第一章　總　則

第二章　環(huán)境監(jiān)督管理

第三章　保護(hù)和改善環(huán)境

第四章　防治環(huán)境污染和其他公害

第五章　法律責(zé)任

第六章　附　則

第一章　總　則

第一條　為保護(hù)和改善生活環(huán)境與生態(tài)環(huán)境，防治污染和其他公害，保障人體健康，促進(jìn)社會(huì)主義現(xiàn)代化建設(shè)的發(fā)展，制定本法。

第二條　本法所稱環(huán)境，是指影響人類生存和發(fā)展的各種天然的和經(jīng)過人工改造的自然因素的總體，包括大氣、水、海洋、土地、礦藏、森林、草原、野生生物、自然遺跡、人文遺跡、自然保護(hù)區(qū)、風(fēng)景名勝區(qū)、城市和鄉(xiāng)村等。

第三條　本法適用于中華人民共和國(guó)領(lǐng)域和中華人民共和國(guó)管轄的其他海域。

　第四條　國(guó)家制定的環(huán)境保護(hù)規(guī)劃必須納入國(guó)民經(jīng)濟(jì)和社會(huì)發(fā)展計(jì)劃，國(guó)家采取有利于環(huán)境保護(hù)的經(jīng)濟(jì)、技術(shù)政策和措施，使環(huán)境保護(hù)工作同經(jīng)濟(jì)建設(shè)和社會(huì)發(fā)展相協(xié)調(diào)。

第五條　國(guó)家鼓勵(lì)環(huán)境保護(hù)科學(xué)教育事業(yè)的發(fā)展，加強(qiáng)環(huán)境保護(hù)科學(xué)技術(shù)的研究和開發(fā)，提高環(huán)境保護(hù)科學(xué)技術(shù)水平，普及環(huán)境保護(hù)的科學(xué)知識(shí)。

第六條　一切單位和個(gè)人都有保護(hù)環(huán)境的義務(wù)，并有權(quán)對(duì)污染和破壞環(huán)境的單位和個(gè)人進(jìn)行檢舉和控告。

第七條　國(guó)務(wù)院環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門，對(duì)全國(guó)環(huán)境保護(hù)工作實(shí)施統(tǒng)一監(jiān)督管理。

縣級(jí)以上地方人民政府環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門，對(duì)本轄區(qū)的環(huán)境保護(hù)工作實(shí)施統(tǒng)一監(jiān)督管理。

國(guó)家海洋行政主管部門、港務(wù)監(jiān)督、漁政漁港監(jiān)督、軍隊(duì)環(huán)境保護(hù)部門和各級(jí)公安、交通、鐵道、民航管理部門，依照有關(guān)法律的規(guī)定對(duì)環(huán)境污染防治實(shí)施監(jiān)督管理。

縣級(jí)以上人民政府的土地、礦產(chǎn)、林業(yè)、農(nóng)業(yè)、水利行政主管部門，依照有關(guān)法律的規(guī)定對(duì)資源的保護(hù)實(shí)施監(jiān)督管理。

第八條　對(duì)保護(hù)和改善環(huán)境有顯著成績(jī)的單位和個(gè)人，由人民政府給予獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)。

第二章　環(huán)境監(jiān)督管理

　  第九條　國(guó)務(wù)院環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門制定國(guó)家環(huán)境質(zhì)量標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。

省、自治區(qū)、直轄市人民政府對(duì)國(guó)家環(huán)境質(zhì)量標(biāo)準(zhǔn)中未作規(guī)定的項(xiàng)目，可以制定地方環(huán)境質(zhì)量標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，并報(bào)國(guó)務(wù)院環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門備案。

第十條　國(guó)務(wù)院環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門根據(jù)國(guó)家環(huán)境質(zhì)量標(biāo)準(zhǔn)和國(guó)家經(jīng)濟(jì)、技術(shù)條件，制定國(guó)家污染物排放標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。

省、自治區(qū)、直轄市人民政府對(duì)國(guó)家污染物排放標(biāo)準(zhǔn)中未作規(guī)定的項(xiàng)目，可以制定地方污染物排放標(biāo)準(zhǔn)；對(duì)國(guó)家污染物排放標(biāo)準(zhǔn)中已作規(guī)定的項(xiàng)目，可以制定嚴(yán)于國(guó)家污染物排放標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的地方污染物排放標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。地方污染物排放標(biāo)準(zhǔn)須報(bào)國(guó)務(wù)院環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門備案。

