Environmental Protection Law.

The Environmental Protection Law specifies necessary principles, rules and measures for managing, monitoring, restoring and protecting the environment in order to protect public, natural resources and biodiversity, and to ensure the sustainable socio-economic development of the nation. Article 2 defines "environment", whereas article 3 defines "environment protection". Basic principles of environment protection are set out in article 5. Chapter II concerns prevention of environmental degradation and the protection, exploitation and use of natural resources. The Science, Technology and Environment Agency shall issue general regulations on procedures and methods for environmental impact assessment but each sector that is responsible for the development projects and activities shall issue its own regulations on procedures and methods for environmental impact assessment, based on such general regulation of EIA (art. 8). Article 15 is concerned with the protection of biodiversity. Chapter III provides for the control of pollution whereas Chapter IV concerns environmental mitigation and restoration. The Government supports the establishment of an National Environment Protection Fund (sect. 30). Provisions of Chapter VII spell out duties of public bodies in the field of environment monitoring and inspection. Chapter VIII contains provisions regarding sanctions and indemnity measures. (51 sections divided into 9 Chapters)