Advisor of the Academy of Sciences of Sakha (Yakutia), Doctor of Biology, Candidate of Geographical Sciences, professor, member of the Academy of Sciences of Sakha (Yakutia) Dmitry Savvinov Vilyuya the lessons about what to remember when the industrial development of the republic and the major environmental issues of Yakutia.
Recently, in Yakutia are increasingly raising questions of environmental safety. People are concerned about the impact of the second round of large-scale industrial development of the country, which, in general, it is clear, given that Yakutia has had to deal with its negative consequences. Professor Dmitry Savvinov know about them firsthand: a long time he worked as director of the Institute of Applied Ecology of the North, in the late ’90s, he led an expedition to the investigating environmental problems in Vilyuiskaya group ulus. About what lessons must be learned from past experience, and what environmental issues need to be addressed in the first place, he told YSIA.
Dmitry, Vilyusky region in the country has become almost synonymous with ecological trouble. What is the reason such a situation?
– Environmental problems in areas Vilyuiskaya group emerged in 1989. As it turned out, the cause was a flagrant violation of production technology and industrial diamonds. Like now, when the country had two types of diamond – mining the bedrock and the open mining. Environmental pollution and, above all, the basin Viluy occurred in both cases.
When mining diamonds from bedrock is necessary to enrich the huge amount of ore. When working enrichment plant, it uses a lot of clean water, which is taken as a rule, from the rivers. By good technology after using it must be made of water purification, after which the purified water is drained into the source, i.e. in the river. This is the ideal. But if you really look at things, you achieve an absolutely clean water is impossible, because there are no sewage treatment technologies. On the scale of a city or town in rare cases it is possible, but on an industrial scale – hardly. In the late ’80s at the concentrators such technologies, of course, there was no discharge of wastewater went directly into the river system – Viluy River and its tributaries.
„…One year expedition was enough to gather a wealth of scientific material, which subsequently allowed to prove caused as a result of environmental damage diamond…”
The open diamond mining was conducted on the river then Irelyakh and used their washing drainage system. When such a drainage system works, there is turbidity water such turbid water contains a lot of solid fine particles. They settle and accumulate in the gills of fish, causing fish kills. Plus, the chemical elements that enter the river system with poorly treated water – they also accumulated in the organs, especially the liver and kidneys of river fish, which also caused her death. Also, these metals through the fish received the highest environmental level – the human body, of course, to a lesser extent – still innards fish we do not eat, but nonetheless. The population, of course, on top of all of this is not known.
Another powerful impetus was the formation Vilyui reservoir for the creation of which were flooded four villages, including large settlement Tuoy-Haya. People are moved, but many, mostly hunters, were out of work. Thus there was no compensation.
Though not immediately, but this situation angered the population, people began to speak, sometimes very hard, and they were right. As a result, the issue was raised in the Supreme Council YASSR who decided to intervene in the situation and to clarify it, he turned to the scientific forces.
„…Lessons Vilyuya should be taken into account in the implementation of major industrial projects…”
It was organized by a committee of leading scientists of Siberia, headed by Academician Joseph Gitelzon. After a survey of the population, the Commission concluded that the risk to human health exists, but to establish its causes need to organize an expedition to Vilyui group areas. This expedition took place in 1989, it coordinated the activities of the Yakut Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, headed by Hermogenes Crimean astrophysics. I then worked as head of the Department of Nature Conservation YSC and was appointed its chief. It was an impressive expedition, which was attended by 13 scientific institutions from all over Siberia. Unfortunately, she worked only a year, and then due to a lack of financing its activities to a halt. But one year was enough to gather a wealth of scientific material which is subsequently allowed to prove the environmental damage caused.
„…Transfer Institute of Applied Ecology of the North under federal jurisdiction was strategically wrong. As a federal structure, how will you defend the interests of citizens of the republic?…”
– What were the main results of your work?
– It was a very good, powerful expedition, employing many specialists, ranging from ichthyologists, and ending with the economists. First, we found out where the contaminants in Viluy. It was found that, in general, across rivers and Malaya Markha Botuobiya – where the drainage system worked, and went directly draining waste water into the river system. Then, based on the data on the nature and degree of contamination of our economists, headed by Director of the Institute of Regional Economy Yegor Yegorov estimated the total damage caused to the population group Vilyuiskaya areas. The figures were first handed to the Supreme Council YASSR, then to the Russian government, after which the Russian government issued a decree on the allocation of group Vilyuiskaya around 8% of the profits from the diamond. And to this day, four region – Nyurbinsk, Suntar, Vilyusky Verkhnevilyuisk and the 8% is obtained.
„…Overall, the experience Vilyui region says that touch the river system – is undesirable. But if touched, it is necessary to make sure that the intervention was minimal…”
– Did the continuation of these studies?
