environmental impact assessment (pre-eia) feasibility...

Ministry of agriculture of the republic of Kazakhstan Committee of water resources

Consulting Center “NEDRA” LLP

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (Pre-EIA)

FEASIBILITY STUDY

PROJECT” “UST-KAMENOGORSK ENVIRONMENT REMEDIATION

(SUMMARY)

Consulting Center “NEDRA” LLP

Vice Executive Officer

Committee o f water resources Deputy Director

V.V. Noskov

Kenshimov A.K.

Almaty 2005

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Table o f contens

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

1. LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK

1 .I Basic legislative requirements applicable to EIA projects

2. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION USED FOR EIA PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

3. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF UST-KAMENOGORSK AREA

3.1. General natural and climate conditions

3.2. Ambient air conditions

3.3. Surface water conditions

3.4. Ground water conditions in Ust-Kamenogorsk city area

3.5. Conditions of the city soils

4. BASIC TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS OF FEASlBlLTlY STUDY

5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT DURING THE PROJECT I M PL EM EN TAT10 N

5.1. Impact upon the environmental components during the facilities’ construction

5.2 Impact on the environmental components at the stage of the facilities exploitation

6 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

6.1. Construction stage

6.1.1 Monitoring of ambient air

6.1.2. Environmental protection measures during the drilling operations and soils extraction for temporary use

6.2. Period of exploitation

6.3. Institutional allocations of responsibilities

7. RESULTS OF THE PUBLIC OPINION ANALYSIS WITH REGARD TO THE FS SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTATION

CTP.

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1-1

1-1

2-1

3-1

3-1

3-6

3-7

3-10

3-18

4-1

5-1

5-1

5-4

6-1

6-1

6-1

6-5

6-5

6-9

7-1

I

List o f tables

Quality characteristic of ground waters in major water-intake facilities of Ust-Kamenogorsk

Table 4.1 ground waters interception

Remediation measures stipulated in FS and acceptability of alternative forecasts

Characteristic of the available methods of contaminated

Table 3.1 3-1 8

4-3

4-5

Table 4.1

Maximum annual zinc discharge into lrtysh river according to the simulation results (without considering a slowdown)

Integrated impact assessment of major technological operations on elements of the environment

Instruments for measuring meteorological characteristics

Table 4.2

5-4

5-1 0

6-4

Table 5.1

Table 5.2

Table 6.1

Table 6.2

Table 6.3

Methods and instruments for measuring pollutants’ concentrations in ambient air I 6-4

Measures on the environmental impact remediation, schedule of the remediation measures and their cost I 6-9

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List o f figures

Scheme of pre-project and project documentation preparation to state ecological expertise

Main environmental contamination sources and domestic/drinking water intake facilities in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk

Contribution of enterprises into air pollution in Ust-Kamenogorsk

Shares of air pollutants emitted by Ust-Kamenogorsk city enterprises

Map of Ust-Kamenogorsk alluvial basin ground waters contamination with pollutants of 1 & 2 hazard class

LIST OF FIGURES

1-8

3-5

3-6

3-7

3-15

Figure 1.1

Figure 3.1.

i Figure 3.2.

Figure 3.3.

Figure 3.4.

Figure 3.5. 1 3-16 1 Map of Ust-Kamenogorsk alluvial basin ground waters contamination with pollutants of 3 & 4 hazard class

Figure 3.6. i Spread of ground waters, characterized by a & p radioactivity exceeding 1 3-17 1 standards of SanR&N

Figure 5.1 Pollutant emissions (%) into atmosphere during restoration at dumps and slurry storage reservoirs of Ust-Kamenogorsk city

Map of forecasted ground water level lowering. Forecast option No.4 5-6 1 1 Figure 6.1 Scheme of air sampling I 6-3 I I Figure 6.2 Layout scheme of observation wells I i

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Abreviation

Abbreviation

FS - Feasibility Study E K O - East Kazakhstan Oblast HM - Heavy Metals RPC - Research & Production Center U M P - Ulba Metallurgical Plant UK HPP - Ust-Kamenogorsk Heat Power Plant SHPP - Sogrinskiy Heat Power Plant UK ME JSC KazZinc - Ust-Kamenogorsk Metallurgical Enterprise JSC KazZinc OJSC AES Ust-Kamenogorsk Heat Power Plant JSC UMP - Joint Stock Company “Ulba Metallurgical Plant” OJSC UK T M P - Open Joint Stock Company Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium-Magnesium Plant MPC - maximum permissible concentration M P D - maximum permissible discharge MPCfishing industry - maximum permissible concentration in water bodies, used by industry MPCsUrface Water - maximum permissible concentration in water bodies used for drinking water

MPC,a,,,um single - maximum single permissible concentration o f pollutants MPCdaily average - maximum single permissible daily average concentration EK H M C - East Kazakhstan Hydro-Meteorological Center PCB - polychlorbiphenyl BODs - Biological Oxygen Demand SRC USSR - State Reserves Committee o f the United Soviet Socialist Republics JSC “UKTMP” - Joint Stock Company “Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium - Magnesium Plant S R N -sanitary rules & norms WRD -Working regulatory document CIZ - central industrial zone S R L I - safe reference levels o f impact GOST- State Industrial Standard BF -buffer zone SES - sanitary & epidemiological station EK RTDEP - East Kazakhstan Regional Territorial Administration for Environment

