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Environmental Law

Course developer

Course abstract

The course provides knowledge of environmental protection principles in the European Union and Latvia, legal instruments for the protection of environmental resources and liability for any damage done to the environment. The course analyses the kinds of environmental impacts and the relevant legal framework as well as the role of environmental assessments in the environmental protection mechanism. The course gives insight into administrative and economic instruments to reduce and prevent pollution, integrated pollution permits and the legal framework for waste management and water and atmospheric air protection.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students will be able to demonstrate:
KNOWLEDGE of
1. A person’s constitutional rights to a favourable environment. Practicals. Independent work.
2. The role of environmental assessments in the environmental protection mechanism, the kinds of environmental impacts and the procedural arrangements. Test.
3. Integrated pollution permits, the procedure of granting them and eligibility criteria as well as the specifics of appealing against and amending the criteria. Test.
4. The legal framework for waste management. Test.
SKILLS to
1. Independently determine the proper pollution permits needed to perform intended economic activities. Practicals. Independent work.
2. Reasonably discuss a topic prepared in advance. Discussion.
COMPETENCES to
1. Independently, critically analyse the legal framework for environmental protection. Tests, practical assignments.

2. Independently analyse environmental legal matters and identify the legal provisions applicable in any particular case. Practical assignments.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Concept and sources of environmental law. (1 h – lecture)
2. Constitutional rights to a favourable environment. (1 h – lecture, 1 h – practical)
3. Territorial planning as an instrument of environmental protection. (1 h – lecture)
4. Control of the rule of law concerning territorial planning. Arbitrary construction and the legal consequences. (1 h – lecture)
5. Assessment of environmental impacts. (1 h – lecture, 2 h – practicals)
6. Assessment of environmental impacts as an administrative procedure. (1 h – lecture, 2 h – practicals)
Test 1: Assessment of environmental impacts. (1 h)
7. Liability for environmental damage. Criminal liability for illegal activities against the environment. (1 h – lecture, 2 h – practicals)
8. Instruments for reducing and preventing pollution. (1 h – lecture, 2 h – practicals)
9. Integrated pollution permits. (1 h – lecture, 1 h – practical)
Test 2: Integrated pollution permits. (1 h)
10. Legal protection of atmospheric air. (1 h – lecture)
11. Greenhouse gas emission permits. (1 h – lecture, 1 h – practical)
12. Legal protection against noise and odour. (1 h – lecture, 1 h – practical)
13. Legal protection of waters. (1 h – lecture)
14. Waste management. Procedure of choosing and determining a site for waste management. Waste management plans and permits. (1 h – lecture, 1 h – practical)
Test 3: Waste management. (1 h)

15. Presentation of biodiversity and environmental protection. (1 h – lecture)

Requirements for awarding credit points

All the independent assignments have to be submitted and all the tests have to be taken; at least 80% of the classes have to be attended. All the tests and assignments have to have a pass mark.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Homework 1. Constitutional rights to a favourable environment. Solution of a case. To be submitted electronically.
Homework 2. Assessment of environmental impacts. Solution of a case. To be submitted electronically.
Homework 3. Liability for environmental damage. Solution of a case. To be submitted electronically.

Homework 4. Integrated pollution permits. Solution of a case. To be submitted electronically.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final mark consists of the following pieces of assessment: three tests (30% each) and independent work (10%). 10% are equal to one point on a 10-point marking scale.

Compulsory reading

1.Messeršmits K., Meiere S., Ūsiņa E. Eiropas vides tiesības. Rīga: EuroFaculty, Rīga : Latvijas Universitāte, 2003. 459 lpp.
2.Eiropas Savienības tiesību īstenošana Latvijā. Autoru kolektīvs Ivo Alehno zinātniskajā redakcijā. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2003. 392 lpp.
3.Strautmanis J. Vides ētika un vides tiesības. Rīga, Zvaigzne ABC , 2003., 183 lpp.
4.Zaļoksnis J., Kļaviņš M., Brikše I., Meiere S. Vides vadība. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2011., 205 lpp.
5.Ietekmes uz vidi novērtējums. / Autoru kolekt. - Rīga: Ietekmes uz vidi novērtējuma Valsts birojs, 2002., 208 lpp.

6.Švarcbahs J., Sudārs R., Jansons V., Zīverts A., Kļaviņš U., Dreimanis Ē, Bušmanis P. Ekoloģija un vides aizsardzība. Mācību līdzeklis.- Jelgava. LLU, 2006., 225 lpp.

Further reading

1.Sabiedrības līdzdalība teritorijas plānošanas un būvniecības jautājumos. Rīga: Sabiedriskās politikas centrs PROVIDUS, 2008., 128 lpp.
2.Meiere S. Personas tiesības vērsties tiesā kā būtisks detālplānojumu tiesiskuma kontroles elements. LU 70.konferences rakstu krājums: Inovāciju juridiskais nodrošinājums. LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2012, 103.-116.lpp..

3.Meiere S. Ilgtspējīgas attīstības princips Satversmes tiesas praksē. Politika un tiesības. Tiesību un juridiskās prakses ilgtspējīga attīstība. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2012, 30.-45.lpp..

Periodicals and other sources

1.Žurnāls tiesiskai domai un praksei “Jurista Vārds”. Pieejams: http://www.juristavards.lv
2.Latvijas Republikas tiesību akti. Pieejams:http://www.likumi.lv
3.Valsts vides dienests. Pieejams:http://www.vvd.gov.lv
4.Vides pārraudzības valsts birojs. Pieejams:http://www.vpvb.gov.lv

5.Vides aizsardzības un reģionālas attīstības ministrija. Pieejams:http://www.varam.gov.lv

Notes

Course for the ESAF academic bachelor programme Economics, specialisation Agricultural and Environmental Economics.