Law No. 2-Z “On the protection of atmospheric air”.

This Law defines the legal and organizational basis for the protection of atmospheric air from emissions of pollutants and is aimed at preserving and restoring the quality of atmospheric air and ensuring environmental safety. Atmospheric air is a component of the natural environment, which is a natural mixture of atmospheric gases located outside residential, industrial and other premises. Pollution of atmospheric air is the entry into the atmospheric air, the presence and (or) the occurrence in it as a result of the harmful impact on the environment of pollutants, the properties, location or quantity of which lead to negative changes in the quality of atmospheric air, including the excess of standards in the field of atmospheric air protection. The main principles of atmospheric air protection are: (a) state regulation and management in the field of atmospheric air protection; (b) mandatory assessment of the impact of economic and other activities on atmospheric air when making decisions about its implementation thereof; (c) admissibility of the impact of economic and other activities on atmospheric air, taking into account the requirements in the field of atmospheric air protection; (d) payment for emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere during economic and other activities; (e) standardization in the field of atmospheric air protection; (f) prevention of air pollution and harm to the environment; (g) compensation for damage caused to the environment by emissions of pollutants into the atmospheric air, to the life, health and property of citizens; and (h) availability of environmental information on the state of atmospheric air, impacts on it and measures for its protection. This Law establishes the competence of the President of the Republic of Belarus, the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Health, regional and local executive bodies in the field of atmospheric air protection. Programs in the field of atmospheric air protection must contain: (a) measures aimed at preserving and restoring the quality of atmospheric air; (b) indicators for reducing emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; (c) analysis and forecast of emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmospheric air; (d) forecast of atmospheric air quality; (e) a list of economic sectors and (or) a list of territories for which, based on the results of the analysis and forecast of emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, measures must be taken in the area of air protection; (f) measures to reduce and (or) prevent emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere for individual sectors of the economy and (or) territories requiring the adoption of measures in the area of air protection; and (g) other information in accordance with legislative acts. Pollutants having impact on atmospheric air shall be classified by hazard categories (classes). Monitoring of atmospheric air is an integral part of the National Environmental Monitoring System in the Republic of Belarus. This Law contains VIII Sections divided into 47 Articles. Section I lays down general provisions. Section II regards state regulation and management. Section III regards classification in the field of air protection. Section IV regards standardization in the field of atmospheric air protection. Section V establishes requirements in the field of atmospheric air protection. Section VI regards accounting, monitoring and inventory. Section VII regards control and liability. Section VIII lays down final provisions.