Order of the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation No. 161-НК “On approval of the Rules for conducting exploration and assessment of groundwater”.

This Order primarily focuses on the establishment of procedures for identifying and evaluating groundwater deposits and sites. The regulation aims to guide the development of groundwater survey projects, ensuring they describe methods, scope, and duration of work, and are developed in accordance with existing instructions and legal standards. The broader policy context emphasizes sustainable groundwater management and environmental protection, with explicit reference to compliance with groundwater protection requirements. Key measures outlined include the development of groundwater survey and assessment projects that specify types, methods, and means of exploration, as well as the number and characteristics of wells to be drilled over a three-year period. The regulation stipulates that these projects should include measures to address environmental impacts and should be executed using budgetary funds or other legally permissible sources, including private entities interested in groundwater resources. It also mandates that positive findings from the state examination of groundwater deposits must lead to the development of a groundwater deposit certificate within one month. The regulation emphasizes the importance of monitoring, compliance, and the development of recommendations for groundwater organization and management. Implementation responsibilities are assigned to the Department of Underground Waters within the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, which is tasked with ensuring state registration of the order, posting it online following official publication, and monitoring its enforcement. The document also references procedural standards, including the development of project documents in line with existing instructions, and highlights the role of legal and natural persons in conducting groundwater exploration activities, emphasizing adherence to environmental protection requirements and procedural compliance.