凡是向已有地方污染物排放標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的區(qū)域排放污染物的，應(yīng)當(dāng)執(zhí)行地方污染物排放標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。

第十一條　國(guó)務(wù)院環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門建立監(jiān)測(cè)制度，制定監(jiān)測(cè)規(guī)范，會(huì)同有關(guān)部門組織監(jiān)測(cè)網(wǎng)絡(luò)，加強(qiáng)對(duì)環(huán)境監(jiān)測(cè)的管理。

國(guó)務(wù)院和省、自治區(qū)、直轄市人民政府的環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門，應(yīng)當(dāng)定期發(fā)布環(huán)境狀況公報(bào)。

第十二條　縣級(jí)以上人民政府環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門，應(yīng)當(dāng)會(huì)同有關(guān)部門對(duì)管轄范圍內(nèi)的環(huán)境狀況進(jìn)行調(diào)查和評(píng)價(jià)，擬訂環(huán)境保護(hù)規(guī)劃，經(jīng)計(jì)劃部門綜合平衡后，報(bào)同級(jí)人民政府批準(zhǔn)實(shí)施。

　第十三條　建設(shè)污染環(huán)境的項(xiàng)目，必須遵守國(guó)家有關(guān)建設(shè)項(xiàng)目環(huán)境保護(hù)管理的規(guī)定。

建設(shè)項(xiàng)目的環(huán)境影響報(bào)告書，必須對(duì)建設(shè)項(xiàng)目產(chǎn)生的污染和對(duì)環(huán)境的影響作出評(píng)價(jià)，規(guī)定防治措施，經(jīng)項(xiàng)目主管部門預(yù)審并依照規(guī)定的程序報(bào)環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門批準(zhǔn)。環(huán)境影響報(bào)告書經(jīng)批準(zhǔn)后，計(jì)劃部門方可批準(zhǔn)建設(shè)項(xiàng)目設(shè)計(jì)任務(wù)書。

第十四條　縣級(jí)以上人民政府環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門或者其他依照法律規(guī)定行使環(huán)境監(jiān)督管理權(quán)的部門，有權(quán)對(duì)管轄范圍內(nèi)的排污單位進(jìn)行現(xiàn)場(chǎng)檢查。被檢查的單位應(yīng)當(dāng)如實(shí)反映情況，提供必要的資料。檢查機(jī)關(guān)應(yīng)當(dāng)為被檢查的單位保守技術(shù)秘密和業(yè)務(wù)秘密。

第十五條　跨行政區(qū)的環(huán)境污染和環(huán)境破壞的防治工作，由有關(guān)地方人民政府協(xié)商解決，或者由上級(jí)人民政府協(xié)調(diào)解決，作出決定。

第三章　保護(hù)和改善環(huán)境

　　第十六條　地方各級(jí)人民政府，應(yīng)當(dāng)對(duì)本轄區(qū)的環(huán)境質(zhì)量負(fù)責(zé)，采取措施改善環(huán)境質(zhì)量。

第十七條　各級(jí)人民政府對(duì)具有代表性的各種類型的自然生態(tài)系統(tǒng)區(qū)域，珍稀、瀕危的野生動(dòng)植物自然分布區(qū)域，重要的水源涵養(yǎng)區(qū)域，具有重大科學(xué)文化價(jià)值的地質(zhì)構(gòu)造、著名溶洞和化石分布區(qū)、冰川、火山、溫泉等自然遺跡，以及人文遺跡、古樹名木，應(yīng)當(dāng)采取措施加以保護(hù)，嚴(yán)禁破壞。

第十八條　在國(guó)務(wù)院、國(guó)務(wù)院有關(guān)主管部門和省、自治區(qū)、直轄市人民政府劃定的風(fēng)景名勝區(qū)、自然保護(hù)區(qū)和其他需要特別保護(hù)的區(qū)域內(nèi)，不得建設(shè)污染環(huán)境的工業(yè)生產(chǎn)設(shè)施；建設(shè)其他設(shè)施，其污染物排放不得超過規(guī)定的排放標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。已經(jīng)建成的設(shè)施，其污染物排放超過規(guī)定的排放標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的，限期治理。

