“The plan approved today creates a reliable framework in the event of an incident in which extensive pollution of the ground, lake or ground water occurs in Estonia. The manner in which cooperation will take place between various agencies, the informing of the public and later restoration of the environment – this has all been clearly set forth in the plan confirmed by the Government,” explained Minister of the Environment Keit Pentus. The emergency plan includes a description of how the organisation and management of the emergency will take place, the tasks assigned to participants in the situation, how the exchange of information will be organised, the notification of the public and international cooperation – thus the draft legislation creates prerequisites that the situations having occurred will be resolved hereinafter more effectively, since the tasks and responsibilities of responding agencies have been expressly provided. Multiple agencies, such as the Rescue Board, Environmental Board, Environmental Inspectorate, and others, are included in the resolution of an emergency involving environmental pollution. The resolution of an emergency caused by the extensive inland pollution of land, surface water or ground water shall be headed by the Rescue Board until the conclusion of rescue operations, at which time the scene of the accident shall be handed over, if necessary, for restoration of the environment to the condition prior to the accident. The restoration of the environment to its previous state shall be organised by the Environmental Board, which shall also organise the rescuing of wildlife. The Environmental Inspectorate’s main duties are identification of the polluter and bringing them to justice and providing an assessment of the damage inflicted upon the natural environment. Notification of the public shall be resolved in a manner similar to the system for responding to emergencies, where the public will first be notified by the lead agency, i.e. the Rescue Board, and later, if necessary, by the agency having taken over the emergency at the scene of the accident. In response to emergencies, the Government may declare an emergency situation; the Riigikogu may declare a state of emergency. An alternative to declaring an emergency situation or state of emergency is to rely on the corresponding emergency plan when responding to an emergency. |