TA - Territorial Administration IBRD - International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

supply

Protection

Introduction

INTRODUCTION Ust-Kamenogorsk c i ty i s the regional center o f East Kazakhstan Oblast (EKO). I t i s one o f the major industrial centers in the Republic o f Kazakhstan. Favorable location o f the territory, which i s expressed in the immediate proximity to the primary mineral resources (nonferrous ore and rare metals, gold, coal, construction materials), low-cost hydro-energy (Ust- Kamenogorsk and Bukhtarma HPP), have fostered rapid formation and development o f the city’s economic potential. Major enterprises o f nonferrous metallurgy, nuclear -industrial, gold - and rare metal complexes, heat-power engineering, machinery industry and instrument making, transport, building industry, light and food industry, timber-processing, public utilities and agriculture are localized in the city o f Ust-Kamenogorsk. M a i n marketable outputs of the above listed enterprises are as follows: lead, copper, zinc, gold, silver, tantalum, niobium, cadmium, stibium, selenium, indium, tellurium, uranium pellets, titanium, magnesium, sulhr ic acid, mining equipment, paints, etc.

Distinctive feature o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city infrastructure i s a close spatial setting o f the industrial and residential areas.

Superabundance with large industrial facilities, close setting o f industrial zones and residential areas in this regional center, over fifty-year activity o f the enterprises which i s far from being perfect from the ecological viewpoint, led to the pollution with toxic components, and primarily with heavy metals (HM), o f al l environmental components: ambient air, surface and ground waters, soils, biota.

I t should be noted that within the recent years the city enterprises put much efforts to improve the ecological situation in the city. Thus, some o f the waste dumps were reclamated and new, much safer, wastes storages were constructed. However this does not mean that serious environmental problems o f the city are solved. Ground waters within the certain areas remain to be highly contaminated, and, as well known, such contaminations are spreading with the water flows, that i s why the area o f ground waters contamination i s s t i l l becoming larger. Thus, now i s the critical moment when everyone realizes the necessity for rigid measures on the environmental protection and focused, in particular, on ground waters protection.

Initiator of FS development was the Committee o f Water Resources under the R o K Ministry of Agriculture. The Feasibility Study “Ust-Kamenogorsk environment remediation” was developed by Wismut LLP, G.E.O. S. Freiberg Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, Wisutec and VHIPIPromtechnologija, Moscow. This FS was aimed at developing a general strategy necessary for adaptation and determination o f the following priority steps in terms o f ground waters reclamation. With the help o f hydrogeological modeling, various remediation measures were analyzed and worked out. As a result, an optimal option was selected allowing to solve the problem o f the city water supply, to reduce pollutants migration within the aquifer and thus to prolong the l i f e time o f the water supply stations which ensure fresh water supply to the population.

This Feasibility Study i s another proposal showing the ways to improve the environmental situation o f the city. As early as in 1999 ecological and hydrogeological surveys were performed with the purpose to justify the method o f polluted ground waters interception, Suggestions were developed under that project in order to improve the currently existing system o f contaminated ground waters interception within the areas o f certain industrial enterprises. However the analysis o f results o f ground waters interception within the chosen localities proves in many aspects the low efficiency o f this method. Strictly speaking, local water supply facilities cannot cope with the regional contamination o f ground waters.

1

Introduction

One o f the reasons o f such ineffective polluted waters interception i s the fact that most o f the enterprises have not yet liquidated infiltration o f waste water discharges which allows for their penetration into the aquifer.

In 2001 the study (BGR, 2001) was completed with the purpose to develop suggestions on the reduction o f ground waters contamination by Ust-Kamenogorsk industrial waste storage dumps. Most o f the developed recommendations haven’t been implemented yet. Spread o f the pollution plum spread towards the ground waters f low i s the reason o f ceasing the exploitation o f many water supply facilities in the city. In the nearest future the water supply problem will become very critical.

At present the ground waters occurring in the right bank o f Ulba and Ir tysh rivers are totally unsuitable for usage. N o w the only way to establish control upon the environmental pollution i s to take radical measures for the aquifer waters treatment.

This FS stipulates for the extensive suite o f measures for ground waters rehabilitation. They include a liquidation of infiltration (leakages) from the technological systems o f the industrial enterprises, providing a protective covering for the slurry ponds (sludge storages) and ash disposal site. Peculiar proposal o f this Project i s necessity to intercept the ground waters at the peripheral part o f the Central Industrial Complex, to perform such ground waters treatment and their injection into the upper reach o f the ground waters flow, although the Feasibility Study provides the review o f other alternative options for ground waters rehabilitation. The FS project provides justifications for the key aspects o f the estimations which enable to ensure the significant control upon the contamination spread within the aquifer. However the effect from ground water treatment depends upon the efficiency o f covering or eliminating the ground waters contamination sources.

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1. Legal and administrative framework

1. LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK

1, l BASIC LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO EIA PROJECTS System o f the environmental laws and environmental provisions pertaining to the environment and natural resources protection has been worked out in the Republic o f Kazakhstan. Legal framework o f the environment and natural resources protection, in the context o f this project, encompasses the following issues:

0 General environmental issues,

0 Land use & protection,

0 Subsurface use & protection,

0 Water use & protection,

0

0 Ambient air protection.

Use, protection, safeguard and reproduction o f woods and fauna,

The basic legislative documents pertaining to this EIA are summarized below.