第十九條　開發(fā)利用自然資源，必須采取措施保護(hù)生態(tài)環(huán)境。

　　第二十條　各級(jí)人民政府應(yīng)當(dāng)加強(qiáng)對(duì)農(nóng)業(yè)環(huán)境的保護(hù)，防治土壤污染、土地沙化、鹽漬化、貧瘠化、沼澤化、地面沉降和防治植被破壞、水土流失、水源枯竭、種源滅絕以及其他生態(tài)失調(diào)現(xiàn)象的發(fā)生和發(fā)展，推廣植物病蟲害的綜合防治，合理使用化肥、農(nóng)藥及植物生長(zhǎng)激素。

　第二十一條　國(guó)務(wù)院和沿海地方各級(jí)人民政府應(yīng)當(dāng)加強(qiáng)對(duì)海洋環(huán)境的保護(hù)。向海洋排放污染物、傾到廢棄物，進(jìn)行海岸工程建設(shè)和海洋石油勘探開發(fā)，必須依照法律的規(guī)定，防止對(duì)海洋環(huán)境的污染損害。

第二十二條　制定城市規(guī)劃，應(yīng)當(dāng)確定保護(hù)和改善環(huán)境的目標(biāo)和任務(wù)。

第二十三條　城鄉(xiāng)建設(shè)應(yīng)當(dāng)結(jié)合當(dāng)?shù)刈匀画h(huán)境的特點(diǎn)，保護(hù)植被、水域和自然景觀，加強(qiáng)城市園林、綠地和風(fēng)景名勝區(qū)的建設(shè)。

第四章　防治環(huán)境污染和其他公害

　　第二十四條　產(chǎn)生環(huán)境污染和其他公害的單位，必須把環(huán)境保護(hù)工作納入計(jì)劃，建立環(huán)境保護(hù)責(zé)任制度；采取有效措施，防治在生產(chǎn)建設(shè)或者其他活動(dòng)中產(chǎn)生的廢氣、廢水、廢渣、粉塵、惡臭氣體、放射性物質(zhì)以及噪聲、振動(dòng)、電磁波輻射等對(duì)環(huán)境的污染和危害。

第二十五條　新建工業(yè)企業(yè)和現(xiàn)有工業(yè)企業(yè)的技術(shù)改造，應(yīng)當(dāng)采用資源利用率高、污染物排放量少的設(shè)備和工藝，采用經(jīng)濟(jì)合理的廢棄物綜合利用技術(shù)和污染物處理技術(shù)。

　　第二十六條　建設(shè)項(xiàng)目中防治污染的設(shè)施，必須與主體工程同時(shí)設(shè)計(jì)、同時(shí)施工、同時(shí)投產(chǎn)使用。防治污染的設(shè)施必須經(jīng)原審批環(huán)境影響報(bào)告書的環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門驗(yàn)收合格后，該建設(shè)項(xiàng)目方可投入生產(chǎn)或者使用。

防治污染的設(shè)施不得擅自拆除或者閑置，確有必要拆除或者閑置的，必須征得所在地的環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門同意。

第二十七條　排放污染物的企業(yè)事業(yè)單位，必須依照國(guó)務(wù)院環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門的規(guī)定申報(bào)登記。

第二十八條　排放污染物超過國(guó)家或者地方規(guī)定的污染物排放標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的企業(yè)事業(yè)單位，依照國(guó)家規(guī)定繳納超標(biāo)準(zhǔn)排污費(fèi)，并負(fù)責(zé)治理。水污染防治法另有規(guī)定的，依照水污染防治法的規(guī)定執(zhí)行。

征收的超標(biāo)準(zhǔn)排污費(fèi)必須用于污染的防治，不得挪作他用，具體使用辦法由國(guó)務(wù)院規(guī)定。

第二十九條　對(duì)造成環(huán)境嚴(yán)重污染的企業(yè)事業(yè)單位，限期治理。

中央或者省、自治區(qū)、直轄市人民政府直接管轄的企業(yè)事業(yè)單位的限期治理，由省、自治區(qū)、直轄市人民政府決定。市、縣或者市、縣以下人民政府管轄的企業(yè)事業(yè)單位的限期治理，由市、縣人民政府決定。被限期治理的企業(yè)事業(yè)單位必須如期完成治理任務(wù)。

