Pilot Project Summary - Bulgaria Lovech & Troyan Counties, Bulgaria: The Right to Know and to Participate in Water Management NGO: Association for Useful Activities “Ecomission 21 Century” Project Leader: Nelly Miteva Project Background According to a recent report from the Executive Environmental Agency (2005), the Osam River is the most polluted in Bulgaria. However, the people of the Lovech and Troyan Counties are not adequately informed about how the watershed is managed, and how they can gain access to environmental information, even though they are quite active in other areas of social and economic life. While industry is not the only cause of pollution, it is believed that Lesoplast plant, which operates without an IPPC permit, contributes significantly to the problem. Another plant, Actavis in Troyan, has recently been issued a permit but the public has not been informed of the conditions and effects of this permit. Project Activities Ecomission 21 Century is addressing these problems through assessment, awareness raising, and capacity building activities: 1. Preliminary assessment of barriers to accessing environmental information and work-shopping for solutions by: submitting an access to information request to the Municipalities of Lovech and Troyan, the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water-Pleven and the Danube River Basin Directorate, and the Regional Inspectorate of the Protection and Control of Human Health (Troyan and Lovech). Requests will be made for data on water quality and human health, pollution sources and risks, a copy of the complex permit of Actavis and information on the monitoring and fulfillment of permit requirements; holding a workshop for representatives of the appropriate country governments and water authorities in order to discuss the current state of access to information; drafting a proposal for change at the workshop; making a second access request to test improvements; and work-shopping to formalize proposed changes. 2. Engage in public outreach and information sharing by: forwarding proposed changes via CDs to other municipalities; distributing information on access issues through internet networks and a brochure; and communicating water quality, human health, and access difficulties to the public through media coverage to increase awareness of water issues facing communities In the end, these activities will test Bulgarian Law relating to access to information, propose concrete steps to make information accessible, and encourage the translation of best practices to different counties and water basins in Bulgaria.

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