The legislative base for general environmental issues includes those documents, which regulate powers o f the state bodies and the local governmental authorities; the environmental rights and obligations o f legal entities and physical persons; licensing o f the activity associated with use o f natural resources. The legislative base also covers the documents on ecological regulation; environmental monitoring; ecological expertise; legislative documents specifying ecological requirements put to economic and other activities; requirements to wastes disposal; ecological requirements on the environmental audit; specially protected territories and objects, the laws o f economic mechanisms on the environmental protection.

Basic legislative documents covering the general environmental issues are as follows:

Constitution o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan (adopted at the republican referendum on August 30, 1995) (amended and altered by R o K Laws dated 07.10.98 No. 284-1). Ac t i ng as fundamental law, Constitution specifies legal framework for ecological, social and economical stable development o f the country. Clause 38 o f R o K Consti tut ion reads as fol lows: “Citizens o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan must protect the environment”

L a w o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan as o f July 15, 1997 No. 160-1 “On environment protection” (altered and amended by R o K Laws dated 24.12.98; as o f 11.05.99 No. 381- 1; as o f 29.1 1.99. No. 488-1; as o f 04.06.01 No. 205-11; as o f 24.12.01. No. 276-11; as o f 09.08.02 No. 346-11; as o f 25.05.04 No. 553-11; as o f 09.12.04. No. 8-111; as o f 20.12.04. No. 13-111; as o f 15.04.05. No. 45-111; as o f 08.07.05. No. 71-111) This law i s intended t o ensure favorable natural environment for person’s l i f e and health. The l a w specifies legal, economical and social foundations o f environment protection for the sake o f present and future generations, it i s aimed at prevention o f the environment against harmfu l impact caused by economic activity, preservation o f ecological balance and arrangement o f rational nature use.

I t was established special body, w h i c h supervises the activi ty o f ministries, administrations, enterprises, institutions and organizations in the f ie ld o f environment protection (Min is t ry o f environment protection of the Republic o f Kazakhstan).

The law reveals economical mechanism on environment protection and environmental management. I t had been as we l l specified types o f nature management and ma in conditions o f their existence. Moreover, i t was determined payment system for special nature management and procedure for nature protection funds formation.

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The law regulates issues on standardization o f environment quality, including k inds o f standards, and approval procedure. Ecological requirements t o economic and other act ivi ty and principles o f ecological expertise have been la id down. I t had been as we l l regulated the issues o f control and supervision, regulat ion o f disputes in the f ield o f environment protection, responsibility for legislation violat ion and compensation for damage caused.

Water Code o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan dated July 9, 2003 No. 481-11 (amended and altered by RoK Law as of 20.12.04 No. 13-111). The law explains conception o f water fund, specifies the pr ior i ty o f water supply for dr ink ing & domestic needs.

It was specified the competence o f government and management bodies in the f ie ld o f water relations regulation. I t had been defined the procedure o f w o r k production in water bodies and water conservation zones. I t was also regulated kinds o f water use and conditions o f their existence, inc lud ing payment for the use o f water resources.

Condit ions for water bodies’ use for drinking, domestic needs, agriculture, industrial purposes, for the needs o f hydro energy, transport, f ishing industry and hunt, for f i re fighting needs o f reserved areas and special nature reserves had been differentiated.

It had also been spotlighted basic legal requirements t o waters protection and prevention o f their adverse impact, inc lud ing protection o f water against contamination and exhaustion, protection o f underground waters and small rivers.

It was stipulated the procedure o f state registration and planning o f water use.

I t had been specified responsibility for water legislation violat ion and procedure for water disputes regulation.

Clause 55 o f this L a w reads that placing o f enterprises and other structures, wh ich have impact upon water bodies’ condition, is undertaken in l ine with provisions and conditions o f environment protection, subsurface protection, sanitation & epidemiological, industr ial safety, reproduction and rational use o f water bodies, considering ecological effect caused by the activi ty o f the mentioned objects.

Clause 56 stipulates the requirements o n reduction o f contaminants emission in to water bodies:

1, Use and protection o f water resources are based o n standardization o f contaminants at discharge point, on total standardization o f water management act iv i ty o f overal l organizations within the l imi ts o f relevant basin, channel o r site.

2. Requirements t o treatment and quali ty rate o f discharged waters are determined according t o directions of possible intended use o f water body and just i f ied by calculations, such requirements should also take in to account real condit ion o f water body, technical and economical potentialities and terms o f the expected parameters achievement.

Clause 60. State moni tor ing o f water bodies

1. State moni tor ing o f water bodies i s deemed as the constituent element o f the system o f state moni tor ing of environment and natural resources.

2. State moni tor ing o f water bodies represents system o f regular observations over hydrological, hydrogeological, hydrogeochemical, sanitary & chemical, microbiological, parasitological, radiological and toxicological parameters o f water bodies’ condition, collection, processing and transmission o f the acquired in format ion with a v iew t o t ime ly ident i fy negative processes, assessment and forecast o f their development, work ing out o f recommendations o n harmfu l effects prevention and determination o f efficiency rate o f water related activities.