第三十條　禁止引進(jìn)不符合我國(guó)環(huán)境保護(hù)規(guī)定要求的技術(shù)和設(shè)備。

第三十一條　因發(fā)生事故或者其他突然性事件，造成或者可能造成污染事故的單位，必須立即采取措施處理，及時(shí)通報(bào)可能受到污染危害的單位和居民，并向當(dāng)?shù)丨h(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門和有關(guān)部門報(bào)告，接受調(diào)查處理。

可能發(fā)生重大污染事故的企業(yè)事業(yè)單位，應(yīng)當(dāng)采取措施，加強(qiáng)防范。

第三十二條　縣級(jí)以上地方人民政府環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門，在環(huán)境受到嚴(yán)重污染威脅居民生命財(cái)產(chǎn)安全時(shí)，必須立即向當(dāng)?shù)厝嗣裾畧?bào)告，由人民政府采取有效措施，解除或者減輕危害。

　第三十三條　生產(chǎn)、儲(chǔ)存、運(yùn)輸、銷售、使用有毒化學(xué)物品和含有放射性物質(zhì)的物品，必須遵守國(guó)家有關(guān)規(guī)定，防止污染環(huán)境。

第三十四條　任何單位不得將產(chǎn)生嚴(yán)重污染的生產(chǎn)設(shè)備轉(zhuǎn)移給沒有污染防治能力的單位使用。

第五章　法律責(zé)任

第三十五條　違反本法規(guī)定，有下列行為之一的，環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門或者其他依照法律規(guī)定行使環(huán)境監(jiān)督管理權(quán)的部門可以根據(jù)不同情節(jié)，給予警告或者處以罰款：

（一）拒絕環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門或者其他依照法律規(guī)定行使環(huán)境監(jiān)督管理權(quán)的部門現(xiàn)場(chǎng)檢查或者在被檢查時(shí)弄虛作假的。

（二）拒報(bào)或者謊報(bào)國(guó)務(wù)院環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門規(guī)定的有關(guān)污染物排放申報(bào)事項(xiàng)的。

（三）不按國(guó)家規(guī)定繳納超標(biāo)準(zhǔn)排污費(fèi)的。

（四）引進(jìn)不符合我國(guó)環(huán)境保護(hù)規(guī)定要求的技術(shù)和設(shè)備的。

（五）將產(chǎn)生嚴(yán)重污染的生產(chǎn)設(shè)備轉(zhuǎn)移給沒有污染防治能力的單位使用的。

第三十六條　建設(shè)項(xiàng)目的防治污染設(shè)施沒有建成或者沒有達(dá)到國(guó)家規(guī)定的要求，投入生產(chǎn)或者使用的，由批準(zhǔn)該建設(shè)項(xiàng)目的環(huán)境影響報(bào)告書的環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門責(zé)令停止生產(chǎn)或者使用，可以并處罰款。

第三十七條　未經(jīng)環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門同意，擅自拆除或者閑置防治污染的設(shè)施，污染物排放超過規(guī)定的排放標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的，由環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門責(zé)令重新安裝使用，并處罰款。

　　第三十八條　對(duì)違反本法規(guī)定，造成環(huán)境污染事故的企業(yè)事業(yè)單位，由環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門或者其他依照法律規(guī)定行使環(huán)境監(jiān)督管理權(quán)的部門根據(jù)所造成的危害后果處以罰款；情節(jié)較重的，對(duì)有關(guān)責(zé)任人員由其所在單位或者政府主管機(jī)關(guān)給予行政處分。

　　第三十九條　對(duì)經(jīng)限期治理逾期未完成治理任務(wù)的企業(yè)事業(yè)單位，除依照國(guó)家規(guī)定加收超標(biāo)準(zhǔn)排污費(fèi)外，可以根據(jù)所造成的危害后果處以罰款，或者責(zé)令停業(yè)、關(guān)閉。

前款規(guī)定的罰款由環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門決定。責(zé)令停業(yè)、關(guān)閉，由作出限期治理決定的人民政府決定；責(zé)令中央直接管轄的企業(yè)事業(yè)單位停業(yè)、關(guān)閉，須報(bào)國(guó)務(wù)院批準(zhǔn)。

