The Saeima¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:

Environmental Protection Law

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. Terms Used in this Law

The following terms are used in this Law:

1) natural resources - parts of nature, including air, water, flora, fauna, soils, subterranean depths;

2) eco-innovation - introduction of new scientific, technical, social or other ideas in the field of environmental technologies, as well as implementation of developments and technologies in a competitive product or service demanded in the market, which improves environmental quality;

3) emission - the direct or indirect release in the environment, as a result of human activities, of chemical substances (preparations), odours, organisms or micro-organisms, vibrations, heat, non-ionising radiation, noise or release of other types of pollution;

4) sustainable development - the integrated and balanced development of public welfare, the environment and economy, which meets the present social and economic needs of inhabitants and ensures the compliance with environmental requirements, not endangering the possibility to meet the needs of the future generations, as well as ensures the preservation of biologic diversity;

5) education for sustainable development - education which promotes the possibilities of each individual to obtain knowledge, values and skills necessary for the participation in the taking of decision regarding individual or collective activities at the local and world level in order to improve the quality of life at present without causing threats to the needs of the future generations;

6) damage to soil or subterranean depths - any change or pollution that is created by direct or indirect introduction of chemical substances (preparations), organisms or micro-organisms into the soil or subterranean depths and creates a risk to human health or significantly adversely impacts on human health or the environment;

7) damage to specially protected species or biotopes - any damage that has significant adverse effects on specially protected nature territories or micro-reserves, the achievement or maintenance of favourable protection status of specially protected species or biotopes. Damage to specially protected species and biotopes shall not include previously identified adverse effects that have occurred as a result of the occupational activities of the operator if the relevant authority has clearly allowed this activity in accordance with Section 14 of the Law on the Conservation of Species and Biotopes and Section 43 of the law On Specially Protected Nature Territories or in accordance with other laws and regulations regulating the field of environmental protection, unless significant adverse effects have been detected on specially protected species and biotopes;

8) damage to waters - significant adverse changes that can be determined qualitatively and quantitatively in internal waters changing the ecological, chemical, quantitative state or ecological potential of the water, except in the cases when Section 14 of the Water Management Law is applied, and also in marine waters deteriorating state of the marine environment insofar as the marine waters are not governed by the legal framework for internal waters;

9) damage to the environment - adverse changes that can be determined qualitatively and quantitatively in natural resources or deterioration of functions related to natural resources that can occur directly or indirectly. A function related to natural resources is a benefit which the public or environment gains from the relevant natural resource;

9¹) polluting substances - substances that are referred to in Annex I (oil) and Annex II (noxious liquid substances) of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto as amended to date (hereinafter - the MARPOL Convention);

9²) ship - any type of sea-going vessel that navigates in marine environment (irrespective of the flag thereof), as well as ships with underwater wings, ships on air cushions, underwater ships in conformity with the definition provided by the MARPOL Convention;

10) immediate measures - all the necessary and practically possible measures for the management of situations, delimitation and collection of all substances that have been released into the environment and elimination of other factors causing damage in order to limit or prevent further environmental damage and adverse effects on the human health or the impairment of functions related to natural resources;

10¹) discharge from a ship - any release howsoever caused from a ship into the water in conformity with the definition provided by the MARPOL Convention;

11) operator - a private person, derived public person, authority of direct or indirect administration who performs an occupational activity or is responsible for the performance of such activity or who has decisive economic power over the technical functioning of the occupational activity, or who has received a permit for the performance of the relevant occupational activity or has registered the performance of the relevant activity;

12) baseline condition - the condition at the time of the damage of the natural resources or the function related to the natural resources or for the benefit of another resource that would have existed if the environmental damage had not occurred. The baseline condition shall be determined on the basis of the information available;

13) preventive measures - the measures to prevent the imminent threat of environmental damage and prevent or reduce the possible environmental damage;

14) occupational activity - an economic activity, also commercial activity, irrespectively of it being profit or non-profit in character;

15) remedial measures - the measures to prevent damage, recover or decontaminate, rehabilitate or replace natural resources, to which damage has been caused, and functions related to natural resources, which have impaired, also the measures for the reduction, prevention of damage and temporary measures, or provision of equivalent alternatives for these resources or functions related to natural resources;

16) imminent threat of damage - sufficient likelihood that environmental damage will occur in the near future;

17) environment - the aggregate of natural, anthropogenic and social factors;

18) environmental protection - the aggregate of measures for the conservation of the environmental quality, and ensuring the sustainable utilisation of natural resources;

19) environmental information - information regarding:

a) the state of the environment, including the air and atmosphere, water, soil, subterranean depths, landscape, nature, including wetlands, coastal and marine areas, biological diversity and components thereof, also genetically modified organisms, and interaction among these elements of the environment;

b) factors affecting the environment (for example, the emission of chemical substances, energy, odours, noise, radiation or waste and release of other types of pollution into the environment);

c) measures, also policy planning documents and other plans, programmes, agreements in the environmental field, laws and regulations and activities affecting or likely to affect the elements and factors of the environment affecting the environment or the objective of which is to protect the environment, as well as regarding the cost-benefit analysis and other economic analyses and assumptions, which are used in relation to the referred to measures and activities;

d) statements and reports on environmental protection, also on the implementation of laws and regulations;

e) the state of human health and security, the living conditions thereof and cultural objects and buildings insofar as the state of the environment, factors affecting the environment or the referred to measures affecting or likely to affect them;

20) environmental information system - an integrated intersectoral State information system in which environmental data and information is collected, accumulated and processed, availability and circulation of environmental data is ensured for the evaluation of the state and trends of the environment, for the analysis of perspective, for the development of an environmental and sustainable development policy and for the evaluation of usefulness and efficiency of previous political, economic, administrative measures;

21) environmental education - education within the framework of which the knowledge and awareness of the environment and problems of environmental protection are obtained, the abilities and skills required for the solving of environmental protection problems are cultivated, as well as the responsible attitude and motivation for the taking of justified decisions is developed;

22) environmental monitoring - the systematic, regular and purposeful observation, measurement and analysis of the state of the environment, species and biotopes as well as the emission of pollution;

23) laws and regulations regarding the environment - these are laws and regulations which are applicable to the environment or help to achieve the objectives of the State environmental policy - to preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment, to use sustainable natural resources and to ensure a good quality living environment;

24) environmental technologies - the aggregate of equipment used and measures performed in all sectors of the national economy which ensure the efficient and purposeful use of natural resources in the introduction of cleaner production processes, reducing the amounts of consumption, emission and waste of raw materials and energy;

25) environmental science - a field of science which explores the mutual interaction of elements of the environment and interaction with the environment created by humans, as well as the impact of the economic activities of humans on the environment and the elements thereof.

[21 June 2007; 18 April 2013; 1 November 2018]

Section 2. Purpose and Applicability of this Law

(1) The purpose of this Law is to ensure the preservation and recovery of the quality of the environment, and also sustainable use of natural resources.

(2) Provisions of this Law shall also be applicable to continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Latvia.

(3) The conditions of Chapter VI¹ of this Law shall, in accordance with international law, be applied in relation to the discharge of dangerous and other polluting substances:

1) into the internal waters of Latvia;

2) into the territorial waters of Latvia;

3) into the exclusive economic zone of Latvia or equivalent zone that has been established in accordance with international law;

4) 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;

5) into the high seas;

6) from ships flying 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.

