Environment Protection Act, 1991 (Act No. V of 1991).

This Act spells out the duties of the Government in the field of environment protection, makes provision for the prevention and reduction of pollution, the protection to the Flora and Fauna, for environmental impact assessments, and deals with civil damages and punishment of offences. It shall be the duty of the Minister to establish directives and codes of practice concerning the quality of the environment in accordance with sections 4 to 7. The Minister may, so that species of the flora and fauna be safeguarded, issue regulations declaring a particular species of Flora or Fauna a protected species and may also declare a specified area of these Islands or the territorial waters a Nature Reserve (sect. 32). Before any organ of Government grants a permit for the execution of a project which is likely to have an impact on the environment, the Minister shall be informed by the Authority competent to allow the permit, of the application for such permit and the Minister shall, within three months from the receipt of such information, copy such an assessment to that organ of Government. No government project which will substantially change the environment shall be executed before being submitted to the Minister for an assessment of the environmental impact (sect. 39). The President on the advice of the Prime Minister shall by notice in the Gazette appoint an Authority of Review to hear and determine notices of objection made under any provision of this Act (sect. 44).
The Act is composed of eleven parts. Part I deals with monitoring and information. Part II regards toxic substances. The Minister may publish a list of toxic substances and make regulations concerning the use and possession of such substances. Section 18 prohibits the production, importation, transport, keeping and marketing of fuels containing certain elements if they exceed the levels prescribed by the Minister. Part III concerns noise and energy control. Part IV is concerned with discharges into the sea. In particular, section 25 prohibits discharges into the sea without a special permit granted by the Minister. Part V regards dumping and disposal on land; Part VI regards protecdtion of flora and fauna; Part VII applies to the historical heritage.