Environmental Protection Act of 2001.

This Act consists of 5 Chapters divided into 27 articles: Introduction provisions (I); The High Council for Environment and Natural Resources (II); General Policies and Guidance for Environmental Protection (III); Offences and Penalties (IV); General Provisions (V).
The aims of this Act are to: (a) protect the environment, and to conserve the purity, natural components and equilibrium of the environment; (b) develop and improve the environment as well as guide the use of natural resources; (c) make a connection between environment and development; (d) assure and confirm responsibilities of the competent Authorities for the protection of the environment; and (e) activate the role of the competent Authority in environment protection (art. 4). A High Council for Environment and Natural Resources will be established by a resolution of the Cabinet (art. 6). Articles 7-18 address the following matters: competences and duties of the council; the administrative organization of the council; specialized councils; the council’s budget; the creation of regional councils and their competences and duties; competent authority; duties of the competent authority in respecting environmental policies; etc. Article 22 provides for the duties and competences of the competent tribunal. Pollution control standards and methods are provided for in article 24. The remaining articles contain provisions of miscellaneous nature.