– As I said, the expedition worked all year, but in the future this work continued Institute of Applied Ecology of the North, who was then a part of the Academy of Sciences. Now it belongs to NEFU, because at the end of its two-thousand, along with other institutions handed over to the federal agencies.
I believe that it was the wrong decision, because the Institute of Applied Ecology of the North – is the only institution that defends the interests of the environment and quality of life in our region. And, being a federal structure as you can, to defend the interests of the citizens of the republic? So, strategically it was wrong. The costs of the Institute for the republic were minuscule, and it won? Now environmental interests who have advocated? Virtually none. Fortunately, that kept the Ministry of Nature Protection, but it is – not a scientific institution. A scientific basis is needed. On a scientific basis needed to defend their interests, not scare people, shouting: “We are perishing!”; from that nothing will. It is necessary to operate the specific facts: how many per cent of the destroyed how to change the quality of life of people, their health. Only then something can be proved and screaming can be any number.
„…At the beginning of the two thousandth oil spill happened in Lensk area, on one of the storage depots. Rose a real boom, it said that there is a powerful spot from Lensk toward Yakutsk, infects everything around. We were instructed to check whether this is so…”
Returning to Vilyuiskaya region: in the following years we have thoroughly studied the ecological state and the state of health of the population Privilyuyskogo pool. We have monitored Vilyuya river system, find out what contaminants it receives. The results of these comprehensive studies for the years 1989-1991 were published in the monograph “Environmental Viluy River” (1993) and “Ecology Basin Viluy: industrial pollution” (1991). Note that after the restoration work, the environment in the region has improved somewhat, but there are still many problematic issues. For example, the tailings – the problem will arise even in a few decades, so it needs to be solved now. Closed diamond industry, almazniki go and aggressive, heavy metals in the tailings will remain.
– As far as I know, Viluiskaya group of regions affected not only by the diamond industry, there were carried out underground nuclear explosions. We are investigating whether within the framework of the expedition their consequences?
– No, we focus on the diamond industry, I’ve insisted that we should not be dissipated. We even did not affect the power industry, in vain, of course. It would be good to hold the same complex studies aimed at radiology, but came 90th, the crisis, the problems began with the financing, so the expedition stopped their work.
– In your opinion, what kind of experience it is to be extracted from what has happened in the region Vilyui?
– Lessons Vilyuya should be taken into account in the implementation of major industrial projects. What exactly is to be manifested? First of all, each project must be scientifically underlying reason: it is necessary to know the current situation, in which case it can be dangerous, what is the critical level of this risk and what can be its source. Suppose gathered to build a chemical plant – need to thoroughly tell people what technology will be used, what the security of this technology, which of dangerous substances involved. The overall experience Vilyui region says that touch the river system – is undesirable. But if touched, it is necessary to make sure that the interference was minimal. Absolutely-closed production cycle can not be that something will still be released to the environment, but the damage, which in this case is applied, should be minimized, that is what you need to strive for. The river system is able to recover self-cleaning, but to a certain limit, so you need to make it clear that and how many will come back and explain that within certain limits the harm from these revenues will not.
„…Of course, the environmental movement – the phenomenon is extremely necessary, but it must be based on objective scientific data, that is to work closely with scientists…”
– You say that the river system has the ability to cleanse itself. How big is this ability?
– That this question be answered by science. Scientists must determine the threshold resilience of ecosystems, which will have an impact. In other words, the experts have to say: if the amount of impurities poured into the river below the threshold – okay, bearable. If you move the border – it is a disaster. Is the concept of “maximum permissible limits”, although the fact that there are now, I would not trust for the simple reason that they are designed for individual elements, and it is important to know their joint action, you know? But, for lack of anything else, you need to stick at them. In the end, there bioindicative methods that show in general feels a living organism as a result of an impact. History tells us that you need to be very careful, and since we live in an age of technical civilization, the basis of all science should be. Sometimes it happens that you need to take risks, but even at risk to be a scientific basis.
– The country has the resources to provide a scientific basis for ongoing projects?
– So, what you’re talking about is called the scientific potential. It is, but there is no funding, perhaps, is the only problem. Equipment is now sufficient to evaluate a particular project in terms of technical advancement and the possible impact on the environment so can we. If we do not have their own experts, you can invite those from the central regions, who know how to operate these plants, that’s all. Abroad, for example, trying not to attract the domestic expert assessment to be neutral.
„…We do not understand this, but the main problem that we will face in the near future – ecological safety of the Lena River. Lena is now in such a state that all accidents must be very well calculated…”
– Is it expensive? Involve experts from the outside?
