to the regime of transit passage, as laid down in Part III, section 2, of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to the extent that a Member State exercises jurisdiction over such straits; into the high seas; and from ships that navigate under the flag of the Republic of Latvia – into any area in which the ship is located, except for the exception referred to in Section 35.1, Paragraphs two and three of this Law. The Law also provides for the “polluter pays” principle, the precautionary principle, the prevention principle, and the assessment principle. The Law further provides for rights of the public in the environmental field; duties of the state and local government authorities in relation to the provision and dissemination of environmental information and the involving of the public in the taking of decisions; environmental information system; control in the environmental field; liability for damage caused to the environment; liability for water pollution; voluntary measures for environmental management; and environmental science, environmental education and sustainable development.

Full text

English/Latvian

Website

likumi.lv

References - Legislation

Implements

Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the management of waste from extractive industries and amending Directive 2004/35/EC.

Legislation | European Union | 2006

Keyword: Mining, Exploration, Pollution control, Access-to-information, Hazardous waste, Waste non-domestic sources, Waste management, Waste disposal, Waste prevention

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Directive 2004/35/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage.

Legislation | European Union | 2004 (2019)

Keyword: Liability/compensation, Polluter pays principle, Protection of habitats, Data collection/reporting, Pollution control, Public health, Soil pollution/quality, Marine pollution, Sustainable use, Ecosystem preservation, Freshwater pollution, Protection of species

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Directive 2005/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements.

Legislation | European Union | 2005

Keyword: Marine pollution, Pollution control, Offences/penalties, Maritime zone, EEZ-Exclusive Economic Zone, High seas, Territorial sea, Oil pollution, Freshwater pollution, Navigation, Liability/compensation

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council providing for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment and amending with regard to public participation and access to justice Council Directives 85/337/EEC and 96/61/EC.

Legislation | European Union | 2003

Keyword: Environmental planning, Access-to-information, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Access-to-justice, Governance, Public participation, Policy/planning

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy.

Legislation | European Union | 2000 (2014)

Keyword: Marine pollution, Potable water, Toxicity/poisoning, Food quality control/food safety, Basic legislation, Pollution control, Effluent waste water/discharge, Hazardous substances, Data collection/reporting, Freshwater resources management, Freshwater pollution, Surface water, Groundwater, Water quality standards, Water conservation zone, Registration, River basin institution, Institution, Basin/catchment/watershed, Right to water, Transboundary effects, International relations/cooperation, Sustainable development, Sustainable use, Pesticides, Human rights, Inland waters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC

Legislation | European Union | 2003

Keyword: Access-to-information, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Governance, Data collection/reporting, Access-to-justice, Basic legislation

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Repeals

Law on Environmental Protection.

Legislation | Latvia | 1991 (2000)

Keyword: Basic legislation, Environmental planning, Pollution control, Environmental standards, Energy conservation/energy production, Policy/planning, Standards, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Implemented by

Environmental Policy Strategy 2009-2015

Legislation | Latvia | 2009

Keyword: Air quality/air pollution, Pollution control, Emissions, Public participation, Radiation, Access-to-information, Noise pollution, Sustainable development, EIA, Precautionary principle, Polluter pays principle, Climate change, International relations/cooperation, Risk assessment/management, Policy/planning, Biodiversity, Public health, Ecosystem preservation, Research, International agreement-implementation, Energy conservation/energy production, Cultural heritage, Sustainable use, Protection of environment, Hazardous substances, Business/industry/corporations, Education, Water quality standards, Inland waters, Water supply

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 511 of 2008 on Procedures for Assessing the Damage Caused to Natural Monuments and Calculating the Costs of Remedial Measures

Legislation | Latvia | 2008

Keyword: Resource/damage valuation, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Liability/compensation, Management/conservation, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 281 of 2007 on Preventative and Rehabilitation Measures and the Procedures for Evaluation of Environmental Damage and Calculation of Costs of Preventative, Emergency and Rehabilitation Measures

Legislation | Latvia | 2007 (2013)

Keyword: Resource/damage valuation, Environmental standards, Hazards, Governance, Procedural matters, Protection of habitats, Standards, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 158 of 2009 on Requirements with Respect to Environmental Monitoring and the Procedures for Performance Thereof, the Creation of the Register of Polluting Substances and Public Availability of Information

Legislation | Latvia | 2009 (2010)

Keyword: Monitoring, Environmental standards, Procedural matters, Access-to-information, Public health, Public participation, Pollution control, Data collection/reporting, Registration, Research, Standards, Protection of environment, Freshwater pollution, Sustainable development

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Order of Cabinet of Ministers No. 130 of 2014 on Environmental Policy Guidelines for 2014-2020

Legislation | Latvia | 2015

Keyword: Policy/planning, Sustainable development, Environmental planning, Biodiversity, Sustainable use, Public participation, Access-to-information, Tax/levy, Pollution control, Internal trade, Ecofriendly products/ecofriendly processes, Research, Packaging/labelling, Minerals, Mining, Governance, Waste management, Waste prevention, Water supply, Sewerage, Local government

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Amended by

Law amending Environmental Protection Law.

Legislation | Latvia | 2008

Keyword: Pollution control, Polluter pays principle, Liability/compensation

Source: FAO, FAOLEX