第四十條　當(dāng)事人對(duì)行政處罰決定不服的，可以在接到處罰通知之日起十五日內(nèi)，向作出處罰決定的機(jī)關(guān)的上一級(jí)機(jī)關(guān)申請(qǐng)復(fù)議；對(duì)復(fù)議決定不服的，可以在接到復(fù)議決定之日起十五日內(nèi)，向人民法院起訴。當(dāng)事人也可以在接到處罰通知之日起十五日內(nèi)，直接向人民法院起訴。當(dāng)事人逾期不申請(qǐng)復(fù)議、也不向人民法院起訴、又不履行處罰決定的，由作出處罰決定的機(jī)關(guān)申請(qǐng)人民法院強(qiáng)制執(zhí)行。

　第四十一條　造成環(huán)境污染危害的，有責(zé)任排除危害，并對(duì)直接受到損害的單位或者個(gè)人賠償損失。

賠償責(zé)任和賠償金額的糾紛，可以根據(jù)當(dāng)事人的請(qǐng)求，由環(huán)境保護(hù)行政主管部門或者其他依照法律規(guī)定行使環(huán)境監(jiān)督管理權(quán)的部門處理；當(dāng)事人對(duì)處理決定不服的，可以向人民法院起訴。當(dāng)事人也可以直接向人民法院起訴。

完全由于不可抗拒的自然災(zāi)害，并經(jīng)及時(shí)采取合理措施，仍然不能避免造成環(huán)境污染損害的，免予承擔(dān)責(zé)任。

　第四十二條　因環(huán)境污染損害賠償提起訴訟的時(shí)效期間為三年，從當(dāng)事人知道或者應(yīng)當(dāng)知道受到污染損害時(shí)起計(jì)算。

　　第四十三條　違反本法規(guī)定，造成重大環(huán)境污染事故，導(dǎo)致公私財(cái)產(chǎn)重大損失或者人身傷亡的嚴(yán)重后果的，對(duì)直接責(zé)任人員依法追究刑事責(zé)任。

第四十四條　違反本法規(guī)定，造成土地、森林、草原、水、礦產(chǎn)、漁業(yè)、野生動(dòng)植物等資源的破壞的，依照有關(guān)法律的規(guī)定承擔(dān)法律責(zé)任。
　　
第四十五條　環(huán)境保護(hù)監(jiān)督管理人員濫用職權(quán)、玩忽職守、徇私舞弊的，由其所在單位或者上級(jí)主管機(jī)關(guān)給予行政處分；構(gòu)成犯罪的，依法追究刑事責(zé)任。

第六章　附　則

第四十六條　中華人民共和國(guó)締結(jié)或者參加的與環(huán)境保護(hù)有關(guān)的國(guó)際條約，同中華人民共和國(guó)法律有不同規(guī)定的，適用國(guó)際條約的規(guī)定，但中華人民共和國(guó)聲明保留的條款除外。

第四十七條　本法自公布之日起施行?！吨腥A人民共和國(guó)環(huán)境保護(hù)法（試行）》同時(shí)廢止。 

Article 1. This Law is formulated for the purpose of protecting and improving people's environment and the ecological environment, preventing and controlling pollution and other public hazards, safeguarding human health and facilitating the development of socialist modernization.

Article 2. " Environment " as used in this Law refers to the total body of all natural elements and artificially transformed natural elements affecting human existence and development, which includes the atmosphere, water, seas, land, minerals, forests, grasslands, wildlife, natural and human remains, nature reserves, historic sites and scenic spots, and urban and rural areas.

Article 3. This Law shall apply to the territory of the People's Republic of China and other sea areas under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China.

Article 4. The plans for environmental protection formulated by the state must be incorporated into the national economic and social development plans; the state shall adopt economic and technological policies and measures favourable for environmental protection so as to coordinate the work of environmental protection with economic construction and social development.

Article 5. The state shall encourage the development of education in the science of environmental protection, strengthen the study and development of the science and technology of environmental protection, raise the scientific and technological level of environmental protection and popularize scientific knowledge of environmental protection.

Article 6. All units and individuals shall have the obligation to protect the environment and shall have the right to report on or file charges against units or individuals that cause pollution or damage to the environment.

Article 7. The competent department of environmental protection administration under the State Council shall conduct unified supervision and management of the environmental protection work throughout the country. The competent departments of environmental protection administration of the local people's governments at or above the county level shall conduct unified supervision and management of the environmental protection work within areas under their jurisdiction. The state administrative department of marine affairs, the harbour superintendency administration, the fisheries administration and fishing harbour superintendency agencies, the environmental protection department of the armed forces and the administrative departments of public security, transportation, railways and civil aviation at various levels shall, in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws, conduct supervision and management of the prevention and control of environmental pollution. The competent administrative departments of land, minerals, forestry, agriculture and water conservancy of the people's governments at or above the county level shall, in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws, conduct supervision and management of the protection of natural resources.

