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EPA Network

Last updated – 11 August 2011

This booklet contains the information provided by the environment protection agencies participating in the EPA Network. The information about each EPA and the description of its activities has been produced for the Network‟s website and are updated by each EPA itself. The purpose of this booklet is to give the reader a handy compilation which will be updated when changes to the information on the website occur.

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Contents WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO .............................................................................. 3 Agency of Environment and Forestry - Albania ................................................................. 4 Environment Agency Austria ............................................................................................. 8

The Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) Belgium ...................................................... 10 Executive Environment Agency Bulgaria ........................................................................ 13 Croatian Environment Agency ......................................................................................... 16 Environment Service Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment

Republic of Cyprus ........................................................................................................... 19

Czech Environmental Information Agency ...................................................................... 22 Danish Environmental Protection Agency........................................................................ 24 Estonian Environment Information Centre ....................................................................... 26

Finnish Environment Institute........................................................................................... 28 Federal Environment Agency /Umweltbundesamt, Germany .......................................... 31 Greece National Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development ...................... 33

Hungary, Central Bureau of Water and Environment ...................................................... 36 Environment Agency of Iceland ....................................................................................... 38 Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland ....................................................................... 39

Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) .............. 41 Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre................................................. 45

Lithuania Environmental Protection Agency.................................................................... 47 Malta Environment and Planning Authority ..................................................................... 50

Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro ........................................................... 52 The Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management ....................................................... 58

The Climate and Pollution Agency ................................................................................... 60 Poland Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection ................................................. 62 Portugal Environment Agency .......................................................................................... 64

Romania - The National Environmental Protection Agency ............................................ 67 Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Environmental

Protection Agency ............................................................................................................. 69

Slovak Environmental Agency ......................................................................................... 71

Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute .............................................................................. 73 The Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia ................................................. 75 SPAIN Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs ................................ 77 SPAIN - Ihobe, the Basque Environmental Agency ......................................................... 80 The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency .............................................................. 83

The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) The Swiss Federal Office for the

Environment (FOEN) is responsible for the sustainable use of natural resources,

including soil, water, air and forests. ................................................................................ 85 The Environment Agency (England and Wales) .............................................................. 88 Scottish Environment Protection Agency ......................................................................... 91

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WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

The EPA Network is an informal grouping bringing together the directors of environment protection agencies and similar bodies across Europe. The network exchanges views and experiences on issues of common interest to organisations involved in the practical day-to-day implementation of environmental policy.

This booklet contains the information provided by the environment protection agencies participating in the EPA Network. The information about each EPA and the description of its activities has been produced for the Network‟s website http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/ and is updated by each EPA itself. The purpose of this booklet is to give the reader a handy compilation which will be updated when changes to the information on the website occur. To the content page

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Agency of Environment and Forestry - Albania Abstract Agency of Environment and Forestry (AEF) is established by the Decision of Council of Ministers No.579, dated 23.08.2006, in the framework of restructuring of Institute of Environment and Institute of Forestry and Pasture Researches. The Agency of Environment and Forestry is an legal, public and budgetary institution under the Minister of Environment, Forest and Water Administration (MEFWA). AEF has started procedures for national accreditation of laboratory for water analysis according to ISO standards and established database on environmental hot-spots. Also AEF has prepared the draft State of Environment Report, 2009 Mission of AEF To regenerate, improve and preserve the environment, while providing a sustainable development Vision of AEF An Albania that enjoys a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, enabling improvement of life quality for present and future generations while maintaining the diversity of natural resources. Legal basis DCM No. 103, dated 31.3.2002 “On environmental monitoring in Republic of Albania” DCM No. 118., dated 18.11.2009 “ On rules and procedures for compilation and implementation of National Environmental Monitoring Program Law No. 9890, dated 20.3.2008 “ On amendments of law no. 8934, dated 5.9.2002 “On environmental protection”. Mandate Agency of Environment and Forestry is established under the Decision of Council Ministers No.579, dated 23.08.2006 “ On establishment of Agency of Environment and Forestry” Staff and budget Number of staff: 47 Budget: AEF is a budgetary institution under the Minister of Environment, Forest and Water Administration thus the budget is depend on the Ministry. Information services Technical supports, services and consultation to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Water Administration.

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Collecting, processing and public information on monitoring data related to environment and forestry field Monitoring activities Monitoring on air quality in Tirana and Elbasan cities for 6 main indicators of air quality, (TSP, PM10 , Pb , SO2 , NO2 , O3 ., Pb) Monitoring on urban discharges in surface water for 8 city, pollution in downstream of Ishmi river and hazardous substances in surface water for 35 monitoring stations. Monitoring on forestry health , forestry biodiversity, biomonuments, aromatic-medicinal plants and wild fauna Reporting to the European Environment Agency and EIONET of the data for the state of some environmental indicators of our country. Preparation and publication of State of Environment Reports Provide contribution to EEA for preparation of the SoER. Organogram

Projects dealing with AEF Project Stema (Strengthening of the Environmental Monitoring System in Albania) One of the purposes of this project was the definition of Agency of Environment and Forestry as the National Reference Center for Monitoring System in Albania together with a number of reference laboratories to form a National Reference Center for the

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Environment. Within this project AEF is equipped with modern equipment for monitoring air quality. Odour Analysis Project It was a project funded by the Swedish Government and implemented by the company ÅF Consult and aims the establishment of the laboratory for odour analysis. The laboratory is in the final stage and is installed the program to get the data for pollutants emission into the air from various industrial activities. Project FOPER (Forest Policy Economics and Research) This project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland through European Forest Institute (EFI). Has started the second phase of this project, which aims the support of the AEF in the field of forest policy. In the frame of this project are committed trainings of AEF staff. Twinning project. This project is funded by the Dutch government and has carried out institutional support to AEF and making ready for the accreditation of the laboratory for water analysis according to ISO 17025 standard. INPAEL Project (Implementation of National Plan for Approximation of Environmental Legislation) This project is funded by EU delegation in Tirana and has started in 2010. The aim of the project is the monitoring of Erzeni River. The analysis for determination of parameters for water quality are carried out by the staff of Analytical Laboratory within Agency of Environment and Forestry . Also this project gives the support to AEF for the accreditation process. Cooperation with other projects AEF has collaborated with the Project on Identification and prioritization of environmental Hot Spots funded by UNDP providing its contribution to technical advice for the environmental situation of the polluted areas and measures for their rehabilitation. Also AEF has collaborated with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy for the project “Identification of industrial waste in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy sectors, by participating in expedition for recognition of the environmental situation and give recommendations for their safe storage, sale, recycling and disposal. Workshops/training AEF has undertaken the organization of several different workshops as are mentioned below: Workshop on " Environmental Data Sharing and Information Networking in Albania " in the framework of the agreement between UNEP / DEWA and the Agency of Environment and Forestry for the 'Organization of a workshop that will contribute in the development of a national network of environmental information in Albania'

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Training "The operation of wastewater treatment plant and reuse of wastewater" in collaboration with the Regional Office for Europe of World Health Organization Workshop on "Forest Fire Protection" which was meant to increase the human awareness of forest protection from damage today, to ensure their future and the continuity of our life. Workshop on "Management of Forests in Korça region" in the context of the FOPER project in collaboration with Netherlands Development Organization. Achivements of AEF Successful cooperation with MEFWA and with other institutions that perform monitoring activities on environmental state recognition. Collection and processing of monitoring data provided by monitoring institutions. Preparation and publication of three State of Environment Reports 2005-2007, 2008 and 2009 Reporting in the European Environment Agency and EIONET of the data for the state of some environmental indicators of our country. Reporting to EEA on SoER 2010 for climate change, nature and biodiversity, waste, air quality, freshwater AEF has started procedures for national accreditation of analytical laboratory for water analysis according to ISO 17025 standard. Compilation of National Environmental Monitoring Program for 2011.

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Environment Agency Austria

The Umweltbundesamt is the leading Austrian expert organisation for all environmental issues and media. The Umweltbundesamt works for the conservation of nature and the environment, and thus contributes to the sustainable development of society. Its core tasks include the monitoring, management and evaluation of environmental data. The Umweltbundesamt employees work in five fields: Economy & Impact, Nature & Usages, Substances & Analysis, Data & Diagnosis and IT Services & Solutions. The Umweltbundesamt experts provide recommendations for decision-makers in politics, business and administration and develop strategic perspectives and scenarios for the achievement of environmental policy targets in Austria and Europe. Strengths & competences The Umweltbundesamt promotes interdisciplinary expertise in all environmental disciplines, as well as in software development and the operation of applications, air quality monitoring, chemical and GMO analysis and project management. Figures & Facts In 2010 the Umweltbundesamt achieved a turnover of approximately 38,5 million EUR, almost 7 million EUR resulting from international projects. The Umweltbundesamt has 479 employees, of whom 51 % are women. The percentage of women in executive positions is 42 %. (2010) References and networks As expert organisation, the Umweltbundesamt acts as consultant for numerous federal and provincial institutions and businesses and participates in national and international networks. At international level the Umweltbundesamt acts as partner and consultant for international organisations. With country partnerships – so-called Twinning Projects –the Umweltbundesamt assists authorities in Central and Southeastern Europe in establishing administration and implementing EU legislation on important environmental matters. History The Umweltbundesamt was founded in 1985 as outlined in the Environmental Control Act. Three years later, its core tasks were redefined in a new version of the Act. In 1999, the Umweltbundesamt became a Limited Liability Company (GmbH), wholly owned by the Republic of Austria and represented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management.

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Contact: Ingeborg Zechmann, Mag. Pressestelle/Press Officer Kommunikation & Marketing Communications & Marketing M:+43-(0)664 611 90 94 T: +43-(0)1-313 04/5413 F: +43-(0)1-313 04/5400 E-mail. ingeborg.zechmann@umweltbundesamt.at Umweltbundesamt GmbH Spittelauer Lände 5 1090 Wien Österreich/Austria More information: http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/en http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/en/ueberuns/ Organogram:

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The Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) Belgium

The VMM is a Flemish government agency. All aspects of the environmental policy except product policy, protection of the North Sea and ionising radiation lie within the exclusive competence of the regions in Belgium. Environmental policy in Flanders is part of the policy domain Environment, Nature and Energy, for which the Flemish Minister of Environment, Nature and Energy is responsible. The VMM is an internally independent agency with powers of jurisdiction. The mission of VMM is to contribute to the realisation of the objectives of the environmental policy by: • preventing, limiting and eliminating the harmful effects to water systems and the

atmosphere; • reporting on the state of the environment; • the realisation of the objectives of integrated water management. Moreover, the Flemish Environment Agency has an important role in motivating and stimulating a more environmentally friendly behaviour of the general public, industry and agricultural sector representatives. VMM also participates in international environmental policy. The extensive series of tasks include: Water • Drawing up the water emissions register. • Monitoring the quality of surface water, sediments and wastewater, as well as

monitoring the bacteriological quality of bathing water, both for coastal and inland waters.

• Monitoring the quality and quantity of ground water. • Developing policy instruments and elaborating measures to prevent and limit the

pollution of water systems. • Coordination of the integrated water policy: chair and secretariat of the Flemish

Coordination Commission for Integrated Water Policy. • Drafting investment programmes for waste water treatment (i.e. regional waste water

collectors and treatment plants). • Developing investment programmes for the construction or improvement of municipal

sewer systems, as well as small-scale treatment plants, and preparation of municipal subsidy programmes.

• Ecological and economical supervision of waste water treatment. • Advising on the granting of environmental permits and on the water test (urban

planning). • Levying taxes on industrial water pollution and groundwater abstraction. • Supervising the ecological aspects of water intended for human consumption. • Managing unnavigable waterways of first category in Flanders: safety measures

(flood

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prevention), measures to maintain and improve the ecological quality of waterways (investments, rodent control), on-line flood forecasting system. For more information: www.overstromingsvoorspeller.be

Air • Monitoring ambient air quality. • On-line ozone, NOx and PM monitoring and forecasting. • Drawing up the air emissions register. • Advising on the granting of environmental permits. MIRA (Flemish State of the Environmental Reporting) The Flemish Environmental Report (MIRA) deals with all aspects of environmental

issues.The environmental reporting includes: • a description, analysis and evaluation of the existing condition of the environment

(MIRA-T); • a description, analysis and evaluation of the currently applied environmental policy

(MIRA-PE); • a description of the expected development of the environment, subject to an

unchanged policy, an adapted policy and for a number of relevant scenarios (MIRA-S). For more information: http://www.milieurapport.be/en/home

Contact Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) A. Van de Maelestraat 96 • 9320 Erembodegem Belgium Tel. + 32 53 72 64 45 • Fax + 32 53 71 10 78 info@vmm.be • www.vmm.be

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Organogram

Website: www.vmm.be To the content page

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Executive Environment Agency Bulgaria

Executive Environment Agency (ExEA) is an administration with the Minister of Environment and Water to carry out management, coordination and information functions as regards the control and environmental protection in Bulgaria. It designs and manages the National System for Environmental Monitoring and Information on the state of environmental components and factors on the complete territory of the country.

The Agency is a National Reference Centre within the European Environment Agency (EEA). Executive Environment Agency (ExEA) is managed by an Executive Director. In executing its powers, the Executive Director is assisted by the structural units of the general and specialized administration. The administrative management of general and specialized administration is carried out by the Secretary General of the Agency.

