This Act governs the ownership, exploration and use of resources found underground on land, beneath lakes and rivers, and within the near-shore seabed zone. It defines subsurface resources broadly to include minerals, metals, coal, petroleum, natural gas, geothermal energy and groundwater. Ownership generally follows land ownership, while resources in public lands belong to the Icelandic State. The Environment and Energy Agency promotes and coordinates research, collects data and advises government on efficient resource use. Exploration and utilisation normally require Agency permits, which may specify the area, resource, duration, extraction volume, environmental and safety measures, monitoring, insurance and site restoration. In deciding whether to grant utilisation permits, the Agency must consider environmental concerns, economic efficiency and existing nearby uses. The Act contains specific regimes for minerals, geothermal resources and groundwater. Certain common materials such as rock, gravel, sand and clay may be explored and used by landowners without an Agency permit, although extraction may still require municipal development authorisation. Landowners may use geothermal energy up to 3.5 MW and groundwater up to 70 litres per second for specified domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes without a utilisation permit, subject to notification and technical or safety conditions. Resource use must be managed sustainably: geothermal energy and groundwater should not be extracted beyond what is necessary, operators must avoid pollution and ecological damage, and sites and boreholes must be properly restored or closed when use ends. The Act also provides for supervision, reporting, compensation and expropriation where necessary, permit revocation for non-compliance, administrative appeals and fines for violations.
آيسلندا · 1998-06-10