Article 8. The people's government shall give awards to units and individuals that have made outstanding achievements in protecting and improving the environment.

Article 9. The competent department of environmental protection administration under the State Council shall establish the national standards for environment quality. The people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government may establish their local standards for environment quality for items not specified in the national standards for environment quality and shall report them to the competent department of environmental protection administration under the State Council for the record.

Article 10. The competent department of environmental protection administration under the State Council shall, in accordance with the national standards for environment quality and the country's economic and technological conditions, establish the national standards for the discharge of pollutants. The people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government may establish their local standards for the discharge of pollutants for items not specified in the national standards; with regard to items already specified in the national standards, they may set local standards which are more stringent than the national standards and report the same to the competent department of environmental protection administration under the State Council for the record. Units that discharge pollutants in areas where the local standards for the discharge of pollutants have been established shall observe such local standards.

Article 11. The competent department of environmental protection administration under the State Council shall establish a monitoring system, formulate the monitoring norm and, in conjunction with relevant departments, organize a monitoring network and strengthen the management of environmental monitoring. The competent departments of environmental protection administration under the State Council and governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall regularly issue bulletins on environmental situations.

Article 12. The competent departments of environmental protection administration of the people's governments at or above the county level shall, in conjunction with relevant departments, make an investigation and an assessment of the environmental situation within areas under their jurisdiction, draw up plans for environmental protection which shall, subject to overall balancing by the department of planning, be submitted to the people' s government at the same level for approval before implementation.

Article 13. Units constructing projects that cause pollution to the environment must observe the state provisions concerning environmental protection for such construction projects. The environmental impact statement on a construction project must assess the pollution the project is likely to produce and its impact on the environment and stipulate the preventive and curative measures; the statement shall, after initial examination by the authorities in charge of the construction project, be submitted by specified procedure to the competent department of environmental protection administration for approval. The department of planning shall not ratify the design plan descriptions of the construction project until after the environmental impact statement on the construction project is approved.

Article 14. The competent departments of environmental protection administration of the people's governments at or above the county level or other departments invested by law with power to conduct environmental supervision and management shall be empowered to make on-site inspections of units under their jurisdiction that discharge pollutants. The units being inspected shall truthfully report the situation to them and provide them with the necessary information. The inspecting authorities shall keep confidential the technological know-how and business secrets of the units inspected.

Article 15. Work for the prevention and control of the environmental pollution and damage that involve various administrative areas shall be conducted by the relevant local people's governments through negotiation, or by decision of the people's government at a higher level through mediation.

Article 16. The local people's governments at various levels shall be responsible for the environment quality of areas under their jurisdiction and take measures to improve the environment quality.

Article 17. The people's governments at various levels shall take measures to protect regions representing various types of natural ecological systems, regions with a natural distribution of rare and endangered wild animals and plants, regions where major sources of water are conserved, geological structures of major scientific and cultural value, famous regions where karst caves and fossil deposits are distributed, traces of glaciers, volcanoes and hot springs, traces of human history, and ancient and precious trees. Damage to the above shall be strictly forbidden.

Article 18. Within the scenic spots or historic sites, nature reserves and other zones that need special protection, as designated by the State Council, the relevant competent department under the State Council, and the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, no industrial production installations that cause environmental pollution shall be built; other installations to be built in these areas must not exceed the prescribed standards for the discharge of pollutants. If the installations that have been built discharge more pollutants than are specified by the prescribed discharge standards, such pollution shall be eliminated or controlled within a prescribed period of time.

Article 19. Measures must be taken to protect the ecological environment while natural resources are being developed or utilized. Article 20. The people's governments at various levels shall provide better protection for the agricultural environment by preventing and controlling soil pollution, the desertification and alkalization of land, the impoverishment of soil, the deterioration of land into marshes, earth subsidence, the damage of vegetation, soil erosion, the drying up of sources of water , the extinction of species and the occurence and development of other ecological imbalances, by extending the scale of a comprehensive prevention and control of plant diseases and insect pests, and by promoting a rational application of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and plant growth hormone.