– Very expensive. Abroad, this money is not spared, and we, on the contrary, often saving. But the scientific peer review in any case, need, first of all, in order to prevent speculation. Here is an example. At the beginning of the two thousandth oil spill happened in Lensk area, on one of the storage depots. Rose a real boom, it said that there is a powerful spot from Lensk toward Yakutsk, infects everything around. And then President Mikhail Nikolayev gave us a mandate to organize an expedition to check whether this is so. It turned out that, indeed, the oil spill was, it must be observed until Olekminsk but spot itself was not: the bulk of the oil has settled on the nearby islands. After some investigation, we concluded that there was no danger to Yakutsk no, what and declared. And if research was not, as it would be speculation on this, how much talking! Incidentally, it would be necessary to look again, what is the status of these islands, the soil.
„…The experts have to say: if the amount of impurities poured into the river below the threshold – okay, bearable. If you move the border – it is a disaster…”
-You Mentioned the chemical plant, whose construction has already caused quite a stir. In your opinion, what is the real danger of such a production?
– I agree with those who say that while there is no project, it makes no sense to raise a rebellion. It should be good to explore, to go to those regions where production is already there, such as Bashkortostan, Tatarstan has long engaged in this. See how everything is organized, they invite specialists here. From the horse’s mouth to know what technologies are used, how much river water take, and how much is poured back what has aggressive substances. In any case, the last word should be left for the experts – the truth will manifest itself when they will conclude, at the same time, it is desirable that an expert committee included not only our, but also invited experts, and that these were people who could later answer for their recommendations. That’s all.
As for the performances of environmentalists society activists, who say that everything is bad here, too, there is a very simple solution: it is necessary to organize a comprehensive environmental studies to pressure points – places where, in their opinion, there is pollution of the environment due to anthropogenic impacts. An expedition and be sure to include the most active representatives of public organizations.
– But perhaps such studies should involve experts?
– Well, if they know better than the experts, environmentalists, even part of the expeditionary groups work involved in sampling, watching how to do the analysis. If you do not believe our national laboratory, let give a sample to the central they trust. And often I hear you say, all’re lying, you have incorrect data. That will be an opportunity to check on their samples. If you do not want to go, the conversation is different.
„…We are the most polluting river open to merging their domestic waste, but this for some reason, no one speaks. And when they want to build a small factory, we cry that destroy Lena!…”
Of course, the environmental movement – the phenomenon is extremely necessary. But it must be based on objective scientific data, to work closely with academic institutions. The only way to prove something, in terms facts. By the way, experience shows that such joint work gives good results. For example, in the study of the ecology of the river Amga (also at one time it was a resonant theme) in the work of the expedition is very actively involved environmental activists area led by the head of public ecological organization “Protection of the river Amga” Vladimir Fedorov.
– What are the environmental issues you would call today among the most pressing?
– We do not understand this, but the main problem that we will face in the near future – ecological safety of the Lena River.
It must be specially protected because, firstly, it is one of the great rivers of the world, the dignity of the republic. Secondly, it is the only river basin which includes all natural landscapes – from the steppes to the Arctic tundra. And finally, it is the only river in Siberia, which has remained clean. But what is alarming is that today it has passed into the category of “moderately polluted”, and despite the fact that no production until it is free. All this – the result of human pollution. If I was sitting somewhere at the top, and was in charge of such matters, I would, first of all, raised the question of the environmental impact of the city of Yakutsk, because we are the most polluting river open to merging their domestic waste, but this for some reason, no one speaks. And when they want to build a small factory, we cry that destroy Lena! Only then can the noise and raise. I myself am against the construction, but only because I believe that nothing should now pour Lena. We are so polluted it, that if you add something else, it will be very bad. Just because of this. That’s what I would have paid attention first of all.
There are other problems, such as deforestation on the banks of the Lena, they are becoming less and they have always been the main defender of the river. ESPO – if, God forbid, in the winter the water will leak oil as it will eliminate? Lena is now in such a state that all accidents must be very well calculated. Then, we only know about what is happening in Yakutia, and what is happening with the river in the Irkutsk region, we do not know.
„…Lena If something happens, it will be an international scandal…”
Given all this, I have repeatedly talked about the need for a comprehensive research aimed at preservation of the Lena River and the environmental safety of the population. You know that in the near future a second scientific expedition of the Russian Academy of Sciences. I propose to implement it in the framework of two major research project “Ecological safety of the Lena River” and “Environmental Safety GO” Yakutsk “. Yakutsk stated separately, because on the one hand, from it depends largely on the level of contamination of Lena, on the other – it is too large object in order to study it in the framework of general studies.
Why am I worried about Lena? Because if it something happens, it will be an international scandal. In the great rivers, in general, to be a special status for the simple reason that, in general, contamination occurs through them. I think, over time, will be introduced to international sanctions for the pollution of major rivers, and very strict. This will come sooner or later, because there is simply no other way.
Source: YSIA
Translation: Google
