Law on Geological Explorations

Article 1 This Law stipulates the conditions and methodology of execution of geological explorations and utilization of results of these explorations, methododology of programming geological exploratory works and financing thereof, as well as supervision of implementation of provisions stipulated herein.

Article 2 Pursuant to this Law, geological explorations are explorations undertaken with the aim of: learning about the development, composition and structure of the earth crust; discovering and ascertaining the quantity and quality of mineral deposits; establishment of the geologic characteristics of soil for construction of buildings; planning of space and explorations undertaken for the purpose of environmental protection. Pursuant to para 1 hereof, environmental protection is the protection and presentation of natural values (geological and geomorphological phenomena and characteristics of historical development of the earth crust and representative forms); protection from detrimental natural processes (earthquakes, landslides, erosions, torrents and floods) and technogenous disturbances (pollution of soil due to exploration and exploitation, pollution of underground waters, artificial disturbance of soil stability, pollution of air due to works in the terrain and endangerment of natural heritage).

Article 3 Pursuant to this Law, mineral deposits are: 1) All types of coal and oil shale; 2) Hydrocarbons in liquid and gaseous state (oil and gas) and other natural gasses; 3) Radioactive mineral deposits; 4) Metallic mineral deposits and their usable compounds; 5) Technogenous mineral deposits; 6) Non-metallic mineral deposits and raw materials for building materials; 7) All types of salts and salt waters; 8) Underground waters and sources of geothermal energies.

Article 4 Geological explorations are basic and detailed. The basic and detailed geological explorations shall be conducted pursuant to the project of geological explorations.

Article 5 The basic geological explorations encompass: explorations of development, composition and structure of earth crust; establishment of potential of the region from the aspect of finding mineral deposits and level of exploration of reserves for CI category; establishment of status, properties and characteristics of rock and soil; establishment of geotechnical characteristics of soil for the purposes of planning the use of space and adequacy of terrain for construction; explorations with the aim of environmental protection as well as drawing of appropriate geological maps. The basic geological explorations are duties of general interest for the Republic and are financed from the budget of the Republic of Serbia.

Article 6 Detailed geological explorations encompass explorations conducted to gain detailed geological data on: position, size, shape, composition and structure of deposits; quality and reserves of mineral deposits and conditions of their exploitation; characteristics of terrain with the aim of ascertaining conditions for construction and elaboration of programs of environmental protection.

Article 7 The exploration area, i.e. terrain on which adequate basic geological explorations have not been performed, may not be subject of detailed geological explorations of mineral deposits and detailed geological explorations of terrain with a view to elaboration of geotechnical and hydrogeological plans on this terrain for construction of high dams, accumulation of ground waters whose volume exceeds one million cubic metres, i.e. dams exceeding 15metres of construction height, tunnels, hydropower plants, thermal power plants, highways, main roads, underground railways and railroads.

Article 8 The basic geological explorations shall be conducted for the purpose of special planning and elaboration of general town-planning designs, to establish and evaluate overall geological potential of a certain region, establish the use of area and adequacy for construction. Detailed engineering and geological explorations shall be conducted for the purpose of elaboration of special and town-planning designs, as well as prior to elaboration of technical documents for construction of buildings and environmental protection programs. Certain exploration works conducted within the framework detailed geological explorations, may not be conducted if there are sufficiently reliable data, conditions and plans on the basis of which technical documents may be elaborated. This shall be professionally explained in the exploration project.

Article 9 Geological explorations shall be conducted in accordance with the contemporary scientific achievements, regulations, standards and technical norms relevant to this type of works and regulations stipulating conditions in respect of safety at work, protection from fire and explosion and environmental protection.

Article 10 In the region representing protected natural environment, entity of special cultural and historical and construction value, a tourist and recreational resort, source of special significance for regional water supply and other protected area, conduct of geological explorations shall be subject to prior approval of the agency in charge of issuing conditions for arrangement of space and the agency in charge of a certain region, pursuant to the special law.

