Prague, Aug 12 (CTK) – The Czech Senate Wednesday passed a new law preventing serious accidents caused by toxic chemical substances, introducing into Czech law a European directive and replacing the law of 2006 as it does not comply with the current European regulations.
The law is to influence operators of roughly 200 plants, including the biggest one such as the Spolana Neratovice chemical company.
The legislation is yet to be signed by President Milos Zeman.
The law introduces the system of processing the security documents and fees for their approval for the operators of the plants such as chemical works and storage areas.
The regional authorities are to ensure expert views for their further decision-making.
The approval of the documents will be subjected to administrative fees ranging from 15,000 to 60,000 crowns. From their proceeds, the regions will pay the costs of the assessment of the documentation.
Due to the European directive, the new law will also cover underground gas tanks. There are eight of them in the Czech Republic now.
Their operators will have to draft the relevant security documentation and introduce a system of prevention of serious accidents.
The Environment Ministry says serious accidents occur roughly once a year, especially after elemental disasters.
