Hungary in transition: Environmental, economic, and political realities

Conference · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1992 · Environmental Professional; (United States)

OSTI ID:5974971

Csanady, A ^[1]; Csutora, M ^[2]; Feher, S; Melanson, M ^[3]; Karas, L ^[4]; Radnai, A ^[5]

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1. ELTE Nature Conservation Club, Budapest (Hungary)
2. Budapest Univ. of Economic Sciences, Budapest (Hungary)
3. Global Environment, Sacramento, CA (United States)
4. Peace Corps, Budapest (Hungary). Environmental Programs
5. Ministry of Environment and Regional Planning, Budapest (Hungary)

In the several years since the withdrawal of the centralized Soviet government, the unfortunate state of the environment in Hungary has become evident. After the withdrawal of the centralized Soviet approach to resource management and the first free democratic elections in Hungary, the state of the environment improved immediately in some areas due to the bankruptcy of heavy industries suddenly bereft of Soviet subsidies. Currently, the government is struggling with the development of NEPA-like legislation (the Environmental Act), which is intended to be modeled after the environmental acts of western countries and in harmony with the European Communities guidelines. The Environmental Act will include a section dealing with requirements for environmental impacts assessment. The most immediate and obvious environmental problems are air pollution and the contamination of potable groundwater and surface water supplies. Nearly 20% of the population now depends on contaminated drinking water sources, and 40% of the population is exposed to significant air pollution. Sources of ground and surface water contamination are the intensive, centralized agricultural practices which were initiated in the early 1960's, and the disposal of hazardous and toxic wastes by both the private sector and by the Soviet military at abandoned installations throughout the country.

• OSTI ID: 5974971
• Report Number(s): CONF-930523--
• Journal Information: Environmental Professional; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Professional; (United States) Vol. Supplement; ISSN 0191-5398; ISSN EPROD9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
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Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
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Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
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GROUND WATER
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HUNGARY
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LEGISLATION
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OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLITICAL ASPECTS
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WASTE DISPOSAL
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WATER
WATER POLLUTION