Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Environmental Protection” No. 1982-XII of November 26, 1992 (as amended on December 29, 2020 No. 73-Z)

The Law establishes the legal basis for environmental protection in the Republic of Belarus.

In order to reduce harmful impacts of economic and other human activities on the environment, these should use the best available methods and technologies to ensure compliance with environmental protection requirements, taking into account economic and social factors (Article 4). 

The special use of natural resources is subject to a fee, on the basis, inter alia, of a comprehensive environmental permit as established by acts of the President of the Republic of Belarus (Article 16).

Technological standards for permissible emissions and discharges of chemicals and other substances are established for stationary and mobile sources with regard to the best available methods and technologies (Article 22).

Article 45 of the Law establishes requirements for facilities engaged in extraction, processing, transportation, storage and sale of oil, gas and products of their processing. Thus, the design, construction, reconstruction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning of related facilities must incorporate measures to: manage and treat waste; collect associated gas and produced water; ensure proper land reclamation; reduce harmful effects on the environment; as well as compensate environmental damage caused during the construction or operation of these facilities that results of violation of applicable environmental legislation. 

Article 56 requires legal entities and individual entrepreneurs engaged in activities that result in greenhouse gas emissions to reduce emissions of these gases and of substances contributing to their formation.

According to Article 70, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs whose economic and other activities have a harmful effect on the environment, including environmentally hazardous activities, types and amount of emissions and discharges of pollutants into the environment, types and magnitude of harmful physical and other impacts on the environment are subject to state accounting conducted by the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.  

Article 69 provides for environmental monitoring, including monitoring of the impacts of activities that may cause harmful effects on the environment.   

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