Lower Austria Soil Protection Law. Country/Territory Austria Territorial subdivision Niederösterreich Document type Legislation Date 1988 (2014) Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Land & soil Keyword Basic legislation Pollution control Soil conservation/soil improvement Soil pollution/quality Fertilizers/nutrients Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings Enforcement/compliance Offences/penalties Geographical area Alps, Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries, Western Europe Abstract The purpose of the present Law is to conserve and protect the soil against harmful effects, in particular against erosion, densification of the soil and hazardous substances, and to improve and restore the health of the soil. To reach this aim everyone shall behave in such a way as to reduce damage to the soil to the unavoidable minimum – in particular accumulation of hazardous substances in the soil and deterioration of the soil structure – in view of ensuring an effective soil protection. The use of sludge shall be effected in such a way that the needs of nutrients of the plants are satisfied and that the quality of the soil, the surface water and groundwater shall not be affected. The text consists of 18 articles. Full text German Website www.ris.bka.gv.at