On December 16, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Amendments on CM Regulations No 319 in July 23, 2002 “The Registration Order of stocktaking, identification, storage, package labelling and transportation of hazardous waste” (hereafter – Regulations Project) was announced.

On December 16, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Cabinet of Ministers Instruction Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “The reconstruction of wastewater purification plant refined wastewater output in the Baltic Sea in Liepaja and building of the defensive construction in the protective zone of the Baltic Sea in Liepaja” (hereafter – Instruction Project) was announced.

On December 11, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Individual Regulations on Protection and Exploitation of Nature Reserve “Kadajs” was announced (hereafter – Regulations Project).

Many popular Latvians have signed the letter, prepared by the minister of Environment Raimonds Vejonis, where minister invites everybody to vote pro or contra growing and distributing GMO in Latvia. The letter was signed by Maris Olte, Lelde Stumbre, Arturs Irbe, Vita Jaunzeme, Ingmars Lidaka un Agris Danilevics, Viktors Scerbatihs, Sniedze Sproge, Ugis Praulins, Dr. Art Rafi Haradzanjans.

On December 5 the awarding ceremony of the competition “Sejejs 2008” organized by the ministry of the Environment and ministry of the Agriculture. The ceremony will start at 4:00 p.m. in the Riga Latvian Society house.

On December 4, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Individual Regulations on Protection and Exploitation of Nature Reserve “Vitrupes ieleja” was announced (hereafter – Regulations Project).

On December 2, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Cabinet of Ministers Instruction Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “On building of two new radioactive waste containers and long term store of used closed radiance sources in the waste depot “Radons”” (hereafter – Instruction Project) was announced.

On December 2, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Amendment for the Regulations of Cabinet of Ministers No 209 on March 27, 2007 “Environmental Consultancy Board Statutes”” (hereafter – Regulations Project) was announced.

On December 10 the seminar „On and against the genetically modified organisms (GMO) in Latvia” will be held in the ministry of the Environment.

On December 8 at 1:00 p.m. the meeting on deposit system implementation in Latvia will take place in the ministry of the Environment, room No 409. The meeting is organized by the ministry of the Environment.

On November 27, in the Maza Gilde minister of the Environment Raimonds Vejonis, Ministry of the Environment State secretary Guntis Pukitis and head of the Investment unit Vija Geme will present awards for municipalities on contribution in the development of environmental infrastructure and nature protection.

On November 25, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „Regulations on registration of manufacturers of batteries and accumulators and the holder of register” was announced (hereafter – regulations project).

On November 25, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „ Amendments on Cabinet of Ministers regulations No 157, on March 23 2004 “Procedure for Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment”” was announced (hereafter – regulations project).

On November 27 minister of the Environment Raimonds Vejonis participates in international conference „Efficient bioenergy utilization – production and consumption” in Kipsala Exhibition Centre. Conference is organized by International Exhibition Company BT 1 in cooperation with Ministry of the Environment and Baltic Environment Forum in the frameworks of international exhibition „Environment and Energy 2008” on November 27 – 28.

Mass media are invited to participate in Ministry of the Environment award “Abols 2008” awarding ceremony on November 27, at 4:00 p.m. in the Maza Gilde Amatu Street 3/5, Riga. Minister of the Environment Raimonds Vejonis, Ministry of the Environment State secretary Guntis Pukitis and head of the Investment unit Vija Geme will present awards for municipalities on contribution in the development of environmental infrastructure and nature protection.

On November 20, in the meeting of the State Secretaries, Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „Regulations on restrictions in using detergents with phosphate” (hereafter – regulations project) was announced.

In this weekend – the time before state celebration – Razna National park will face a pleasant surprise organized by Razna Youth volunteers and administration of Razna National park. On November 15 and 16 there will be activities in existing and potential natural tourism objects. The stairs of Makonkalns will be restored the unique but still infamous stones in Makonkalns and Kaunata will be cleansed. People tell the stories about these stones – part of Jugulu stone has been used once to build the Statue of Liberty in Riga.

