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