Yorkshire Water has received fines for breaches of environmental law.

A serious breach of environmental law is therefore not necessarily punishable in every Member State.

The Commission received 555 new complaints alleging breaches of environmental law, slightly fewer than in 2001.

The number of prosecutions for breaches of environmental law indicates that enforcement levels are low.

It also hears alleged breaches of environmental laws.

The level of fines for breaches of environmental law do not offer an adequate deterrent and collection rates remain low.

It has the power to review certain administrative decisions, enforce civil rights relating to planning, or to impose penalties for certain breaches of environmental law.

Environmental costs are generally defined narrowly, as costs incurred in compliance with, or breach of environmental laws or regulations.

- Mr President, I am rising on the issue of breaches of environmental law in Ireland, specifically relating to water quality.

Nevertheless, we are concerned, as I have already mentioned, that in many cases the Commission arrives on the scene too late after a flagrant breach of environmental laws.

Where breaches of environmental law are identified and are not resolved, action will be taken under Articles 226 and 228 of the EC Treaty.

It is essential that individuals who are directly affected by breaches of environmental law have a means of redress, whether through an appeal body, the Ombudsman or, if necessary, through the courts.

In March 2001, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Directive that for the first time would introduce legal sanctions for breaches of environmental law at European Community level.

The first is paragraph 15, which calls on the Commission to bring forward proposals for the thorough and timely application of Article 171 of the EC Treaty to breaches of environmental law.

The MoEF had rejected the Vedanta firm's mining project in Odisha's Niyamgiri hills, home of the Dongria Kondh tribe, citing breach of environmental law and concerns over the rights of local tribes.

The Commission has also decided to present a Communication to outline the means that we can use to prevent breaches of environmental law and to set out criteria for identifying infringement cases which need most immediate and intensive Commission legal action.

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Leaders of a tiny, native village off Canada's remote northwest coast on Friday defended their decision to dump 120 tons of iron dust into the ocean as a legal experiment to revive salmon stocks, but Canada said it was investigating a possible breach of environmental law.