[21 June 2007]

Section 3. Principles of Environmental Protection

(1) The State environmental policy shall be developed and decisions which may affect the environment or human health shall be taken by complying with the following principles of environmental protection:

1) the "polluter pays" principle - a person covers all costs related to the assessment, prevention, and limitation of the pollution resulting from the activities of such person or liquidation of the consequences thereof;

2) the precautionary principle - an activity or measure which can affect the environment or human health, but the impact of which is not sufficiently assessed or scientifically proved, may be limited or prohibited if the prohibition is a proportionate means to ensure the protection of environment or human health. The principle shall not be applicable to immediate measures that are implemented to prevent threats of damage or irreversible damage;

3) the prevention principle - a person prevents the emerging of the pollution and other adverse effects damaging to the environment or human health as much as possible, but, if it is not possible, prevents the spread and the negative consequences thereof;

4) the assessment principle - the effect of any such activity or measure which may substantially affect the environment or human health must be evaluated prior to the permission or commencement of this activity or measure. An activity or measure that can have adverse effects on the environment or human health, even if all requirements of environmental protection are complied with, shall be allowed only in such case if the intended positive result for the public as a whole exceeds the damage caused by the relevant activity or measure to the environment and the public.

(2) When developing the environmental policy and taking decisions, the basic principles of regional development specified in the Regional Development Law shall be complied with.

Section 4. Planning of the Environmental Policy

(1) When developing a policy planning document and draft laws and regulations, the developer shall evaluate in the annotation of the planning document or draft legal act the impact thereof on sustainable development and the environment. The strategic environmental impact assessment shall be performed for draft policy planning documents if it has been specified in the laws and regulations regulating the environmental impact assessment.

(2) The Cabinet shall approve the Guidelines for the Environmental Policy, taking into account the national priorities and conditions of the European Union and international conditions.

Section 5. Eco-Innovation and Environmental Technologies

(1) The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development in co-operation with other authorities shall promote the development, elaboration and use of environmental technologies in order to improve the quality of the environment, efficient and purposeful use of natural resources and improve the quality of life.

(2) The Environmental Policy Guidelines shall determine the intersectoral action policy for the use of natural resources, the development of environmental technologies and the promotion of eco-innovations.

[16 December 2010]

Chapter II
Rights of the Public in the Environmental Field

Section 6. General Rights of the Public in the Environmental Field

Each private person, also associations, organisations and groups of persons (hereinafter - the public) has the right:

1) to request that the public authorities and local governments, officials or private persons terminate such acts or omissions, which deteriorate the quality of the environment, damage human health or endangers life, legal interests or the property thereof;

2) to support measures of environmental protection and to co-operate with the public authorities and local governments in order to prevent realisation of such activities, also taking of such decisions, which may deteriorate the quality of the environment or contradict with the requirements of the laws and regulations regarding the environment;

3) to provide information to the public authorities and local governments regarding the activities and measures which affect or may affect the quality of the environment, as well as information regarding negative changes observed in the environment which have originated as a result of such activities or measures;

4) to submit proposals regarding the legal order and draft documents developed in the environmental field to the public authorities and local governments.

Section 7. Rights of the Public to Environmental Information

(1) The public has the right to receive environmental information from the authorities referred to in Section 10 of this Law in a written, audio, visual, electronic or any other form.

(2) The public has the right to receive information, if it is available, regarding the measurement procedures, also the methods of analysis, the methods of sample-taking and prior processing, or regarding another standardised procedure, which is used in the collecting of information regarding factors affecting the environment.

(3) The applicant that requests environmental information shall not have to justify for what purposes this information is necessary.

Section 8. Public Participation in the Taking of Decisions Related to the Environment

(1) The public has the right to participate in the taking of such decisions and the preparation of such planning documents, also the preparation of amendments therein (hereinafter in this Section - the preparation of a document), which may affect the environment. The public may exercise this right before the relevant decision or document has been taken, including regarding:

1) planning documents - in accordance with the laws and regulations regulating the spatial planning, strategic environmental impact assessment or particular environmental field, to which the document is applicable, also planning documents, which are developed in accordance with the laws and regulations regulating:

a) waste management, also hazardous waste management;

b) management of batteries and accumulators;

c) management of packaging;

d) air quality;

e) protection of water resources, also from pollution by nitrates used in agriculture;

2) intended activity - in accordance with the laws and regulations regulating the environmental impact assessment and construction;

3) planned construction - in accordance with the laws and regulations regulating construction;

4) polluting activity - in accordance with the laws and regulations regulating the performance of polluting activities and the issuance of the relevant permits;

5) distribution of genetically modified organisms into the environment - in accordance with the laws and regulations regulating activities involving genetically modified organisms.

(2) The public has the right to submit proposals or express an opinion before the taking of the relevant decision or preparation of the final formulation of the document.

Section 9. Protection of the Rights of the Public

(1) Each person who has requested information in accordance with Section 7 of this Law and considers that the request for information has been ignored or rejected (partially or completely) without reason, an appropriate answer has not been received or rights to environmental information have been otherwise violated is entitled to contest and appeal a relevant act or omission in accordance with the procedures specified in the Administrative Procedure Law.

(2) If the rights of a person which are provided in Section 8 of this Law are infringed or the rights of public participation specified in this Law are not respected, the person is entitled to contest and appeal the relevant act or omission in accordance with the procedures specified in the Administrative Procedure Law.

(3) The public is entitled to contest and appeal the administrative act or actual action of a State institution or local government if it does not meet the requirements of the laws and regulations regarding the environment, creates threats of damage or environmental damage.

(4) If any private person violates the requirements of the laws and regulations regarding the environment, any other person may, providing justified information regarding the possible violation, turn to an authority within the competence of which is the control of compliance with the relevant regulatory enactment, and is entitled to request that the authority acts in accordance with the competence thereof.

(5) The exercising of the rights specified in this Section for a private person may not cause any consequences to such person that are unfavourable, including private law, in itself.

Chapter III
Obligations of State and Local Government Institutions in relation to the Provision and Dissemination of Environmental Information and the Involving of the Public in the Taking of Decisions

Section 10. Tasks of State and Local Government Institutions in relation to the Provision and Dissemination of Environmental Information

(1) The provision of environmental information that is at the disposal of (prepared or received by) State or local government institutions (hereinafter - the institutions) shall be ensured by :

1) any State administration institution or local government;

2) persons who perform functions of public administration, inter alia, fulfil duties, perform activities or provide services in the environmental field;

3) persons to whom the State tasks or provision of public services under the control of the persons referred to in Clauses 1 or 2 of this Paragraph are delegated.

(2) In addition to the information referred to in Paragraph one of this Section an institution shall also ensure accessibility of such environmental information which is held by a private person on behalf of the institution.

(3) An institution shall, within the competence thereof:

1) collect and update environmental information that is at the disposal thereof;

2) permanently provide the public with environmental information that is at the disposal thereof;

3) assign the responsible co-ordinator or official who ensures the accessibility of environmental information to the public and provides the assistance necessary to the applicant that requests information, formulating or specifying more precisely the submission;

4) inform the public of the rights and possibilities thereof to receive environmental information;

5) establish and update the publicly accessible free of charge information databases in which the environmental information referred to in Section 16 of this Law is included or also provide such information to another institution which maintains such database;

6) establish a system for the registration of environmental information that is at the disposal of authorities, as well as indicate where the relevant information is available, also creating references to information that is at the disposal of other institutions.