Structure of EEA: The general administration provides technical activities of the Executive Director and the specialized administration. It is organized into two directorates:

o Directorate “Administrative and legal services (ALS), financial-economic activity (FEA), Human resources (HR), and Chancellery and Property Management (CPM)”

o Directorate “Information Systems, International Cooperation and Public Relations”

The specialized administration is empowered with information, regulating, coordinating, and control functions in accordance with the powers of the Executive Director. It is organized into three directorates:

o General Directorate “Laboratories and Analytical Activities” o Directorate “Environmental Monitoring and Assessment” o Directorate “Permit Regimes”

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Directorate “Administrative and legal services (ALS), Financial-economic activity (FEA), Human resources (HR), and Chancellery and Property Management” is appointed the legal services, elaboration of legally-based sub legislative acts under the Labour Code and the Act for State employee, contracts, agreements and other legal acts, financial services, organization and implementation of cash payments and accounting of revenue and expenditure of the Agency, HR services, documentary services;

Directorate “Information Systems, International Cooperation and Public Relations” (ISICPR) performs: software and IT support of the NASEM; elaborates, maintains and develops information systems and specialized registers of the components and factors of the Environment; develops Geographic Information Systems and prepares thematic maps and diagrams to visualize the state of environmental components; IT maintenance of information communication unit of telematic network (EIONET) of the European Environment Agency (EEA); provides technical and basic S/W tools for the operation of the information systems; organizes the operation and maintenance of the computer equipment, communication resources and system software; manages the activities and monitors the implementation of standards and rules relating to the achievement of network and information security; plans and coordinates international cooperation activities of the agency and represents the Agency at international level; coordinates the relations with the EEA at national level; organizes the distribution of the periodic newsletters and the National State of Environment Report; end others.

Functions of the Directorate General „Laboratories and Analytical activities” (GDLAA): Performs the laboratory-analytical work related to sampling and analysis of environmental samples to ensure the activity of the NASEM on demand of the Water Basin Directorates, the Regional Inspectorates of Environment and Water, external customers, as well as signals and complaints of citizens, government and NGOs, in connection with: air quality; quality of surface water, ground water, waste-water, drinking and mineral waters; soils quality; waste classification. Controls the release of genetically modified organisms (GMO) into the environment by analyzing samples of plants, soil and water; development and operation of air quality the control system performing measurements of emissions from stationary sources; control of radiation situation in the country and analyzing the contents of natural and technologic radionuclide‟s in environmental components; measuring the equivalent noise level; and many other methodological, coordination, interlaboratory and international activities. Functions of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessments (EMA) Directorate: administrates the NASEM systems; administrates the National Automated System for permanent control of radiation gamma-background in Bulgaria and automated systems for radiation monitoring of the Danube in the region of Kozloduy NPP; performs analyses and assessments of the state of environmental components and factors; develops and applies indicators and methodologies for assessment the status and environmental impact; prepares a representative at National level information on the state of environment and natural resources; Prepares the Greenhouse Gases Emissions from Harmful Substances in the Ambient Air inventory as required by the UN Framework convention on Climate change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Long-range

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Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP); develops, processes and reports information to the EEA and other international institutions; develops, processes and submits information in a particular format in the scope of its competence to fulfil the Reporting Obligations to the European Commission and required by the European legislation in Environment; elaborates, maintains and develops specialized registers on components and factors of the Environment; carries out at National level the QA/QC of the data from the water monitoring; carries out an inventory of emissions, discharges and losses of all priority substances and pollutants; collects, analyzes and provides data on waste at the national level; performs calibration of measurement equipment for air quality monitoring and emission control systems; prepares documentation regarding the procedures for accreditation of laboratories and new accreditation of calibration laboratory.

Functions of the Permit Regimes (PR) Directorate: conducts procedures for granting, reviewing, updating, modification and cancellation of integrated permits under Chapter Seven, Section II of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and the Ordinance on procedures for issuing integrated permits; performs administrative management, regular maintenance and support to ensure the effective functioning of the European registry for release and transfer of pollutants (ERRTP) under Regulation (EC) 166/2006 of the European Parliament and the Council of 18 January 2006 establishing a European register release and transport of pollutants and amending Directives 91/689/EEC and 96/61/EC; prepares reports as required by Regulation (EC) 11/2006 of the European Parliament and Council establishing ERRTP; performs administrative management, regular maintenance and support to ensure the effective functioning of the public register of the monitoring of emission permits; carry out procedures for issuing and reviewing permits for greenhouse gas emissions trading under Chapter Seven, Section III of EPA and the Regulation on the way and procedures for issuing and reviewing permits for greenhouse gases (GG) and monitoring the operators of installations, participating in the GG emission trading quota system; prepares a proposal for allocation of greenhouse gas quota by reserve of "new participants"; approves plans for monitoring of the annual emissions of air operators and tonekilometers, on which administering Member State is the Republic of Bulgaria; adopts the annual verified reports of the operators participating in the scheme for emissions trading; performs administrative management, regular maintenance and support to ensure the effective functioning of the national register of issuance, holding, transfer and cancellation of quotas for greenhouse gas emissions, and many others.

Website: http://nfp-bg.eionet.eu.int/eng/index.html

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Croatian Environment Agency

The Croatian Environment Agency (CEA) is a public institution established by the Croatian Government in June 2002. Its main purpose is to collect, integrate and process the environmental data on the national level; to establish, develop, coordinate and maintain the national environmental information system; to provide environmental reporting on the national and international levels.

Legal basis

The Environmental Protection Strategy (National Official Gazette 46/02) The Regulation on the Establishment of Croatian Environment Agency (National

Official Gazette 75/02) Environmental Protection Act (National Official Gazette 110/07)

The decision regarding the establishment of the Agency was based on the following factors:

“The Environmental Protection Strategy” is the key Croatian environmental protection document, passed at the Croatian Parliament session on 25 January 2002. In this document a separate section addresses the need for the establishment of an independent specialised agency, the Croatian Environment Agency, and determines the organisation‟s objectives by defining it as a central professional body and a potential promoter of sustainable development;

Article 81 of the Implementation Plan for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities, signed by the EU Member States and Croatia on 29 October 2001 concerns the establishment of The Croatian Environment Agency by the end of 2002, and Article 103 stipulates the creation of the Environmental Information System.

The establishment of The Croatian Environment Agency is facilitated by primary and secondary legislation under which the Environmental Information System is to be created. The Environmental Information System should accept responsibility for international commitments according to which Croatia is to collect, process, exchange and/or disseminate different information and data.

There existed a need to create a comprehensive environmental data system on the national level, which can comprise data on the current state of the environment, conduct and plan monitoring of pollution and contamination, pollution and load trends, implemented or planned environmental projects, their efficiency and protection measures, as well as efficiency of individual environmental policy measures in Croatia.

Main responsibilities and activities (as defined in The Environmental Protection Act): establishment, development and coordination of a coherent national

environmental information system; collecting and integrating environmental data and/or environmental information; managing relevant environmental databases; monitoring and reporting on the state of environment; production of the National State of Environment Report; production of the National List of Indicators;

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collaboration with administrative bodies (state, regional, local), public, national and international institutions (particularly EEA) and organisations concerning environmental issues;

enforcement / assistance in enforcement of international treaties and agreements concerning environmental issues, particularly regarding accepted reporting obligations;

collaborating on environmental projects and programmes within the framework of international agreements (by the appointment of the Ministry of Environment);

providing conditions for easy access to environmental information.

Recent achievements - 2007 Establishment of new data bases:

Landfills database Pollutant Emission Register Risk Installation database Potentially polluted and polluted sites database Corine Land Cover (CLC) - 2006 update ASEMP (Adriatic Sea Environment Master Plan) tool Forest damages-crown condition database Laboratories database Environment Protection Projects database Waste Management Licences Register Web-based interactive tool for development and tracking marine indicators

Reporting on national level: 2007 SOE Croatia (prepared for the Croatian Parliament and approved in May

2007) Air quality monitoring (4 reports) Pollutant emission into air (3) Management and trans-boundary movement of waste (5) Pollutant emission into fresh waters and seas (1) Water treatment installation (1)

Reporting on international level in accordance with accepted obligations: Continuous progress in delivery of Priority Data Sets to Eionet, regarding:

CLRTAP data UNFCC data annual ozone monthly and summer ozone designated areas river quality lake quality water quantity marine data contaminated soil contribution to Belgrade Report; continuous improvements regarding public accessibility to environmental data; conferences, lectures, publications, information catalogues.

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Organisational Structure and Governance Number of staff by the end of 2007: 40

Website: www.azo.hr To the content page

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Environment Service Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Republic of Cyprus

The Council of Ministers has the overall responsibility for the formulation of environmental policy. Environmental policy is co-ordinated through the Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment. In addition, the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance also play important roles. The Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (MANRE) has the primary responsibility for many different aspects of the environment. These responsibilities are delegated through MANRE‟s Environment Service and seven separate departments. Environment service duties and responsibilities are:

to be responsible for the third sector of responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, with competence for horizontal unification and integration which extends to all the other Ministries;

to enforce the environmental policy of the Government; to monitor the implementation of environmental policy and relevant programs; to coordinate activities and programmes for the protection of the environment; to be present in meetings of the House Parliamentary Committee for

the Environment, and submit opinions and /or reports on the subjects discussed; to submit advice and proposals with regard to the formulation and

implementation of environmental policy and measures for the protection of the environment, including research programs as well;

to manage the examination of applications for the import/export of endangered species of flora and fauna;

to assess Environmental Impact and Strategic Environmental Impact Studies and to perform the function of the Environment Authority under the respective laws;

to coordinate programmes on Integrated Coastal Area Management; to be responsible for the NATURE 2000 Network; to implement and enforce the laws on: Control of Pollution of Waters and Soils;

Bathing Waters; Soil Strategy, Assessment of the Impacts of Projects; Strategic Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programs; Access of Public to Information on the Environment, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Recourse to Justice; Environmental Liability; Packaging and Packaging Waste; Shipment of Waste; Control of Ozone-depleting substances; Genetically Modified Organisms; Control of Noise from Appliances and Equipment Used Outdoors; Management of Solid and Hazardous Waste; Batteries; Used Oils; Electrical and Electronic Waste; Protection and Management of Nature; EMAS; Eco-label; Environmental Noise; Environmental liability

to be responsible for EU co-ordination (Environment Council issues); to be a member of the European Environment Agency Management Board and

National Focal Point for EIONET; to promote environmental fiscal instruments; to represent the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment to

the Technical Committee for the Protection of the Environment and the Central Commission of Beaches;

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to house the Secretariat of Committees (Council of Environment, Committee of Environment);

to advise on planning permits for development applications, mining and quarry permits;

to advise the Council for the Examination of Derogations on land use planning law;

to promote specialised studies and submit proposals on the adoption of environmental quality objectives and standards;

to co-ordinate the collaboration of various departments /services with international organisations responsible for environmental matters;

to act as the National Focal Point for international environmental organisations; (UNEP, CSD, MCSD, INFOTERRA, IUCN, UNEP / MAP, PAP / RAC, CP / RAC, BLUE PLAN);

to be the National Point of Contact for international conventions (Trade in Species of Wild Animals; Protection of European of Wild Life and Natural Habitats; Protection of Migratory Species of Wild Animals; Hazardous Waste; Protection of the Ozone Layer; Biological Diversity; Bio-safety; Climate Change; Kyoto Protocol; Desertification; Trans-boundary Environmental Impacts; Wetlands of International Importance; Barcelona Convention on the Protection of the Mediterranean);

to be responsible for international environmental issues; to investigate complaints; to promote environmental awareness; to ensure interaction with civil society; to provide environmental information.

Other key departments with sector-specific environmental responsibilities within MANRE include the Water Development Department (Management of water resources), the Department of Agriculture (nitrates), the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (marine environment), the Department of Forests (nature protection) and the Department of Geological Survey (groundwater). Outside MANRE, the Department of Town Planning and Housing of the Ministry of the Interior is the land use planning authority. The Department of Labour Inspection of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance is responsible for air quality, chemicals, and radiation protection.

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Organogram:

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Czech Environmental Information Agency

The Czech Environmental Information Agency is a state allowance organization reporting to the Czech Ministry of the Environment. CENIA was established in 2005. The key objectives of the Agency are to create, collect, validate, assess and report the cross-media environmental information supporting better sustainability and environmental policies. To support these goals, CENIA concentrates, inter alia, on

developing and managing an integrated environmental information system including primary data validation and information syntheses;

assessment of state of the environment in the socioeconomic context and assessment of efficiency of environment policy instruments;

developing and operating the Integrated Pollution Register (IPR), competence centres on IPPC, waste management, REACH, BAT, EIA/SEA, eco-damages and environmental economics;

voluntary instruments - ecolabeling, cleaner production, EMAS, awareness raising;

leading the horizontal data related processes currently represented by INSPIRE, GMES and SEIS including coordination of the national and international reporting;

management of the entire information and data flows in the environmental sector.

As a typical example. the Agency builds the Integrated Polluters Register (IPR) which integrates all mandatory environmental reporting from polluters to government and connects databases on IPPC facilities, water discharges, air pollution sources, waste management, ePRTR and contaminated sites. Secondly the project decomposes the whole environmental legislation extracting the duties, responsibilities and procedures, that will be made available through helpdesk, portal and also as a sort of pre-due diligence through geoportal. Thus no polluter or local administrative body will be left ignorant of the correct terms and procedures when dealing with the environmental sector.

CENIA became major governmental data broker as it develops and operates cross cutting national metadata and map portals (geoportal.cenia.cz, mis.cenia.cz), information system on statistics and reporting (issar.cenia.cz), environmental portal (portal.cenia.cz) and portal for environmental education (vitejtenazemi.cenia.cz) as well as thematic portals for Water Framework Directive (voda.cenia.cz), military atlas (izgard.cenia.cz) and many others.

Furthermore CENIA is in charge of an interdisciplinary and intersectoral assessment and interpretations of information on the environment in the context of social and on the economic data and sustainable development. The Agency publishes primarily yearly State of the Environment Report, Environmental Statistics Yearbook, complex reviews (The environment in the Czech Republic 1989-2005, The economy and the environment

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1989-2008), public awareness raining publications (The environment - environment for life and methodology guidebooks (Assessor's handbook, Guide to cleaner production).

At international level CENIA acts as National Focal Point and National Reference Centre for different thematic areas towards European Environment Agency. CENIA has been leading European Topic Centre on Water Consortium since 2007 as the first new EU Member State.

CENIA acts as a standard Environment Protection Agency with an emphasis on knowledge and its management. The Agency has 110 permanent employees, of which 80% hold a university degree and has been certified according to ISO 9001:2000, ISO14001:2004, OHSAS 18001:1999 and EMAS.