Article 11 Monitoring of the implementation of the provisions herein stipulated, standards, technical and quality norms relevant to geological explorations shall be conducted by the ministry in charge of geology (hereinafter: the Ministry). II EXECUTION OF GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS 1. Conditions and methodology of execution of geological explorations

Article 12 Geological explorations, as well as elaboration of projects of geological explorations and studies of results thereof may be undertaken by an enterprise or another legal entity registered in the court registries for execution of these works. Such enterprise or the legal entity shall employ staff holding university degree in geology in appropriate branch thereof and shall hold license for execution of each type of geological exploratory works, elaboration of projects thereof and studies on results of geological explorations, management and supervision. The managerial tasks and supervision of execution of geological exploratory works and management of the elaboration of projects of geological works and studies on results thereof may be performed by a person who, further to the conditions stipulated in para 1 hereof, shall have a minimum of three years of work experience in performance of adequate tasks. Management and supervision of execution of less complex geological exploratory works and elaboration of documents for such works may be performed by a person holding a high school degree in geology in appropriate branch, three years of work experience in performance of adequate tasks and a license for execution thereof. Specialized explorations stipulated in the project of geological explorations shall be performed by the persons – specialists in construction, mining, chemistry and other adequate professions, who fulfill the conditions stipulated by special regulations.

Article 13 A license for performing of the tasks mentioned in Art 12 hereof and other expert tasks stipulated in this Law, shall be acquired on passing an expert examination. The expert examination mentioned in para 1 hereof shall be taken before the committee established by the minister in charge of geology.

Article 14 Geological explorations may be executed by foreign legal entities under conditions and in a way stipulated by this Law and the law defining the rights of foreign persons in respect of utilization of goods deemed to be of general interest.

Article 15 Use of data and documentation on basic geological explorations shall be subject to payment of a fee up to 5% of the realistic value of the executed explorations in that exploratory area. The funds accumulated from payment of fees mentioned in para 1 hereof shall constitute the income of the Republic. The method and terms of payment of fees mentioned in para 1 hereof shall be defined in the contract concluded by the Ministry and the user of data mentioned in para 1 hereof.

Article 16 Exploration of geological formations and areas with potential on the basis of which geological potential and mineral deposit reserves are evaluated, elaboration of complex geological bases for granting concessions to foreign persons, registering and keeping data of interest for geological information system, elaboration and printing of all kinds of geological maps the scale of which does not exceed 1: 25,000 as well as execution of other tasks defined in long term plan of development of basic geological explorations, shall be assigned to an enterprise, organization or an institute which, further to conditions stipulated in para 1, Art 12 hereof, fulfills the special conditions in respect of technical and technological equipment and human resources capacity for execution of the above mentioned tasks. In case none of the existing enterprises, organizations or institutes fulfills the conditions for execution of tasks mentioned in para 1 hereof, a national geological organization shall be founded to execute such tasks. Fulfillment of conditions mentioned in para 1 hereof shall be established by the Government of the Republic of Serbia. 2. Project of geological explorations

Article 17 The geological explorations mentioned in Art 2 hereof shall be executed pursuant to the project specifically containing: terms of reference for the project; general data on exploratory area; overview of results of earlier explorations; project solutions of the process of geological explorations; specification of works per type and scope; calculation of works, schedule of execution of works and timeframes for completion thereof; timeframes for reverting the land to its original use; addenda related to conditions of environmental protection, safety at work, fire protection as well as other addenda stipulated by the law (hereinafter: project of geological explorations).

Article 18 The project of geological explorations shall be subject to technical inspection. The technical inspection mentioned in para 1 hereof shall entail inspection in respect of application of modern achievements and methods of the science of geology and technical achievements and harmonization with technical regulations, norms and standards as well as inspection in respect of application of relevant measures and norms of environmental protection, safety at work, safety to buildings and people and adjacent structures. The technical inspection mentioned in para 1 hereof may be conducted by an enterprise or other legal entity fulfilling the conditions for elaboration of projects of geological explorations stipulated herein.

Article 19 The technical inspection of projects of geological explorations shall not be conducted nor taken part in by: 1. A company or other legal entity which elaborated the project and the company or other legal person which manages the explorations; 2. A person employed in a company or other legal entity which elaborated the project or has taken part in the elaboration thereof; 3. An employee of the manager of the explorations; 4. An employee of the Ministry.

Article 20 An enterprise or other legal entity which performed the technical inspection of the project of geological explorations shall compose a report on completed technical inspection of the project of geological explorations verifying that the project had been executed in conformity with the conditions stipulated. The report mentioned in para 1 hereof shall represent an integral part of the project of geological explorations.

