EcoLur
On 23 July the public hearings of Arjut open pitch mining project was held in Yerevan, where it was found out that the main environmental risks are not assessed in the project.
'The project is missing the environmental impact assessment. It doesn't have anything else but impact on atmosphere...There are no studies on flora and fauna, water resources, it's like a master's thesis...This project should have been sent back from the first stage...This project won't undergo any expertise,' Levon Galstyan, the member of Pan-Armenian Environmental Front, expressed his concerns. He is also concerned that the project is also missing the mine closedown project.
In reply Azat Vardanyan, Director of 'Baktech Eco' LLC – mine developer, said, 'Armenia has no methodology got reclaiming, the mining methodology is Canadian, which is considered to be the cleanest in the world, so I can't imagine having any problem.'
During the hearings a question was raised about the mountainous and mineral springs in the studied area. Azat Vardanyan said, 'We don't have any connection with these springs, as the mineral water mine located in another side.'
Karine Movsisyan, an expert at 'Environmental Expertise' SNCO of Nature Protection Ministry of Armenia, mentioned this area has water formations. Under her, certain studies have been carried out, nevertheless, the project documentation doesn't show them and the project lacks many data. Karine Movsisyan outlined the project is subject to supplementing and amending, which will then be submitted to expertise, but new public hearings won't be held.
July 24, 2014 at 10:24