Organogram:

Website: http://www.cenia.cz

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Danish Environmental Protection Agency

Abstract The Danish EPA is a part of the Danish Ministry of the Environment, and serves and advises the Minister of the Environment. The Agency has specialist expertise and works to protect the environment. Around 300 employees work in the Danish EPA. Legal text In 1971 the Government founded The Ministry of the Environment, while the Danish EPA was established on 1 April 1972. The fundamental objectives and the administrative principles for the work of Agency were formulated in The Environmental Protection Act (1974). It is a framework Act which contains no specific recommendations as regards quality requirements or threshold values. Indeed, the Act‟s framework supplements the guidelines and regulations issued by the Ministry of the Environment and the Danish

EPA, which are under its authority. Mandate The Danish EPA is a part of the Ministry of the Environment. The Danish EPA has the responsibility to serve and advise the Minister of the Environment, within the areas reflected by the 6 organisational divisions. The Ministry performs administrative and advisory functions, as well as licencing. The Mission of the Danish EPA:

to give environmental advice to the government; to administer and develop rules and initiatives both nationally and internationally; to base the work on a dialogue with citizens, companies and other authorities; to collect and communicate knowledge about environment.

The Values of the Danish EPA:

Openness Credibility Commitment Creativity Consideration

The Danish EPA in figures In 2007 the total number of staff approximates 300 full-time employees, out of which around 250 are university educated with a Master's or higher degree.The total gross-budget in 2007: 41 M€. Financial basis: Government-appropriations (36 M€), other

income (5 M€).

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Areas of responsibility: The Danish EPA works to protect the environment in a number of specialist areas:

Chemicals Industry & Agriculture Eco-innovation Pesticides & Gene Technology Organisation & Legislation Waste & Soil

Main services include: serving the Minister and the Danish Parliament; performing research, information services, etc; approval and enforcement of environmental responsibility; administration and common services.

Environmental protection issues related to water and nature lies under the responsibility of the sister agency for spatial and environmental planning. Organizational structure and governance There are six specialist divisions at the Danish EPA – Danish EPA Chemicals, Danish EPA Industry & Agriculture, Danish EPA Eco-innovation, Danish EPA Pesticides & Gene Technology, Danish EPA Organisation & Legislation and Danish EPA Waste & Soil. Communication work is carried out under the Management. The Danish EPA is headed by a three-person management team with Ole Christiansen, the Director General in charge. Large development tasks are carried out in a project organisation.

Website: http://www.mst.dk

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Estonian Environment Information Centre

Estonian Environment Information Centre (EEIC) is state organisation administered by the Ministry of Environment. The primary function of EEIC is collecting, analysing, processing and providing environmental information and data. The aim is to consolidate all environmental data (there are over 40 environmental datasets in Estonia at present) into one national register, relating through it all environmental data in time and space, and giving the database a form which enables to use data according to internationally approved principles. Legislation The regulation of 10th of December 1992 of the Estonian Minister of Environment gave the Centre its present name and status of state organisation administered by the Ministry of Environment. The bases for publication of environmental information and data are the Law of Public Information, the Aarhus Convention, directive 2003/4/EC and other relevant documents. Our mission is to provide reliable environmental information for everybody. Our vision is to become the leading centre for reliable environmental information in Estonia. We value Credibility, Cooperation, Creativity, Consideration. Tasks

collecting, analyzing and providing environmental data; compiling and issuing of environmental reports; coordinating national environmental monitoring programme; development and use of geo-referenced data (GIS) in our areas of activity maintaining of environmental information systems, e.g. information system of

environmental permits providing consultations, expertise and assessments in its field of activity acting as a national focal point (NFP) for European Environment Agency and

UNEP/ Infoterra network acting in the consortia of EEA‟s ETC/BD and ETC/RWM reporting of environmental data to EEA, EUROSTAT, European Commission,

UNEP and other international institutions EEIC acts as EMAS and Eco-labelling competent body in Estonia administrating of national greenhouse gases emissions trading registry,

management of joint implementation projects related to Estonia, compilation of ozone depleting substances consumption and treatment database

Budget and number of staff In 2006, the budget of EEIC is 19 million EEK (1.214 million euros) and we had 60 people working for us.

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Organogram:

Website: www.keskkonnainfo.ee To the content page

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Finnish Environment Institute – SYKE

Abstract

SYKE is the research and development centre of Finland's environmental administration. It employs 600 staff. SYKE's expertise is based on long-term environmental monitoring, wide-ranging research results and highly qualified staff. SYKE's research focuses on changes in the environment and seeks ways to control these changes.

Legislation

The Finnish Environment Institute SYKE works under the Ministry of the Environment, based on the Environmental Administration Act (55/1995) and the Decree on the Finnish Environment Institute (951/2004). In addition, the Institute's work related to water resources is directed by the Mini-stry of Agriculture and Forestry.

SYKE is governed by the Director General. The Advisory Board is nominated for a maximum of four years.

The operational activities of SYKE started in 1995. It is situated mainly in Helsinki, with some regional units.

Mandate

The Finnish Environment Institute SYKE is an environmental research and development centre which promotes sustainable development by monitoring, assessing its implementation, taking initiatives and making proposals. SYKE also conducts research and development to promote sustainable development.

SYKE's 2010 vision is to be one of the world's leading multidisciplinary experts and actors in the environmental field.

Budget and number of staff

The total operating funds of SYKE in 2006 equaled 45 million euros. Approximately 58 % of this sum was allocated to the Institute directly from the national government budget. Approximately 12 % of SYKE's total funding consists of the income from the sale of the Institute's services. The remaining funding is obtained from other national and international sources, including other government bodies. More than 50% of the

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additional funding consists of research and development project financing allocated by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

The total number of employees in 2006 was 602; 431 of which have a university education (Master's Degree or higher).

Areas of responsibility and fields of expertise

SYKE's activities comprise research, administrative tasks, expert and international consulting services. Its laboratory is recognised within the environmental field as the national reference laboratory. SYKE provides services for the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Regional Environment Centres as well as other bodies and organisations outside Finland. It is actively involved in international environmental co-operation. SYKE also maintains extensive databases and provides information services.

According to the 1995 Act on Environmental Administration, the tasks of SYKE are inter alia to monitor and assess the state of the environment, investigate changes which are taking place in the environment, prevent and reverse detrimental change. SYKE promotes coherent, nationwide standards of environmental protection. Furthermore, it assesses and applies models and methods to support these standards and the use and management of water resources. SYKE's expert services include:

providing expertise on water resources and hydrology; following trends in the waste management field, issues permits for transfrontier

shipments of hazardous waste; compiling data on emissions to facilitate the supervision; offering advice related to chemicals and their environmental impacts, authorising

the use of protective chemicals and biocides; assessing the environmental risks associated with a wide range of chemicals and

GMOs; implementation of REACH in close cooperation with the European Chemicals

Agency; monitoring and assessing the status of Finland's flora and fauna and its natural

habitats, issues permits for trade of endangered species (CITES); giving practical advice for companies and other organisations about

environmental management methods and systems (EIA, BAT, EMAS, LCA); monitoring and examining land use and the built environment; acting as the competent government oil pollution response authority in Finland.

SYKE's research covers: assessing the long-term effects and risks of both air pollution and climate

change; procedures and solutions for reducing emissions and wastes caused by

consumption and production; increasing eco-efficient use of natural resources; identifying risks caused by environmental contaminants; assessing the state of catchments and water bodies, the effects of loading and

the methods of reducing it;

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evaluating the state of the Baltic Sea and its coastal waters as well as the effectiveness and adequacy of conservation measures;

increasing knowledge on the occurrence and habitat demands of natural species, analysing factors that threaten biodiversity;

studying the politics of environmental problems, evaluating regulations and searching for new perspectives;

processing and interpreting data produced by environmental satellites. Organogram:

Website: www.environment.fi

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Federal Environment Agency /Umweltbundesamt, Germany

The Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) is the central scientific authority for environmental protection in Germany. Being under the jurisdiction of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the Umweltbundesamt is responsible for protecting the environment and human well-being from adverse environmental hazards. The Agency advises governmental institutions on environmental matters and informs the general public on almost every kind of question concerning environmental protection. Legislation The Federal Environment Agency was established by an act of the Federal German Parliament (Bundestag) on 22 July 1974. Together with the Agency for Nature Conservation and the Office for Radiation Protection, the Umweltbundesamt provides a scientific basis for environmental policy in Germany. The Federal government has assigned the Agency with a variety of duties which can be divided into the following categories:

scientific support to the Federal Ministries for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), Health (BMG), Education and Research (BMBF), Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS) on questions regarding environmental protection, including related health matters;

implementation of science-based legislation such as the recently established legislation on emissions trading or consent-approval of chemical products;

information to the general public about environmental issues. Budget and number of staff In 2011 the Agency had a budget of 99 million euros, of which 26 million were allocated to the annual Environmental Research Plan the Agency administrates for the Ministry of the Environment. The Agency has about 1,400 employees (2011) working at 13 locations, including seven of the Agency‟s monitoring stations. Approximately 800 employees work at the Agency‟s headquarters in Dessau. Areas of responsibility

to provide scientific support to the Ministry of Environment on the issues of air pollution control, noise abatement, soil protection, waste management, water management, chemicals control and health related aspects of environmental protection, and assist in the preparation of regulations;

to develop and maintain an information system for environmental planning and key environmental documentation;

to monitor national air pollution;

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to provide centralised services for research and development in the Ministry of Environment and coordinate environmental research on the national level;

to support the Federal Government in its assessment of environmental impact. Tasks

Agriculture and foodstuffs industry

Air and Air Pollution Control

Chemicals policy and pollutants, REACH

Climate Change

Energy

Environmental Awareness and Sustainable Consumption

Environmental Data

Environmental Economics and Management

Environmental Law/Associational Claims

Environmental Monitoring

Environmental and Spatial Planning

German Emissions Trading Authority

Health and Environmental Hygiene

International Environmental Protection, Antarctic

Noise

Products

Resource Conservation

Soil and Contaminated Sites

Technology – Processes and Safety

Transport

Waste management

Water, Drinking Water and Water Protection

Organogram:

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Greece National Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development

Who we are

As we become more and more aware of environmental issues and challenges, we develop a concern about our environment in Greece. Our concern is currently focused on air and water quality, climate change, waste treatment, our natural environment and our well-being within this environment.

Over the years, the Greek Government, following the EU policy and recognizing the need for solutions on environmental problems, has set up a legislative framework and policy measures in order to protect our environment. In 1999, the Greek Government established the National Center for the Environment and Sustainable Development (NCESD) to play a role corresponding to the European Environment Agency's, on a national level. This regulation came into force in 2001. The Center is based in Athens, is an independent, non-profit organization and is supervised by the Ministry for Environment and Public Works.

National Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, Villa Kazouli, Kifissia, Athens

Οur mission

The role of the National Center for the Environment and Sustainable Development is to:

Collect environmental data from environmental databases, networks and bodies and to organise and transform this data in the form of reports and assessments;

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Disseminate objective and reliable environmental information to end users, both policy makers and general public, and to raise their awareness of environmental issues and sustainable development;

Provide technical and scientific support to the Ministry for Environment and Public Works as well as to other Government Ministries, on the establishment, implementation of policies and measures concerning the environment and sustainable development and evaluation of their effectiveness, in order to achieve national, European and international goals;

Educate and provide training to national and local administrations as well as to general public, in the form of Conferences and courses, on issues related to the environment and sustainable development;

Set up and carry out national or European projects on environment and sustainable development.

What we do

The NCESD currently addresses four major thematic areas:

Climate change; Biodiversity; Water and waste management; Environment and human health.

The National Center for Environment and Sustainable Development (NCESD) currently carries out various activities, related to the above thematic areas. More specifically, the NCESD:

Operates the Greek Registry of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The Greek Registry is an online database that is used to monitor and check the movement of emission allowances. The Registry monitors the accountancy of the allowances from issuing, holding, transactions and cancellations as defined in the Kyoto Protocol and the EU and Greek legislation. The operation of the Greek Registry has been assigned to the NCESD under the Ministerial Decree 54409/2632 / FEK 1931 B '. The management is carried out according to the terms and conditions established by the Framework Convention on Climate Change of United Nations (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, the EU regulation for the safe and standardized system of registries and the EU and Greek legislation on the management of emissions of greenhouse gases;

Supports the Ministry for Environment for the fulfillment of obligations towards the EU and UN, by setting up a system that follows the recent developments and evaluates the implementation of International Conventions and EU legislation in the area of Climate Change;

Supports the Ministry for Environment as well as other public bodies, on the establishment, promotion and implementation of the country's international cooperation in the fields of environment and sustainable development;

Proposes and prepares measures for a preventive environmental policy. Within this context, the NCESD evaluates the potential environmental impact of sectoral development policies and promotes the integration of the environmental dimension in those policies.

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Prepares the report on the "State of the Environment in Greece", where the current situation of environmental issues and challenges is reported and evaluated;

Contributes to the preparation of the National Strategy on Biodiversity and to the fulfilment of obligations of the Natura 2000 Network and Ramsar Convention;

Prepares technical reports and briefings on environmental issues related to the Center's four thematic areas;

Contributes to the collection, management and treatment of data from environmental databases and information networks. More specifically, the NCESD has the scientific oversight and guidance of the National Network for Environmental Information.

Carries out national and European projects on the environment and sustainable development;

Organises training courses on issues related to the NCESD four major thematic areas, as well as conferences, workshops and seminars.

How we do it

In order to fulfill our mission and carry out our activities, we have established collaboration with:

European and International Organizations; National Focal Points; National Reference Centers (Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of

Development, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Transport and Communications);

The National Administration.

All the above organizations assist the Center with sharing information and data.

The Center also establishes collaboration with educational establishments, research institutions, environmental bodies, NGOs, as well as the private sector (experts, researchers and consultants), both on national and international level.

