Regulation on the Environmental Information System

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA 2233 Pursuant to Article 127 paragraph 3 of the Environmental Protection Act (Official Gazette 110/07), the Government of the Republic of Croatia, at its session on 5 June 2008, adopted the following REGULATION ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SYSTEM Article 1 This Regulation establishes the structure, content, form and method of operation, method of administration and maintenance of the Environmental Information System, the obligations, methods and deadlines for delivery of data, environmental information and appropriate reports to the Croatian Environment Agency and the method for managing environmental data and information. Article 2 For the purposes of this Regulation, the following terms have the following meaning: – Environmental Information System web portal is the webpage providing access and/or enabling input of data and information to reporting entities and users, – interoperability is the capability of information and communication systems and processes to support and enable data and information flow, – reporting entities are state administration bodies, competent administrative body in the county or in the City of Zagreb, legal persons vested with public authorities and authorised persons which submit data and information to the Environmental Information System pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act and other regulations. Article 3 The Environmental Information System (hereinafter: Information System) is a series of informational interconnected electronic databases and data sources on the state of the environment, burdens on individual environmental components, pressures on the environment, spatial features and other data and information relevant for environmental monitoring at the state level. Article 4 (1) The aim of the Information System is to connect all existing data and information streams by using modern tools such as the Internet and satellite technology and to ensure that reporting in paper form is replaced by a system in which data are accessible to users at their very source, in an open and transparent manner. (2) The Information system enables collection and provision of information and data which have been processed and analysed in accordance with international and European methodologies and enables exchange of environmental data with similar existing systems at the level of the European Union and Member States, connected to the European environment information and observation network (EIONET), established and coordinated by the European Environment Agency (EEA). (3) Indicators for which data are collected for the purposes of the Information System are prescribed by the Environmental Protection Act, special laws and regulations adopted on the basis thereof, which provide for protection against pollution and conservation of individual environmental components and by the National List of Indicators. Article 5 (1) The Information System is a decentralised yet integrated information system, accessible through a single web portal, based on a network of information and data providers, and is used for common use of information and data. (2) The Information System enables: – information processing in closest proximity to primary data source, – data and/or information gathering to one reporting entity and accessibility for the needs of other reporting entities and users, – upgrading and integration of existent data and information gathering systems, – easy accessibility of data and information for the purpose of undertaking environmental protection measures, assessment of results of such measures and provision of information on the state of the environment to the public, – necessary technical and scientific support, – application of uniform software tools, recording standards and information and data transfer procedures, – interoperability at the technical (norms and standards for interconnection of computer systems and services), semantic (meaning of data) and processing level (defining objectives, modelling processes and setting up cooperation among reporting entities), by application of national and international technical norms. (3) The Information System is organised into the following basic groups: – environmental components, – environmental pressures, – impact on human health and safety, – society responses. (4) The basic groups referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article are organised into thematic areas and sub-areas. (5) An outline of the structure of the Information System with its thematic areas and sub-areas is provided in Annex 1 of this Regulation. Article 6 (1) Data and information on the state of the environment are organised into relational electronic data bases for thematic areas and sub-areas. (2) Data and information needed for the Information System is submitted and transferred in electronic form. (3) Electronic data transfer pursuant to this Regulation does not exclude delivery of data according to the methods and on the forms prescribed by the Environmental Protection Act, special regulations and regulations adopted on the basis thereof. (4) The methodology for data collection, processing and calculation and the method and deadlines for submission of data, information and appropriate reports to the Information System are defined under the regulations on the basis of which they are collected and the National List of Indicators. Article 7 (1) For the purpose of the establishment, administration, development, coordination and maintenance of the unique Information System, the Croatian Environment Agency (hereinafter: the Agency) shall: – develop the Information System Administration Programme in cooperation with the Central State Office for e-Croatia, – develop the National List of Indicators, – provide for the development and administration of the joint computer-communication network of the Information system, – give proposals for synchronising the Information System with the thematic area and sub area information systems, – propose measures synchronising and connecting the Information System to the European environmental data exchange system, – propose hardware, software and communication equipment, – monitor and give recommendations for access to environmental data and information, (2) The Agency shall ensure reliable and secure exchange of electronic data and information and unhindered and continuous access to data and information via the web portal of the Information System. Article 8 (1) The Environmental Information System Administration Programme (hereinafter: the Programme) contains: – organisation, method of administration and maintenance of the Information System, – list of reporting entities and method of data submission according to thematic areas and sub areas, – method and deadlines for submitting environmental data and information, – method of environmental data and information management, – cost estimate, – necessary measures and activities for the thematic area and sub-area. (2) The Programme is adopted by the Agency, with the approval of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction and is published on the Agency website. Article 9 (1) The reporting entity shall ensure the collection of data and information, verification and insurance of data quality and the setting-up, maintenance and interoperability of the information system or subsystem. (2) The reporting entity shall ensure undisturbed flow and access to data and information and data use via the Information System. (3) The reporting entity shall be responsible for the accuracy and reliability of data and information which fall under its competence. (4) The reporting entity shall be responsible for setting the access level for data and information. Article 10 The Programme referred to in Article 8 of this Regulation shall be adopted within one year from the day of entry into force of this Regulation. Article 11 Annex 1 with its appropriate content is printed along with this Regulation and forms an integral part thereof. Article 12 By virtue of the entry into force of this Regulation, the Regulation on the environmental protection information system (OG 74/99 and 79/99) shall cease to be in effect. Article 13 This Regulation shall enter into force on the eighth day after the day of its publication in the Official Gazette. Class: 351-01/08-01/06 Reg. No: 5030105-08-1 Zagreb, 5 June 2008 Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, m.p. ANNEX 1 BASIC GROUPS WITH ACCOMPANYING THEMATIC AREAS AND SUB-AREAS