Pollution Act (No. 6 of 1981).

This Act provides rules for the prevention of pollution of the environment. The Act consists of 96 sections divided into 13 Chapters: Introductory provisions (I); General provisions relative to pollution (II); Permits for activities which may bring about pollution, impact assessment statements (III); Special rules relative to water discharge installations (IV); Provisions relative to waste (V); Acute pollution (VI); Control of pollution by waste (VII); Voluntary participation by companies in the industrial sector in a Community Eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS Scheme) (VIIA); Compensations for ecological damages (VIII); Enforcement of provisions of the Act. Measures in the framework of the Act (IX); Provisions of an administrative nature and relationship to the Administration Act (XI); Final provisions (XII).
Section 2 contains a set of basic principles and guidelines. The Act does not apply to pollution by genetically modified organisms (sect. 3). The Act does apply to pollution in the Norwegian economic zone and to exploration and exploitation on the Continental Shelf. Section 6 gives a definition of 'pollution' which includes pollution of water, soil, and air. Chapter IV contains rules relative to the discharge of wastewater. It lays down criteria for transport and treatment of water, connection to existing works, and the treatment of mud by municipalities.