Our outputs

Our aim is to

Publish, every year, a number of technical reports, highlights and gradually briefings on environmental issues related to the Center's four thematic areas;

Provide on the web information services as well as multimedia and interactive web-based products in education.

Provide expert advice to policy makers, organising conferences and training courses, sustain information networks and communication services for the public.

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Hungary, Central Bureau of Water and Environment

Introduction The Central Bureau of Water and Environment (CBWE) is a ministry body founded by a ministerial resolution on January 1, 1993, reorganised in 2005, operating in its current form since April 2007, with a staff of 95 foreseen for 2008.The main tasks of the CBWE are the management of water management registries and IT systems, protection against damage caused by surface and ground waters, river basin management, communal water supply and wastewater treatment, as well as implementation of certain central, tender-based and special government projects realised with the use of EU funding.

Responsibilities

Main areas of activity of the CBWE, important in terms of to the international relations and coordination within the EPA Network:

participation in the expert-level preparation of regulations related to the areas of activity of the CBWE in the fields of water management and environment protection;

participation in the preparation of concepts, studies and plans supporting ministerial decisions in the relevant fields of responsibility;

management and development of water management and environmental standardisation;

fulfilling tasks related to the management of remediation pursuant to the Government decree on the protection of ground waters;

fulfilling tasks pursuant to specialised legislation on designating organisations responsible for controlling and certifying the conformity of construction materials used exclusively water management constructions to relevant regulations;

preparation of proposals on the coordination and improvement of the economic framework relevant to the Environmental and Water Directorates, participation in decision-making in the field of economic administration;

ensuring the continuous and safe operation of national water management information and communication systems, ensuring that these services are available to other stakeholders in the sector and coordinating the tasks related to the development of these systems.

With regards to the implementation of Community programmes and those of special importance, in addition to the coordination of tasks and programmes in the field of water management and integrated flood protection:

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participates in the preparation and budget planning of central and tender-related programmes within the Environment and Energy Operative Programme of the New Hungary Development Plan;

as beneficiary, manages and implements the large-scale and especially important projects, investments constituting the central programmes of the ministry within the Environment and Energy Operative Programme, together with the investment-preparation and planning tasks necessary for implementation;

participates as expert organisation within the professional control of the implementation of tender and application programmes, conformity review of these to government programmes and to goals set within the calls for application;

fulfils investment and coordination tasks related to water management and environment protection projects realised through significant domestic and Community funding;

broad and developing communication and cooperation with relevant national and international environmental institutions.

Organogram:

Website: www.kvvm.hu To the content page

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Environment Agency of Iceland

The Environment Agency operates under the direction of the Ministry for the Environment. Its role is to promote the protection as well as sustainable use of Iceland's natural resources, as well as public welfare by helping to ensure a healthy environment, and safe consumer goods.

Areas of operation

Information and advice for the public, businesses and regulatory authorities Monitoring of environmental quality Evaluation of environmental impact assessment and development plans Operation supervision, inspection, operating permits, etc. Conservation: the management and supervision of designated protected areas Assessment of conservation effects and registration of unique nature sites Risk analysis Wildlife management Collaboration in Scandinavian, other European and international

agreements/projects Eco-labelling Animal protection Wildlife conservation Labelling and handling of toxic as well as other hazardous substances Health and safety in public places Coordination of local health inspectorates Genetically modified foods

Organisational structure

Website: www.ust.is

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Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland

Abstract The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for protecting the environment in Ireland. We regulate and police activities that might otherwise cause pollution. We ensure there is solid information on environmental trends so that necessary actions are taken. Our priorities are protecting the Irish environment and ensuring that development is sustainable. We employ 290 people who work in ten locations throughout the country. Legal text The Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 was enacted on 23 April 1992, and under this legislation the Agency was formally established on 26 July 1993. Main areas of responsibility and activities The Agency has a wide range of statutory duties and powers under the Act. The main responsibilities of the EPA include:

Licensing and controlling large scale activities to ensure that they do not endanger human health or harm the environment, e.g. landfills, incinerators, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, cement, power plants, intensive agriculture, large petrol storage facilities and the contained use and controlled use of GMOs.

National environmental policing – conducting audits and inspections of licensed facilities, targeting offenders and stamping out illegal waste activity.

Overseeing local authorities‟ environmental protection responsibilities. Monitoring and analysing the environment – air, water (surface & ground), land

cover. Independent reporting on the state of Ireland‟s environment to inform decision-

making. Independent reporting of trends in waste generation, management and

infrastructure. Regulating Ireland‟s greenhouse gas emissions – monitoring Kyoto requirements

and implementing the Emissions Trading Directive for over 100 of the largest producers of carbon dioxide in Ireland.

Coordinating research and development on environmental issues under a €32m R&D programme

Providing advice on the environmental impact of strategic plans and programmes on Ireland‟s environment.

Providing guidance to the public and industry on environmental concerns – e.g. compliance with environmental laws; licence applications; waste prevention etc.

Generating greater environmental awareness through the production of educational materials.

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Promoting waste prevention and minimisation projects through the coordination of the National Waste Prevention Programme, including input into the implementation of Producer Responsibility Initiatives.

Developing a National Hazardous Waste Management Plan to prevent and manage hazardous waste.

Organisational structure The EPA is an independent public body. Its sponsor in the Government is the Department of the Environment and Local Government. Independence is assured through the selection procedures for the Director General and Directors and the freedom, as provided in the legislation, to act on its own initiative. The assignment, under the legislation, of direct responsibility for a wide range of functions underpins this independence. Under the legislation, it is a specific offence to attempt to influence the Agency, or anyone acting on its behalf, in an improper manner. The EPA‟s headquarters is located in Wexford and it operates five regional inspectorates, located in Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny, Castlebar and Monaghan.The EPA is managed by a full-time Executive Board consisting of a Director General and four Directors. The Executive Board is appointed by the Government following detailed procedures laid down in the Act. The EPA is assisted by an Advisory Committee of twelve members. The members are appointed by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and are selected mainly from those nominated by organisations with an interest in environmental matters. The Committee has been given a wide range of advisory functions under the Act, both in relation to the Agency and to the Minister. Website: http://www.epa.ie To the content page

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Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA)

ISPRA is a national public organization performing technical, scientific and research activities in: environmental assessments, metrology and controls; monitoring and prevention of atmospheric impacts; desertification, environmental data, information, indicators and reporting; protection of nature, soil, biodiversity, inland, marine and lagoon waters; control of nuclear safety, radiation protection and industrial risk, waste management, environmental education and certification, coordination of the national system of the environment agencies of the Italian regions and autonomous provinces. The institute also supports regulatory activities of the Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea at national, European and international level.

Legal profile

ISPRA was established in October 2008, from the merging of three former institutions: APAT (Agency for Environmental Protection and Technical Services), ICRAM (Central Institute for Applied Marine Research), INFS (National Institute for Wildlife). It is a public legal entity, with technical, scientific, organizational, managerial, administrative and financial autonomy, subject to the vigilance of the Ministry for the Environment, Territory and Sea.

Mandate

to perform the tasks and technical scientific activities of national interest for the protection and control of the environment, such as the safeguarding of water resources; soil and land protection; nature conservation; the evaluation and update of environmental pressures inventories;

to manage and develop the National Environmental Information System; to perform the function of National Authority for nuclear safety and

radiation protection; to perform the function of National Geological Service; to provide technical coordination and guidance to the Environment

Protection Agencies of the Italian regions and autonomous provinces; to provide technical support to the Ministry of the Environment and other

governmental authorities responsible for environmental policies; to perform the function of National Focal Point of the European

Environment Agency.

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Tasks and areas of responsibility Environmental Protection:

monitoring and control of air quality; production of environmental data, statistics, information, reports and the

Environmental Data Yearbook; technical and scientific activities concerning sustainable development,

climate change and adaptation, desertification, environment and health, quality of urban areas, waste management, physical agents, environmental assessments and metrology.

Protection of inland and marine waters: monitoring of inland waters; processing of water quality data; management of sea and wave measurement networks for the observation

of Italian seas; coastal protection; water and sediment rehabilitation; tide measurements in the Venice Lagoon and in the north Adriatic coastal

area; fulfillment of the function of the national hydrographic service.

Soil protection: development of Italy‟s geological and geothematic cartography; monitoring geohazards tectonic movements and displacements; analysis of slow and fast natural risks such as landslides and erosion;

monitoring of legislative compliance related to hydrogeological risks; development and application of geophysics, geology and applied geology

methods and tools to monitor national remediation measures and to handle national environmental databases (e.g. wells and boreholes).

Nuclear safety, radiation protection and industrial risk: to provide technical assessment and advise for licensing of construction,

commissioning and decommissioning of nuclear installations, as well for authorizing the use of radioactive sources, with the formulation of relevant technical specifications;

to inspect installations and the use of radioactive sources; to prepare the observatories for technological risk and industrial major

accident hazards; to perform environmental risk assessment of chemicals and plant

protection products, also within the implementation of REACH regulation. Nature protection and biodiversity:

to make cartography and surveys in order to evaluate the state of nature conservation of the territory (chart of nature);

to assess the impact of human activity on various species and ecosystems, including the evaluation of GMOs effects and agricultural issues;

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to perform the studies on the restoration of natural conditions of the landscape.

Library, documentation and information activities: preservation of the heritage of the paleontological, lithological and

mineralogical museum; development and management of ISPRA website as the point of access to

environmental information in Italy; organization of environmental training and specialization courses; preservation of bibliographic, cartographic and photographic material.

Environmental controls and inspections: coordination of activities performed by regional and local agencies and

harmonization of related analytical methods and monitoring tools. Furthermore, ISPRA is responsible for technical support in the issuance of environmental certificates (Emas and Ecolabel). Together with other national and local organizations, it is responsible for the management of environmental emergencies and contaminated sites, for performing communication and awareness raising activities to improve the general understanding of environmental issues and for providing advice and support for the implementation of national and EU legislation. The Institute is also active in several EC projects and international programmes (e.g. INSPIRE, GMES, UN Multilateral and Regional Conventions GEO, …..). Budget and staff number: in 2010 the total funding equaled 199 M€, of which 83 M€ from core government funding and the remaining from ad hoc programmes and activities, including EC projects. The total number of employees in 2010 was 1182. Website: http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/site/en-gb/

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Organogram:

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Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

Abstract The State Ltd “Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre” (LEGMC) is a governmental institution under the supervision of the Ministry of the Environment of Latvia. It ensures the implementation of national policy in the areas of environment protection, meteorology, climatology, hydrology, geology and hazardous waste. Legal text LEGMC was established according to the Order of the Cabinet of Ministers (Nr. 448; 01.07.2009) and is a successor in rights and obligations of Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Agency and Hazardous Waste Management Agency. Mandate: The main spheres of LEGMC activities are:

to monitor and assess environment and hydrological, meteorological and geological processes;

to develop shared environment information system compatible with other national information systems and international networks;

to provide environmental information;

hazardous and radioactive waste management. Staff number: Centre has a staff of 312 members (01.09.2010). Areas of responsibility in the areas of environment protection:

development of environmental monitoring system in line with national and European policy needs, international recommendations and guidelines;

assessment of environmental quality and natural resources;

report on environment quality, meteorological, hydrological phenomena, warnings of dangerous and natural disasters, weather and hydrological forecasting;

environment laboratory testing;

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management of environmental data, maintenance of databases on water resources and inland water quality, air emissions, air quality, chemicals, waste management, protected nature areas, protected biotopes and species, and polluted areas;

maintenance of GHG emissions trading national scheme;

supervision of subsoil resources and insurance of rational subsoil use;

acting as the National Focal Point of the European Environment Agency (EEA) within the European environment information and observation network (Eionet). The Agency represents the Republic of Latvia within the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), operates as competent Latvian body for International Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) as well performs executive functions in Latvia implementing international conventions related to meteorology, hydrology and environment, member of EUMETNET, EUMETSAT, ECMWF and EurogeoSurvey.

Website: http://www.lvgmc.lv

Organogram:

Website: http://www.lvgma.gov.lv To the content page

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Lithuania Environmental Protection Agency

The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to collect, analyse and provide reliable information on the state of the environment, flows of chemical substances and pollution prevention measures, to organize and coordinate state environmental protection control as well as to ensure the organisation of water protection and management for achieving water protection objectives. Legal text: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established on 1 January 2003, by the Order of the Minister of the Environment of the Republic of Lithuania No. 466 of 30 August 2002. The EPA was established by restructuring and merging the former Joint Research Centre and Water Resources Department of the Ministry of Environment. On January 1, 2006, the activities of the chemical substances and preparations management were shifted from the State Non-Food Products Inspectorate, under the Ministry of Economy, to the EPA. A new Chemical Substances Department was established in order to implement these new activities. On January 1, 2010, due to reorganization of the Agency the Centre of Marine Research and State Environmental Protection Inspectorate were incorporated into EPA together with their duties and resources. The Agency is managed by its Director and is financed through the budget of the Ministry of Environment. The Environmental Protection Agency is located in Vilnius, Lithuania. Mandate:

To provide national authorities, international environmental bodies and public with reliable information about the state of the environment and its changes caused by the anthropogenic impact;

To ensure conditions for achieving water quality of water bodies in the river basin districts.

To ensure relevant and safe management of chemical substances and pollution prevention.

To organize state environmental protection control and supervise environmental control institutions.

Number of staff: 199 Main areas of responsibility:

To ensure within its competence continuous and complex monitoring, evaluation and forecasting as well as provision of information on environmental quality (namely air and surface water quality);

To organize state environmental control and supervision of Regional Environmental Departments responsible for environmental permitting and state environmental control;

To submit recommendations concerning formation and implementation of environmental protection policy with respect to protection and management of

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surface water bodies in accordance with the river basin district management principle;

To ensure fulfillment of Competent Authority tasks under REACH and CLP regulations and maintenance of REACH-CLP helpdesk;

To ensure implementation and enforcement of national chemical legislations as well as EU legislation;

To collect, maintain and analyze the information about the state of environment and provide national public authorities, international environmental bodies and the public with reliable information about the state of the environment;

To undertake environmental impact assessment for planned economic activities related to water use;

To create, apply and promote the implementation of voluntary environmental management schemes such as EMAS, ISO 14001 in the industries, Best Available Techniques during IPPC permitting process and ecolabelling systems;

To organize and perform chemical, biological and radiological analysis of environment samples and at pollution sources, as well as to coordinate applied and other scientific environmental research, programs and projects;

To analyze status of environment and predict environmental effects in case of emergency situations and human-made accidents; to simulate the spread of pollutants in the environment;

To evaluate environmental pollution risks from existing or newly established technologies;

To perform control of laboratory activities of state, municipal and economic entities;

To collect data on the use of water resources, discharges of waste water, waste generation and treatment, pollution of ambient air and surface water.