In the beginning of November the implementation of contracts about recovering dump sites in Madlienas region, Aluksne, Balvi, Gulbene and Madona Districts by recovering 59 dump sites which are not corresponding to legislation. The total area of recovered dump sites is 76 hectares. The contracts have been implemented in the frameworks of the European Union Cohesion Fund “The Management of Household Waste in Madlienas region, Latvia” and the total costs without VAT is more than 3,36 million euro (2,36 million lats).

On November 13 Environment Consultative Council which unites 20 nongovernmental environmental organizations organizes seminar „Future Scenario for Power Sector in Latvia”. It takes place in the Ministry of the Environment, room 409 at 2 o’clock p.m.

On November 7, Minister of the Environment Raimond Vejonis will visit Cesu region in order to present Green Certificate to farm „Jaun-Ievinas” ir Rauna municipality and farm „Celmi” in Vaive municipality.

On November 6, in the meeting of the State Secretaries, Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „Amendments on Cabinet of Ministers No 242 on April 6, 2004 “Regulations on Components and Materials of Cars which can contain Compounds with Lead, Mercury, Cadmium or Chromium VI” (hereafter – regulations project) was announced.

On November 3 it was announced that the sea is polluted with unknown substance in the region of Liepaja from the Nica municipality to the Southern jetty of Liepaja. Visually it doesn’t look like the oil pollution and resembles some kind of food. In this region the sea has been polluted with palm oil more than once. Laboratory analysis have testified that this substance contains fatty acids, but they still can’t tell is this a palm oil, nut oil or some other vegetable produce. This information will be available after all analysis will be complete.

On November 4, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Instruction Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „Waste Management Plan of Liepaja Region 2006 – 2013” (hereafter – the plan) was announced.

On November 4, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „On Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No 869 on October 24, 2006 “Regulations on Waste Management Plan of Liepaja Region 2006 – 2013” invalidation” was announced.

On November 4, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „Regulations on action program “Infrastructure and Services” additional activity 3.4.1.3. “Establishing infrastructure for ex situ conservation in order to keep biological diversity” (hereafter – the regulations project) was announced.

On October 30, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Amendments on Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No 415 on July 22, 2003 „Regulations on Protection and Exploitation of Protected Areas”” (hereafter – Regulations Project).

On October 30, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “General Regulations on Protection and Exploitation of Natural Preserves” (hereafter – Regulations Project).

On October 30, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Amendments on Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No 446 on June 17, 2008 „Procedure in which the Nature Resource Tax for Packaging and Disposable Dishes and Tableware is Discharged””(hereafter – Regulations Project).

On October 28 evening in the river Musa near the border with Lithuania dead fish were found. Several days before dead fish have been found in the river Levuo, which disgorges in Musa 15 km from the border of Latvia with Lithuania. Ministry of the Environment of Lithuania had not informed Ministry of the Environment of Latvia about this issue yet. The express analysis of the water confirms that the concentration of pollution most likely is very small. The level of oxygen in the water of Musa is high, and it leads to conclusion that dead fish are the ones which have been transferred to the territory of Latvia by the flow from the river Levuo.

On October 21, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „Regulations on Action Program „Infrastructure and Services” Additional Underactivity No 3.4.1.5.1. „Decreasing Flood Threats in Plavinas and Jekabpils”” (hereafter – Regulations Project) was accepted.

On October 30 in Riga, Elizabetes Street 21 the opening seminar of the programme „Integrated Environmental Policy in Latvia” financed by European Economic Zone. Minister of the Environment Raimons Vējonis and His Excellency Ambassador of Norway to Latvia Nils Olav Stava will participate in this event. The aim of this seminar is to introduce the urgency of this programme and the existing situation in Latvia associated with content of the programme and two projects which will be implemented in the terms of open contests – „Interdisciplinary Research and Increasing of Capacity in Integrating Environmental Policy” and „Environmental Technologies and Eco-Innovation”.

