Аннотация:In this article the author considers the conditions of use of the term “modernization” with regards the legal regulation of the environmental relations. The purpose of development of the environmental law and legislation consists in resolution of the escalated problems of legal, economical and managerial nature as well as the problems of formation of the ecological conscience in the society. In modern times the particular feature of improvement of the environmental legislation consists mainly in resort to legal norms and institutes that were applied in the past period and that are lost nowadays. This approach agrees with the instructions issued by the President of the Russian Federation to the Government of the Russian Federation following a meeting of the Presidium of the State Council of the Russian Federation of May 27, 2010.