Article 21 The employer shall: 1. Execute the works in accordance with the project of geological explorations, technical regulations, norms, standards and modern scientific and expert methods applied in the execution of these works; 2. Observe all the stipulated measures of safety at work; 3. Undertake all measures to ensure safety of the technological process, equipment and plants, safety of employees, communications and adjacent structures; 4. Undertake measures for environmental protection; 5. Upon completion or suspension of geological explorations in the area were the works have been executed, he shall conduct all safety measures to permanently exclude the possibility of danger to persons and property, as well as the environment and revert the terrain to its original use within the timeframe stipulated by the project and inform the competent agency of the municipality on the territory of which the works had been executed as well as the agency which issued the approval for explorations; 6. Close the bore if underground waters are found that will not be used immediately; 7. Close the bore if established to be negative and the results of exploration or laboratory testing prove it may not be used otherwise.

Article 22 In the course of execution of geological explorations, the manager of explorations shall ensure expert supervision of the execution of geological explorations. The expert supervision mentioned in para 1 hereof comprises: control of the quality of exploratory works executed and fulfillment of regulations, standards, technical and quality norms; verification of conformity of exploratory works with the project of geological explorations; control of the application of measures of safety at work and environmental protection; monitoring the schedule of execution of works and investments; take care about the observance of contracted timeframes. The expert supervision mentioned in para 2 hereof may be performed by a person fulfilling the conditions mentioned in para 2, Art 12 hereof. The person performing expert supervision shall, with no further delay, report to the manager of explorations all omissions identified in the course of supervision of execution of geological explorations.

Article 23 The manager of explorations may perform expert supervision on the execution of geological explorations directly or cede such supervision to a company or another legal entity specialized in the elaboration of projects for the particular type of exploratory works. 3. Study of results of geological explorations

Article 24 Following the completion of the geological explorations stipulated by the project a study will be made on results of geological explorations, i.e. about the reserves of mineral deposits, specifically containing: an overview and evaluation of earlier explorations, aim and methodology of explorations; systematized overview of data acquired in field explorations, overview and explanation of the results of exploration; overview of reserves on mineral deposits and conditions of exploitation, and measures of environmental protection as well as technical end economic evaluation of the results of exploration. The study mentioned in para 1 hereof shall be subject to expert control to verify the conformity of the geological explorations with the project of geological explorations, whether an adequate conclusion about the results of the exploration has been made on the basis of data acquired and the conformity of the study with the law and other regulations. The expert control mentioned in para 2 hereof shall be conducted in a manner and under the conditions relevant to conduct of technical control of the project of geological explorations.

Article 25 The study of the results of geological explorations shall bear the character of archive records and shall be kept permanently in a prescribed manner. The manager of explorations shall submit one copy of the study about the results of geographical explorations to the agency that issued the approval of explorations. The manager of explorations shall provide for storing of macroscopic and microscopic samples of rocks and useful mineral deposits, cores of bores and fossils for laboratory testing and exploration as well as an appropriate part of the representative sample of ores for technical and technological exploitations and testing in accordance with the special regulation. 4. Approval of explorations

Article 26 Geological explorations in a certain exploratory area shall be executed on the basis of approval of explorations issued by the Ministry. The municipality, city of Belgrade, i.e. the city is entrusted with issuance of approvals for execution of detailed geological explorations to fulfill the needs of planning, designing, construction and rehabilitation of terrain.

Article 27 Geological explorations of mineral deposits in an approved exploitation field shall be executed without approval of explorations.

Article 28 The request for issuance of approval of explorations shall contain: data on manager of exploration; subject of geological exploration and type of exploratory works; identification of area where the exploration shall be conducted; data on amount of funds allocated to explorations; data of commencement and approximate duration of geological explorations. The request mentioned in para 1 hereof shall be accompanied by: 1. The project of geological explorations with the report and certificate of completed technical inspection; 2. Topographic map with delineation of boundaries of the exploratory area and coordinates of crossing points in scale not exceeding 1: 25,000; 3. Proof of payment of fees mentioned in Art 15 hereof; If the project mentioned in item 1, para 2 hereof stipulates taking mineral deposits for technological testing, the request shall be accompanied by a special project of taking such deposits.

Article 29 Approval of explorations shall contain: 1. Title of manager of explorations and his head office; 2. Subject of explorations and type of exploratory works; 3. Area which shall be explored (exploratory area); 4. Scope and type of works to be executed; 5. The maximum quantity of mineral deposits, except oil and natural gasses, that may be taken with the aim of testing their quality and technological characteristics; 6. Timeframes for informing the Ministry about the works and results of the explorations by the manager of explorations of mineral deposits; 7. Timeframe for commencement of explorations and validity of approval

Article 30 The validity of the approval for explorations shall terminate if the geological explorations are not commenced within the timeframe provided for in the approval for explorations. In case that the undertaken exploration works approved are not executed for a period exceeding six months through the fault of the manager of explorations, the agency which issued the approval for explorations may, upon undertaking the procedure, revoke the approval for explorations.

