EcoLur
The preliminary results of geoprospecting in the territory of Zangakatoun and Ourtsalanj Villages (Ararat Region) on locating an appropriate place to construct a waste burial site for radioactive and hazardous chemical substances and wastes are submitted to the Republic Geological fund. As Energy and Natural Resources Ministry’s official reply to EcoLur’s enquiry says, ‘Conducting works for topographic mapping of soils for to bury radioactive and hazardous chemical substances and wastes in the territory of the Republic of Armenia’ program was implemented only by 22.8%. The Center for Geological Studies of Yerevan State University couldn’t complete the works, as the locals hindered program implementation.
The Ministry’s reply says: “Under government decree № 228 dated on 22.02.2007, according to para. 5, project norms for burial and sterilization of radioactive and hazardous chemical substances and wastes are vested on Urban Development Ministry of Armenia.’
Still we can’t understand what kind of construction norms Urban Development Ministry can be guided by, if the public was introduced with the guiding document for constructing a burial site for radioactive wastes in the course of discussions at the Aarhus Center in June 2010. This is the IAEA norms, factual instructions that should be complied with in a mandatory manner. We still need to know how Urban Development Ministry is related with these norms.
February 10, 2011