3. State moni tor ing o f water objects i s undertaken by the authorized body in the f ie ld o f use and protection of water fund jo in t l y with central executive b o d y o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan in the f ie ld of environment protection, authorized body in the f ie ld o f sanitary & epidemiological welfare o f population, authorized body on subsurface use and protection

Clause 112. Protection o f water bodies

1. Water bodies should be protected against:

their compounds, thermal, bacterial, radiat ion pollution; natural and man-caused contamination with harmfu l hazardous chemical and toxic agents and

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1. L e g a l a n d administrative f ramework

exhaustion.

choking w i t h hard, insoluble objects, wastes o f industrial, domestic and other origin;

2. Water bodies should be safeguarded in order t o prevent:

violat ion o f ecological sustainability o f natural systems;

damage t o l i f e and health o f population;

reduction o f f ish reserves and other shellfish;

worsening o f water supply conditions;

reduction o f water bodies’ ab i l i ty t o natural reproduction and purification;

worsening o f hydrological and hydrogeological water bodies’ condition;

other unfavorable events, wh ich have adverse impact o n physical, chemical and biological properties o f water bodies.

3. Protection o f water bodies i s undertaken by:

specifying general requirements on water bodies protection t o a l l water users;

specifying special requirements t o certain kinds o f economic activity;

improvement and employment o f water protective measures by implement ing new equipment

conduction o f state and other forms o f control over use and protection o f water bodies.

and environmentally, epidemiological ly safe technology;

4. Central and local executive bodies o f oblasts (c i ty o f the republican level, capital) in accordance with RoK legislation take measures, consistent with principles o f stable development, o n protection o f water bodies, prevention o f their pol lut ion, chocking and exhaustion, as w e l l as o n mi t igat ion o f consequences.

5 . Individuals and legal entities whose activi ty has impact upon water bodies’ condition, are obliged to conduct organizational, technological, t imber reclamative, agronomical, hydro-technical, sanitary - epidemiological and other measures, wh ich ensure protection o f water bodies against pollution, chocking and exhaustion.

Clause 113. Protection o f water bodies against po l lu t ion 1. Pol lut ion o f water bodies means discharge or in f low, by any way, in to the water bodies o f objects or contaminants, wh ich aggravate qualitative condit ion and complicate usage o f water bodies. 2. Water bodies are protected against al l k inds o f pollution, inc lud ing dif fusive pol lu t ion (pol lut ion through ground surface and air). 3. With the purpose t o protect water bodies against po l lu t ion it i s prohibited to:

use toxic chemicals, fertilizers at water catchment area for water bodies. Disinfecting, disinsective and disinfestation activities at water catchment area and in the sanitary protection zone are held upon agreement with the authorized body in the f ie ld o f sanitary - epidemiological welfare o f population; discharge and dispose radioactive and toxic substances in to water bodies; discharge in to water bodies wastewaters f rom industrial, f ood objects, w h i c h don’t have treatment

employ the equipment and technology in water bodies and water facilities, jeopardizing populat ion facilities and don’t ensure effective treatment in accordance with standards;

health and environment.

Clause 120. Specifics o f underground water bodies protection 1. Individuals and legal entities, whose production activi ty might have adverse impact on underground waters condition, are obl iged t o undertake monitoring of underground waters and t ime ly take measures on prevention o f po l lu t ion and exhaustion o f water resources as w e l l as adverse impact o f waters. 2. I t is prohibited to dispose radioactive and chemical wastes, dumps, cemeteries, burial grounds for animal refuse and other objects influencing on underground water conditions at water catchment areas for underground waters, wh ich are used or might be used for dr ink ing and domestic sanitary water supply. 3. I t i s prohibited t o irrigate lands with wastewaters, if it has impact or might have impact upon underground water condition. 4. Those individuals and legal entities, w h o maintain water intake facilities for underground waters, are required t o organize protective sanitary zones and moni tor ing o f underground waters.

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5 .Dur ing disposal, design, construction, commissioning o f water intake facilities associated with underground water use, it is required t o stipulate measures oriented t o prevention o f adverse impact on surface water bodies and environment. 6. During geological survey o f subsurface, exploration and production o f minerals, construction and maintenance o f underground structures, wh ich are not associated with mining operations, subsurface users are requi red t o take measures for underground waters po l lu t ion and exhaustion prevention.

Water Code o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan (June 20,2003, No. 442-11). The l a w specifies lands’ character, land use principles and procedure, land wi thdrawal procedure for state and pub l i c needs, use o f land plots for survey works. I t was defined competence o f government authorities in the f ie ld o f regulation o f land relations, rights, obligations and protection o f landowners and land users’ rights.

The l a w revealed legal requirements t o allocation, provision and use o f lands for agricultural needs, lands for populated area, lands for industry, transport, communication, defense and other purposes, lands for nature-conservative, health improvement, recreation and historical -cultural purpose, lands o f forest resources and reserves, water bodies, etc.

It was envisaged legislative procedure, wh ich stipulates compensation for damages t o landowners, land users and losses o f agricultural and forestry-based production.

The l a w specified goals and objectives o f land protection, inc lud ing standards for max imum permissible concentrations o f chemical agents in soil; formulated principles for land cadastre and land development and adapted responsibi l i ty for land legislation violat ion and procedure for land disputes regulation.