(4) An institution shall permanently disseminate environmental information which it has collected within the competence thereof and which is at the disposal thereof.

(5) Publicly available information shall be drawn up so that it is as easily perceptible and comprehensible as possible.

(6) Valsts sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Latvijas Vides, ģeoloģijas un meteoroloģijas centrs" [State limited liability company Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre] (hereinafter - the Centre) shall, at least once every four years, prepare and publish the national report on the state of the environment, including information regarding the quality of the environment and the pressures on the environment therein. During the intervals between the publication of reports, information shall be regularly supplemented. A report, as well as the information compiled during the intervals between the publications, shall be put on the website of the Ministry of the Environmental Protection and Regional Development.

(7) If there is a threat to the environment or human health which has occurred due to the act or omission of humans or natural phenomena, the relevant institution at the disposal of which there is information that might help to implement all the necessary measures in order to prevent or reduce the damage shall immediately disseminate such information to the public which may be affected by it.

[12 June 2009; 16 December 2010]

Section 11. Procedures for the Issuance of Environmental Information, Time Periods and Charge for the Issuance Thereof

(1) Environmental information shall be issued as soon as possible, taking into account the time period specified by the applicant that requests information or the time periods for the examination of an information request specified in the laws and regulations regulating the provision of information but not exceeding one month from the day of the receipt of the request In case, if due to the amount or complexity of information, it is not possible to prepare the information in the relevant time period, the time period for the provision of information may be extended up to two months. The applicant shall be informed of the extension of the time period and the reasons for it.

(2) Environmental information which has been gathered and collected using State or local government resources and environmental information included in public data bases shall be available free of charge. If additional processing or preparation is necessary for the provision of the requested information, a charge for it may be specified in accordance with the laws and regulations regulating the provision of information. If a charge has been specified, the applicant shall be informed of its amount, as well as the cases when an applicant may be released from paying the charge shall be indicated.

(3) Environmental information shall be provided, taking into account the provisions of Paragraphs four and five of this Section, as well as in accordance with the requirements of the laws and regulations regulating the provision of information, the Personal Data Protection Law and other laws and regulations as regards the restricted availability of information and the procedures for the provision of information.

(4) The receipt of environmental information may be limited only in the cases specified by the Law in accordance with the procedures specified in the Freedom of Information Law. An institution may limit the receipt of environmental information as regards such information regarding the elements of the environment, also species and biotopes, the disclosure of which may affect environmental protection, and as regards information, the disclosure of which may endanger public security.

(5) Restrictions for the receipt of environmental information, in every particular case, shall be adjusted to the public interests as regards the disclosure of information. Information regarding emission into the environment shall not be restricted access information.

(6) Environmental information shall be provided in the form or format indicated in the request for information, except in cases where:

1) the requested information is already accessible in another form or format to the applicant;

2) there is a justified reason for the provision of information in another form or format. In such case the applicant shall be informed of this reason in the time period referred to in Paragraph one of this Section.

Section 12. Involvement of the Public in the Taking of Decisions Related to the Environment

(1) An institution shall ensure the timely and efficient informing of the public and participation thereof in the preparation of the decisions or documents referred to in Section 8, Paragraph one of this Law. Public participation shall be ensured, taking into account the requirements of this Law, the international contracts and laws and regulations regulating the relevant field.

(2) An institution shall provide the public with free of charge access to the information related to the taking of the decision or preparation of the documents and accessible during the process of the public participation.

(3) The procedure of decision-taking and the preparation of a document in an institution shall take place openly, complying with the following main provisions:

1) informing the public of the preparation of the relevant decision or document in a timely and appropriate manner, also using means of electronic communication;

2) providing the public with information regarding the possibilities of participation, also indicating:

a) the institution where the information, draft of the relevant decision or document, if such exists, and documents related thereto are available;

b) the institution to which proposals and opinions are to be submitted;

c) the person responsible for the taking of the decision or preparation of the document and ensuring the public participation;

d) the time limit for the submission of proposals or opinions;

e) the place and time of a public discussion meeting if such meeting is being organised.

(4) The time limit for the submission of proposals of the public shall be determined as not less than 30 days if another time period has not been specified in other laws and regulations which govern the public participation. The abovementioned time limit may be shortened if the public has already had the possibility to express their opinions regarding the relevant document. If a public discussion meeting is being organised, the organiser of the meeting shall provide information in a timely and appropriate manner.

(5) Provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to documents developed for national defence or civil protection, and also to planning documents in the developing of which the public participation has taken place:

1) within the framework of the process of the strategic environmental impact assessment;

2) in accordance with the Water Management Law.

(6) When taking the decisions or adopting the documents referred to in Section 8, Paragraph one of this Law, an institution shall:

1) evaluate the opinions and proposals expressed during the public participation process;

2) adjust the rights and interests of the individual to the benefits and losses of the public, taking into account what impact the decision or document has on sustainable development, as well as taking into account the assessment principle.

(7) An institution shall appropriately inform the public of the decision taken or document adopted, indicating justification of the selected solution, and also of the place where it is possible to get acquainted with the accepted document and documents related thereto, also with information regarding the process for public participation.

Section 13. Involvement of the Public in the Preparation of Laws and Regulations

(1) An institution shall involve the public or representatives thereof in the preparation and discussion of the laws and regulations regarding the environment, also amendments thereto in as early a stage as possible.

(2) The institution which is developing the draft legal act regarding the environment shall ensure its availability in accordance with the laws and regulations regulating the circulation of draft legislation.

Section 14. Environmental Consultative Council

(1) The Ministry of the Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall, in co-operation with the concerned associations and foundations the objective of which is environmental protection in accordance with the statutes, shall establish an Environmental Consultative Council. Decisions of the council in the environmental field are of an advisory nature. The Cabinet shall approve the by-laws of the council. The by-laws shall determine the rights, functions and agenda of the Environmental Consultative Council, as well as the procedures by which associations and foundations referred to in this Section delegate representatives for the Environmental Consultative Council.

(2) The Environmental Consultative Council shall promote the widest possible involvement of the public in the taking the decisions associated with the environment, co-operation and information exchange in the environmental field between each person and the public as a whole, State institutions and local governments, as well as facilitate the submission of proposals on issues which are associated with the development and implementation of environmental policy and the preparation of the relevant laws and regulations or planning documents.

(3) The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall financially ensure the operation of the Environmental Consultative Council, as well as cooperate with the Environmental Consultative Council by submitting for discussion and the submission of proposals thereto drafts of laws and regulations regarding the environment and involving it in the preparation of documents associated with the environment.

[16 December 2010]

Chapter IV
Environmental Information System

Section 15. Basic Principles of the Environmental Information System

(1) The Environmental Information System shall be created according to the objectives, priorities of environmental and sustainable development policy, changes in the quality of the environment and condition of resources. The efficiency of the implementation of the environmental and sustainable development policy and conformity of the state of the environment with the objectives of the policy shall be assessed using the Environmental Information System and national environmental and sustainable development indicators. The Cabinet shall determine the national environmental indicators.

(2) The Environmental Information System is comprised of individual interoperable registers and databases that are under the management of different State institutions and the establishment and operation of which is determined by the laws and regulations regarding the environment.

(3) The the Environmental Information System shall be compatible with the State information systems of national economy sectors. The Law on State Information Systems shall determine the general requirements for the establishment and development of the the Environmental Information System.

