Nature Protection Ministry Should Recognize Amulsar Project Hearings Held

EcoLur

The public hearings on Amulsar gold mine closedown project was held on 21 June, though the people responsible for the organization of the hearings were not on the spot. Reminder: Nature Protection Ministry displayed an announcement on its website that the public hearing on the closedown of Amulsar gold mine would be held in Gorayk Village, Syunik Region, at 11:00 on 21 June. The project had been submitted by “Geoteam” CJSC. Public representatives from Yerevan and Jermuk had arrived at the public hearings. Nevertheless, upon the arrival of the village we were told neither village head Arustam Arustamyan nor Geoteam Company representatives were present at the hearings. “Geoteam Company employer Aram Parunakyan called us yesterday evening around 6-7 p.m. and told us the public hearings were postponed. Before that our social worker personally knocked at each door and told everybody to come to the meeting irregardless of their age and sex. But when we learnt that hearings were postponed, we called and warned no hearings would be held,” said Gorayk villager Marietta Grigoryan.
Levon Galstyan, a member of the Pan-Armenian Environmental Front, thinks that RA Law “On Environmental Impact Expert Assessment” doesn’t lay down something like that. “The public hearings have officially been declared and Nature Protection Ministry hasn’t displayed any other announcement. If there is an essential reason, why the hearings are postponed, they should have informed beforehand and displayed it officially on the website of Nature Protection Ministry. I can’t understand what it means that the company has postponed the hearings. Lydian International Company (100% owner of “Geoteam” CJSC shares) says it adheres to international standards. Under which standard the statutory event is postponed? The company declares itself to be an English one, but whether such behavior is acceptable in England? Whether it’s acceptable in Armenia,” Levon Galstyan said.
Vazgen Galstyan, Chairman of Jermuk Development Center, thinks that the public hearings can be considered as held like “Environmental Expertise” SNCO thinks. When we point out that the company didn’t turn up for any public hearings, it says, so what, so we have this sort of hearings. The law doesn’t prescribe obligatory present either of the company or project developers.”
Nevertheless, the public held public hearings of the project gathering Gorayk villagers. Below we present the record of the discussions and the list of signatures:
Inga Zarafyan, EcoLur: “What kind of question would like to clarify about Amulsar mine closedown?”
Gorayk Villager: “A month ago our village head was sent to America to show him a similar mine. He arrived and told us the mine would cause no damage. He didn’t see any risks. We asked him whether what he was resembled to Kapan? The village head answered that it was like heaven and earth. If the company operates like that, there won’t be any risks.”
Inga Zarafyan: “What company do you speak about? Under the information presented by Lydian International, they don’t have any projects in the USA.”
Gorayk Villager: “I don’t know. The village head said we would have the same.”
Inga Zarafyan: “Under the project, you will have 50 million tons of dumps. The project doesn’t say anything about the composition of the ore and the composition of the dumps. Wouldn’t you like to know what the compositions were like and whether there are any harmful substances? ”
Gorayk Villager: “We asked about it and we always got an answer there are harmful substances. Naturally we know they exist, but we have no idea about their quantity and type.”
Geoteam Employee: “We are not concerned with 50 million tons of dumps. We were told these 50 million tons will be sent back to the mine and closed down. If the rules are adhered to and people will work in good faith, everything will be in order. What about 50 million tons, we have many pastures and I think we won’t harm us. The company showed a similar mine in the Netherlands to us, near the school, and it’s now filled with water.”
Inga Zarafyan: “What kind of mine it was? Metallic, non-metallic, gold or charcoal?”
Gorayk Villager: “I don’t know, probably gold mine. The screen showed it was filled with water and was located in a distance of 2 km from the school. But I don’t know what kind of mine it was – maybe gold or molybdenum or charcoal. But if there is a school nearby, it means there is no harm for people.”
Gorayk Villager: “We know about risks. But it’s government decision. So what, shouldn’t the government take care of us, to know about the risks and what to do?”
Gorayk Villager: “We are well aware of the risks. But if we don’t work there, somebody else will be sent to work instead of us. Our social conditions have improved. Now people are coming back to their homes, and we should think about our health. It’s a mine, eventually. The company helps us with the medical checkups. Our sociologist is disseminating information sheets. Have a look what the information sheet says and what good things the company does, but the health is more important. Our water is of very poor quality, even makes holes in the dishes. There are many ill people in the village. But nobody knows what the water contains. The inspection comes and fines the administration and that’s it.”
On behalf of the public representatives taking part in the public discussions on Amulsar gold mine closedown project held on 21 June in Gorayk Village, we would like to ask Nature Protection Ministry to recognize the public hearings in Gorayk as held and to appoint the second specialized public hearings in Yerevan.

June 24, 2013 at 15:10