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05 March 2020
Memorandum Establishing Public Control of Kurgan Region Uranium Deposits Signed
This announcement was made at «Biosphere compatibility of nuclear energy» conference hosted at the Yeltsin Center in Yekaterinburg. Draft Memorandum of public control was signed by Vladimir Ivanov, Director of the Institute of Physics and Technology of Ural Federal University (UrFU PTI), Mikhail Zhukovsky, Director of the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IAE, UB RAS) and Nikolay Poponin, Director General of Dalur, JSC (part of management team of ARMZ Uranium Holding Co./Rosatom’s Mining Division). «The results of the research will facilitate the establishment of an objective and independent evaluation of radioecological situation of Dalmatovsky, Shumikhinsky and Zverinogolovsky districts of the Kurgan region, where the uranium mining company is currently operating», Mikhail Zhukovsky informed. A team of master degree candidates of PTI UrFU in «Radiation and Nuclear Safety Technologies» was set up under the project. The studies will be conducted by the scientists from the IIE UrB RAS (Institute of Industrial Ecology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences). Short field expeditions, field campaigns, sampling, laboratory research and desk studies are scheduled. «The key element of the project is to determine the content of natural radioactive nuclides in an environmental compartment (soil, water, vegetation, air), and also to conduct an objective and dispassionate assessment of the results of the study», said Vladimir Ivanov.
Technical reports and information materials on the basis of the data obtained will be prepared. The important thing is that local residents willing to take part in the research will be able to participate. «Uranium mining in the Trans-Ural district is currently under active development. In 2019, the industrial conquest of the Khokhlovskoye field in Shumikhinsky District began; besides, geological prospecting is conducted at the Dobrovolnoye field in Zverinogolovsky District. We are an information-open company and we consider public control to be essential for proving safety of uranium production for people and the environment», said Alexander Burutin, Chairman, Board of Directors of Dalur, JSC, Deputy Director General of ARMZ Uranium Holding Co. for Strategy.
In his report at «Biosphere compatibility of nuclear energy» conference Alexander Burutin highlighted the importance of the work with the local public: «Unconditional compliance with the stipulations of domestic legislation, public participation at all levels of our work, providing an opportunity for everybody to submit their suggestions, additions and comments to the drafts of the documents being developed, and, of course, using those suggestions are our priorities. Thus, during the ecological monitoring any local resident is able to specify the sampling point and be present at the actual sampling. Last year, as a result of public hearings, residents of Zverinogolovsky district approved a draft of the „Environmental Impact Assessment“ (EIA) for the construction and use of an experimental-industrial production section of in-situ leaching at the Dobrovolnoye field, as well as the documents for justifying the license for the construction of nuclear energy facilities. All the suggestions and additions submitted during the discussion are included in the draft of the EIA. People see that and support our work».
