The Editorial Board of "Prawne Problemy Górnictwa i Ochrony Środowiska" ["Legal Issues in Mining and Environmental Protection"] provides mechanisms for correcting published content in cases where errors, irregularities, or breaches of ethical standards that may affect the reliability of a publication are identified.

The purpose of corrections, retractions, and editorial notices is to safeguard scientific integrity, ensure transparency towards readers, and preserve the integrity of the scholarly record. These measures are not intended to penalize authors but rather to maintain the reliability and trustworthiness of academic literature.

COPE Standards

The Journal follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and applies principles concerning:

• determining cases requiring corrections, errata, editorial notices, or retractions;
• ensuring transparent communication with readers through clear identification of a publication's status;
• documenting proceedings and allowing all interested parties to present their positions;
• maintaining proportionality and consistency in decision-making;
• safeguarding the integrity and reliability of the scholarly record.

Types of Actions

Correction

Corrections or errata are published when errors do not affect the principal findings, conclusions, or scholarly value of an article, particularly in cases involving:

• editorial mistakes;
• errors in footnotes or references;
• incorrect descriptions of tables, figures, or illustrations;
• other unintentional inaccuracies requiring public correction.

Expression of Concern

The Editorial Board may publish an editorial notice (Expression of Concern) where there are reasonable grounds to suspect serious irregularities and the investigation is still ongoing.

Such a notice is intended to inform readers about potential concerns regarding the reliability of a publication while preserving the presumption of the authors' integrity until the investigation has been completed.

Retraction

A publication may be retracted if the Editorial Board loses confidence in the reliability of the findings or content, particularly in cases involving:

• plagiarism or self-plagiarism;
• data falsification or manipulation;
• significant substantive errors that undermine the validity of the publication;
• infringement of copyright;
• failure to disclose a significant conflict of interest;
• manipulation of the peer-review or editorial process;
• other serious breaches of publication ethics.

Principles Governing Corrections and Retractions

Corrections, editorial notices, and retractions are published:

• in a clear and visible manner;
• with explicit reference to the original publication;
• promptly upon completion of the investigative process;
• under the Journal's open-access policy.

As a general rule, retracted articles are not removed from the Journal's website. They retain their bibliographic information, DOI, and full traceability; however, their status is clearly marked as "RETRACTED", accompanied by an explanatory notice stating the reasons for the retraction.

The removal of published content may occur only in exceptional circumstances prescribed by law, particularly in cases involving violations of privacy, compliance with a court order, or significant threats to public safety. In such instances, the publication metadata and information concerning the reasons for removal shall remain available.

Procedure for Handling Reports of Irregularities

Upon receiving a report, the Editor-in-Chief shall:

1. Register and document the matter.
2. Conduct a preliminary assessment of the merits of the allegation.
3. Contact the authors and other relevant parties, providing them with an opportunity to present their views.
4. Where necessary, seek the opinions of experts, reviewers, or competent academic institutions.
5. Decide whether to issue a correction, an editorial notice, a retraction, or to close the case without further action.
6. Inform the parties concerned of the outcome and the reasons underlying the decision.

The decision to retract a publication rests with the Editor-in-Chief, who acts in accordance with the principles of editorial independence and the protection of scholarly integrity.

Confidentiality and Data Protection

Proceedings relating to corrections and retractions are conducted with due regard for confidentiality and the protection of personal data. Published information is limited to what is necessary to ensure transparency in the publishing process and to safeguard the integrity of scholarly communication.

Contact for Ethical Matters

Reports concerning errors, requests for corrections, or information regarding potential breaches of publication ethics should be submitted to: grzegorz.dobrowolski@us.edu.pl