Law o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan dated March 11, 2002 No. 302-11 On ambient air protection (amended by RoK Law as o f 20.12.04 No. 13-111). The l a w specifies measures o n ambient air protection. Amidst these measures one can find standards for m a x i m u m permissible concentration o f contaminants in ambient air levels o f harmfu l physical impact on air, as w e l l as standards for max imum permissible emissions o f contaminants released in to ambient air.

Issues regarding regulat ion o f contaminants’ emissions released in to atmosphere by stationary contamination sources, motor-vehicles, airplanes, other mobi le facilities, as w e l l as regulation o f harmful physical impact upon atmosphere, had been settled.

It had been specified conditions o f disposal, design, construction and commissioning o f plants, structures and other objects inf luencing on ambient air.

The l a w exposed legal matters on state registration o f adverse impact upon ambient air, moni tor ing and control in the f ie ld o f ambient air protection, responsibility for legislation v io la t ion and procedure for settling the disputes o n ambient a i r protection.

Law o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan dated March 18, 1997 No. 85-1 “On ecological expertise” (amended by RoK Law as o f 24.12.98 No. 334-1; as o f 11.05.99 No. 381-1; as o f 02.07.03 No. 454-11; as o f 20.12.04 No. 13-111) The l a w regulates social relat ion in ecological expertise sphere, a iming t o prevent negative impact of managerial, economic and other act ivi ty upon the environment, l i f e and health o f Kazakhstani population. The intention o f ecological expertise is t o prevent negative effects, w h i c h might occur as a result of implementation o f the expected managerial, economic and other activity.

The law considers expertise as the obligatory, objective, independent EIA process, transparent for publ ici ty. Any projects should undergo state ecological expertise. L a w o n ecological expertise outlines EIA concept (integrated ecological -social and economical impact assessment o f the expected activi ty upon the environment, populat ion health for the entire per iod o f activity). Accord ing t o this law, conduction o f EIA is deemed as obl igatory procedure dur ing projects development.

Initiators o f ecological expertise are required t o no t i f y mass media o n such expertise. If required, this should be done by the body, w h o undertakes ecological expertise.

Clause 16 Environmental Impact Assessment should include as fol lows:

inclusive o f ecological risk;

act ivi ty be undertaken;

determination o f impact kinds and levels o f the expected act iv i ty upon the environment,

forecasting o f environmental change, and their socio-economic effects, should the expected

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e work ing out o f measures ensuring environment protection whi le the expected activi ty i s performed; e development o f a l l regulatory requirements in this field.

Accord ing t o results o f environmental impact assessment, customer should prepare and submit, as part o f exported materials, statement on ecological effects, which m igh t occur as a result o f the expected or performed economic activity, the mentioned statement wi l l serve as the basis enabling t o prepare decisions for i ts implementation.

In the Republic o f Kazakhstan process o f State ecological expertise, in addit ion t o abovementioned law , i s regulated by the fo l lowing normative acts:

1. Instruction on state ecological expertise of pre-project and project materials (approved by the order o f R o K M in i s t r y o f Environment Protection dated February 16, 2005 No. 57-n) [Section 6. i t e m 12. paragraphs 1,2, 3,4.].

2. Instruction on environmental impact assessment of the expected economic and other activity while developing pre-planned, pre-project and project documentation (Approved by the order o f R o K M in i s t r y o f Environment Protection dated February 28,2004 No. 68-11 “On approval o f the Instruct ion on environmental impact assessment o f the expected economic and other act iv i ty w h i l e developing pre-planned, pre-project and project documentation ”) [Chapter 1. i t em 3. paragraph 3,4., chapter 4. i t em 22, 23., chapter 5. i t em 35.1.

F o r convenience, w e provide graphical scheme o f pre-project and project documentation preparation fo r undergoing State ecological expertise, wh ich i s produced in strict compliance with the aforesaid regulatory acts and exist ing practice. (Figure 1.1)

Law o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan dated July 16, 2001 No. 242-11 “On architectural, town planning and construction activity in the Republic o f Kazakhstan” (amended by RoK Laws as o f 20.12.04 No. 13-111; as o f 12.04.05 No. 38-111; as o f 13.04.05 . No. 40- 111). The l a w ensures favorable environment and l i f e act iv i ty wh i l e undertaking construction operations.

Law o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan dated January 27, 1996 No. 2828 “On subsurface and subsurface use” (amended by RoK Laws dated 11.05.99, No. 381-1; as o f 11.08.99, No. 467- I; as o f 16.05.03, No. 416-11; as o f 01.12.04, No. 2-111; as o f 20.12.04 , No, 13-111). The l a w specifies general ecological requirements t o subsurface users whi le undertaking operations, it also determines r ights and obligations o f Subsurface users and conditions for per forming operations on subsurface use. Pursuant t o this decree, withdrawal o f subsurface plots representing special ecological, scientific, cultural or other value it no t allowed.

Law o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan dated April 23, 1998 No. 219-1 “On radiation safety ofpopulation” (amended by RoK Law as o f 20.12.04 No. 13-111) The law reads that wh i l e selecting land lo ts for construction o f bui ldings and structures, it i s required t o perform survey and assessment o f radiat ion situation a iming t o protect populat ion and staff against impact o f natural radionuclide.