Article 31 If a request for issuance of the approval for explorations had been submitted by two or more enterprises i.e. legal entities, the priority of approval shall be that of an enterprise i.e. legal entity which offers the most favorable conditions in respect of the timeframes of execution of that type of explorations, prices and other conditions. If the requests for issuance of approvals refer to explorations of different mineral deposits within the same exploratory area, several approvals may be issued if conditions exist for an unimpeded execution thereof. 5 Exploratory area

Article 32 An exploratory area is part of the terrain on which geological explorations are executed and has a surface delineated on a topographic map by coordinates. The size of the exploratory area is defined in the approval for explorations.

Article 33 The agency issuing approvals for explorations shall keep records on exploratory areas and a cadastre of approved exploratory areas. The cadastre of approved exploratory areas shall contain data on manager of explorations, exploratory areas and subject of geological explorations. The interested companies and other legal entities shall have the insight into the cadastre of the approved exploratory areas. 6 Other regulations on execution of geological explorations

Article 34 The employer shall register the commencement of exploratory works 15 days prior to the commencement thereof with the competent agency of the municipality on the territory of which the exploratory area is situated and the agency which issued the approval for explorations. If the works are executed in the area of a national park the employer shall also register the commencement of the works to the organization managing the protected cultural heritage.

Article 35 The manager of explorations i.e. the employer shall separate the extracted quantities of mineral deposits from waste, ensure their timely use or protection from deterioration. The manager of explorations shall keep records on the extracted quantities of mineral deposits. The legal entities mentioned in para 1 hereof shall also register other mineral deposits found during the geological exploration in the approved exploratory area.

Article 36 The manager of explorations shall submit to the Ministry reports on works and results of explorations within the timeframes defined in the approval for explorations of mineral deposits. If the manager of explorations suspends the explorations of mineral deposits permanently, he shall submit to the Ministry a report on suspension of the works accompanied by documentation on results of the explorations, within 90 days from the date of such suspension. The manager of explorations and the Ministry shall each keep one copy of this report.

Article 37 The manager of explorations shall keep a registry on the status of reserves of mineral deposits and underground waters in the exploratory / exploitation area in which his explorations/ exploitation has been approved. He shall submit data on the status of such reserves to the Ministry each year. On the basis of data received the Ministry shall compile a balance of reserves of mineral deposits and underground waters in the Republic.

Article 38 The reserves of mineral deposits are sorted in line with the regulations relevant to classification and categorization of reserves of mineral deposits and underground waters. The company executing exploitation of mineral deposits shall submit to the Ministry a study on sorting of the mineral deposit reserves in the exploratory/exploitation area once in five years with a view to establishing and verifying mineral deposit reserves. Establishment and verification of the sorted mineral deposit reserves and underground waters in the Republic shall be performed by a committee formed by the minister in charge of geology.

Article 39 The company exploiting mineral deposits shall ensure expert supervision and forming of geological documentation about all the works on the preparation, elaboration and exploitation of mineral deposits as well as on the construction of all underground structures and structures on the surface where mineral deposits are to be utilized. III FINANCING OF PROGRAMS OF BASIC GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS

Article 40 The basic geological explorations shall be executed pursuant to the long term program of development of basic geological explorations and the annual program of execution of geological exploratory works.

Article 41 The long term program of development of basic geological explorations is passed for a period of minimum five years and comprises: objectives and directions of development of basic geological explorations based on results achieved of the basic geological explorations in the previous period; type and scope of programmed works; methodology of follow-up of the program implementation. The annual program of geological explorations defines the type and scope of basic geological explorations as well as the type and scope of detailed geological explorations that need to be executed within the period that the plan is passed for, a calculation of works and the schedule or works and investments. The long term program of development of basic geological explorations is passed by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. The annual plan of execution of geological explorations is passed by the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

Article 42 Funds for financing basic geological explorations are provided in the Republican budget, pursuant to the annual program of execution of geological exploratory works. Registration and utilization of funds mentioned in para 1 hereof shall be done through a special account of the Ministry.

Article 43 The Ministry shall announce a competition to cede the works defined in the annual program of exploratory works to a company i.e. another legal entity registered in the court registries for execution of geological explorations. The Ministry and the company i.e. another legal entity which has been ceded execution of geological exploratory works shall conclude a contract defining particularly: the type of exploratory works; the exploratory area; timeframes and schedule of execution; the funds needed and dynamics of transfer of funds for execution of exploratory works as well as responsibility in case of delays.