Organogram:

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DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR

DEPUTY

Legal and PersonnelDivision

Environmental Research

Department

Environmental

Status AssessmentDepartment

Marine Research

Department

River Basin ManagementDivision

Air Quality Assessment

Division

Automatic Measurement Systems

Division

MaintenanceDivision

Activity Planning and Public Information

Division

Information Systems Development

Division

Methodology Division

Chemical Analysis Division

Hidrobiology and Ecotoxicology

Division

Expeditious Measurement Division

Pollution and WasteManagement Accounting

Division

Environment Protection

State ControlDepartment

Control Organization and Pollution Prevention

Implementation Division

Water Protection and Hydrographic Net

Supervision Division

Waste and PollutedTerritories Management

Control Division

Radiology Division

Project Management andPublic Procurement

Division

FinanceDivision

Chemical SubstancesDivision

Chief Adviser

Atmosphere PollutionControl Division

Natural Resources Use and Landscape Protection

Control Division

Water Status Assessment

Division

HidrologyDivision

HidrochemistryDivision

Biological Analysis Division

Data Management andPrograms Division

Analytic Control Division

Technical MaintenanceDivision

Fauna Use ControlDivision

Accident Prevention and Management

Division

Website: http://aaa.am.lt To the content page

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Malta Environment and Planning Authority

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) is the national agency responsible for regulation, monitoring and enforcement in the fields of environment and planning. It carries out its functions under the 1992 Development Planning Act and the 2001 Environment Protection Act. Legal text The Authority was established under the mandate of the Environment Protection Act (2001) and the Development Planning Act (1992) of the Laws of Malta. MEPA consists of three directorates: the Planning Directorate, the Environment Protection Directorate, and the Corporate Services Directorate. It was set up in 2002 through a merger of the then Planning Authority and the Environment Protection Department. The main decision making body providing strategic guidance within the Authority is the MEPA board. This 15-member board includes representatives from ministries, members appointed by the Prime Minister and by the Opposition Leader, members representing commerce, social and community affairs and the environment. In addition, there are a number of subsidiary boards and committees, which assist the organisation in fulfilling its functions and responsibilities efficiently and effectively, in line with its legal obligations. Mandate MEPA is the Authority assigned responsibilities under the Planning Development Act of 2001 and the Environment Protection Act of 2001. MEPA is responsible for the establishment of long and short-term objectives and strategies in the environment field, for the setting of environmental standards, guidelines and regulations and for the control and management of activities having an impact on the environment through a licensing and permitting system. It is also responsible for the promotion and control of proper land development, both public and private, in accordance with approved policies and plans. Budget and number of staff During the last financial year (from October 2006 to September 2007), MEPA registered total revenue of approximately €15 million. MEPA‟s revenue is derived from three sources: income derived from development permit fees, administration charges for infrastructure services contribution, sale of maps and land survey fees, and also fines and forfeited bonds; government subventions and bank interest receivable. MEPA employs over 450 multi-disciplinary personnel on a full time basis, approximately a quarter of whom are graduates in various fields. MEPA staff includes various professionals from the architecture, town planning and legal fields, as well as the natural and social sciences, communications, business, IT, cartography and geographical information systems. Areas of responsibility

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As a national environmental, planning and cartographic agency, MEPA provides the following services:

preparation of various land use and environmental plans to guide development; regulatory services and permitting in the fields of spatial planning, biodiversity

management and protection; waste, water, air quality, climate change, chemicals management, minerals, heritage and impact assessment;

enforcement of environmental and spatial planning regulations through inspections and direct actions; pollution monitoring, prevention and control;

digital mapping, GIS, spatial and land information systems, land surveying services.

provision of environmental and spatial planning policy advice to the Government; reporting to EU Commission and various international convention secretariats on

behalf of Malta; development and management of internationally funded projects in the field of

environment and land use planning; environmental awareness raising and promotion of environmental education.

Organogram:

Click here to enlarge Website: www.mepa.gov.mt To the content page

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Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro

Legal basis The Environmental Protection Agency was established on November 12, 2008. The Agency is conceived as an operative implementation authority of the law on environmental protection. It has taken over part of affairs and employees of the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare. After its establishment, the Government of Montenegro has adopted the Rulebook on internal organization and systematization of the Environmental Protection Agency, whereby it began operation formally and legally on March 1, 2009.

Organisation of the Environmental Protection Agency

Internal organizational units are: Department for monitoring, analysis and reporting

Department for the permit issuing

Department for communication and information system management

Department for environmental inspection

Department of legal and financial affairs

Eighty positions have been systematized by the Rulebook. Presently at the Agency, there are fourteen permanently employed persons, thirty two trainees and thirty four employees on the basis of contract (contract employees).

Executive

Director

Department for

monitoring, analysis

and reporting

Department for

environmental

inspection

Department for the

permit issuing

Department of legal

and financial affairs

Department for

communication and IT

system management

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In the Department for monitoring, analysis and reporting, affairs are performed which refer to: the preparation of environmental monitoring programs that contain monitoring programs of particular segments of the environment and regions, set out in special regulations; the systematic measurement, analysis and assessment of indicators of the state the environment and its pollution that encompass the monitoring of natural factors, or the change of the state and properties of the environment, including the cross-border monitoring; the analysis of information obtained on the monitoring basis, which are relevant for the drafting of reports and strategies on the state of the environment and its protection; the preparation and maintenance of the database on the environment; the preparation of environmental protection plans and programs; participation in environmental data exchange networks; cooperation with the European Commission on the environment.

In the Department for the permit issuing, affairs are performed concerning the issue

of integrated permits: for plants for which the necessity for an integrated license has

been determined by a special regulation; for a strategic assessment and the EIA (the

Environmental Impact Assessment); for the cross-border movement of waste; for an

installation for waste collection in ports; for waste management; for the collection, use,

breeding, keeping and trafficking of wild animals species; for the picking, collection, use,

cultivation, keeping and movement of wild herbs and fungi; for scientific and educational

researches on protected natural resources; for cave activities; for the export, import and

transit of sources of ionization, radiation and radioactive materials; for the export and

import of substances that deplete the ozone layer, reporting, export and import of

chemicals; as well as the monitoring of regulations related to conditions and procedures

of the issue of permits; the establishment and keeping of records of requirements for the

issue and alteration of permits, issued and denied permits; consultation with the permit

holder and potential permit candidates, including the counseling with the permit holders

and candidates; the establishment and maintenance of the register of pollutants and the

register of ionizing radiation sources, radioactive materials and sources of a low ionizing

radiation risk; the keeping of records defined by special regulations.

In the Department for communication and information system management, affairs are performed that refer to: the preparation of bulletins, booklets, notifications, information, etc.; the establishment and maintenance of contacts with media and the public promotion of the Agency; the design and implementation of campaigns on the public representation of environmental issues; the creation and management of the website of the Agency; the drafting and implementation of (educational) programs for the purpose of raising awareness about the environment; direct and permanent communication with international organizations which deal with environmental protection, especially with the European Commission‟s environment department; the exchange of information through national and international networks; the development of the strategy and communication in public relations; the development of informational technologies for the Agency, drafting and maintenance of the information system database of the Agency. In the Department of environmental inspection, affairs are performed which refer to: ensuring of the implementation of legal acts and bylaw acts within the area of

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environmental protection; the performance of direct inspection; making of the minutes of performed supervision; taking of administrative measures and actions with a view to the removal of irregularities; making of reports, information and analysis of work on the regular basis, keeping of prescribed records and other affairs defined by inspection regulations. In the Department of legal and financial affairs, affairs are preformed which refer to: the preparation and adoption of regulations and general acts of the Agency; the preparation of programs, agendas and reports on work; the monitoring of the implementation of regulations and directives of the European Union; the preparation of particular acts on the exercise of rights of employees; keeping of Central staff records on civil servants and state employees; proceedings by the Law on free information access; the public procurement for needs of the Agency; other organizational, legal, material and financial affairs, especially the preparation and execution of the preliminary estimate of funds; drafting of a financial plan; the conduct of business books; drafting of periodic and final accounts; treasury management; book-keeping businesses; office management; archival work, work of drivers of motor vehicles, delivery services and other businesses in accordance with regulations. Within the scope of affairs of the Agency that refer to: the issue of permits, monitoring, drafting of analysis and reports, inspection and communication with relevant domestic and international bodies and organizations, as well as with the public; other affairs defined by this law and special regulations are performed. It is provided that the Agency cooperates with international bodies and organizations of other countries that deal with environmental protection, especially with the European Environment Agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and that it participates in the work of professional networks within the European Union, as well as in similar agencies in other countries.

Budget

Means for the Agency are provided from the Budget of Government of Montenegro and

donations. Budget for 2009 for the needs of Environmental Protection Agency was

planned to be 1.100.000,00 Eur. At the end of July 2009 Assembly of Montenegro has

voted revised budget for 2009, and connected with coping with the consequences of

financial crisis, budget of Environmental Protection Agency was reduced to 942.743,06.

Projects

Within the scope of MB IPA 2007 these projects were realised:

- Assessment of the needs and proposition of the activity for strengthening the

capacity in preventing unauthorized traffic of nuclear and radioactive materials in

countries of Western Balkan

- Managing medical radioactive waste

- Security of closed radiation sources

- Norm and Tinorm

- Security of closed radiation sources

- Unauthorised traffic of nuclear and radioactive materials

- Monitoring activities

- Removals of radioactive lightning – rods on the territory of Montenegro

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Within the scope of the MB IPA 2008 projects are realised:

- Strengthening of regulatory infrastructure

Until the end of 2009, the beginning of the implementation of the Twining projects

of EU Commission which represents support to the strengthening of personnel

capacity of the Environmental Protection Agency. As partner country Italy has

been chosen on tender.

Formal and legal conditions for functioning of the Environmental Protection Agency are

realised, but in order to function in its full capacity it is necessary to remove financial

borders and to define responsibilities more precisely through law. Great number of

started activities encourage that the Environmental Protection Agency will significantly

contribute to the better implementation of law, fulfilling international obligations and of

course environmental protection in Montenegro.

More information on www.epa.org.me

Address & Contact:

Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro

IV Proleterske 19

Podgorica

81000

Montenegro

Telephone: +382 20 618 250

Fax: +382 20 618 246

E-mail: epamontenegro@gmail.com

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PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency

The PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency is one out of three independent assessment agencies in the Netherlands. The PBL is the result of a merger in 2008 between the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP) and the Netherlands Institute for Spatial Research (RPB). The PBL functions as an interface between science and policy, with strong roots in both. It originates from a tradition in physical sciences and today has a multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary method of working.

We contribute to improving the quality of political and administrative decision-making by conducting outlook studies, analyses and evaluations in which an integrated approach is of paramount importance. Policy relevance is an important selection criterion for projects in our annual Work Programme. We conduct solicited and unsolicited research that is always independent and scientifically sound.

Mandate: The PBL supports national and international policymakers by analysing the environmental impact of policies and of trends in society. We provide independent integrated assessments on topics such as sustainable development, energy and climate change, biodiversity, transport, land use and air quality. The PBL has a statutory responsibility to biennially publish an Assessment of the Living Environment, in which we take stock of recent developments in the fields of environment, nature, and spatial planning. Every four years, the PBL also publishes scenario studies on the environment and nature. These outlooks play an important role in the development of Dutch Government policies on environment, spatial planning and nature for the long term.

Analysing the past, looking to the future Governments, both in the Netherlands and elsewhere, as well as international organisations, need solid information, evaluations and assessments to base their policies on. The PBL works towards meeting this demand. We are a government-funded assessment agency, working in close collaboration with national and international partners, to assess future policies and the effects of policies already in place.

Integrated and interrelated The PBL analyses interrelated environmental issues and their interaction with economic and social developments. Not only do we examine Dutch problems in European and global contexts, we also research global topics such as climate change, and European and global sustainability issues.

Scientific and independent The PBL is a networking organisation with emphasis on intensive collaboration with Dutch and international science institutions. This means that our publications are based on the latest scientific insights. We have considerable expertise in building and applying models and scenarios for policy purposes. The PBL is

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a government-owned organisation, but with a legally guaranteed independence regarding content. Our publications and research results are all available to the public. The independent position of our organisation is also reflected in the way we report on the full range of scientific opinions.

