Law on Subterranean Depths (1996) Country/Territory Latvia Document type Legislation Date 1996 (2013) Source FAO, FAOLEX Original source Latvijas Vēstnesis, 87, 21.05.1996.; Latvijas Republikas Saeimas un Ministru Kabineta Ziņotājs, 13, 11.07.1996. Subject Mineral resources, Water Keyword Basic legislation Exploration Minerals Mining Research Protected area Authorization/permit Sustainable development Ecofriendly products/ecofriendly processes Special fund Offences/penalties Oil Natural gas Groundwater Freshwater resources management Thermal and medicinal waters Industrial water use Well sinking/boreholes Geographical area Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries, Northern Europe Abstract This Law regulates subterranean depths. The purpose of this Law is to ensure complex, efficient, environmentally-friendly and sustainable use of subterranean depths, as well as specify the requirements for the protection of subterranean depths. Subterranean depths and all mineral resources present therein shall be owned by the land owner. The land owner or an accordingly authorised person thereof, if the land owner is the State or local government, may deal with subterranean depths as far as this Law and other regulatory enactments do not restrict his or her rights. The Law further provides for supervision of use of subterranean depths fund; use of subterranean depths; protection of subterranean depths; and liability for violations in the use of subterranean depths and the recovery of damages. Mineral resources are defined as formations of non-organic or organic origin (also groundwater) the use of which is practically possible and economically viable. Also, mineral resources of national significance are defined as hydrocarbons untreated petroleum (crude oil), natural gas and groundwater (freshwater, mineral water, thermal water and water used in industry). Full text English/Latvian Website likumi.lv References - Legislation Implements Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conditions for granting and using authorizations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons. Legislation | European Union | 1994 Keyword: Oil, Exploration, Mining, Continental shelf, Authorization/permit, Maritime zone Source: FAO, FAOLEX Implemented by Cabinet Regulation No. 805 of 2015 on Prospection, Exploration and Production of Hydrocarbons Legislation | Latvia | 2015 Keyword: Minerals, Mining, Exploration, Authorization/permit, Procedural matters, Institution, Royalties/fees, Maritime zone, EEZ-Exclusive Economic Zone, Protection of environment, Environmental standards, Oil, Natural gas, Hazards, Early warning system, Coal, Pollution control, Standards Source: FAO, FAOLEX Cabinet Regulation No. 942 of 2009 on State Fee for the Production of Hydrocarbons Legislation | Latvia | 2009 Keyword: Royalties/fees, Oil, Natural gas, Procedural matters, EEZ-Exclusive Economic Zone, Maritime zone Source: FAO, FAOLEX Cabinet Regulation No. 1055 of 2006 on State Fee for a Licence for Use of Subsoil, an Authorisation for the Extraction of Widespread Mineral Resources and a Passport of the Deposit Legislation | Latvia | 2006 Keyword: Royalties/fees, Authorization/permit, Minerals Source: FAO, FAOLEX Cabinet Regulation No. 633 of 2012 on Procedures for the Use of Subterranean Depths in Internal Public Waters and the Sea. Legislation | Latvia | 2012 (2013) Keyword: Authorization/permit, Procedural matters, Royalties/fees, Access right, Exploration Source: FAO, FAOLEX Cabinet Regulation No. 321 of 2012 on Deposits of Mineral Resources of National Significance Legislation | Latvia | 2012 Keyword: Minerals, Governance, Classification/declassification Source: FAO, FAOLEX Cabinet Regulation No. 696 of 2011 on Procedure for the Issue of Licences for the Use of Subterranean Depths and Authorisations for the Extraction of Widespread Mineral Resources Legislation | Latvia | 2011 Keyword: Minerals, Authorization/permit, Local government, Procedural matters, Water abstraction, Groundwater Source: FAO, FAOLEX Cabinet Regulation No. 470 of 2011 on Procedures for the Management of Waste from the Extraction of Mineral Resources Legislation | Latvia | 2011 (2014) Keyword: Classification/declassification, Hazardous waste, Minerals, Mining, Transport/storage Source: FAO, FAOLEX Cabinet Regulation No. 524 of 2008 on Use of the Section of Subsoil of National Significance the “Dobele Structure” Legislation | Latvia | 2008 Keyword: Soil conservation/soil improvement, Soil pollution/quality, Soil rehabilitation, Research, Authorization/permit Source: FAO, FAOLEX Cabinet Regulation No. 752 of 2013 on Price List for the Paid Services of the State Limited Liability Company “Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre” Legislation | Latvia | 2013 (2014) Keyword: Royalties/fees, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings Source: FAO, FAOLEX Cabinet Regulation No. 578 of 2012 on Geological Information System Legislation | Latvia | 2012 Keyword: Data collection/reporting, Governance, Monitoring, Procedural matters, Research Source: FAO, FAOLEX