Regional environment inspectorates carried out 2,092 checks at 1,834 sites across Bulgaria in September, the Ministry of Environment and Water said. The 15 inspectorates (RIOSV) check sites under an inspection plan.

Inspectors gave 490 orders to fix violations and take other steps. They also drew up 90 reports of offences under the Environmental Protection Act and related laws. Eight of them were for orders that were not carried out.

Officials issued 48 penalty decrees, with fines and property penalties totalling €468,038.01. Ten of the penalties, worth €335,102.28, were under Article 69 of the act, for air and water pollution above legal limits. Of all the fines and penalties imposed, €77,356.83 has been collected, including sums paid under agreements between the penalising authority and the offender.

The checks also covered how clean towns and villages are. At sites polluted by illegal waste dumping, inspectors made 82 checks, gave 49 orders, drew up five reports and issued two penalty decrees. A total of 32 sites have been cleaned up.

Between 21 September and 9 October, experts from the Sofia inspectorate checked the Republika thermal power plant in Pernik six times and found violations.