Budget: € 30 million

Number of staff: 220 staff members (200 full-time equivalents)

Research areas:

Climate, Air and Energy

Sustainable development

Spatial Planning and Quality of the Local Environment

Urbanization and Transport

Nature and Rural Areas

Water, Agriculture and Food

Information, Data and Methodology

Centre for Air Quality Research

Website: www.pbl.nl/en/index.html

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The Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management

Abstract The Directorate for Nature Management (DN) is the national executive and advisory management agency concerning the conservation of biological diversity, outdoor recreation and sustainable use of natural resources, and is administratively responsible to the Ministry of the environment. Legal basis The Directorate is one of five environmental agencies responsible to the Ministry of the environment, and has key responsibilities related to the conservation of biological diversity, outdoor recreation and sustainable use of natural resources. The Acts forming the legal basis for the work of the Directorate are the Nature conservation act, the Wildlife act, the Act relating to salmonoids and freshwater fish, the Gene technology act, the Act relating to motorised traffic on marginal land and watercourses, the Outdoor recreation act, the Nature inspectorate act, the Svalbard environment act and the Planning and building act. Funding for the Directorate is provided by the State Budget through the Ministry of the environment, including budget lines related to freshwater and salmon management, wildlife management and hunting, compensation and prevention schemes related to carnivores, state nature inspection, national parks and protected areas, outdoor recreation, and purchase of recreational areas. Mandate The Directorate has management (* denotes role as national management authority) and advisory responsibilities related to the following global and regional conventions: the Convention on biological diversity (CBD), the Biosafety protocol (Cartagena), the Convention on trade in endangered species (CITES)*, the Convention on migratory species (CMS)*, the Wetlands convention (Ramsar)*, the World heritage convention (WHC), the Framework convention on climate change (FCCC), the Convention on the combat of desertification (CCD), the Convention on European wildlife and natural habitats (Bern)*. The Convention for the conservation of salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean (NASCO)*, the Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR), the European landscape convention and the Convention on information and public participation (Aarhus). The Directorate is responsible for instructing and advising the County Governors (regional level in Norway) within its areas of responsibility. Through the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate (SNO), the directorate ensures control over follow-up of laws and regulations. An important role is the provision of information and advice related to policy development under the Ministry of the environment and related to relevant activities under other sector authorities. The directorate also plays a key role in communication, education and public awareness, environmental monitoring and research and the use of information technology and geographical information systems. The Directorate serves as adviser to the Norwegian directorate for development co-operation (Norad) related to biological diversity and sustainable use of natural resources

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in Norwegian development co-operation. In this capacity, the Directorate has institutional co-operation with national agencies in several developing countries. Activities related to the Arctic include regional co-operation in the Arctic council and the Barents region, bilateral co-operation with Russia and national policy and legislation related to Svalbard, Jan Mayen and the Barents Sea. The Directorate is a government agency member of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Vision and core values The vision for DN is to work “for life in nature and nature in life”, while core values are to be consultative, committed, clear and competent. Budget and number of staff The Directorate for 2006 has a total budget of approximately 675 million NOK and a total staff of approximately 200. The head office is located in Trondheim, with the State Nature Inspectorate having 37 local offices at present. Further information and URL Further information about the Directorate can be found at http://english.dirnat.no, while more information on the environment in Norway can be found at www.environment.no.

Organogram:

For inquiries to the Directorate kindly contact us through telephone at + 47 73 58 05 00 or through email at postmottak@dirnat.no. To the content page

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The Climate and Pollution Agency

The Climate and Pollution Agency was established in 1974 as the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT). We are one of five environmental agencies which report to the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment. 18 January 2010 we became the Climate and Pollution Agency. Our new name better reflects our fields and modes of work. Our key areas of work include climate change, chemicals, water and the marine environment, waste management, air quality and noise. We implement government policy on pollution and act as guides, guardians and a driving force for a better environment. Our vision is a future without pollution. At present, we have about 325 employees mainly based in Oslo. We are headed by a Director General, and divided into four departments: the Department of Chemicals and Local Environmental Management, the Department Climate and Industry, the Department of Control, Water and International Affairs and the Department of Administration and Information. To find out more about the Climate and Pollution Agency, please visit http://www.klif.no/english.

We are working to:

reduce greenhouse gas emissions

reduce the spread of substances harmful to health and environment

achieve a holistic and ecosystem based management of water bodies and oceans

increase recycling and reduce emissions from waste

reduce harmful effects from air pollution and noise

Our functions and roles:

We exercise regulatory authority and carry out inspections The Agency manages and enforces the Pollution Control Act, the Product Control Act

and the Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Act. We grant permits, establish

requirements and set emission limits, and carry out inspections to ensure compliance.

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We monitor and inform about the state of the environment

The Agency is responsible for providing an up-to-date overview of the state of the

environment and its development. Together with other expert agencies we provide

environmental information to the public. Our main channel is State of Environment

Norway (http://www.environment.no/)

We instruct and guide the County Governors’ environmental departments

The Agency supervises and monitors the County Governors‟ work on pollution,

coordinates the County Governors‟ inspection work and organises joint inspection

campaigns. We provide guidelines for the County Governors and also deal with appeals

against decisions made by the County Governors.

We provide expert advice and promote key environmental initiatives The Agency speaks out if the state of the environment takes an unwanted direction in

relation to Norwegian environmental goals or international obligations. We highlight on

the main environmental challenges in different sectors, and we give advice,

assessments and suggestions for lines of action to the Ministry of the Environment.

We participate in international environmental and development cooperation The Agency participates in a series of international processes, where we work for

regional and global agreements that reduce serious environmental problems. We also

cooperate with the environmental authorities in other countries, sharing competence and

contributing to environmental improvements.

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Poland Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection

Chief Inspector for Environmental Protection is a central governmental authority. He manages the Inspection for Environmental Protection. His work is facilitated by the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection. Tasks related to inspections are carried out mainly by the Voivodship Inspectors for Environmental Protection and by the Chief Inspector for Environmental Protection.

Staff Inspection was established in 1980. It employs approximately 2500 people (720 inspectors, 300 involved in monitoring, 840 laboratory staff, 610 management and administration staff). Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection employs 150 people. Main tasks The principal tasks of the Inspection for Environmental Protection are:

control of the compliance with the rules of environmental protection; monitoring of the state of environment; environmental information dissemination; prevention of Environmental Emergencies; control of transboundary movement of waste and market surveillance.

Areas and methods of activity Performing these tasks the Inspection for Environmental Protection:

carries out the inspections of companies and industry installations; issues decisions on suspension of operation of constructions or installations not

complying with environmental requirements; deals with the matters concerning compliance with regulations on packages and

packages waste and compliance with regulations on entrepreneurs‟ responsibilities concerning management of certain waste and on the product charge and the deposit charge;

cooperates with the appropriate state bodies in the matters connected with the infringement of the environmental law;

conducts and coordinates surveys and measurements concerning the quality of the environmental components. (The assessment of the state of the environment in Poland is carried out within the frameworks of the State Environmental Monitoring System);

informs government and local authorities, as well as the public about the state of the environment.;

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elaborates reports and bulletins for example: “The state of the Environment in Poland” – report issued every four years by the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection;

publishes regional reports on the state of the environment in the voivodships, as well as so-called “media-oriented reports”;

is responsible for the tasks concerning environmental emergencies in the environment. Inspection creates suitable conditions for prevention of serious threats, supervise the process of elimination of their consequences as well as controls restoring the environment to its former state;

is responsible for the permits concerning transboundary movement of waste. According to the Regulation No 259/93 the Chief Inspector for Environmental Protection is the responsible body in this area.

cooperates with the responsible bodies and international organizations in the area of the transboundary movement of waste;

in the area of market surveillance controls the products brought to the market within Inspection‟s responsibility and supervises the Voivodeship Ispectorates for Environmental Protection activities concerning compliance of products with appropriate requirements;

coordinates implementation of the tasks of Basel Convention, Helsinki Convention (HELCOM) and Convention on Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents;

cooperates with the other environmental institutions within the confines of INSPIRE, GMES and IMPEL.

Organisation:

Website: www.gios.gov.pl To the content page

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Portugal Environment Agency

Mission and Duties

The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) is responsible for proposing, developing and monitoring the implementation of environmental policies, particularly in the context of integrating the environment into sectoral policies, including health and transport and in tackling climate change, protection ozone, air quality, prevention and control of noise, waste recovery and use of soil and other contaminated sites, prevention and control integrated pollution, prevention of major industrial hazards, environmental safety and populations, eco-labeling, green purchasing and voluntary environmental management.

To support the formulation, development and monitoring of environmental policies, APA is responsible for SNIAmb, National Information System Environment, founded on a set of strategic partnerships nationally and internationally. In this connection, APA provides, maintains and disseminates the reference center for environmental data and promotes the integrated analysis of the results of monitoring the implementation of policies and measures, producing reports, statements of the state and pressures on the environment is subject;

In the field of climate change APA is the Competent Authority for the EU ETS (European Trade Licensing Issue) with responsibilities for national coordination and system administration of the National Registry of Emission Allowances. It is also the Competent Authority for SNIERPA (National Inventory of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of air pollutants), through which it is made monitoring of compliance with Kyoto targets.

APA is also National Authority for Environmental Impact Assessment; in this field it develops and follows the methodology of environmental impact assessment, coordinates the activities of CCDR as Authorities Environmental Impact Assessment and carries out environmental impact assessment of major projects. APA is also the National Authority for Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programs (Strategic Environmental Assessment).

APA is the National Authority for the Prevention and Control of Integrated Pollution; in this field manages the process of environmental licensing of large facilities, and monitors and evaluates the compliance of permit conditions. APA is also the Competent Authority for the European register of emissions and transfers of pollutants, PRTR (European Pollutant realease and Transfer Register).

APA is the National Waste Authority; in this framework proposes, develops and monitors the implementation of strategies for waste management, and exercise the powers of the licensing of waste management operations and the management entities of specific

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waste streams, and administrative and operational control of shipments of waste. APA promotes the organization and regulation of the organized market of waste (MOR).

APA is also the competent authority for the system of environmental responsibility.

In the field of emergencies and environmental risks, APA as to ensure the adoption of measures necessary to protect human health and the environment, develop and implement frameworks for managing risks, including ensuring the consideration of technological risks in the planning instruments territorial, and assessing the risks from chemicals and genetically modified organisms, and to propose measures to manage environmental risks.

APA ensures the operation of the warning network in continuous radioactivity in the environment, the management of emergency response radiological and nuclear, which results or may result in risk to the environment and population.

APA is responsible for promoting the various voluntary instruments for environmental management, including the Eco-Community, Local Agenda 21 and the Community eco-management and Audit Scheme, EMAS.In the case of EMAS the APA is the national Competent Body responsible for the registration of the member organizations and the qualification of inspectors, authorities responsible for verification and validation of environmental statements.

In the field of voluntary instruments, APA is still Organization for Standardization Sector for environmental management and air quality.

APA also develops and monitors the implementation of policies on environmental education, promotes and accompanying forms of support for environmental NGOs, and promotes public participation and access to information in decision-making on the environment.

In the context of environmental issues specific to BB exerts its own powers of licensing, qualification, production of technical standards and uniform procedures.

The Laboratory of the Environment, as part of APA, develops implements and participates in the accreditation of analytical methodologies in environmental and methods for assessing air quality.

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Organizational Chart

Website:

http://www.apambiente.pt

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Romania - The National Environmental Protection Agency

The National Environmental Protection Agency is a specialised authority of the public central administration, subordinated to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. Legal framework The National Environmental Protection Agency was established by the Governmental Decision no. 1625/23.12.2003, in a time of major institutional reforms in the environment protection field, following the example of several EU Member States and countries in the accession process which have established technical environmental institutions at national level, so as to provide technical support for the environmental protection authorities. Romania‟s accession to the European Union was a major strategic objective for the entire society. In line with this objective, the reorganization of the National Environmental Protection Agency was considered of great importance. Based on the Governmental Decision no. 459/19.05.2005 on the reorganization and functioning of NEPA, its functions and attributes were redefined in order to provide the legal framework needed to fulfil the obligations assumed by Romania through the Position Paper – Chapter 22. It is important to underline that by subordinating the regional and local environmental protection agencies from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to the National Environmental Protection Agency, there were designed the prospects for the implementation of the European legislation and regulations, within the agreed deadlines. Mission The National Environmental Protection Agency has been intended to work in order to ensure a healthy environment, in line with Romania‟s economical development and its social progress. Our mission consists in a ensuring a better environment for the present and future generations, through a continuous enhancement of air, soil and water quality. For these reasons, NEPA has attributes in the following areas:

Strategic environmental planning;

Environmental factors monitoring;

Drawing up the Report on State of Environment;

Permitting of activities which have an impact on the environment;

Implementation of the environmental legislation and policies at national, regional

and local level;

Reporting to the European Environment Agency, through the Eionet network, the

priority data flows for air quality, climate change, protected areas, soil

contamination and water;

Maintaining a permanent connection with the European Chemicals Agency.

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Responsibilities

Providing technical support for the substantiation of the legislation, sector

strategies and policies, according to the acquis communautaire, and based on

the concept of sustainable development;

Implementation of the environmental legislation;

Coordinating the implementation of environmental strategies and policies at

national, regional and local level;

Representation in the external and internal relations, according to the mandate of

the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development;

Permitting the activities having an impact on the environment and providing the

compliance with the legal provisions;

Management of the national reference laboratories for air, waste, noise,

vibrations, radioactivity and genetically modified organisms;

Coordination of the development of the sector action plans and the national

environmental protection action plan.

Website: http://www.anpm.ro/ To the content page

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Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Environmental Protection Agency

The Serbian Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) is a governmental institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. Its main task is development, management and coordination of the national environmental information system, collection and integration of the environmental data, production of yearly state of the environment reports also giving recommendations for future steps aiming a general improvement in this field.

Legislation

SEPA was founded by the Law on Ministries in 2004 as a specific organization within the Ministry of Environmental Protection and it became operational in November 2004.

Budget and number of staff

In 2010 the Agency has a budget of 440.000 Euros. The SEPA has 29 employees, of whom 58 % are women.

Areas of responsibility

Serbian Environmental Protection Agency has following objectives:

Development and management the National Environmental Information System; Establishment and management of the National Automatic Air Quality Monitoring

Network which is consists of 37 automatic stations and one mobile automatic station;

Establishing the National Reference Air Quality Laboratory; Development and operate the Integrated Cadastre of Polluters which transposes

obligations from PRTR Protocol and E-PRTR Directive; Reporting of water quality data and creating of indicators; Collecting and processing data of soil state; Develop indicators of soil quality and soil pressure; Mapping areas at risk from soil pollution and soil degradation; Assessment biodiversity state; Management the national allergen pollen detection network; Preparing an annual report on the state of the environment in the socioeconomic

context and assessment of efficiency of environment policy instruments; Management the information about best available techniques and practices and

their implementation in the field of environmental protection;

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Cooperate with the European Environmental Agency (EEA) and European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET).

