Sustainable Mining in the European Union: The Legislative Aspect

This paper is a review of the community legislation of the European Union (acquis communautaire) with regard to the mineral extractive industry. It highlights the existing inconsistencies of the acquis, which require correction. Historically, the mining industry has received privileged treatment within the European Community. The treaties declare the promotion of a policy of using natural resources prudently and rationally to avoid their unconsidered exhaustion. However, mining is excluded from the scope of major environmental directives or reserves a certain freedom for interpretation. This has led to an increasing number of related cases at the European Court of Justice.The regulatory tools of the environmental acquis are rather diverse in controlling the emission sources, the pollution pathways, and the impacted receptor media through administrative measures or assigning environmental quality targets. A combined approach is needed for controlling the environmental impacts of the extractive industries. The amendment of the Seveso II Directive, the elaboration of a reference document on best available techniques and the preparation of a wide-scope directive on mining waste management might provide a frame for the elimination of the above discrepancies. In addition, a coherent European Community policy based on the balanced consideration of economic, environmental, and social aspects could ensure a sustainable development of the mining industry. National expert detached from the Hungarian Geological Survey, H-1143 Budapest, Stefánia út 14.     

美国环境健康损害赔偿立法及其对我国的启示

美国尚未制定专门的环境健康损害赔偿立法。由环境保护法律中的相关规定、涉及环境侵权赔偿或者补偿的相关立法以及环境健康损害赔偿典型判例构成的法规体系,为环境健康保护提供了重要的法律依据。从《超级基金法》、《詹姆斯.扎德加9.11健康与赔偿法案》、《联邦侵权赔偿法》和《联邦雇员补偿法》等立法以及Sterling诉Velsicol化学公司案、普莱斯诉美国海军案等判例中总结的美国经验主要包括:适时制定专门立法;建立损害赔偿社会化机制;适用惩罚性赔偿机制;科学确定赔偿范围和数额;明确公职人员的法律责任。我国应当基于自身国情,充分借鉴美国的成熟经验,加快环境健康损害赔偿立法进程。