(4) The holder of each register or database of the the Environmental Information System shall ensure the storing and updating of timely, accurate, appropriate, valid data and information, and also the quality management and quality control of the information system. The information and data included in the the Environmental Information System shall be geo-referenced and processed in geographic information systems.

(5) The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall co-ordinate the maintenance and development of the the Environmental Information System in accordance with the procedures specified in the laws and regulations regarding the environment, as well as the laws and regulations regulating the State information systems and circulation of electronic documents.

[16 December 2010]

Section 16. Information to Be Included in the Environmental Information System

(1) At least the following information shall be included in the the Environmental Information System:

1) laws and regulations regarding the environment, international agreements, conventions and European Union laws and regulations in the environmental field;

2) environmental policy plans, programmes, strategies and other plans in relation to the environment;

3) reports on the implementation of the documents (if such are prepared) referred to in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Paragraph;

4) reports and statements on the state of the environment, pollution and the sources thereof, reports on environmental and sustainable development indicators;

5) data and information on the supervision of activities which affect or may affect the environment;

6) permits that have been issued in accordance with the law On Pollution and other laws and regulations regulating the environment, and provisions of these permits or reference where this information may be requested or found;

7) environmental monitoring programmes, plans and results;

8) research on the impact on the environment and risk assessments in relation to elements of the environment or a reference where this information may be requested or found;

9) information regarding the provision of reports to the European Commission and other international authorities.

(2) The Centre shall establish and maintain a register of protected areas in which information shall be arranged according to each river basin district. Within the meaning of this Section protected areas shall be the protected areas referred to in Section 1, Clause 1 of the Water Management Law.

[12 June 2009 / Amendment to Paragraph two regarding the change of competent authority shall come into force on 1 August 2009. See Paragraph 13 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 17. Environmental Monitoring

(1) The purpose of environmental monitoring shall be to specify the state of the environment, to evaluate the tendencies and perspective, to develop environmental policy measures and to evaluate the usefulness and efficiency of the previous measures.

(2) Environmental monitoring shall be organised and performed by the State and local government institutions and economic operators in accordance with the requirements of the laws and regulations regarding the environment. The Cabinet shall determine the requirements in relation to the environmental monitoring and procedures for the performance thereof.

(3) The Cabinet shall, at least once every six years, approve the Guidelines on Environmental Monitoring Programme in which the structure, priorities and the necessary financing of the monitoring is determined for compliance with the requirements of laws and regulations, legislation of the European Union and international conventions.

(4) On the basis of the Guidelines referred to in Paragraph three of this Section, the Minister for Environment and Regional Development shall approve the Environmental Monitoring Programme for a period of six years. The programme shall determine the network, parameters, frequency and usable methods for the environmental monitoring performed and organised by the State environmental protection authorities.

(5) Persons who perform environmental monitoring in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations regarding the environment and who have a service identification card or authorisation issued by the State Environmental Service or another State institution laid down in the laws and regulations regarding the environment have the right, by informing the owner or the responsible person, to enter the territories of the State, local governments and private property insofar as it is necessary to perform the observations and measurements for the environmental monitoring. Objects and territories intended for State security and protection, including prisons, may be entered into in accordance with the procedures laid down in the relevant laws and regulations.

(6) Environmental monitoring data and information shall be stored and processed in the databases and registers of the Environmental Information System.

[12 June 2009; 16 December 2010; 18 April 2013]

Chapter V
Control in the Environmental Field

Section 18. State Control in the Environmental Field

State control in the environmental field (hereinafter - the State environmental control) shall be the control of the compliance with the requirements of the laws and regulations regarding the environment, including the following fields:

1) research, extraction, use and accounting of natural resources;

2) performance of polluting activities;

3) research and remediation of polluted and potentially polluted sites;

4) activities with chemical substances and mixtures;

5) activities with the ionising radiation sources;

6) evaluation and reduction of industrial accident risk;

7) waste management;

8) management and protection of specially protected nature territories, specially protected species and biotopes, micro-reserves that are of special State significance;

9) compliance with the provisions for the performance of the intended activities or provisions of the technical regulations in accordance with the laws and regulations regulating the environmental impact assessment.

[18 April 2013]

Section 19. State Environmental Control Institutions

(1) The State Environmental Service, the Nature Conservation Agency and other institutions of direct administration specified in the laws and regulations regarding the environment shall implement State environmental control.

(2) The State Environmental Service shall control the compliance with those laws and regulations regarding the environment the control of which has not been given under the mandate of other institutions of direct administration or local government in accordance with laws and regulations.

[12 June 2009]

Section 20. State Environmental Inspectors

(1) State environmental inspectors of the State Environmental Service and the Nature Conservation Agency shall carry out the State environmental control.

(2) The State environmental inspector shall have a service identification document. The description and sample of the service identification document shall be determined by the Director General of the institution.

(3) Decisions of the State environmental inspectors of the State Environmental Service and the Nature Conservation Agency that are related to the State environmental control may be contested to the Director-General of the State Environmental Service or to the Director-General of the Nature Conservation Agency accordingly. The decisions of the Director-General of the State Environmental Service and the Director-General of the Nature Conservation Agency may be appealed to the court.

Decisions of the State environmental inspectors that are related to the State environmental control can be contested by submitting a relevant submission to the Director General of the State Environmental Service. The decision of the Director General of the State Environmental Service may be appealed to the court.

(4) The State environmental inspector has the right to specify that the decision which is related to the State environmental control shall enter into effect and be executed without a delay if a delay can cause significant adverse changes in the environment.

[21 June 2007; 12 June 2009; 1 November 2018]

Section 21. Rights of the State Environmental Inspectors

(1) When carrying out the State environmental control, the State environmental inspector has the right to:

1) drive in or enter and without interference inspect any territory, installation or another object regardless of the form of property, if it is necessary for the control of compliance with environmental protection requirements when performing the planned inspections or if there are justified suspicions that the laws and regulations regarding the environment are violated. The State environmental inspector has the right to enter objects and territories intended for the State security and defence, including prisons, in accordance with the procedures specified in the relevant laws and regulations;

2) take samples and perform control measurements;

3) stop ships and other floating means and order them to enter a port or to moor;

4) stop motor vehicles off the motor roads in the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Riga coastal dune protection zone and beach, surface water body protection zone or a specially protected nature territory, as well as order the driver of the vehicle to eliminate or terminate violations;

5) request and receive free of charge information from private persons, the State and local government institutions necessary for the performance of the State environmental control, which is at the disposal of the private person or institution, documents of the accounting of natural resources and other documents, in order to control the amounts of extraction, use of natural resources, pollution of the environment, flow of packaging, waste management, building and other activities affecting the environment;

6) temporarily suspend or prohibit the performance of an activity by which the laws and regulations regarding the environment are violated or which creates adverse changes to the environment, or endangers human health or life;

7) issue administrative acts within their competence which are necessary for the fulfilment of the requirements specified in the laws and regulations regarding the environment, for the reaching of environmental quality standards specified in the law On Pollution and rational use of natural resources;

8) conduct administrative offence proceedings;

9) other rights specified in laws and regulations.

(2) [11 June 2020 / See Paragraph 15 of Transitional Provisions]

(3) [1 December 2009]

[21 June 2007; 1 December 2009; 11 June 2020 / New wording of Paragraph one, Clause 8 and amendment regarding the deletion of Paragraph two shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 15 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 22. Local Government Control in the Environmental Field

(1) Local government shall perform control in the environmental field within the scope of the responsibility provided for the local government in the law On Local Governments or the laws and regulations regarding the environment.

