Decree No. 202 of 15 October 1991 on Determining the Major Functions and Tasks of the National Water Board

REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA COUNCIL OF MINISTERS DECREE No. 202 of 15 October 1991 on Determining the Major Functions and Tasks of the National Water Board Promulgated State Gazette No 87/22.10.1991 Amended SG No 90/1992 & 10/1995 T H E C O U N C I L O F M I N I S T E R S H A S D E C R E E D: Article 1 (1) Determines the basic functions and tasks of the National Water Board as per Annex No 1. (2) The National Water Board is a college body of the Council of Ministers, including representatives of major ministries and authorities directly related to the problems of use and reproduction of water resources, as per Annex No 2. (3) The Chairman of the National Water Board shall submit Regulations on the structure and activities of the Board and the Central Office to the Council of Ministers for approval. Article 2 Determines the total number of staff at the Central Office of the National Water Board to be 70 persons, including a Chairman and Deputy Chairman. Article 3 (1) Establishes a Water Resources Fund with the National Water Board, which shall collect proceeds from use of surface and shallow underground waters. (2) Amounts of the Water Resources Fund shall be used for reproduction of waters and implementation of hydroeconomic activities. (3) The Chairman of the National Water Board shall, in coordination with the Minister of Finance, determine the Water Resources Fund amounts and regulations for collection and spending thereof. CONCLUDING PROVISION Sole Paragraph This Decree has been issued pursuant to Article 3 of the Water Act (promulgated, SG, No 29 of 1969; amended No No 3 and 36 of 1977; No 36 of 1979; No 44 of 1984; No 36 of 1986 and No 24 of 1987). Annex No. 1 to Article 1, para 1 MAJOR FUNCTIONS AND TASKS OF THE NATIONAL WATER BOARD AT THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS Article 1 The National Water Board, hereinafter referred to as "the Board", shall implement the Government policies in the field of water resources. Article 2 The Board shall implement the functions of a Government authority in the field of water resources and administrative effects related thereto. In terms of underground waters the Board shall implement its functions and tasks only in respect to their distribution and utilization. Article 3 (1) The Board shall, in respect to the above functions, with the participation of concerned Government authorities, public organizations, movements and others: 1. develop strategies for efficient use of water resources, as well as concepts, forecasts and national programs; 2. draft bills and normative acts in the field of the use and management of water resources; 3. prepare water balances of water sources, hydroeconomic balances and management projects for water resources and control their implementation and the state of water-collecting facilities; 4. co-ordinate the projects on inter-sectoral and territorial allocation of investments for design and construction of water systems and facilities and for this purpose High Water Council of Experts shall be established. 5. evaluate the influence of the construction of water-collecting facilities, including the facilities under Article 7 of the Water Act, on the water balance of the respective territory; 6. allocate and control water use from complex dams and dams under list, approved by the Council of Ministers, as well as from rivers, lakes and underground water sources; 7. issue, cancel and amend permits for water use pursuant to Article 8, para 5 of the Water Act, and permits for hydro-geological surveys and well construction; 8. settle disputes on water use pursuant to Article 7, para 2; Article 10, para 1; and Article 13, para 1 of the Water Act, whereas keeping in force or repealing, partially or completely, the acts appealed; 9. control the state of national and departmental networks to determine water resources and manage water use; 10. keep an inventory of surface and underground water resources and users, including mineral waters, and provide unified resource information. (2) The board shall require from the respective departments and organisations the information it needs for its activity. Article 4 The Board shall: 1. manage the Water Resources Fund; 2. implement control functions over compliance with acts, normative acts and standards for the use of water resources, and enforce sanctions in case of violations thereof; 3. organize, coordinate and finance research programs, preparation of norms, normative acts and hydroeconomic expert analyses; 4. coordinate and support activities of Government authorities, economic entities and individuals in view of the rational utilization of water resources, and stipulate compulsory requirements for permits for water use and construction of complex purpose technical facilities; 5. cooperate with other Government authorities, territorial authorities and firms, in case of natural calamities and large industrial accidents. Article 5 In the field of international research, technical and economic cooperation in the field of the use of water resources, the Board shall: 1. represent jointly with other authorities and departments the Government in international bodies and organizations, and prepare drafts of inter-Governmental and other international treaties, conventions, accords and agreements; 2. participate in activities of inter-Governmental and other expert committees on national and international hydro engineering facilities, water sources and border rivers. Article 6 The Board shall systematically exchange information with other competent institutions on national and territorial levels. Annex No. 2 to Article 1, para 2 STAFF of the National Water Board 1. Chairman 2. Deputy Chairman 3. Members: Deputy Minister of Finance Deputy Minister of Environment; Deputy Minister of Territorial Development and Construction ; Deputy Minister of Agriculture; Deputy Minister of Industry; Deputy Minister of Transport; Deputy Minister of Health; Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Energy; a representative of the Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources; Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Geology and Mineral Resources; Deputy Chairman of the Forestry Committee; Deputy Head of the Civil Defence with the Ministry of Defence.