BERCEN plenary meeting Budapest, September Agenda item 4 National key achievements in environmental enforcement and compliance, and proposals on further BERCEN activities BULGARIA

Key achievements Legislation: New Environmental Protection Act New Environmental Protection Act (adopted in July by the Parliament – returned by the President – final adoption expected)  4 Regulations drafted under the EPA (to be enforced 6 months after its coming into force) Law on Biodiversity (State Gazette 77/Aug.2002 ) Law on Biodiversity (State Gazette 77/Aug.2002 ) 4 new (approximating) regulations in the Chemicals sector 4 new (approximating) regulations in the Chemicals sector

Key achievements Drafted legislation: Draft Law on Genetically Modified Organisms Draft Law on Genetically Modified Organisms (at the stage of inter-institutional agreement) Draft new Waste Management Law Draft new Waste Management Law (in the Parliament) Draft Regulation on packaging and packaging waste Draft Regulation on packaging and packaging waste Draft Regulation on PCB and PCT Draft Regulation on PCB and PCT

Key achievements New Structures: 4 River Basin Directorates (permit and control functions) : 4 River Basin Directorates (permit and control functions) :  Varna – Black Sea Region  Pleven – Danube Region  Plovdiv – river catchments of Maritza, Arda and Toundja  Blagoevgrad - river catchments of Mesta and Struma To operate with 20 people each by the end of 2002 To operate with 20 people each by the end of people to be appointed from January 1, people to be appointed from January 1,

Key achievements New Structures: Integrated Permits Department (permit functions) : Integrated Permits Department (permit functions) :  Within the Executive Environment Agency To implement the permit issuing provisions of the IPPC Directive and the new EPA To implement the permit issuing provisions of the IPPC Directive and the new EPA -

Key achievements New equipment: 3 small Regional inspectorates to be equipped with computers, servers and software 3 small Regional inspectorates to be equipped with computers, servers and software (within REREP 1.7) New hazardous waste database in place within the Executive Environment Agency New hazardous waste database in place within the Executive Environment Agency New packaging and packaging waste database in preparation in the Executive Environment Agency New packaging and packaging waste database in preparation in the Executive Environment Agency

Key achievements Planned training for inspectors: Study visits of inspectors in EU Member States - to be supported by TAIEX Study visits of inspectors in EU Member States - to be supported by TAIEX Seminar and training on the implementation and enforcement of the new EPA - to be carried out by the National Institute for Public Administration and European Integration (planned for January 2003) Seminar and training on the implementation and enforcement of the new EPA - to be carried out by the National Institute for Public Administration and European Integration (planned for January 2003) On-going (twinning) training on enforcement of IPPC and SEVESO On-going (twinning) training on enforcement of IPPC and SEVESO

Key achievements Increased number of qualified inspectors on board: According to the New Administrative structure of the Ministry of Environment and Water, approved by the Council of Ministers in July 2002: According to the New Administrative structure of the Ministry of Environment and Water, approved by the Council of Ministers in July 2002:  Regional Inspectorates in 2003 (477in 2000; 502 in 2001)  River Basin Directorates – 250 in 2003 (20 in 2002)

Operative control Year 2001(appr. quantative data): Inspected sites – ( in 2000) Inspected sites – ( in 2000) Penalty statements – 1300 (1700 in 2000) Penalty statements – 1300 (1700 in 2000) Sanctions imposed – 300 (420 in 2000) Sanctions imposed – 300 (420 in 2000) Not considerable increase in the amount of collected sanctions, compared to 2000

Operative control New approach in collecting statistical information on inspection: There was not official statistics of the appealed administrative measures and the court cases related to enforcement of the environmental law. There was not official statistics of the appealed administrative measures and the court cases related to enforcement of the environmental law. New questionnaire related to the Inspectorates’ annual reports has been developed in accordance to the Draft IMPEL Guidance on compliance with Article VIII of the Recommendation on minimum criteria for environmental inspection. New questionnaire related to the Inspectorates’ annual reports has been developed in accordance to the Draft IMPEL Guidance on compliance with Article VIII of the Recommendation on minimum criteria for environmental inspection.

BERCEN activities in 2003 Proposal: 2-days exchange program related to IPPC permitting and installations inspection to be carried out in Bulgaria