Article 44 A company or another legal entity which has been ceded execution of geological works shall report in quarterly periods to the Ministry about the execution of explorations. The report for the fourth quarter shall be submitted no later than 30 November of the current year. The annual program of execution of exploratory works that the Ministry submits to the Government of the Republic of Serbia shall be accompanied by the report on implementation of the annual program for the previous year. IV INSPECTION

Article 45 Inspection of application of the regulations of this Law and regulations passed regarding its implementation shall be conducted by the Ministry through Republican geology inspectors.

Article 46 The duties of a geological inspector may be performed by a person holding a university degree in geology, with a minimum three years of experience in geological explorations and who has passed the expert examination.

Article 47 A geological inspector shall have the right and responsibility to check whether a company fulfills the conditions prescribed for execution of geological explorations and whether: 1. The project and the study about the results of geological explorations are made in accordance with the Law and other regulations and whether they are made i.e. certified by an organization registered in the court registries for elaboration of that type of projects and studies; 2. The geological explorations are executed on the basis of and in line with the approval for explorations; 3. The works are executed pursuant to the project of geological explorations on the basis of which the approval had been issued; 4. The exploratory works are executed pursuant to the Law and other regulations, standards, technical and quality norms; 5. The measures of ensuring safety of persons, adjacent structures, communications and the surroundings have been undertaken as well as all the necessary measures of safety at work by the company executing geological explorations; 6. The registries are being maintained on extracted quantities of mineral deposits with a view to their testing and other mineral deposits the existence of which has been ascertained. 7. The stipulated conditions are being observed related to the persons managing the execution of exploratory works and those who perform expert supervision of execution thereof; 8. A larger quantity of mineral deposits for testing is being extracted than the one defined in the approval for exploration except in case of exploration of oil and natural gasses; 9. The records on status of mineral deposit reserves are being kept. A geological inspector performs other duties stipulated by the Law.

Article 48 A geology inspector shall be authorized to order: 1. Removal of the established irregularities within the timeframe he stipulates; 2. Suspension of exploratory works if: a) the established irregularities and faults have not been removed within the timeframe prescribed; b) the exploration works are not conducted in accordance with the approval for exploration or the project of exploration; c) the inspector ascertains faults constituting immediate threat to life or health of people or danger to property. The manager of explorations, i.e. employer who has been ordered to remove the faults and irregularities as mentioned in para 1 hereof shall inform the geology inspector of removal of such faults and irregularities within the timeframe defined by the inspector but no later than within 8 days.

Article 49 An appeal against the decision of a geology inspector may be lodged to the Minister in charge of geology within 8 days from the date of receipt of the decision. An appeal against the decision of the geology inspector shall not delay execution of the decision. V AUTHORIZATION FOR PASSING BY-LAWS

Article 50 The minister in charge of geology shall regulate in detail: 1. Criteria on the basis of which the potential of a certain area in respect of mineral deposits findings is established (para 1, Art 5 hereof); 2. Contents of documentation referring to hydrogeological and engineering and geological plans for structures mentioned in Art 7 hereof; 3. The necessary degree of study of engineering and geological characteristics of terrain with a view to planning, designing and construction (paras 1 and 2, Art 8 hereof); 4. Methodology, conditions and materials needed for taking the expert examination by employees who work on elaboration of projects and studies and execution of geological explorations (Art 13 hereof); 5. Contents of the project of geological explorations and studies about the results of geological explorations (Art 17 and para 1, Art 24 hereof); 6. Method of keeping and sorting geological documentation (paras 1 and 3, Art 25 hereof); 7. Criteria and conditions for ceding the execution of geological explorations and allocation of funds for execution thereof (para 1, Art 43 hereof). VI PENAL PROVISIONS