During the year 2008/2009, SEPA increased its reporting towards EEA in both quantitative and qualitative way and according to the EEA score (available at http://www.eionet.europa.eu/dataflows/pdf2008) Serbian level of reporting reached 75%, a significant improvement from previous year (2007/2008 – 60%).

The set of new Environmental laws adopted in Parliament in May 2009, gives SEPA a set of new responsibilities in the field of communal and industrial pollution particularly in the field of noise, waste, packaging and packaging waste, GHG register etc.

For the first time SEPA invited to get directly involved in the creation of the European State of the Environment Report 2010 (SOER 2010).

At the regional level, during the year 2008, SEPA was involved in the project “Building up of regular environment reporting system according to the EEA Core Set of Indicators for the west Balkan countries”, led by EEA and UNEP/GRID Arendal, resulting with the set of 19 regional environmental indicators.At international level SEPA acts as National Focal Point and National Reference Centre for different thematic areas towards European Environment Agency.

Website: www.sepa.gov.rs

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Slovak Environmental Agency

The Slovak Environmental Agency (SEA) is a scientific organisation operating on the territory of Slovakia. Its activites focus on environmental protection, environmental policy development and landscape creation on the principles of sustainable development. SEA is a scientific organisation which works under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic. The Slovak Environmental Agency was established to ensure environmental protection and environmental policy development. Budget and number of staff According to the 2006 contract between SEA and the Ministry of the Environment, the budget of SEA equalled 146 400 000 SKK. The current transfer is 133 400 000 SKK and the capital transfer is 13 000 000 SKK. By the end of 2006, SEA employed 323 staff; of which 202 were women, 10 part-time employees, 18 limited contract employees and 25

employees as corporate staff. Spheres of activity:

general and cross-sectional activities in all professional fields; state of the environment evaluation and environmental regional classification; environmental planning and environmental optimisation; environmental impact assessment; optimisation of spatial arrangement and functional use of urban and rural

landscape, its creation and protection; landscape-ecological planning; cultural landscape and natural heritage protection; environmental risks and environmental safety; waste management and packaging; integrated prevention and pollution control (IPPC); environmental evaluation and labelling of products; system of the environmentally oriented management and audit; economy of the environment; environmental monitoring and informatics; environmental education and promotion; environmental projects programming and implementing.

In the above-mentioned activities SEA:

prepares for MoE SR professional bases for strategies, concepts, programmes and legal regulations;

carries out co-ordination activity; prepares and organises various events; develops plans and evaluates their fulfilment; programs, implements and evaluates environmental projects;

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works out or orders standpoints, expert opinions, information and documents; provides professional supervision over the enforcement of environmental legal

regulations; takes care of selected protected landscape areas and environmental

installations; provides for the fulfilment of obligations ensuing for the Slovak Republic (SR)

from international environmental legislation and co-operation; provides expert assistance to MoE SR in the Slovak environmental legislation

harmonisation with the regulations and procedures of the European Union; co-operates with relevant professional institutions in the Slovak Republic and

abroad. Organisation:

Website: http://www.sazp.sk/

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Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute Abstract: SHMÚ is specialized organization, supervised by the Ministry of the Environment, which operates on the whole territory of Slovakia monitoring programmes of air and water, including air and water quality and radioactivity. SHMÚ provides relevant data and information to all users in Slovakia and abroad. The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) was established by decision of the Minister of the Forest and Water Management of the Slovak Republic which entered into force on 1st January 1969. This organization has continued in activities of its predecessors – the hydrological and meteorological services which operated on the territory of Slovakia from the middle of the 19th century. Nowadays, SHMÚ, as state organization, is supervised by the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic. SHMÚ is funded mainly by the contribution from the state budget and partially by revenues from activities on the market. SHMÚ is specialized organization operated on the whole territory of the Slovak Republic which concerns with:

monitoring of quantitative and qualitative parameters, characterizing air and water conditions on the territory of the Slovak Republic;

collection, validation, evaluation, archiving and interpretation of data on state and regime of air and water conditions;

provision of operational and non-operational data and information on conditions of air and water including weather and hydrological forecasts and warnings to customers;

description and study of atmospheric and hydrological phenomena. To perform this mission, SHMÚ contributes to the satisfying of demands of the Slovak Republic in the following areas:

protection and safety of lives and property; protection of the environment; support for an economic development on the principle of sustainability.

The annual budget of SHMÚ is around 10.6 mil. €. The number of employees is 509, the number of voluntary observers is approximately 2 100. The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute operates the monitoring programs which contains about 1 000 measuring stations for meteorology, climatology, agrometeorology and fenology, about 40 measuring stations for air pollution, ozone and precipitation quality, 21 measuring stations for environmental radioactivity, 435 hydrological gauging stations, 185 sampling points for quality of surface water, 240 sampling points for groundwater quality and 1200 monitoring stations for groundwater quantity. Responsibility areas of SHMÚ:

monitoring and assessment of atmosphere, hydrosphere, air quality, climate and environmental radioactivity on the whole territory of the Slovakia;

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collection, processing, evaluation and distribution of information on atmosphere, air pollution, climate, water resources and environmental radioactivity on the trans-boundary and national level;

collecting, processing and evaluation of national air emissions; co-ordination of the whole water, air pollution, atmosphere, climate and

radioactivity monitoring programme of Slovakia; operational transfer of meteorological, hydrological and radioactivity data in on-

line regime to WMO - GTS telecommunication system; provision of meteorological data and information for civil aviation; provision of data, information and know-how for the Military Hydrometeorological

Service of the Slovak Republic; production and distribution of meteorological and hydrological forecasts and

warnings, flood warnings, smog and ozone warnings and warnings for nuclear accident to governmental administration, disaster and hazard management authorities, public and other users in Slovakia and abroad;

participation in the reporting process to EC, OECD, WMO and other national and international organizations and users;

participation in the development of strategic, conceptual, planning and programming documents for sustainable development and management of the environment in Slovakia;

participation in the reporting process to EC, OECD, WMO and other national and international organizations and users.

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The Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia

The Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia performs expert, analytical, regulatory and administrative tasks related to the environment at the national level. Our primary objective is to become a leading, effective and trustworthy environmental institution, capable of disseminating knowledge to other related institutions around the world.

The Environmental Agency is a body of the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning. Its mission is to monitor, analyse and forecast natural phenomena and processes in the environment, and to reduce natural threats to people and property. The following tasks are performed by the national services for meteorology, hydrology and seismology:

preserving natural resources, biodiversity and sustainable development; observing, analysing and forecasting natural phenomena and processes in the

environment; reducing impact of natural hazards; ensuring legal protection and professional assistance to participants in

environmental encroachment procedures; guiding change of national and personal values system in relation to the

environment as well as influencing the value criteria for environmental encroachments;

ensuring high-quality environmental data for all target groups; raising the awareness of people and institutions about the environment and

environmental issues.

Budget in 2006: 35 678 700 EUR

Number of staff in 2006: 451

The Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia has established a system of quality in line with two international standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO/SIST/IEC 17025 for two accredited laboratories: the Calibration Laboratory and the Chemical Analysis Laboratory.

The basic objective of the agency is the continuous improvement of the quality of services, which can be achieved due to adhering to the following principles:

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being orientated towards a culture of communication, culture of living and life in general;

ensuring and constantly improving the quality of services and the entire process of operations and procedures;

monitoring the attainment of quality objectives set and immediately eliminate deviations;

being aware that the proper training of each employee is a precondition for achieving and maintaining the required quality.

fulfilling the adopted quality policy on a consistent basis. It is the responsibility of the management to ensure a certain quality level in relation to clients;

ensuring the professional and personal development of all employees.

Organisation:

Website: www.arso.gov.si

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SPAIN Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs

The Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs makes proposals and develops the implementation of the governmental policy in the fighting against the climate change, sustainable rural development, and the protection of natural heritage, biodiversity, sea matters, and water, agricultural, cattle raising, forest, fishing and alimentary resources. Its strategic aim is the fighting against the climate change and the encouragement of a model of sustainable development in its double dimension: on the one hand the territory and biodiversity protection and, on the other, the agricultural, cattle raising, forest and fishing productive factors defence, from an integrating perspective.

Legislation

Royal Decree 1130/2008, of 4th July, by which the basic organic structure of the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs is developed. It takes on the competences of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing and Food and the Ministry of Environment, this last created in 1996.

Responsibility Areas

Climate Change: development of the climate change policy in accordance with the common (EC) and international policy; establishment of adaptation and mitigation measures; emissions commerce and flexibility mechanisms; carbon sinks; coordination of plans and programmes related with climate change.

Environmental Quality: development of the policy for the prevention of pollution, and environmental control, quality and assessment; coordination of plans and programmes related with waste, polluted soils, pollution (air) and environmental impact; environmental impact assessment; development of environmental indicators systems; risk evaluation for chemical products; development of mechanisms for the integration of the environmental aspects in the productive sectors.

Natural Environment and Forest Policy: conservation and management of the Natura 2000 network and the Protected Natural Spaces-PNS (ENP, in Spanish), as well as their integration in the sustainable rural development; development of strategies, plans and

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programmes for the stimulation of the conservation and restoration of natural heritage and biodiversity; conservation of genetic resources, flora, fauna, habitat, landscapes, ecosystems and natural areas, particularly the most delicate and the degraded ones; participation in the development of programmes for the forest protection, defence against the forest fires and forest health; the hydrological-forest restoration; carrying out programmes against desertification; development of the Spanish Inventory of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity.

Sustainable Rural Environment: development of the Agri-environmental measures, forestation of agrarian lands, compensation of the agrarian incomes in unfavourable areas, strengthening of the participation of women and young people in rural development; establishment of new technologies and revamping of agrarian exploitations; encouragement of renewable energies (bio-mass and bio-fuel) in agriculture, as well as saving and energy efficiency in this sector. These competences are developed by the Directorate-General for the Sustainable Development of Rural Environment.

Water resources Management: National Hydrological Plan implementation, in all its aspects; checking of the Hydrological Plans of the Basin Organizations, the information about water quality, execution of researches, projects and operation and conservation works for the Public Waters Domains and their infrastructures; continental waters quality vigilance, and also vigilance of activities susceptible of cause pollution or degradation of the public waters domains; establishment of measures for the re-use of purified water and water saving; control of the groundwater good condition; irrigation plans modernization and emergency works in case of catastrophic damages.

Marine Environment: demarcation and management (occupation, use, guardianship and Coast Guard) of the Terrestrial-Maritime Public Domain; Coast Demarcations and Coast Provincial Services management; protection and conservation of beaches, coastal sand dune systems and littoral wetlands; coordination of the actions that may contribute to the coast and sea sustainability with other public administrations; checking and inspection of the defence works; development of strategies for the biological diversity and genetic resources conservation in the marine ecosystems and for marine species included in the National Catalogue of Threatened Species; preparation of preliminary reports for the environmental impact declaration in the marine environment; strengthening and supervision of researches about fighting pollution systems; assessment of damages produced by maritime and coastal pollution coming from dumping contaminant substances, as well as development of sectorial plans for coastal protection.

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Organogram

http://www.marm.es/

Click here to see the location on map

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SPAIN - Ihobe, the Basque Environmental Agency

About us

Created in 1983, Ihobe is the Basque Environmental Agency responsible to provide the Basque Government with strategic, technical and scientific knowledge to make decisions on environmental issues.

Our mission is to support the Department for the Environment, Spatial Planning, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Basque Government (www.ingurumena.net) in enabling the environmental policy and in spreading the green sustainability culture within the Basque Autonomous Community.

Our challenge for 2020 is to bring the maximum value as a team and the main illusion as people to the new transformation model of the Basque Autonomous Community, Eco-Euskadi 2020 (www.ecoeuskadi2020.net).

To that end, we:

Catalyse the generation & dissemination of environmental knowledge Co-operate with firms, public authorities and the general public Contribute to and take an active part in the improvement of the environment

Ihobe also manages the Basque Country Biodiversity Centre (www.torremadariaga.net) and the Oleaz Laboratory, Basque Country‟s Official Centre for analyzing used oils.

What we do in… Biodiversity: Studies of habitats & species, technical knowledge on biodiversity, management of the Basque Country Biodiversity Centre.

Climate Change: Technical Secretariat of the Basque Climate Change Office, Inventories of GHGs in the Basque Country, Climate change knowledge map in the Basque Country.

Contaminated Land: Management of the “GEOIKER” soil quality information system. integration of soil quality variable into horizontal policies. Promotion of prevention and remediation of soil contamination.

Eco-efficiency in Industry: Ihobe-Line environmental information helpline; In-plant environmental training & assessment workshops; Eco-efficiency programme for industry 2010-2014 and enhancement of SMEs‟ environmental action; Ekoscan systemise environmental management and ensures compliance with applicable environmental legislation .

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Environmental Policy: Technical Secretariat of Basque Country Environmental Framework Programme, Promotion of environmental management systems at public authorities, Municipalities & Local Sustainability, Technical Secretariat of the Basque Network of Municipalities for Sustainability, “Udalsarea 21” (www.udalsarea21.net).

Environmental Knowledge: Publications & technical events, “Haize Errota” innovation system, Basque Environmental Observatory, public information and documentation services on www.ihobe.net.

Sustainable Production & Consumption: Eco-design & product life-cycle analysis; Sustainable building; Integrated product policies, Green Public Procurement.

Waste: Secretariat of the Basque Body for Co-ordination of Municipal Solid Waste; Waste inventories in the Basque Country; Innovative projects for valorization waste; management of Oleaz, (used oil analysis laboratory).

Co-operation & Partnerships: Cooperation in Basque networks; Work in environmental forums at Spanish, European & international level; Benchmarking with excellent organizations.

Our team and budget

The Basque Environmental Agency has at this moment 54 employees working in the head office in Bilbao and in Oleaz Laboratory. Our values are credibility, effective management, team work, personal engagement & enthusiasm for change.

For 2011 Ihobe has a budget of 13 million euros, of which the 90 per cent comes from Basque Government.