Article 21. The State Council and the people's governments at various levels in coastal areas shall provide better protection for the marine environment. The discharge of pollutants and the dumping of wastes into the seas, the construction of coastal projects, and the exploration and exploitation of offshore oil must be conducted in compliance with legal provisions so as to guard against the pollution and damage of the marine environment.

Article 22. The targets and tasks for protecting and improving the environment shall be defined in urban planning.

Article 23. In urban and rural construction, vegetation, waters and the natural landscape shall be protected and attention paid to the construction of gardens, green land and historic sites and scenic spots in the cities in the light of the special features of the local natural environment.

Article 24. Units that cause environmental pollution and other public hazards shall incorporate the work of environmental protection into their plans and establish a responsibility system for environmental protection, and must adopt effective measures to prevent and control the pollution and harms caused to the environment by waste gas, waste water, waste residues, dust, malodorous gases, radioactive substances, noise, vibration and electromagnetic radiation generated in the course of production, construction or other activities.

Article 25. For the technological transformation of newly-built industrial enterprises and existing industrial enterprises, facilities and processes that effect a high rate of the utilization of resources and a low rate of the discharge of pollutants shall be used, along with economical and rational technology for the comprehensive utilization of waste materials and the treatment of pollutants.

Article 26. Installations for the prevention and control of pollution at a construction project must be designed, built and commissioned together with the principal part of the project. No permission shall be given for a construction project to be commissioned or used, until its installations for the prevention and control of pollution are examined and considered up to the standard by the competent department of environmental protection administration that examined and approved the environmental impact statement. Installations for the prevention and control of pollution shall not be dismantled or left idle without authorization. If it is really necessary to dismantle such installations or leave them idle, prior approval shall be obtained from the competent department of environmental protection administration in the locality.

Article 27. Enterprises and institutions discharging pollutants must report to and register with the relevant authorities in accordance with the provisions of the competent department of environmental protection administration under the State Council.

Article 28. Enterprises and institutions discharging pollutants in excess of the prescribed national or local discharge standards shall pay a fee for excessive discharge according to state provisions and shall assume responsibility for eliminating and controlling the pollution. The provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution shall be complied with where they are applicable. The income derived from the fee levied for the excessive discharge of pollutants must be used for the prevention and control of pollution and shall not be appropriated for other purposes. The specific measures thereof shall be prescribed by the State Council.

Article 29. If an enterprise or institution has caused severe environmental pollution, it shall be required to eliminate and control the pollution within a certain period of time. For enterprises and institutions directly under the jurisdiction of the Central Government or the people's government of a province, an autonomous region, or a municipality directly under the Central Government, the decision on a deadline for the elimination or control of pollution shall be made by the people's government of the province, autonomous region and the municipality directly under the Central Government. For enterprises and institutions under the jurisdiction of a people's government at or below the city or county level, such decision shall be made by the people's government of the city or county. Such enterprises and institutions shall accomplish the elimination or control of pollution within the specified period of time.

Article 30. A ban shall be imposed on the importation of any technology or facility that fails to meet the requirements specified in the regulations of our country concerning environmental protection.

Article 31. Any unit that, as a result of an accident or any other exigency, has caused or threatens to cause an accident of pollution, must promptly take measures to prevent and control the pollution hazards, make the situation known to such units and inhabitants as are likely to be endangered by such hazards, report the case to the competent department of environmental protection administration of the locality and the departments concerned and accept their investigation and decision. Enterprises and institutions that are likely to cause severe pollution accidents shall adopt measures for effective prevention.

Article 32. If the safety of the lives and property of inhabitants is endangered by severe environmental pollution, the competent department of environmental protection administration of the local people's government at or above the county level must promptly report to the local people's government. The people's government concerned shall take effective measures to remove or alleviate the hazard.

Article 33. The production, storage, transportation, sale and use of toxic chemicals and materials containing radioactive substances must comply with the relevant state provisions so as to prevent environmental pollution.

Article 34. No unit shall be permitted to transfer a production facility that causes severe pollution for use by a unit that is unable to prevent and control pollution.