Article 51 A fine amounting to CSD 15,000 to 80,000 shall be imposed on a company or another legal entity for an economic offence if they: 1. Commence the execution of detailed geological explorations or elaboration of a detailed town-planning design without earlier completed basic geological explorations (Art 7 and para 1, Art 8 hereof); 2. Elaborate projects of geological explorations and studies about the results of geological explorations or undertake geological explorations but do not fulfill the conditions for execution of these duties (para 1, Art 12 hereof); 3. Assign the duties of management of the elaboration of projects of geological explorations and studies of the results of geological explorations contrary to the defined conditions (para 2, Art 12 hereof); 4. Fail to execute geological explorations pursuant to the project of geological explorations (Art 17 hereof); 5. Fail to perform technical inspection of the project of geological explorations under the conditions and in a way stipulated by the law (Art 18 hereof); 6. Fail to act in accordance with the provisions of Art 21 and 36 hereof; 7. Fail to ensure expert supervision of the execution of geological explorations (Art 22 hereof); 8. Fail to provide expert supervision of studies under the conditions and in a way stipulated in the para 2, Art 24 hereof; 9. Conduct geological explorations without approval for explorations (Art 26 hereof); 10. Extract a quantity of mineral deposits larger than the approved (item5, para 1, Art 29 hereof); 11. Fail to keep a registry of extracted quantities of mineral deposits and fails to undertake other measures stipulated in Art 35 hereof; 12. Fail to keep a log on the condition of mineral deposit reserves or fails to submit data thereon (Art 37 hereof); 13. Fail to submit for verification within the prescribed timeframe the study on sorting of mineral deposit reserves (para 2, Art 38 hereof). A fine amounting from CSD 1000 to 5000 shall be imposed on a responsible person in the company or in another legal entity for an economic offence mentioned in para 1 hereof.

Article 52 A fine in the amount of CSD 3000 to 10,000 shall be imposed on a company i.e. another legal entity for an offence if they: 1. Fail to keep a copy of the study of the results of geological explorations in a prescribed manner (para 1, Art 25 hereof); 2. Fail to submit a study of the results of geological explorations, reports on the works and the results thereof (para 2, Art 25 and para 1, Art 36 hereof); 3. Fail to register the commencement of the exploration works in due time (Art 34 hereof); 4. Fail to ensure expert supervision and other jobs stipulated in the Art 39 hereof. A fine amounting from CSD 500 to 1000 shall be imposed on a responsible person in the company or in another legal entity for an economic offence mentioned in para 1 hereof. VII TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 53 The persons who passed the expert examination verifying the expert capability to perform the duties stipulated herein pursuant to the regulations in force at the time of their passing the examination, as well as persons who were, by virtue of those regulations, recognized the right to perform certain duties without verification of expert capabilities, fulfill conditions for execution of these duties and pursuant to the provisions hereof if fulfilling other stipulated conditions as well.

Article 54 The companies and other legal entities performing geological explorations of mineral deposits shall continue performing these tasks under the conditions valid at the time of their acquisition of the right.

Article 55 The Republican Social Fund for Geological Explorations, the Regional Fund for Geological Explorations of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija and the Self-Managing Interest Community for geological explorations in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina shall terminate operating on 31 Dedcember 1995. The cases, archives and other expert documentation, equipment, funds et al. with the balance of accounts as at the date prior to the date of termination of operation of funds and organizations mentioned in para 1 hereof, rights and obligations as well as employees thereof shall be taken over by the Ministry.

Article 56 Until termination of operations the Republican Fund shall perform duties mentioned in Article 43 hereof in a way stipulated by the statute and other legal acts of the Republican Fund. The moneys shall be transferred by the Ministry from the special account to the Republican Fund. The Ministry shall also transfer the implementation of the annual program of execution of explorations to the Republican Fund and monitor the implementation thereof. The Republican Fund shall transfer part of the funds to the Regional Fund i.e. the organization mentioned in para 1,. Art 55 hereof for execution of duties to be performed by the Republican Fund.

Article 57 Until the endorsement of regulations mentioned in Art 50 hereof, the below documents shall remain in effect: 1. Rules on criteria on the basis of which the potential of an area in respect of mineral deposit findings is established (“Official Gazette of SRS” no. 16/85). 2. Rules on elaboration of projects of geological explorations (“Official Gazette of SRS” no. 26/84). 3. Rules on contents of documentation pertaining to hydrogeological, engineering and geological plans (“Official Gazette of SRS” no. 26/84). 4. Rules on keeping and sorting geological documentation (“Official Gazette of SRS” no. 26/84).

Article 58 On the date of entering into force of this Law the below documents shall cease to be valid: 1. Law on Geological Explorations (“Official Gazette of SRS” no. 45/89). 2. Provisions of Art 64 of the Law on Evaluation of Fines for Offences from Republican Laws Stipulating Fines for Offences (“Official Gazette of SRS” no. 53/93). 3. Provisions of Art 10 of the Law on Changes to the Law Stipulating Fines for Offences (“Official Gazette of SRS” no. 6/89).

Article 59 This Law shall come into effect on the eighth day from the date of its publication in the “Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”.