Law o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan dated July 5, 1996 No. 19-1 On emergency situations o f natural and man-caused character (amended by RoK Laws as o f 09.12.98. No. 307-1; as o f 12.03.99. No. 347-1; as o f 19.05.2000. No. 51-11). Protection o f population, environment and economic agents against emergency situations and effects caused by them, it i s one o f the pr ior i ty area where state po l i cy i s conducted.

This law regulates social relations within the terr i tory of the Republic o f Kazakhstan, on prevention and l iquidation o f emergency situations o f natural and man-caused character.

The law specifies r ights and obligations o f populat ion in the f ie ld o f emergency situation o f natural and man-caused character.

It was defined power o f state bodies and local government authorities in the f ie ld o f emergency situation.

The l a w framed measures o n emergency situation prevention, specified objectives o f scientific research.

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Declaration by the government o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan o r loca l executive bodies on emergency situation o f natural and man-caused character acts as the basis enabling t o implement actions on emergency situations liquidation.

The l a w describes mechanism on l iquidation o f emergency situation o f natural and man-caused character

The l a w specifies aims and objects o f expertise, procedure stipulating f inancing o f the activities o n emergency situations prevention and liquidation, objectives o f control and supervision, responsibility for v io la t ion o f legislation in the f ield o f emergency situations.

L a w o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan as o f July 8, 1994 No. 110-XI11 On sanitary - epidemiological welfare o f population as o f 04.12.02 No. 361-13 RoK. The l a w envisages r ights and obligations o f individuals and legal entities in the f ie ld o f sanitary- epidemiological welfare, organization and conduction o f sanitary -anti-epidemiological activities.

L a w of the Republic o f Kazakhstan as o f M a y 19, 1997 No. 111-1 O n protection o f health o f Kazakhstani citizens (amended and altered by R o K Laws as o f 1.07.98 No. 259-1; as o f 17.12.98. No. 325-1; as o f 7.04.99 No. 374-1; as o f 22.11.99 No. 484-1, as o f 21.03.02 No. 308 11). This l a w specifies legal, economical and social bases for protection o f health o f Kazakhstani citizens, regulates part icipation o f state bodies, individuals and legal entities, irregardless o f f o rm o f ownership, in real izat ion o f citizens’ constitutional right for health protection.

Governmental regulation o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan dated June 27, 2001 No, 885 “On approval o f the Provision for organization and conduction o f Uni f ied system of state monitoring o f the environment and natural resources” (amended by Governmental regulation o f R o K as o f 01.07.05. No. 675). The fo l l ow ing moni tor ing systems are distinguished depending o n objects o f monitoring:

moni tor ing o f ambient air;

moni tor ing o f surface water resources;

moni tor ing o f land resources;

moni tor ing o f fauna and f lora (reproduction and use);

moni tor ing o f subsurface (as related t o pollution).

Un i f i ed system o f state moni tor ing o f the environment and natural resources encompasses as follows:

1) collection, storage, processing o f in i t ia l data on environmental condit ion and use o f natural resources according t o complex o f parameters, stipulated by state and industrial moni tor ing programs, maintenance o f cadastres and informational data banks pertaining t o moni tor ing o f environmental components and nature management;

2) preparation and transmission o f regulated data and data processing results , inc lud ing the forecasts, references, reports and other forms o f information t o be submitted t o governmental authorities, republican and regional state bodies relat ing t o moni tor ing o f the environment and natural resources;

3) development o f recommendations stipulating the activities o n l iquidation o r mi t igat ion o f the effects of adverse impact upon the environment, protection and rat ional use o f natural resources;

4) information support t o per form state statistics, ecological expertise, environmental audit, control in the f ield o f environment and use o f natural resources.

Governmental regulation o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan dated 12.03.04 No. 311 approved the l i s t o f specially authorized bodies, empowered with the functions of environment protection, nature use management and state control, and Provisions for arrangement o f measures to be carried out by the mentioned bodies. The fo l lowing organizations pertain t o specially authorized bodies, empowered w i t h the functions of environment protection, nature use management and state control in ecology sphere:

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1. L e g a l and administrative f ramework

1) RoK Ministry of Environment Protection, as the central executive body o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan in the f ie ld o f environment protection, w h i c h coordinates the activi ty o f other central executive bodies, empowered with the functions o f environment protection and nature use management;

2) RoK Agency for land resource management, performs functions - use and protection o f land resources;

3) RoK Ministry of agriculture, undertakes control-supervision functions in the f ie ld o f protection, reproduction, use o f forest and water resources, resources o f f lora and fauna, water, specially protected natural territories;

4) RoK Ministry of energy and mineral resources, undertakes functions in the f ield o f subsurface use and protection;

5) RoK Ministry of internal affairs, empowered with the functions - control over contaminants’ emissions released in to atmosphere f rom motor vehicles; fight against poachers, i l legal chopping o f trees and bushes, violat ing hunting and f ishing rules; investigation o f ecological crimes;

6) L o c a l executive bodies undertake their functions within their competence, specified by RoK legislation.