From October 29 till November 2 the Ministry of the Environment organizes regional seminars for European Regional Development Fund Project submitters for financial planning period for 2007 -2013 in activity „Development of Water Management Infrastructure in Agglomerations with Population under 2000”. All water management service providers are welcome to these seminars.

From October 27, 2008 till January 27, 2009 administrators of water management service can submit the applications for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in order to receive financing from 2007 – 2013 planning period in activity 3.4.1.1. “Development of Water Management Infrastructure in Agglomerations with Population under 2000”

On October 28 Minister of the Environment Raimonds Vējonis meets EU commissar Andris Piebalgs in Paris, France in order to discuss the opinion of Latvia towards new EU Climate and Energy Policy package. Minister will also take part in international conference „Towards low carbon energy”. It aims at preparing the implementation of the SET Plan for a better efficiency of Research and Innovation in Europe. Speakers will present the ambitions of the SET plan and the challenges to accelerate Research and Innovation in Europe

On October 23, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Classification of water basin economic districts” was announced (hereafter – Regulations Project).

On October 23, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Individual Regulations on Protection and Exploitation of Nature Reserve “Sedas purvs” was announced (hereafter – Regulations Project).

On October 23, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Individual Regulations on Protection and Exploitation of Nature Reserve “Abeli”” was announced (hereafter – Regulations Project).

On October 22 in Riga the civil agreement was signed between the Ministry of Environment and „Vinda Ltd.” from Cesis city about implementation of the project „Water Management Development Project stage III in Cesis” for the EU finance planning period 2007 – 2013. The Project will be implementd by the support of EU Cohesion Fund and its total expenses are 6 795 005,38 lats.

On October 21, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers Draft Law prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Amendments on Law on Teici Natural Preserve” hereafter – Regulations Project) was accepted.

On October 21, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “On Invalidation of Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No 871 on October 24, 2006 “Regulations on Ventspils Regional Waste Management Plan 2006 – 2013”” (hereafter – Regulations Project) was accepted. It will be replaced by Cabinet of Ministers Direction Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Ventspils Regional Waste Management Plan 2008 – 2013”.

On October 21, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Special Regulations on Protection and Exploitation of the restricted area “Garkalnes forests”” (hereafter – Regulations Project) was accepted.

On October 21, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers Draft Law prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Amendments on Latvian Administrative Violations Code” (hereafter – Draft Law) was accepted.

On October 21, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment „Amendments on Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No 1002 on December 27, 2005 „Registration Order of Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturers”” (hereafter – Regulations Project) was accepted.

Minister of the Environment Raimonds Vējonis together with delegation form Latvia participates in EU Environment Council Meeting which takes place in Luxembourg from October 20 to October 21. The meeting will start with wide political discussions about climate changes and power industry issues, as well as cultivating genetically modified organisms.

An international conference “Climate Change: Everybody’s Business”, organised by the British Embassy took place at the hotel “Radisson SAS Latvija” on 16 October 2008. Minister of the Environment Raimonds Vējonis took part in the conference with inspiring opening speech, where he emphasized the need to climate changes and power industry.

An international conference “Climate Change: Everybody’s Business”, organised by the British Embassy in partnership with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Latvian Employers’ Federation (LDDK) and the Ministry of the Environment will take place at the hotel “Radisson SAS Latvija” on 16 October 2008.

On October 15, at 3 p.m. in Jelgavas region Livberzes rural municipality Minister of the Environment will open the new Zemgale region household waste deposit area „Braski”, which corresponds to al environmental demands. Deposit area has been built within the framework of EU Cohesion Fund Project „Management of Household Waste in Zemgale Region” and it is the seventh deposit area of a kind in Latvia.

On September 13, in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers Draft Law prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “Krustkalnu Natural Preserve Law” (hereafter – Draft Law) was accepted.

On October 9, in the meeting of the Secretaries of the State, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment “The Registration Order for Foreign Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturers” (hereafter – Regulations Project).