| Law/Regulation |
Summary |
Enforcement |
| The Water Law # 276, 27/8/1942 |
Regulates a) the common use of waters; b) infrastructure
and land drainage; and c) measures to ensure conservation. |
The Water Department (MINAE) |
| The General Law on Potable Water
# 1634, 18/9/1953 |
Regulates the planning, designing, construction,
operation, and maintenance of potable water supply systems.
Establishes sanctions. |
The Costa Rican Institute of Water and Drainage
Systems (IICA); and the Ministry of Health |
| The Urban Planning Law #4240, 29/10/1968
|
Regulates the country's housing and urbanization
policies. Establishes the National Plan for Urban Development,
the Municipal Zoning Plans, Urban Planning, and Land Use. This
Law prohibits land-planning schemes that are not compatible
with zoning established in the Municipal Zoning Plans. |
The National Institute of Housing and Urbanizing
(INVU); and the Municipalities |
| The General Health Act #5395, 24/11/1973
|
In order to fulfill its objective of protecting
citizens' health, it sets standards and requirements for those
activities that may potentially or effectively affect environmental
health. |
Ministry of Health (MS) |
| The Coastal Maritime Zone Act #6043,
02/03/1977 |
Defines public and restricted zones that comprise
the so-called coastal maritime zone, establishes the duties
of the Tourism Bureau, the Municipalities, and the General Attorney's
Office. Regulates concession- related aspects and establishes
certain sanctions. |
Tourism Bureau (ICT); the Municipalities, and
the National Institute of Housing and Urbanizing (INVU) |
| The Mining Code #6797 22/10/82 |
Regulates the exploitation of mineral resources,
all of which are considered to be part of the public domain.
It declares void all permits and concessions granted on those
areas declared of interest for the protection of forest, water,
wildlife, or cultural resources by the Legislative Assembly.
|
Geology and Mining Directorate (DGM-MINAE) |
| The Wildlife Conservation Act # 7317,
14/10/1992 |
Creates regulations on wildlife concerning hunting,
extraction, offshore and inshore fishing, wildlife refuges,
and import and export of wildlife. |
MINAE |
| The Hydrocarbons Act #7399, 03/05/1994
|
Regulates the development, promotion and control
of oil exploitation and other hydrocarbons. It also seeks to
protect and preserve the environment. |
General Directorate on Hydrocarbons (MINAE) |
| Organic Law on the Environment #
7554, 13/11/1995 |
It establishes the primary guidelines, procedural
mechanisms and legal framework for the protection and enhancement
of the environment and natural resources. It also grants the
State an active role in preventive actions and pollution control.
|
MINAE, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
raising, and the Ministry of Health |
| The Forestry Act #7575, 16/4/1996
|
Establishes the essential state functions to
ensure the conservation, protection and proper management of
forests, as well as the production, use and industrialization
of forest resources based on a vision of sustainable development
|
MINAE |
| The Phytosanitary Act #7664, 02/05/1997
|
Promotes the integrated management of pests,
as well as other sustainable productive practices. It also regulates
the use, application and management of chemical and biological
substances, their import and registration, as well as control
of harmful residues. |
MAG |
| The Biodiversity Act # 7788, 30/04/1998
|
Ensures the conservation and sustainable use
of biodiversity, as well as the equitable distribution of derived
benefits and costs. Creates the National Commission for Biodiversity
Management and the National System of Conservation Areas. |
MINAE |
| The Land Use Management and Conservation
Act #7779, 21/05/1998 |
Promotes land use planning through land classification.
This classification will allow a balance between actual and
potential land use. Additionally, it promotes an active community
and productive sector participation in decision-making processes
on land use and conservation. It also establishes agro-ecology
as a means to ensure agricultural production and land and water
resources conservation. |
MAG and MINAE |
| Decree No. 19886: Forestry Act Regulation,
27/08/90 |
Establishes the organization and competency of
the forestry administration. Creates the Forestry Fund and the
National Forestry Council. Sets forth the requirements on forest
lands and forest management and regeneration. Creates incentives
for the management and regeneration of forests in private lands.
|
MINAE |
| Decree No. 26435: Wildlife Conservation
Act Regulations. 03/12/1997 |
Lists the species that must be considered Flora
or Fauna. Regulates import of exotic species, and procedures
for concession, permit or license granting. Establishes the
organization and competencies of the Wildlife General Directorate.
