On October 21, 2022, the session of Sevan Lake Expert Committee of NAS RA was held, where the issue of the impact of non-metallic mines on Sevan Lake ecosystem was discussed.
Committee Chair, Bardukh Gabrielyan, noted that, non-metallic mines can have a cumulative effect on "Sevan" national park in Sevan catchment basin, especially in Martuni area, pose a serious threat to changing the landscape, biodiversity in the upper reaches of the rivers. Khachatur Meliksetyan, Committee Deputy Chair, Director of Institute of Geological Sciences of NAS RA, noted that according to RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures, 25 permits for soil management of non-metallic mines have been issued in Sevan Lake catchment basin, but space images show that there are 38 large and small pits in Geghhovit basalt mine area as of 2019, and more in 2022.
A decision was reached that Sevan Lake Expert Committee of NAS RA should write to TAI and Environment Ministry, in order to carry out a strategic EIA assessment for Lake Sevan catchment basin to find out what kind of aggregate impact the various types of economic activities in the basin exert on Lake Sevan.
Then, EIA report on the establishment of the planned medical waste incineration plant in Vardadzor community, Gegharkunik Region, was discussed. The Committee members expressed their concerns that the facility will be located 600 m away from "Sevan" National Park.
Science Popularization and Public Relations Department of NAS RA
October 24, 2022 at 13:43