Subsoil Code (Law No. HO-280-N). Country/Territory Armenia Document type Legislation Date 2011 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Mineral resources, Water Keyword Basic legislation Exploration Mining Minerals Business/industry/corporations Authorization/permit Contract/agreement Registration Data collection/reporting Access-to-information Sustainable use Geographical area Asia, CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), Europe, Europe and Central Asia, Landlocked Developing Nations, Western Asia Entry into force notes This Law enters into force on 1 January 2012. Abstract This Code establishes the principles and procedure for use of natural resources in the territory of the Republic of Armenia, the relations connected with management and conversion of waste of subsoil use, environmental protection from harmful effects in the process of subsoil management, work safety, and also protection of the rights and legitimate interests of the state and persons during use of natural resources are governed. Subsoil shall be intended the part of crust located on depth below soil layer, and in case of its absence - below the Earth's surface and bottom of reservoirs and water currents which is available for the use of natural resources. Geological exploration shall be intended complex of geological works in subsoil which purpose is to study the structure of crust, conditions of formation of mineral layers, exogenous geological processes, volcanic activities, and also identification and assessment of inventories of minerals. Subsoil user shall be intended the legal entity (including the commercial organization of foreign state) performing use of natural resources according to this Code. Main provisions of legal regulation of relationships associated with mining and subsoil protection shall be as follows: (a) ensuring security of population and protection of nature and environment; (b) recognizing subsoil as the exclusive property of the state; (c) development and implementation of state programs in the field of mining and subsoil protection; (d) implementation of state control over mining and subsoil protection; (e) implementation of state inventory of mineral reserves, balance calculation, administration of state register of mines, outcrops and state registration of geological explorations; (f) ensuring reasonable complex utilization of mines; (g) performance of state expert examination in the field of mining and subsoil protection; (h) implementation of state standardization in the field of mining and subsoil protection; (i) transparency of activities related to mining; and (j) payment for the use of minerals. Subsoil of the Republic of Armenia is the exclusive domain of the State, which may be allotted for use only for purposes of geological explorations and mining. Any parts of subsoil may not be subject to purchase and sale, pledging, or alienation in any other form. Geological information shall be provided free of charge, whereby the authorized body shall be paid only for services on provision of information in accordance with the procedure established by the Government. Public administration of mining and subsoil protection, as well as mining related nature and environmental protection is conducted by the Government and public administration bodies authorized in this field within the scope of their authorities. Exploration and mining activities shall be regulated by contracts (agreements). Period of validity of geological exploration authorization shall be for a period not exceeding 3 years, which may be extended for 3 consecutive times, each time not exceeding 2 years. Period of validity of mining authorization shall be for the whole term of mining operation, however for not more than 50 years, which shall be estimated in accordance with technical and economic indicators of mining of the given deposit. This Subsoil Code consists of 11 Chapters divided into 81 Articles. Chapter 1 lays down general provisions. Chapter 2 regards state regulation of mining sector. Chapter 3 regards mining rights. Chapter 4 regards mining for the purpose of geological exploration. Chapter 5 regards mining for the purpose of mineral extraction. Chapter 6 regards application of fees for mineral extraction. Chapter 7 establishes the procedure for state registration of mining fields. Chapter 8 regards preservation of nature, environment and subsoil in the process of mining. Chapter 9 regards state supervision over mining and subsoil protection. Chapter 10 regards dispute settlement. Chapter 11 lays down transitional and final provisions. Full text Armenian Website www.arlis.am References - Legislation Repeals Subsoil Code (2002). Legislation | Armenia | 2002 Keyword: Basic legislation, Mining, Exploration, Minerals, Management/conservation, Soil conservation/soil improvement, Dispute settlement Source: FAO, FAOLEX Amended by Law No. HO-161-N amending Subsoil Code (Law No. HO-280-N). Legislation | Armenia | 2016 Keyword: Exploration, Mining, Minerals, Business/industry/corporations, Data collection/reporting, Waste non-domestic sources, Waste management, Waste disposal Source: FAO, FAOLEX Law No. 186-N amending Subsoil Code (Law No. HO-280-N). Legislation | Armenia | 2018 Keyword: Institution, Environmental audit, Special fund, Monitoring, EIA, Data collection/reporting, Access-to-information, Exploration, Mining Source: FAO, FAOLEX Law No. ZR-302-N amending Subsoil Code (Law No. HO-280-N). Legislation | Armenia | 2017 Keyword: Exploration, Mining, Data collection/reporting, Access-to-information, Tax/levy Source: FAO, FAOLEX Law No. HO-191-N amending Subsoil Code (Law No. HO-280-N). Legislation | Armenia | 2018 Keyword: Environmental fees/charges, Special fund, Data collection/reporting, Access-to-information, Exploration, Mining Source: FAO, FAOLEX Law No. HO-214-N amending Subsoil Code (Law No. HO-280-N). Legislation | Armenia | 2017 Keyword: EIA, Monitoring, Data collection/reporting, Access-to-information, Exploration, Mining Source: FAO, FAOLEX Law No. ZR-256-N amending Subsoil Code (Law No. HO-280-N). Legislation | Armenia | 2019 Keyword: Exploration, Mining, Authorization/permit, Groundwater, Freshwater pollution, Monitoring, Pollution control Source: FAO, FAOLEX Law No. HO-397-N amending Subsoil Code (Law No. HO-280-N). Legislation | Armenia | 2020 Keyword: Environmental fees/charges, Special fund, Exploration, Mining, Business/industry/corporations, Authorization/permit, Contract/agreement Source: FAO, FAOLEX Law No. HO-24-N amending Subsoil Code (Law No. HO-280-N). Legislation | Armenia | 2019 Keyword: Exploration, Authorization/permit Source: FAO, FAOLEX