Protects endangered species. |
MINAE |
| Decree No. 29300: Mining Code Regulations
08/02/2001 |
Regulates the organization and competencies of
the Geology and Mining Directorate. Establishes the conditions
and procedures through which permit applications for exploitation
of public mines and materials will be processed. It also regulates
the obligations and rights of mining permit and concession grantees.
It also seeks to balance the need for quality and quantity of
mineral and material supplies with the requirements of new environmentally
friendly technologies. |
MINAE |
| Decree No. 11492: Industrial Hygiene
Regulations, 22/04/1980 |
All industries that emit dust, gases, fumes or
smoke that can negatively affect workers' health are considered
non-conforming. Therefore, they should submit their production
processes to proper treatment systems established by the Ministry
of Health. |
Ministry of Health |
| Decree No. 19049-S: Waste Management
Regulation, 07/07/1989 |
Establishes the obligation of people to properly
dispose of wastes. Stipulates the conditions and processes under
which industries must collect, transport and dispose of wastes.
Calls for the issuance of adequate permits for landfill and
dumping sites. |
Ministry of Health |
| Decree No. 21297: Septic Tank Mud
Management, 15/06/1992 |
Establishes the conditions for an adequate management
of septic tank mud: installation and operation permits, conditions
for location, and operation of residual water treatment plants.
|
Ministry of Health |
| Decree No. 21518: Waste Water Treatment
Systems, 16/09/1992 |
Establishes conditions for the location of waste
water treatment plants: sites with sewerage networks, septic
tanks or individual drainage systems. When none of these facilities
exist, a treatment plant must be built. |
Ministry of Health |
| Decree No. 27378: Landfill Regulation,
23/10/1998 |
Establishes the necessary permits for landfill
management and location. |
Ministry of Health |
| Decree No. 23518: Control and Storage
of Chemical Substances, 16/08/1994M |
Establishes the legal and technical norms to
carry out control analyses and agrochemical quality control
analyses. |
MAG |
| Decree No. 25991: Regulation on Potable
Water Quality, 27/05/1997 |
Establishes the conditions for potable water
management and distribution. Authorizes the application of certain
measures in case of non-compliance with standard levels. |
Ministry of Health |
| Decree No. 26042: Regulation on the
Discharge and Reuse of Residual Waters, 19/06/1997 |
Establishes physical-chemical and bacteriological
parameters to be analyzed in residual waters discharged in water
bodies or sanitary sewers. Sets the limits for discharge of
residual waters and for residual water reuse. Creates the Technical
Committee for the Revision of the Regulation on the Discharge
and Reuse of Residual Waters. |
MINAE , and the Ministry of Health |
| Decree No. 28280: Regulation on Car
Emissions Control and Technical Revision, 06/12/1999 |
Cars imported into the country must comply with
minimum technical requirements established by the Vehicle Transit
Act and this Regulation. The importer must submit a certificate
of compliance issued by the carmaker or by the competent authority
of the country of origin. |
MOPT-MINAE-MS |
| Decree No. 28610: Environmental Services
Payment, 18/05/2000 |
FONAFIFO (National Fund for Forestry Financing)
will pay for environmental services rendered by forests and
plantations, with funding from public and private institutions.
The number of hectares compensated will depend on available
funding. It also sets maximum payments for reforestation and
protection management plans. |
MINAE |
| Decree No. 29375: Regulation to the
Land Use Management and Conservation Act., 21/03/01 |
The integrated and sustainable management of
land is declared a private or State action of public utility
and interest. It regulates the use of best available technology,
the application of better land use practices, in order to prevent
water and wind soil erosion, and to ensure a sustainable land
use. |
MAG-MINAE-S-HACIENDA-MOPT |
| Decree No. 30077: General Regulation
of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy, 21/12/2001 |
Describes the administrative structure of MINAE
to guarantee compliance with functions and competencies granted
by law and regulations.M |
MINAE |
| Resolution No. 3: Guide to the Environmental
Services Payment Procedures, 21/03/2000 |
Establishes requirements and procedures for environmental
service payments. |
MINAE-SINAC-FONAFIFO |
| Agreement No. 2217: Regulation on
Irrigation Services 30/08/1999 |
Includes all necessary regulations for the operation
and maintenance of irrigation districts and their relationship
with SENARA. |
SENARA |
