The Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water – Veliko Turnovo (RIEW) is a territorial unit of the Ministry of Environment and Water – Bulgaria. It carries out control and monitoring of the environment quality on the territory of Veliko Turnovo and Gabrovo districts with 14 municipalities, with an area of 6697 km2 and a population more than 450 000 people.
The control and monitoring are based on the current environmental legislation which is to a great extent compatible with the acquis communautaire. The implementation and enforcement of the European Community acquis is possible by 10 main Acts/Laws and more than 150 regulations, orders etc.: Environmental Protection Act, Clean Air Act, Water Act, Protected Areas Act, Biodiversity Act, Medicinal Plants Act, Ground Resources Act, Waste Management Act, Act for Protection from the Harmful Impact of Chemical Substances and Preparations, Genetically Modified Organisms Act.
Noise Act is under adoption by Bulgarian National Assembly.
RIEW – Veliko Turnovo activities are:
- overseeing the implementation of the environmental legislation at the regional level
- supporting the municipalities in the preparation and the realisation of the local policy in the field of environmental protection
- carrying out control of enterprises or facilities that may affect or pollute the environment
- informing the public about the state of the environment
The RIEW has an environmental information and educational centre for spreading information among population with a library and a conference hall.
