Classification of special legal means of ensuring environmental safety during subsoil development in the Arctic zone of Russia

Abstract

In order to assess the legal regulation in the sphere of ensuring environmental safety in the development of subsoil in the Arctic zone of Russia, the system is investigated and the classification of special legal means provided by the legislation on subsoil and environmental protection is developed. Based on the analysis of the legal definition of «environmental safety», two groups of special legal means are singled out: 1. prevention of negative impact on the environment; 2. liquidation of consequences of negative impact on the environment. The methodological basis of the study was general scientific and private legal methods. The system of special legal means of ensuring environmental safety in subsoil development regulated by the legislation requires its further development, in particular, the legislation does not define the procedure for environmental certification, there is no legal regulation of the implementation of environmental audit as a measure aimed at reducing the negative impact of economic activity on the environment. The rules of land reclamation do not have special norms aimed at restoring the natural environment after the development of mineral deposits. It is proposed to change the approach to the solution of the mentioned issue through the restoration of the natural landscape. Landscape reclamation will be the foundation for the renewal of the disturbed ecosystem after mining.