The RSFSR law
was product of Russian Fed Supreme Soviet's Committee on Ecological Issues and Rational Use of Natural Resource & MGU's
(Moscow State UniversityÕs) faculty of Environmental Law
Vladimir Vorfolomeyev (Chair of Committee) and Vladislav Petrov (MGU
faculty) say law is "Russia's ecological code,"
i.e., guide to subsequent laws, a response to Soviet environmental damage, framework for working within market economy
market conditions and plurality of interests
1) focus on delineating jurisdictions of
governments at all levels Federal to local Soviets
2) recognition of and targeting of measures to different stages of econ
development (e.g., siting, design, construction, start-up,
operation of specific plants)
3) tailoring of environmental protection strategies to specific economic
sectors (agric., chemistry industry, power generation,
urban construction)
4) strengthen legal guarantees of environmental activities of citizens
and public groups (i.e., citizens and groups rights
to:
a) distribution of of environmental information,
b) participate in environmental inspection process,
c) hold meetings and demonstrations
d) initiate
proceedings for termination or suspension of plant operations & sites deemed environmentally hazardous
e) file suits for
compensation for damages, injury, and death, legislative intent versus implementation/enforcement pressure to scale back regulation as economy
falters