Environment Damage Act.

Article 1 of the present Act is contained in the Act of 10 May 2007 (BGBl. I 666) implementing Directive 2004/35/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage. This European Directive establishes a framework of environmental liability based on the “polluter-pays”principle. For the purpose of the present Act “environmental damage” includes damage to protected species and natural habitats, water damage and land damage. The text – consisting of 13 articles – deals with the following matters: relations to other provisions, definition of terms, sphere of application, duty to inform, duty to avert dangers, liability in case of damage, general duties and authorizations of the competent authority, fixing of remedying measures, costs, legal protection, cooperation with other member states of the European Union. Three Annexes are enclosed.