(2) Officials of local government environmental control have the rights specified in Section 21, Paragraph one, Clauses 1, 2, 5 and 9 of this Law.

(3) [11 June 2020 / See Paragraph 15 of Transitional Provisions]

[21 June 2007; 11 June 2020 / See Paragraph 15 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 23. Public Control in the Environmental Field

[11 June 2020 / See Paragraph 15 of Transitional Provisions]

Chapter VI
Liability for Damage Caused to the Environment

Section 24. Environmental Damage

(1) Provisions of this Chapter regarding the liability for the damage caused to the environment shall be applicable to the damage done to specially protected nature territories, micro-reserves, as well as specially protected species and biotopes, water, soil and subterranean depths.

(2) The significance of the impact of the damage to specially protected species or biotopes shall be assessed with reference to the baseline condition, taking into account the criteria determined by the Cabinet.

(3) Environmental damage shall also include damage caused by substances polluting the air, if they cause damage to specially protected nature territories, micro-reserves or specially protected species and biotopes, water, soil and subterranean depths.

Section 25. Main Provisions of Liability

(1) An operator shall be liable for environmental damage or imminent threat of damage which, within the scope of the occupational activity thereof, has been caused by an act or omission committed intentionally or through negligence that violates the requirements of the laws and regulations regarding the environment.

(2) The holding of an operator, as well as the persons referred to in Paragraph three of this Section administratively liable or criminally liable for violations of the laws and regulations regarding the environment shall not exempt them from the obligation to cover costs which have occurred due to the environmental damage or imminent threat of damage caused thereby.

(3) A person who is not to be regarded as an operator shall be liable for the damage to the environment or imminent threat of damage which it has caused by an act or omission committed intentionally or through negligence that violates the requirements of the laws and regulations regarding the environment, and this person has an obligation to eliminate the damage or imminent threat of damage, and also to cover the expenses caused by its damage to the environment or imminent threat of damage, including expenses for the preventive, immediate and remedial measures.

(4) An operator shall be liable for the damage to the environment or imminent threat of damage irrespective of guilt if the damage to the environment or imminent threat of damage has occurred when performing the following occupational activities:

1) polluting activities of Category A or B that are laid down in the law On Pollution;

2) activities for the performance of which the waste management permit is required;

3) water abstraction and impondment where a water resources use permit is required;

4) operation of a filling station or petroleum warehouse;

5) manufacture, use, processing, packaging, distribution into the environment or movement within the territory of the production unit of hazardous chemical substances or products (preparations), plant protection products or also biocides specified in accordance with the laws and regulations regulating the circulation of chemical substances and mixtures);

6) transportation of chemical substances or mixtures through pipelines;

7) transportation of dangerous or polluting cargoes by land, inland waters, sea or air;

8) limited use, deliberate distribution into the environment, placing on the market, also movement of genetically modified organisms, also genetically modified micro-organisms;

9) transboundary movement of waste specified in regulations of the European Union for the performance of which a permit is required;

10) management of extractive industry waste.

(5) As regards damage to the environment or imminent threat of damage which has been caused by diffuse pollution (pollution in air, water or soil which is not collected and eliminated from stationary sources of pollution in an organised process) provisions of this Chapter shall be applicable only in the case a causal link between the damage or imminent threat of damage and activity of the operator can be established.

[21 June 2007; 18 April 2013]

Section 26. Liability for the Damage Caused to the Environment Specified in International Laws and Regulations

(1) An operator shall not be liable for damage to the environment or imminent threat of damage in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter if its liability or compensation for the damage caused thereby has been laid down in accordance with the following international conventions and amendments thereto binding on Latvia:

1) the Protocol of 27 November 1992 to Amend the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969;

2) the Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage of 1971;

3) the International Convention of 23 March 2001 on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage;

4) the International Convention of 3 May 1996 on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea;

5) the Vienna Convention of 21 May 1963 on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage and the Protocol of 12 September 1997 to amend the Vienna Convention of 21 May 1997 on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage;

6) the Joint Protocol of 21 September 1988 relating to the Application of the Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention;

7) the Convention relating to Civil Liability in the Field of Maritime Carriage of Nuclear Material of 1971.

(2) Provisions referred to in this Chapter shall not be applicable to the damage to the environment or imminent threat of damage which has been caused by activities that are subject to the Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.

(3) An operator is entitled to limit its liability in accordance with the requirements of the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims of 1976 (LLMC 1976) and amendments thereto.

Section 27. Actions in Case of Imminent Threats of Damage

(1) If damage to the environment has not been caused, but imminent threats of damage exist, the operator shall implement all the necessary preventive measures without delay.

(2) In case of imminent threats of damage, as well as in cases where the imminent threats of damage have not been eliminated by implementing the preventive measures, the operator shall immediately inform the State Environmental Service in writing of the existing threats, the implemented preventive measures and other essential aspects describing the situation.

(3) The State Environmental Service shall:

1) identify the operator whose occupational activities have caused imminent threats of damage;

2) be entitled to request the operator to provide information regarding the imminent threats of damage, also in cases where the existence of such threats is suspected;

3) require the operator to implement the necessary preventive measures;

4) be entitled to give binding instructions to the operator regarding the preventive measures to be implemented;

5) where necessary, shall organise the implementation of preventive measures in the cases and in accordance with the procedures specified by the Cabinet.

(4) In the case referred to in Paragraph three, Clauses 1, 3 and 4 of this Section, the State Environmental Service shall take the decision to identify the operator whose occupational activities have caused direct threats of damage and to implement the preventive measures This decision shall be immediately notified to the operator. The decision of the State Environmental Service may be contested within 15 days to the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau. Contestation of the decision and submission of an application to the court for the cancellation of the decision, recognition as obsolete or invalid shall not suspend the operation of the decision.

Section 28. Actions when Damage has been Caused to the Environment

(1) If damage has been caused to the environment, the operator whose occupational activities have or could have caused it shall:

1) immediately inform the State Environmental Service in writing of the damage to the environment and provide a complete description of the situation;

2) implement the immediate measures without delay;

3) implement remedial measures.

(2) The State Environmental Service is entitled to require the operator whose occupational activities have or could have caused damage to the environment to provide all the necessary information that is related to this damage to the environment.

(3) The State Environmental Service shall inform the territorial local government of the damage to the environment.

(4) The State Environmental Service shall:

1) identify the operator whose occupational activities have caused the damage to the environment;

2) require the operator to implement immediate measures for the remedying of the damage, and shall be entitled to give instructions binding on the operator regarding these measures;

3) require the operator to implement the necessary remedial measures, and shall be entitled to give instructions binding on the operator regarding these measures;

4) organise implementation of immediate measures if the operator whose occupational activities have caused damage to the environment has not been identified or the operator does not implement these measures, or if the operator does not comply with the binding instructions referred to in Clause 2 of this Paragraph;

5) clarify, evaluate and, if possible, take into account the considerations of the private person who has submitted a submission in accordance with Section 30 of this Law, as well as the owner of the immovable property in which the remedial measures are intended to be performed.

(5) In the cases referred to in Paragraph four, Clauses 1, 2 and 3 of this Section, the State Environmental Service shall take the decision to identify the operator whose occupational activities have caused damage to the environment and to implement the immediate and remedial measures. This decision shall be immediately notified to the operator. The decision of the State Environmental Service to identify the operator and implement the immediate measures may be contested to the State Environmental Bureau within 15 days, but the decision to implement the remedial measures - in the time period and in accordance with the procedures specified in the Administrative Procedure Law. Contestation of the decision to implement immediate measures and submission of an application to the court for the cancellation of the decision, recognition as obsolete or invalid shall not suspend the operation of the decision.

