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ECOLOGISTS INTEND TO RAISE ISSUE OF A NEW NUCLEAR WASTE REPOSITORY AT THE LEVEL OF THREE MINISTRIES
ArmInfo
2010-06-07 18:14:00
ArmInfo. Ecologists are going to raise the issue of a new repository
for nuclear and other chemical waste at the level of three ministries.
To recall, the exploration near the villages of Zangakatun and
Urtsalanj to choose the place for the repository has raised a real
wave of protest among the local residents. The drilling operations in
the administrative lands of Zangakatun were launched in April without
warning the residents and the rural administration. As a result,
the villagers cordoned off the road and drove the drillers out of
their territory.
The Yerevan Sate University's Prospecting Center, which carries out
the exploration, states that the repository will be situated in the
areas inapplicable for agricultural work and cattle grazing, while
the villagers say that the chosen place is in the center of plough
lands of the community. Moreover, the water pipelines of irrigation
system of three villages - Paruyr Sevak, Tigranashen and Yerakhas
are only 200 meters away from the exploration place.
Head of EcoLur NGO Inga Zarafyan said at today's debates at the Aarhus
Center that the work for choice of the place for the new repository
is being carried out in accordance with the governmental decision
dated 23 July 2009. At the same time, not a single document points
out precisely what waste and from what enterprises is to be buried
in the repository. It is noteworthy that according to the standards
of the International Atomic Energy Agency, these data are to be
known at the stage of choice of the territories applicable for the
waste repository. However, neither the Yerevan State University's
Prospecting Center, which is carrying out the exploration, nor
the Armenian Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, which is
the contractor, possesses precise information about the waste the
repository is meant for.
Zarafyan doubts that the decision implies medical, laboratory or
chemical waste. "One thing is clear - we are dealing with a vicious
cycle of governmental decisions. Still, it remains unclear why the
Government has decided to create this repository and what is supposed
to be buried there," Zarafyan said noting that no public hearings
have been held in the village of Zangakatun, which is contrary to
Aarhus Convention.
"We are going to demand that the ministries of energy and natural
resources, health care and environment protection specify the
grounds of this decision and explain what this site is designed for,"
Zarafyan said.
From: A. Papazian
ArmInfo
2010-06-07 18:14:00
ArmInfo. Ecologists are going to raise the issue of a new repository
for nuclear and other chemical waste at the level of three ministries.
To recall, the exploration near the villages of Zangakatun and
Urtsalanj to choose the place for the repository has raised a real
wave of protest among the local residents. The drilling operations in
the administrative lands of Zangakatun were launched in April without
warning the residents and the rural administration. As a result,
the villagers cordoned off the road and drove the drillers out of
their territory.
The Yerevan Sate University's Prospecting Center, which carries out
the exploration, states that the repository will be situated in the
areas inapplicable for agricultural work and cattle grazing, while
the villagers say that the chosen place is in the center of plough
lands of the community. Moreover, the water pipelines of irrigation
system of three villages - Paruyr Sevak, Tigranashen and Yerakhas
are only 200 meters away from the exploration place.
Head of EcoLur NGO Inga Zarafyan said at today's debates at the Aarhus
Center that the work for choice of the place for the new repository
is being carried out in accordance with the governmental decision
dated 23 July 2009. At the same time, not a single document points
out precisely what waste and from what enterprises is to be buried
in the repository. It is noteworthy that according to the standards
of the International Atomic Energy Agency, these data are to be
known at the stage of choice of the territories applicable for the
waste repository. However, neither the Yerevan State University's
Prospecting Center, which is carrying out the exploration, nor
the Armenian Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, which is
the contractor, possesses precise information about the waste the
repository is meant for.
Zarafyan doubts that the decision implies medical, laboratory or
chemical waste. "One thing is clear - we are dealing with a vicious
cycle of governmental decisions. Still, it remains unclear why the
Government has decided to create this repository and what is supposed
to be buried there," Zarafyan said noting that no public hearings
have been held in the village of Zangakatun, which is contrary to
Aarhus Convention.
"We are going to demand that the ministries of energy and natural
resources, health care and environment protection specify the
grounds of this decision and explain what this site is designed for,"
Zarafyan said.
From: A. Papazian