Bulgarian environmental enforcement and inspections

Bulgarian Regional Inspectorates of Environment and Water (RIOSV) have conducted extensive enforcement actions and investigations regarding pollution and waste management.

In September, inspectorates carried out over 2,000 inspections across more than 1,800 sites. These actions resulted in approximately 468,038 euros in fines and property sanctions, with an additional 335,102 euros issued for exceeding air and water pollution limits. Enforcement activities included cleaning 32 illegal waste sites, sealing a facility involved in the illegal use of chemical substances, and investigating reports of white formations on beaches.

Subsequent inspections were triggered by citizen reports of odors and air quality issues. In Dimitrovgrad, sulfur dioxide concentrations were recorded at up to 2.09 times the hourly norm, which authorities attributed to emissions from the Maritsa 3 thermal power plant and specific meteorological conditions. In Ruse, emergency checks in the Eastern Industrial Zone investigated reports of petroleum odors and smoke, though monitoring stations did not record any exceedances of pollutant norms during those investigations.