Article 35. Any violator of this Law shall, according to the circumstances of the case, be warned or fined by the competent department of environmental protection administration or another department invested by law with power to conduct environmental supervision and management for any of the following acts: (1) refusing an on-site inspection by the competent department of environmental protection administration or another department invested by law with power to conduct environmental supervision and management, or resorting to trickery and fraud while undergoing inspection; (2) refusing to report or submitting a false report on items for which declaration is required by the competent department of environmental protection administration under the State Council; (3) failing to pay, as provided for by the state, the fee for the excessive discharge of pollutants; (4) importing technology or a facility that fails to meet the requirements specified in the state provisions concerning environmental protection; or (5) transferring a production facility that causes severe pollution for use by a unit that is unable to prevent and control pollution.

Article 36. When a construction project is commissioned or put to use in circumstances where facilities for the prevention and control of pollution either have not been completed or fail to meet the requirements specified in state provisions, the competent department of environmental protection administration responsible for the approval of the environmental impact statement on the construction project shall order the suspension of its operations or use and may concurrently impose a fine.

Article 37. A unit which dismantles or leaves idle the installations for the prevention and control of pollution without prior approval by the competent department of environmental protection administration, thereby discharging pollutants in excess of the prescribed discharge standards, shall be ordered by the competent department of environmental protection administration to set up the installations or put them to use again, and shall concurrently be fined.

Article 38. An enterprise or institution which violates this Law, thereby causing an environmental pollution accident, shall be fined by the competent department of environmental protection administration or another department invested by law with power to conduct environmental supervision and management in accordance with the consequent damage; in a serious case, the persons responsible shall be subject to administrative sanction by the unit to which they belong or by the competent department of the government.

Article 39. An enterprise or institution that has failed to eliminate or control pollution by the deadline as required shall, as provided for by the state, pay a fee for excessive discharge; in addition, a fine may be imposed on it on the basis of the damage incurred, or the enterprise or institution may be ordered to suspend its operations or close down. The fine as specified in the preceding paragraph shall be decided by the competent department of environmental protection administration. An order for the suspension of operations or shut-down of an enterprise or institution shall be issued by the people's government that set the deadline for the elimination or control of pollution. An order for the suspension of operations or shut-down of an enterprise or institution directly under the jurisdiction of the Central Government shall be submitted to and approved by the State Council.

Article 40. A party refusing to accept the decision on administrative sanction may, within 15 days of receiving the notification on such a decision, apply for reconsideration to the department next higher to the authorities that imposed the sanction; if the party refuses to accept the decision of reconsideration, it may, within 15 days of receiving the reconsideration decision, bring a suit before a people's court. A party may also bring a suit directly before a people's court within 15 days of receiving the notification on the sanction. If, upon the expiration of this period, the party has not applied for reconsideration or has neither brought a suit before a people's court nor complied with the sanction, the authorities that imposed the sanction may apply to the people's court for compulsory enforcement.

Article 41. A unit that has caused an environmental pollution hazard shall have the obligation to eliminate it and make compensation to the unit or individual that suffered direct losses. A dispute over the liability to make compensation or the amount of compensation may, at the request of the parties, be settled by the competent department of environmental protection administration or another department invested by law with power to conduct environmental supervision and management. If a party refuses to accept the decision on the settlement, it may bring a suit before a people's court. The party may also directly bring a suit before the people's court. If environmental pollution losses result solely from irresistable natural disasters which cannot be averted even after the prompt adoption of reasonable measures, the party concerned shall be exempted from liability.

Article 42. The limitation period for prosecution with respect to compensation for environmental pollution losses shall be three years, counted from the time when the party becomes aware of or should become aware of the pollution losses.

Article 43. If a violation of this Law causes a serious environmental pollution accident, leading to the grave consequences of heavy losses of public or private property or human injuries or deaths of persons, the persons directly responsible for such an accident shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to law.

Article 44. Whoever, in violation of this Law, causes damage to natural resources like land, forests, grasslands, water, minerals, fish, wild animals and wild plants shall bear legal liability in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws.

Article 45. Any person conducting supervision and management of environmental protection who abuses his power, neglects his duty or engages in malpractices for personal gains shall be given administrative sanction by the unit to which he belongs or the competent higher authorities; if his act constitutes a crime, he shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to law.

Article 46. If an international treaty regarding environmental protection concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China contains provisions differing from those contained in the laws of the People's Republic of China, the provisions of the international treaty shall apply, unless the provisions are ones on which the People's Republic of China has announced reservations.

Article 47. This Law shall enter into force on the date of promulgation. The Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China (for Trial Implementation) shall be abrogated therefrom.