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2. Supplemental information used for EIA project development

2. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION USED FOR EIA PROJECT DEVELOPMENT To perform the environmental elements impact assessment, the following supplemental information was used:

0 L L P “EcoService” - ambient air, radiation pollution, surface waters,

0 VostKazNedra - geology, groundwaters,

0 Institute o f Geological Sciences (Altay Branch) - conditions o f soils,

0 SIC o f f ishery industry - current state o f Ulba & Irtysh rivers biocenose

0 Department o f environmental programs o f the City Administration - flora & fauna o f Ust-Kamenogorsk c i ty

Hydrogeology and hydrology data acquired by W I S M U T L L P were employed to a considerable extent for the development o f the Feasibility Study. Information about the city industrial enterprises (UMP, KazZinc, UK HPP, SHPP, TMP, Vodocanal, etc.), volumes o f disposed waste, discharged sewage and emitted pollutions was obtained during the visits o f EIA project developers to the mentioned enterprises.

In addition to that, fieldworks were performed in the middle o f March 2005 followed by the laboratory analytical studies. The following operations were carried out during the fieldworks:

0 Visual observations and photographing o f groundwater pollution sources,

0 Radiological surveys o f the residential part o f the city as wel l as the peripheral part o f the industrial complex.

0 Surface waters sampling and analyses from Ulba & Irtysh rivers

0 Snow water sampling.

Laboratory analyses were conducted in the certified LOTOS laboratory (Ust-Kamenogorsk). List of analytes to be assessed was substantiated by the presence o f these components in the sources o f the environmental pollution.

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3. Environmental conditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area

3. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF UST-KAMENOGORSK AREA The city of Ust-Kamenogorsk i s the regional center o f East Kazakhstan Oblast (EKO) and one o f the biggest industrial centers o f Republic o f Kazakhstan. Favorable location o f the city in immediate proximity to the natural resources (deposits o f nonferrous and rare metals, gold, coal, construction materials, etc.), availability o f inexpensive hydro-power facilities (Ust- Kamenogorsk and Bukhtarminskaya Hydroelectric Power Plants) contributed to the fast growth and development o f economic potential o f the city. The c i ty i s famous o f having large enterprises o f nonferrous metallurgy, nuclear power, gold- and rare metal plants, heat power plants, mechanical engineering and instrument-manufacturing works, facilities of transportation, construction industry, enterprises o f light industry, food and timber works, ut i l i t ies and agriculture production as wel l as many other enterprises belonging to other industries. Major marketable products o f the said industrial complexes are lead, copper, zinc, gold, silver, tantalum, niobium, cadmium, antimony, selenium, indium, tellurium, uranium fuel pellets, titanium, magnesium, sulfuric acid, mining equipment, paints, etc.

Close location o f the industrial complexes and residential zones i s the specific feature o f the city infrastructure.

Superabundant industrial infrastructure o f Ust-Kamenogorsk, close proximity o f the industrial complexes to the districts o f residential housing in this regional center, as wel l as semi- centennial activity o f the industrial enterprises, being far from perfect in terms o f the environmental aspects, led to pollution with toxic components, including f irst o f a l l the pollution o f a l l the environment elements with heavy metals (HM) which impacted the atmospheric air, surface and ground waters, soils and biota o f the city area.

3.1. GENERAL NATURAL AND CLIMATE CONDITIONS Geographical location of the city Ust-Kamenogorsk i s located in the north-east o f Kazakhstan, stretching at foothills o f Rundy Altay mountains at the confluence o f Irtysh and Ulba rivers. Pursuant to the current general city plan, the city covers an area o f 23300 hectares. Shape o f the city territory i s determined by the valley o f Irtysh and Ulba rivers. Major part o f Ust-Kamenogorsk facilities are situated on the right-banks o f these rivers, occupying the territory f rom Novaya Sogra village in the north-east up to the Airport site in the north-west. The valley o f Irtysh river lying within the city area i s o f SE-NW direction. Major part o f the city i s o f the same direction. The l ine along Irtysh river bank stretching near Ablaketka village was the southern border o f the surveyed area, and the l ine linking Opytnoye Pole village and Titanium-Magnesium Plant (TMP) served as the northern border o f the survey area. Geographical coordinates o f the center point o f the survey area were 49'59' Nor th and 82'37' East.

Distance between Ust-Kamenogorsk and such nearest and biggest towns in East Kazakhstan Oblast as Semipalatinsk, Ridder and Zyryanovsk i s 200, 120 and 150 km respectively. Ust-Kamenogorsk i s l inked with the said towns by railway and motor roads.

Relief and hydrography I t i s a very important ecological factor that Ust-Kamenogorsk i s situated in the plain area formed o f the valleys o f Irtysh and Ulba rivers. The city i s surrounded by the mountain ridges o f up to 800 m height f rom the north, east, south and south-west. The plain valley remains open from the north-west only and less open - f rom the south-east. This factor considerably reduces a possibility o f quick dispersal o f toxic pollutants emitted by the city enterprises.

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Ust-Kamenogorsk i s situated on the border o f Kazakh l o w hills and Rudny Altay mountains. Located west o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city, Kazakh low hills are characterized by a hilly relief o f l o w and middle height (up to 1600 m). Rudny Altay mountains, consisting o f several mountain ridges, are characterized as the relief o f l o w and middle mountains belonging to West Al tay chain.

