Capacity Building of Kazakhstan Aarhus Centres in Providing Access to and Exchange of Environmental Information Olga Melnik, Information and Analysis Center of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan

13 Aarhus Centres were created in 16 administrative units Aarhus Centres in Kazakhstan are non-profit organizations Partial funding from the state budget through the National Aarhus Centre

National Aarhus Centre operates under the order of the Minister of Environment and Water Resources at the premises of subordinate organization - Information and Analysis Center for Environment Protection Information and Analysis Center is a working body for the implementation of Kazakhstan's commitments under the Aarhus Convention Information and Analysis Center supports State Fund for Environmental Information and state cadasters of natural resources

The Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has taken the initiative of drafting on amendments and additions to the legislation on the Aarhus Convention September 6 this year the Concept bill was approved by Multiagency Commission on legislative activities

The Concept provides for amendments and additions to: Environmental Code Tax Code Code of Civil Procedure Laws on public associations and non-profit organizations. A working group was created composing of 44 representatives: 12 – state authorities 22 – non-governmental organizations 10 – Aarhus Centres 10 – independent experts

Major amendments and additions occur in the Environmental Code Standards are introduced for ensuring the collection of information, its permanent storage and replenishment of databases …on mandatory posting of environmental information on the Internet and other media Standard of state service “Providing environmental information” is included in legislation Publication of information will become mandatory about payments for emission, collected fines, damages and investing under Green Economy

National Aarhus Centre is responsible for: - holding open tenders for projects in the field of environmental protection; - conducting public monitoring of judicial practice on environmental issues and public access to justice; - seminars, trainings on environmental issues for NGOs’ leaders, the media, individuals and legal entities; - discussion on national reports, messages, reviews on the Aarhus Convention; - monitoring of citizens' participation in public hearings; - issuing a newspaper and support of an Internet resource; - advising individuals, non-profit organizations on issues of access to justice in environmental protection area.

Aarhus Centres of administrative territorial units advise the interested parties: - on procedures to receive public environmental information; - on procedure to participate in decision-making; - on procedure to file claims and participate in the proceedings and in the collection of evidence; together with the initiators of economic activity Aarhus Centres organize information campaigns to raise public concerned to participate in public hearings Aarhus Centres monitor acceptation of comments and suggestions of the public, collect case materials and submit for the analysis to the national Aarhus Centre and the Ministry

The article in the Environmental Code regarding the Strategic Environmental Assessment was greatly expanded and specified for full compliance of Kazakhstan legislation with the Protocol to the Convention on EIA in transboundary context.

The provisions of the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers or PRTR were almost entirely implemented in the Environmental Code. Kazakhstan PRTR will consist of annual reports from natural resources users on emissions of each industrial site into the atmosphere, water, soil, as well as data on the accumulation, removal and recovery of waste.

The bill fully completes the implementation of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention into Kazakhstan legislation First draft law was discussed with NGOs and experts in online and at a meeting of the Working Group Several dozens of comments and suggestions were received, all of which were taken into account. Currently, the bill is being agreed with state authorities.

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