Ministerial Decree No.160 regarding the sphere of competence of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is a federal executive body authorized to carry out functions regarding elaboration of state policy and normative and legal regulation in the sphere of nature management, environmental protection and ensuring ecological safety. Ministry of Natural Resources is competent authority in the following fields: 1) geological study, rational use and protection of subsoil; 2) use, protection, conservation and reproduction of forests; 3) running of water reservoirs and waterworks and ensuring their safety; 4) protection, use and stock enhancement of wildlife species and their habitats; 5) protected areas; 6) environmental protection and ensuring ecological safety; 7) protection of atmospheric air; 8) waste management of industrial and domestic waste (except for nuclear waste); 9) improvement of economic mechanism of the regulation of nature management and environmental protection.