(6) The Cabinet shall determine the purposes and methods of the remedy, as well as the procedures by which remedial measures are to be determined and implemented.

(7) If damage to the environment has occurred in a way where it is not possible to ensure the concurrent performance of remedial measures, the State Environmental Service is entitled to decide on the sequence of the performance of remedial measures, taking into account the nature, amount and hazard of the damage caused to the environment, threats to human health, as well as the possibility of natural recovery.

Section 29. Actions in Cases where the Damage to the Environment has a Transboundary Impact

(1) If the damage to the environment affects or is likely to affect the territory of another country, the State Environmental Service shall, by informing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Fire-Fighting and Rescue Service, co-operate with the competent authority of the other country, also provide it with information regarding the nature, amount, and distribution of the environmental damage, the implemented and necessary preventive, immediate or remedial measures in order to ensure that the preventive, immediate and if necessary, remedial measures are implemented.

(2) If the damage to the environment caused in another country affects or is likely to affect the territory of the Republic of Latvia, the State Environmental Service shall, in co-operation with the competent authority of the country, determine the necessary immediate or remedial measures and notify the relevant territorial local governments of Latvia thereof.

(3) If an operator who performs occupational activities in the territory of another country does not implement the necessary immediate or remedial measures voluntarily, the State Environmental Service is entitled to request the reimbursement of costs of these measures by coming to an agreement with the operator or by legal proceedings.

[21 June 2007]

Section 30. Rights of the Public in Cases when the Damage to the Environment or Imminent Threats of Damage have Occurred

(1) If the public becomes aware of damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage, it has the right to submit a submission to the State Environmental Service or another competent authority with a request to implement the necessary activities in accordance with this Chapter.

(2) In the submission, information regarding the respective damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage must be indicated as accurately as possible.

(3) The State Environmental Service or another competent authority shall evaluate the submission in as short a period of time as possible in accordance with the procedures specified in the Administrative Procedure Law, also clarifying the opinion of the operator on the facts and considerations indicated in the submission, and, where necessary, take the relevant activities in accordance with this Chapter.

Section 31. Compensation for Damage to the Environment

(1) The operator whose occupational activities has caused damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage shall cover the costs of the preventive, immediate and remedial measures.

(2) [21 June 2007]

(3) If the operator whose occupational activities have caused damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage is identified by the State Environmental Service prior to the implementation of preventive, immediate and remedial measures and the State Environmental Service has ensured the implementation of these measures in accordance with Section 27, Paragraph three, Clause 5 or Section 28, Paragraph four, Clause 4 of this Law, the costs of the aforementioned measures shall be covered by the operator (a private person, derived public entity or institution of indirect administration). The decision shall be executed in accordance with the procedures specified in the Administrative Procedure Law.

(4) If the operator whose occupational activities have caused damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage is identified by the State Environmental Service after implementation of preventive, immediate and remedial measures, the State Environmental Service shall, in accordance with the procedures specified in the Civil Procedure Law, recover from the operator such amount of money as necessary for covering the costs referred to in Paragraph one of this Section. The State Environmental Service is waived from the payment of the State fee for the claims regarding the recovery of funds for covering the costs referred to in Paragraph one of this Section.

(5) The costs referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall include the costs that are justified by the necessity to ensure the proper and effective implementation of the provisions of this Chapter, including the costs of assessing damage to the environment, imminent threats of damage and alternative actions, the administrative costs, legal and enforcement costs, the costs of data collection and monitoring, as well as other costs related to the damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage.

(6) If the operator proves that the damage to the environments or imminent threats of damage were caused by a third person although the safety measures which the operator had the obligation to ensure were appropriately implemented, or the damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage have resulted from compliance with such decision binding on an entity governed by the public law which is not applicable to emission or accident caused by the operator itself, the operator:

1) is entitled to recover the costs of the preventive and immediate measures which were covered by it;

2) shall not cover the costs of the remedial measures and is entitled to recover the costs which were covered by it.

(7) If the operator proves that the damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage were caused by a third person although safety measures which the operator had the obligation to ensure were appropriately implemented, the operator is entitled to request compensation of the costs of preventive, immediate and remedial measures from the third person who caused the damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage in accordance with the procedures specified in the Civil Procedure Law.

(8) If the operator proves that the damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage have resulted from the compliance with such decision binding on the entity governed by the public law which is not applicable to the emission or accident caused by the operator itself, the operator is entitled to request compensation of the costs of preventive, immediate and remedial measures in accordance with the Law on Reimbursement of Losses Caused by State Administrative Authorities.

(9) The operator shall not cover costs of remedial measures if it proves that the damage to the environment has not occurred due to its action or omission committed intentionally or through negligence and the damage to the environment has been caused by:

1) emission or activity that is directly allowed and completely corresponds to the provisions of the permit issued for the performance of the activities referred to in Section 25, Paragraph four of this Law;

2) emission, activity or use of any product for the activity if their impact on the environment was not considered as damaging according to the findings of science and technology at the time when the emission or the particular activity took place.

(10) Paragraph nine of this Section shall not be applicable to limited use, intentional distribution in the environment, distribution in the market, also movement of genetically modified organisms, also genetically modified micro-organisms.

(11) The State Environmental Service may decide to identify the operator whose occupational activities have caused damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage or to identify a third person, and to perform preventive measures or immediate and remedial measures or submit an application of claim to the court within five years from the date on which those measures have been completed or from the date when the operator or the third person is identified depending on which of the aforementioned events is the later.

(12) Income from payments for the assessment, prevention of damage caused to the environment, implementation of preventive, immediate or remedial measures, and also the costs referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall be paid into the State basic budget, whereas the costs which have been incurred by a local government shall be paid into the budget of this local government.

(13) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the assessment of the damage to the environment and the calculation of the costs referred to in Paragraph one of this Section.

(14) In specially protected nature territories - for natural monuments which have been designated as such by the Cabinet or a local government, the damage shall be assessed taking into account the level of the damage or destruction to the natural monument. The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which the damage done to a natural monument shall be assessed.

[21 June 2007]

Section 32. Joint Liability for Imminent Threats of Damage or Damage to the Environment

(1) Operators shall be jointly liable for the imminent threats of damage or damage to the environment that have been caused by activities of several operators.

(2) If the operator proves that the activities performed thereby have created only a part of the imminent threats of damage or damage to the environment, the operator shall cover only the costs of preventive, immediate or remedial measures for the part of the imminent threats of damage or damage to the environment which have been caused by its actions.

Section 33. Provision of Financial Guarantees for Definite Activities

Operators may use types of financial guarantee, also insurance, funds and bank guarantees to insure implementation of the preventive, immediate or remedial measures specified by this Law.

Section 34. Collection of Information Regarding Damage to the Environment

(1) The Centre shall establish and maintain a database where information regarding cases when damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage have occurred in order to register cases when preventive, immediate or remedial measures are to be implemented in accordance with this Chapter.

(2) The State Environmental Service and operators shall submit to the Centre the information referred to in Paragraph one of this Section in accordance with the procedures specified by the Cabinet.