Organogram

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Our commitment with the environment

- Offsetting of CO2 emissions resulting from travel

- Greening of all Ihobe‟s supplies & services (GPP)

- Sustainable mobility plan for offices at the Bizkaia building in Bilbao & the Basque Country Biodiversity Centre

- Downloads of publications from the Ihobe website have prevented the emission into the atmosphere of 7500 kg of CO2 & the felling of 52 trees

Contact and useful information

Ihobe - The Basque Environmental Agency

C\Alda. Urquijo, 36 6th floor

CP 48011 - Bilbao(Biscay)

Tel +34 944 230 743

Giuseppe Traverso Saibante - Foreign Affairs giuseppe.traverso@ihobe.net

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The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, created in 1967, is the national agency for environmental protection and nature conservation as well as outdoor recreation and hunting. Its key tasks are to present proposals for environmental policy and legislation to the Swedish Government and ensure that environmental policy decisions are implemented. The Agency complies with the ISO 14001 environmental management standard and EMAS for both direct and indirect environmental impact.

A living environment - now and in the future

The Swedish EPA supplies expert knowledge and proposals to central government in its national, EU and international work on environmental issues. Nationally the Agency regulates, sets standards and acts as a guide, coordinator and evaluator. Some 100 Swedish EPA employees are involved as experts and Swedish representatives in EU-related work and in international multilateral or bilateral cooperation.

Funded by central government, the Swedish EPA is an independent authority acting on the basis of a government ordinance that defines its terms of reference.

Areas of responsibility

Providing guidance on environmental and regulatory issues to other national agencies as well as to regional and local authorities;

Evaluating the effectiveness of different measures in attaining the National Environmental Quality Objectives and proposing new measures where necessary;

Monitoring and reporting on the state of the environment; Developing environmental policy instruments, including environmental legislation; Appearing in courts (principally on licensing matters); Promoting sustainable treatment of waste; Funding environmental research; Communicating expert knowledge; Funding environmental protection (i.e. liming of acidified lakes, site remediation

and grants to local climate investment programmes); Protecting land and water (including Natura 2000 sites); Dealing with hunting and wildlife issues; Promoting outdoor recreation; Cooperating multilaterally and bilaterally with other countries.

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Staff and budget

The Swedish EPA is an agency where the highest decision-making authority lies solely with the Director General and the Director-General is appointed by the Government. The Agency has offices in Stockholm, Östersund and Kiruna, and among its 550 employees it is possible to find natural scientists, engineers, lawyers, economists and social scientists. Three councils are attached to the agency. These councils fulfil various functions, i.e. advising the Agency regarding decisions on specific matters.

The Agency has a budget for administration (mainly salaries and rent) of approximately SEK 340 million (EUR 37 million). In addition to this, the Agency has a budget of SEK 3.4 billion earmarked for implementation of various aspects of environmental policy (e.g. purchase of land, site remediation, local investment programmes, liming of lakes, monitoring and reporting).

Organisation chart:

Website: www.swedishepa.se and www.miljomalsportalen.se To the content page

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The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) The Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) is responsible for the sustainable use of natural resources, including soil, water, air and forests. The FOEN‟s tasks include minimising natural hazards, protecting the environment and

reducing risks to human health from excessive pollution, maintaining biological diversity

and representing Switzerland in international environmental policy arenas.

Environmental policy is policy on resources

Natural resources are limited. Often already overexploited, their use continues to

intensify. The aim of Swiss environmental policy is to ensure that natural resources are

maintained over the long term and continue to be available to future generations

The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) contributes in four key areas. At national

level, it is responsible for protecting the population against natural hazards. It protects

the environment and human health by reducing the adverse effects of pollutants,

noxious substances and noise. It works to preserve and promote biological and

landscape diversity. Finally, the FOEN is responsible for Switzerland‟s international

environmental policy.

Current priorities

Limiting climate change

Greening the economy

Conserving and using soils

Reducing natural hazards

Maintaining biological diversity

Legislative basis and mandate

The Swiss Constitution, together with 10 federal acts and 52 statutory ordinances,

establishes the basis for Swiss environmental policy. The FOEN is the federal centre of

competence designated to implement this policy. It also has ministerial functions. The

FOEN‟s four prime tasks are:

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Knowing the facts

Environmental monitoring provides facts and figures on the state of the environment and

changes to it. This gives early warning of environmental problems.

Preparing legislation

Working on behalf of the Federal Council and Federal Assembly, the FOEN lays the

groundwork for statutory instruments designed to maintain natural resources and

safeguard their sustainable use.

Assisting implementation

The FOEN helps cantonal authorities and other executive agencies implement laws and

ordinances. This work involves, for instance, providing guidance on enforcement,

designing economic incentive systems and voluntary schemes, providing advice on

protective measures and acting as agent for payments for ecological services.

Representing Switzerland abroad

The FOEN is responsible for Switzerland‟s contributions to international environmental

policy. Switzerland‟s aim is to make such policy integrated, comprehensive and efficient.

Work concentrates on selected themes: climate, biodiversity, chemicals and waste,

forests and water.

Means of implementation

To carry out its work, the FOEN has some 450 staff on its payroll in 2011. It administers

a budget totalling around CHF 1.4 billion. A good 41 per cent of these funds are

disbursed to the cantonal authorities, while 50 per cent go to the Swiss public

(redistribution of incentive tax revenues). The directorate consists of Dr. Bruno Oberle

(Director) and Willy Geiger, Andreas Götz, Christine Hofmann and Gérard Poffet (Vice

Directors).

Organisation:

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Website: www.environment-switzerland.ch

Click here to see the location on map

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The Environment Agency (England and Wales)

About us

The Environment Agency works to create better places for people and wildlife. We do

this by implementing the policies of UK government departments and the Welsh

Assembly Government (WAG).

We were established to bring together responsibilities for protecting and improving the

environment and to contribute to sustainable development. We seek to take an

integrated approach in which we consider all elements of the environment when we plan

and carry out our work. It allows us to identify the best environmental options and

solutions, taking into account the different impacts on water, land, air, resources and

energy.

We help prevent hundreds of millions of pounds worth of damage from flooding. Our

work helps to support a greener economy through protecting and improving the natural

environment for beneficial uses, working with businesses to reduce waste and save

money, and helping to ensure that the UK economy is ready to cope with climate

change. We will facilitate, as appropriate, the development of low carbon sources of

energy ensuring people and the environment are properly protected.

The Environment Agency was established on 1 January 1996. Legally our Board

constitutes the Environment Agency and is directly responsible to Government Ministers

for all aspects of our organization and performance. We have 12,000 employees and an

annual budget around £1.1bn a year.

We are a public body - around 70% of our funding comes from government, and most of

the rest comes from various charging schemes. We are independent, but we work

closely with the government to get the best possible results for the environment.

What we do

We play a central role in protecting and enhancing the environment in England and

Wales. We are responsible for the practical implementation and enforcement of many

aspects of European Union and domestic environmental legislation. We also have

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responsibility for protecting communities from the risk of flooding and managing water

resources.

Although we work across England and Wales, we have local offices working closely with

other local bodies to develop the right solutions for local environments. We also work

with local authorities and others to tackle the immediate environmental issues locally.

Our work includes:

Protecting people from flood

Working with industry to protect the environment and human health

Concentrating our effort on higher risk businesses - those that run potentially

hazardous operations, or whose performance just isn't coming up to scratch

Helping business use resources more efficiently

Taking action against those who don't take their environmental responsibilities

seriously - every year we bring hundreds of offenders to justice, leading to

millions of pounds of fines.

Looking after wildlife - we complete around 400 projects every year to improve

the places where threatened species live.

Helping people get the most out of their environment, including boaters and

anglers. We sell over a million rod licences a year, many to young people coming

into the sport for the first time. All the money we raise goes straight back into

improving the places people fish.

Working with farmers to build their role as guardians of the environment, tackling

pollution we cannot see as well as adding to the beauty of the countryside.

Helping to improve the quality of inner city areas and parks by restoring rivers

and lakes.

Working with government, industry and local authorities to make the environment

a priority.

Our structure

Split between Bristol and London, our head office is where we provide technical advice

and support Government policy making. Our chief executive and directors are based

here, and they are responsible for making sure regulation is implemented consistently

across the country, taking into account the environmental, social and economic

differences in each region.

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We have teams based in six regions in England and Wales. They support the area

offices and help co-ordinate their activities. The people who work in these offices are

responsible for the day-to-day management of the work activities in the area and

working with local communities to meet their needs.

Our priorities

Our focus is to look after the environment and make it a better place. Working with

business, government and society as a whole, we will make the environment in England

and Wales cleaner and healthier.

We will;

Act to reduce climate change and its consequences

We will play a full part in helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, help people and

wildlife adapt to climate change, and put climate change at the heart of everything we

do.

Protect and improve water, land and air

We will maintain and improve water quality, promote more sustainable land

management, protect and enhance wildlife, and improve the way we work as a regulator

to protect people and benefit the environment while minimising costs to businesses.

Work with people and communities to create better places

We will reduce the risks to people, households and businesses from flooding and help

people to improve, protect, value and enjoy their local environment.

Work with businesses and other organisations to use resources wisely

We will further our understanding of the best environmental options for managing waste

and promote more efficient and sustainable use of resources.

Be the best we can

We will improve the way we work with customers and partners and involve

communities. We will use compelling evidence and knowledge to support decision-

making and use the funding available to us to maximise outcomes for people and the

environment, while minimising our own environmental impact.

Website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk

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Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Abstract SEPA‟s main role is to protect the environment and human health. It does this by controlling activities that can cause harmful pollution and by monitoring the quality of Scotland‟s air, land and water. It publishes a wide range of environmental information and advises Scottish Ministers, regulated businesses, industry and the public on best environmental practice. Legal text SEPA was established by the Environment Act 1995 and was initially accountable to the Secretary of State for Scotland. The Scotland Act 1998 created the Scottish Parliament to which environmental matters were devolved. We are now accountable to the Scottish Parliament via Scottish Ministers. We began work in April 1996, providing Scotland for the first time with a national environment protection service. We brought together functions previously carried out by approximately 64 different public bodies. Our operational context and priorities are agreed with Scottish Ministers and are set out in a number of documents published and reviewed regularly by the Scottish Government. Mandate As Scotland‟s environment watchdog, SEPA aims to protect the environment and human health by being an excellent environmental regulator and an effective and influential authority on the environment, limiting climate change and preparing Scotland for a sustainable future. Our outcomes are: Scotland’s environment is protected and improving - SEPA enables Scotland to enjoy the economic and social benefits of good quality air, land and water environments, achieved through the practice of world class environmental regulation. We deliver effective environmental services for Scotland, including flood warning and flood risk management. Scotland’s environment is understood and SEPA is an influential and respected authority - SEPA has a sound scientific understanding of Scotland‟s changing environment which enables us to report objectively on its state. We are recognised as an influential environmental authority through our delivery of excellent environmental information and advice, and through our engagement with our customers, partners and stakeholders. Scotland is preparing for a sustainable future and is taking steps to limit climate change - SEPA delivers effective environmental services for Scotland, including

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regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable waste management and resource use. SEPA is a high performance organisation - SEPA delivers excellent customer services and achieves high standards in the way we manage our people, facilities and financial resources. Based on a sound understanding of environmental trends and priorities along with national and international law and obligations, SEPA‟s work aligns with the Scottish Government‟s National Performance Framework. Budget and number of staff SEPA‟s total expenditure for the financial year 2010–2011 will be £75m (c.€90million) (and £3million (c.€3.6million) capital costs), compared to £83million (c.€100million) in 2009-2010. We receive c.56% directly from the Scottish Government as grant-in-aid. The remaining c.43% of our income comes from charges paid to us by licence holders; we have a statutory duty that requires us to recover our costs in this way, reflecting the government‟s commitment to the „polluter pays‟ principle. SEPA employs around 1265 staff (full time equivalents) in a wide range of occupations and specialisms in 22 offices across Scotland. Areas of responsibility Under various regulations we issue licences and consents to control pollution from, for example, sewage works, waste management facilities, farms, major industrial sites and nuclear facilities. Briefly, SEPA regulates/inspects:

activities that may pollute water

activities that may pollute air

storage, transport and disposal of waste

contaminated land sites

keeping and disposal of radioactive materials. Some of SEPA's other responsibilities include:

sampling and monitoring, and reporting on Scotland‟s air, land and water environments

measuring water quantity and flow

data interpretation and analysis

maintaining a flood warning system and providing flood risk maps

helping Scotland move towards a zero waste society

investigating environmental crimes and preparing cases for prosecution

responding to pollution incidents and major emergencies

controlling, with the Health and Safety Executive, the risk of major accidents at industrial sites

operating the Scottish Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network

administration of the Emissions Trading Scheme in Scotland

„horizon-scanning‟, looking ahead to anticipate impact of new challenges, legislation and issues on the organisation; we have expertise on global issues such as sustainable development and climate change research.

SEPA also works with many other organisations to help protect and improve the

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environment. We enable business and industry to:

understand their environmental responsibilities

benefit from good practice

comply with environmental legislation

realise potential opportunities from the green economy. We work in partnership with:

other public bodies in Scotland to deliver joined-up public services and to contribute to economic success

the public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver environmental improvements

our sister environment agencies in the UK, Ireland and across Europe to share knowledge and expertise

EU institutions to understand and influence EU policies and legislation.

Other functions provide support in communications, education and awareness raising, facilitating public participation, human resources, finance and corporate services. Organisational structure and governance SEPA is governed by the Agency Board. The Board has 10 members, including the Chief Executive, appointed by Scottish Ministers. The Board is responsible for establishing SEPA‟s overall strategic direction within the policy and resources framework agreed with Scottish Ministers. It monitors the organisation‟s performance, and ensures that SEPA has sound environmental policies and observes high standards of corporate governance. The Chief Executive reports to the Board and is the Accountable Officer for SEPA. The Corporate Management Team is collectively responsible for the operation of the organisation. SEPA‟s structure is illustrated in the figure below.

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More information about us can be found on our website: www.sepa.org.uk

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