Law No. 256-Z on hydrometeorological activity. Country/Territory Belarus Document type Legislation Date 1999 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Environment gen., Water Keyword Pollution control Monitoring Access-to-information Data collection/reporting Surface water Registration Geographical area CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), Eastern Europe, Europe, Europe and Central Asia Entry into force notes This Law enters into force 15 days after its official publication. Abstract This Law consists of 9 Chapters that contain 44 articles. Hydrometeorological activity regards processes of observation of the state of environment and its pollution, collection, processing, analysis, storage, concession and trade of information of the state of environment and its pollution, prognostication of changes of the state of environment and its pollution, as well as active impact on hydrometeorological and other geophysical processes. Objects of hydrometeorological activity include atmosphere, hydrosphere, soil and outer space. Observation of the state of environment and its pollution is subdivided into the following categories: 1) terrestrial meteorological; 2) hydrological; 3) agrometeorological; 4) ozone measurement; 5) observation of the atmospheric pollution level, surface water, soil, atmospheric precipitation, snow cover, vegetable kingdom and wildlife. Hydrological branch of hydrometeorological service carries out collection of data regarding the state of rivers, lakes, water reservoirs, channels, marshes, other water bodies and stock of surface water as a whole destined for: 1) keeping state registration of surface water; 2) keeping water cadastre; 3) calculation of water resources and water balance of water basins and territories; 4) valuation of the impact of economic activity of the regime of water bodies and water resources. Environmental monitoring shall be carried out by hydrometeorological service as an integral part of the national system of environmental monitoring. Information on the state of environment and its pollution except for data of limited access is free and accessible to general public. Full text Russian References - Legislation Repealed by Law No. 93-Z on hydrometeorological activity. Legislation | Belarus | 2006 Keyword: Surface water, EIA, Monitoring, Access-to-information Source: FAO, FAOLEX