[12 June 2009 / Amendments regarding the change of competent authority shall come into force on 1 August 2009. See Paragraph 13 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 35. Force Majeure and Other Exceptions

(1) Provisions of this Chapter shall not be applicable to cases where the damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage have occurred due to a natural phenomenon of exceptional, inevitable, unpredictable in due time and irresistible character or due to an armed conflict, hostilities, civil war or insurrection (hereinafter - the force majeure).

(2) Provisions referred to in this Chapter shall not be applicable to activities the principal aim of which is the national defence or international security, as well as to activities the only aim of which is protection from a natural disaster.

(3) In case of force majeure, the operator shall immediately inform the State Environmental Service of the damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage in writing, indicating, where possible, the measures taken and planned for the prevention, restriction or reduction of the damage to the environment or imminent threats of damage, as well as implement all immediate measures without delay.

(4) After elimination of the consequences of force majeure, the operator shall submit to the State Environmental Service information regarding the damage to the environment, the amount thereof and the measures implemented for the restriction or prevention of damage to the environment, as well as for the assessment of the present situation.

(5) The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to emissions, accidents or any other incident which have caused damage to the environment if more than 30 years have passed since such damage was caused.

[21 June 2007]

Chapter VI¹
Liability for Water Pollution

[21 June 2007]

Section 35.¹ Application of Liability for Water Pollution

(1) Liability for the pollution of the waters referred to in Section 2, Paragraph three, Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this Law shall be applied if discharge of a noxious or other polluting substance has occurred from a ship (irrespective of the flag of the ship), except for warships, naval auxiliary or other ships owned by a country or operated by a country at the time of discharge and used only for non-commercial purposes.

(2) Discharge of noxious or other polluting substances shall not be considered a violation if it conforms to Regulations 15, 34, 4.1 or 4.3 of Annex I or Regulations 1.3, 3.1.1 or 3.1.3 of Annex II to the MARPOL Convention.

(3) Discharge of noxious or other polluting substances into the territories referred to Section 2, Paragraph three, Clauses 3, 4 and 5 of this Law shall not be a violation for which a ship owner, master or crew which has acted on the basis of an order from the master are liable if the discharge conforms to Regulation 4.2 of Annex I and Regulation 3.1.2 of Annex II to the MARPOL Convention.

Section 35.² Violations and Sanctions

(1) For the discharge of noxious or other polluting substances or pollution of waters in any other way from ships, persons shall be held liable according to the procedures specified in laws and regulations.

(2) The provisions regarding violations of Paragraph one of this Section which have been committed in straits used for international navigation, exclusive economic zones and the high seas shall not apply to members of a ship's crew if the provisions of Regulation 4.2 of Annex I or Regulation 3.1.2 of Annex II to the MARPOL Convention are fulfilled.

(3) Holding persons liable for the discharge of noxious or polluting substances from ships shall not release such persons from civil legal liability and shall not restrict the civil legal liability thereof for the losses caused to other persons and the environment and the compensation for damage.

Chapter VII
Voluntary Measures for Environmental Management

Section 36. Agreement with an Economic Operator on the Attainment of Environmental Objectives

(1) A State institution may enter into agreement with an economic operator or an organisation representing economic operators on the compliance with such environmental requirements which exceed the requirements specified in the laws and regulations regarding the environment or on the attainment of definite environmental objectives.

(2) The component of the agreement with an economic operator referred to in Paragraph one of this Section may be a complete or partial exemption from the payment of the natural resources tax in the cases specified in the Natural Resources Tax Law.

Section 37. Voluntarily Applicable Means of Environmental Management

In order to promote economically efficient use of natural resources, limit pollution of the environment and reduce the production and selling of products polluting the environment, the State institutions and local governments:

1) when performing public procurement, shall include justified environmental provisions in technical specifications;

2) may introduce voluntary means of environmental management, including environmental certificates, or promote the application thereof.

Section 38. Ecolabel and the Awarding Thereof

(1) The State Environmental Monitoring Bureau is the competent institution in respect of the performance of tasks provided for in Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel (text with EEA relevance). The State Environmental Monitoring Bureau shall, in accordance with the abovementioned Regulation, award the European Union Ecolabel (hereinafter - also the Ecolabel) for products in order to promote the production and distribution of environmental friendly products.

(1¹) The person who submits a submission to the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau for the awarding of the Ecolabel for a product shall cover costs for the examination of the submission and product registration, as well as the costs related to testing and conformity assessment in respect of criteria for the Ecolabel in accordance with the price list of paid services provided by the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau that has been approved by the Cabinet. The Cabinet shall determine:

1) the fee for the examination of the submission for the awarding of the Ecolabel and product registration;

2) the annual fee for the use of the Ecolabel and payment procedures.

(2) The State Environmental Monitoring Bureau shall co-ordinate the European Union Ecolabel award scheme in Latvia, inform manufacturers of the relevant requirements, popularise European Union Ecolabels, as well as provide necessary information to the European Commission.

(3) If the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau establishes violation of the requirements for the use of the European Union Ecolabel in relation to a product to which such label has been awarded, it shall take a decision which imposes a legal obligation to eliminate the established violation.

[21 June 2007; 16 December 2010; 7 June 2012; 11 June 2020 / Paragraph three shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 15 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 39. Eco-management and Audit Scheme

(1) In order to evaluate and improve the performance of the subjects governed by public or private law (institutions, economic operators, associations, performers of economic activities, etc.) in the field of environment, as well as to provide the public and other concerned persons with the relevant information, the subjects governed by public or private law may participate in the eco-management and audit scheme of the European Community in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 allowing voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme.

(2) The State Environmental Monitoring Bureau shall implement the measures necessary for the compliance with the requirements of Articles 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of Regulation referred to in Paragraph one of this Section.

(3) The State Environmental Monitoring Bureau shall establish and maintain a register of the eco-management and audit scheme and register subjects governed by public or private law, except for natural persons, in the register of the eco-management and audit scheme or decide on the registration refusal.

(4) An accredited environmental verifier shall examine and approve the elements necessary for the registration with the Eco-management and Audit System.

[14 February 2008; 14 November 2008; 12 June 2009; 16 December 2010; 18 April 2013; 11 June 2020]

Chapter VIII
Environmental Science, Environmental Education and Sustainable Development

Section 40. Development of the Environmental Science

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall, in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Science, implement the measures necessary for the development of environmental science in order to promote scientific activities in the field of sustainable development, environmental protection and environmental education, ensuring the performance of environmental quality research, development of eco-innovation and environmental technologies, as well as awareness and solving of environmental protection problems.

[16 December 2010]

Section 41. Environmental Science and Education Council

(1) The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall, in co-operation with other ministries, higher education institutions and colleges involved in the environmental science and environmental education, establish the Environmental Science and Education Council. The decisions of the Council shall be of recommendatory nature. The by-laws of the Council shall be approved by the Cabinet. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development shall financially ensure the operation of the Environmental Science and Education Council.

(2) The Environmental Science and Education Council shall promote co-operation between the authorities related to the environmental science and environmental education development, shall identify and solve problems in respect of environmental science and education for sustainable development, as well as promote co-operation between the involved authorities in the introduction of a policy for a sustainable environment and improvement of the instruments thereof.

[16 December 2010]

Section 42. Environmental Education

(1) Matters regarding environmental education and education for sustainable development shall be included in the mandatory curriculum of the subject or course standard in accordance with the specific character of each subject by agreeing thereupon and ensuring succession on different education levels.

(2) A course in environmental protection shall be included in the mandatory part of all study programmes of higher education institutions and colleges.

(3) A course in sustainable development shall be included in the study programmes for all teachers of higher education institutions and colleges.

Transitional Provisions

1. With the coming into force of this Law, the law On Environmental Protection (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1991, No. 33/34; Latvijas Republikas Saeimas un Ministru Kabineta Ziņotājs, 1997, No. 13; 2000, No. 15; 2002, No. 3, 22; 2003, No. 12; 2004, No. 9; 2005, No. 6; 2006, No. 15) is repealed.

2. Sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34 and 35 of this Law come into force on 30 April 2007.

3. If pollution has emerged before 30 April 2007, research and remedying of the polluted and potentially polluted locations shall be performed in accordance with the law On Pollution.

4. Environmental damage, which has emerged before 30 April 2007, shall be determined and compensated in accordance with the following procedures:

1) private persons, who have caused environmental damage, shall have the duty:

a) to liquidate as soon as possible or also to reduce the consequences of environmental damage in order to prevent the negative impact on the environment and threat to the sustainable development of the environment;

b) to compensate losses that are necessary in order to restore the affected or create close to environmental values, if it is not possible to prevent the environmental damage;

2) The Director of the Regional Environmental Board of the State Environmental Service or the Director of the Marine and Inland Waters Administration or the Director of the Administration of the Specially protected Nature Territories shall establish with an order a commission in order to specify the losses, which have emerged in the result of environmental damage, (hereinafter - the Commission). In accordance with the laws and regulations regarding the environment the Commission shall determine the losses, which have emerged in the result of environmental damage, on the basis of the inspection deed;

3) The Director of the Regional Environmental Board of the State Environmental Service or the Director or the Marine and Inland Waters Administration or the Director of Administration of the Specially Protected Nature territories, within a time period of two months after the performed inspection, on the basis of calculations performed by the Commission, shall issue an administrative deed regarding the elimination of the environmental damage and reimbursement of losses (hereinafter - a deed). A deed shall be notified to the person, who has caused the environmental harm. Total losses shall be indicated in the deed and the time period for the commencement of restoration works, procedures for the performance of these works and the time period, by which the referred to works are to be performed, shall be specified. If it is not possible to eliminate the environmental damage, the Commission shall determine a time period, by which the calculated sum of the loss must be paid into the State basic budget.

4) Total losses, which have emerged in the result of the environmental damage, shall be determined on the basis of the amount and the costs of works, which are necessary in order to restore the affected environmental values or create close to environmental values, if it is not possible to eliminate the environmental damage, as well as on the basis of sums of losses, which in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding the environment have been calculated for the pollution that has been left in the environment and secondary pollution.

5) If it is possible to eliminate the consequences of environmental damage only partially, the person, who has caused the environmental damage, shall pay the remaining sum of losses in the State basic budget in the specified period of time.

6) A deed issued by the Director of the Regional Environmental Board of the State Environmental Service or the Marine and Inland Waters Administration or the Director of Administration of the Specially Protected Nature Territories may be contested to the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau within a time period of one month after coming into effect thereof. A decision of the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau may be appealed in accordance with the procedures specified in the Administrative Procedure Law.

5. The Cabinet shall:

1) approve Environmental Policy Guidelines by 1 December 2008;

2) approve Guidelines of the Environmental Monitoring Programme by 1 December 2008;

3) issue the regulations referred to in Section 14, Paragraph one; Section 24, Paragraph two and Section 41, Paragraph one by 1 March 2007;

4) issue the regulations referred to in Section 20, Paragraph two; Section 21, Paragraph two; Section 23, Paragraph two; and Section 39, Paragraphs three and four by 1 December 2007;

5) issue the regulations referred to in Section 15, Paragraph one; Section 17, Paragraph two and Section 31, Paragraph fourteen by 1 December 2008.

[21 June 2007; 14 February 2008]

6. The following Cabinet regulations shall be applicable until the issuance of new Cabinet regulations, but not later than until 1 March 2008 insofar they do not contradict with this Law:

1) [14 February 2008];

2) [14 February 2008];

3) Cabinet Regulation No. 320 of 20 April 2004, Procedures for the Establishment and Maintenance of Register of Environmental Management and Audit Scheme and Registration of Organisations Therein;

4) Cabinet Regulation No. 689 of 3 August 2004, Regulations regarding the Accreditation and Supervision of Testing and Calibration Laboratories, Certification and Inspection Authorities and Environmental Verifiers.

5) The Cabinet Regulation No. 187 of 7 March 2006, Procedures for Drawing up of a Protocol-Notification Regarding Violation of Provisions for Movement of Vehicles off the motor roads in areas of the coastal dunes, beaches or specially protected nature territories of the Baltic Sea and coast of the Gulf of Riga.

[21 June 2007; 14 February 2008]

7. Until the issuance of new Cabinet Regulations, but not later than until 1 December 2008 Cabinet Regulation No. 333 of 20 April 2004, Regulations regarding Restricted Utilisation and Intentional Distribution in the Environment and Market, as Well as Monitoring Procedures of Genetically Modified Organisms, shall be applied, insofar they do not contradict with the provision of this Law.

8. Clause 4 of Section 26, Paragraph one of this Law shall come into force simultaneously with the coming into force of the International Convention of 3 May 1996 on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea.

9. Section 21, Paragraph three of this Law shall come into force on 1 January 2007.

10. Amendments to Section 21, Paragraph three of this Law regarding the deletion of the amount of the insurance sum and Section 38, Paragraph two regarding the competence of the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau shall come into force on 1 January 2008.

[21 June 2007]

11. Section 25, Paragraph four, Clause 10 of this Law shall come into force on 1 May 2008.

[21 June 2007]

12. The following Cabinet regulations shall be applicable until the the new Cabinet regulations come into force, but not later than until 1 December 2008, insofar they are not in contradiction with this Law:

1) Cabinet Regulation No. 162 of 8 April 2003, Regulations regarding Environmental Monitoring and Register of Polluting Substances;

2) Cabinet Regulation No. 357 of 24 May 2005, Procedures for the Calculation of Losses Created Due to Damage Caused to Natural Monuments.

[14 February 2008]

13. Amendments to Section 10, Paragraph six, Section 16, Paragraph two, Section 17, Paragraph five and Section 34 of this Law regarding change of the competent institution shall come into force on 1 August 2009.

[12 June 2009]

14. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in Section 38, Paragraph 1.¹ of this Law by 1 July 2012.

[7 June 2012]

15. Amendments to Section 21 of this Law regarding the new wording of Paragraph one, Clause 8 and deletion of Paragraph two, amendment to Section 22 regarding the deletion of Paragraph three, amendment regarding the deletion of Section 23 and amendment regarding the supplementation of Section 38 with Paragraph three shall come into force concurrently with the Law on Administrative Liability.

[11 June 2020]

Informative Reference to the European Union Directives

[21 June 2007; 1 November 2018]

This Law contains legal norms arising from:

2) Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 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;

3) Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003 on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC;

3) Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003 on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC;

5) Directive 2005/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements;

6) Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the management of waste from extractive industries and amending Directive 2004/35/EC.

6) Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the management of waste from extractive industries and amending Directive 2004/35/EC;

7) Directive 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on safety of offshore oil and gas operations and amending Directive 2004/35/EC (text with EEA relevance).

This Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 2 November 2006.

President V. Vīķe-Freiberga

Rīga, 15 November 2006

¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2021 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)