Ust-Kamenogorsk i s located in the place o f Irtysh and Ulba r ivers outflow from the mountains, the city’s elevation marks are ranging within 280-340 m. Maximum elevation marks for the major part o f the city area are limited to 300 m. Slopes o f the right-bank o f Ulba river and the left-bank o f Irtysh river are characterized by the relief o f hills and ridges. The valleys o f Irtysh and Ulba rivers are characterized as a smooth terrain, covered with terrace benches, f low channels, former river beds. Irtysh and Ulba rivers are the major water bodies, which water flows are generated in adjacent lands. Water f low o f the rivers i s replenished by virtue o f the surface and ground waters drain. Major water replenishment i s provided by snow thawing. Irtysh river flow i s regulated by Bukhtarminsky and Ust-Kamenogorsk water storage reservoirs which ensure a long-lasting river flow control. Flows o f Ulba river and small brooks are o f uncontrollable nature.

Irtysh river i s one o f the biggest rivers in Eurasia. The river length i s 4248 km, and area o f the river basin i s 1643 thousand km2. Irtysh i s a typical lowland river which forms a wide and clearly defined valley. The main river channel i s 170-380m wide, total width o f the river bed together with the channels and islands reaches up to 3-3,5 km, being 3m and sometimes 5m deep. An average f low rate o f Irtysh river section, located upstream o f the city, i s around 400 m3/sec.

Within the region o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city, the hydrological regime o f Irtysh river i s mainly determined by the operational regime o f Ust-Kamenogorsk Hydroelectric Power Plant. Air inversion phenomenon, occurring above the water surface o f Irtysh river, forms the atmospheric barrier which favorably affects the city ecology, because such barrier prevents a distribution to the left-bank o f Irtysh river o f the toxic substances, emitted by the enterprises o f the North industrial zone.

The part o f Ulba river running within Ust-Kamenogorsk c i ty i s 24 km long, crossing the c i ty area starting f rom Ulba-Perevalochnaya Hydro-station and ending at the place o f Ulba river inflow into Irtysh river. Tributary o f Ulba river, crossing the survey area, i s Makhovka river, being supplied with waters f rom brooks o f Bezymyanniy, Ovechiy K luch and other small brooks, inflowing into Makhovka river from the right and lef t river banks. Terrace complexes are developed in the river valley. Width o f the flood-lands near the ci ty i s changing from 150-200m in the east up to 4 km in the west. Terrain o f the river valley i s changeable due to impact o f intensive floods. Most part o f the residential housing and industrial facilities o f the city are located on the f i r s t terrace above the flood-plain, composed o f alluvial boulder bed, pebbles, overlaid with a 2-3 m thick layer o f sand and loam. The second terrace above the flood-plain i s formed o f diluvial-proluvial loesslike loams, sandy loams with inter-layers of sand and less often - with gravel, crushed rock and gruss .

Spring floods in Ulba river are o f quite remarkable character. The river waters are supplied from various water sources.

Within Ust-Kamenogorsk city waters o f Ulba river are polluted with toxic discharges from the city enterprises. In this connection pollution o f Ulba river waters i s changing from average pollution level upstream o f the bypass road bridge up to a strong pollution level - downstream o f the bypass road bridge.

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Surface waters o f Ulba and Irtysh rivers are hydraulically connected with the ground waters of alluvial Quaternary horizon, such ground waters being accumulated mainly due to waters infi l tration f rom the rivers. Therefore groundwater pollution i s mostly caused by the polluted river waters. Major pollution impact i s brought by Ulba river, which water f low i s not regulated and i s strongly affected by seasonal water level fluctuations. Waters o f Ulba river are more polluted than waters o f Irtysh river.

Climate Climate in Ust-Kamenogorsk c i t y area i s sharply continental. The coldest month i s January, when the average air temperature i s - 16,lOC. The lowest observed temperature was -490C. Summer i s usually hot, with average air temperature o f +20,60C. Average annual quantity o f precipitation i s about 500 mm. Stable snow cover i s usually formed in the second decade o f November and sometimes - in the third decade o f October. Average monthly thickness o f the snow cover i s 20 cm. Depth o f ground frost penetration i s 90 cm on average. Ground surface i s usually cleared o f snow cover in the f i rs t decade o f April. Spring floods in Irtysh river are usually in the f i rs t decade o f April. Average wind speed i s 2,5-3,5 mlsec, and speed o f strong winds reaches up to 15 d s e c . As per the long-observed wind rose, the prevailing winds in Ust-Kamenogorsk area are o f north- west and south-east directions (along the watercourse o f Irtysh river). Windy days comprise up to 50-70% o f a year period. Ust-Kamenogorsk area belongs to the regions with insufficient precipitation. Minimum monthly precipitation i s observed in winter months (20-22 mm in January - February period). Maximum precipitation i s observed June and July (56-65 mm).

Changes o f air temperature in Ust-Kamenogorsk area depend on specific features o f atmospheric air circulation and radiation factors. These factors determine considerable daily changes and day-to-day variations o f the air temperature. Amplitude o f monthly average change o f air temperature in summer and winter seasons i s 370C. Absolute extreme air temperature values reach up to 490C. Inversions o f air temperature are o f special interest f rom viewpoint o f environmental studies. Such air temperature inversions hinder f rom turbulent air exchange and contribute to aerosol concentration in the near-surface air layer. Number o f foggy days and daily foggy weather duration are very important factors affecting the environmental conditions in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Owing to construction o f Hydroelectric Power Plant in Irtysh river, number o f foggy days considerably increased from 35-40 up to 65-70. Both air pollution level and number o f various air polluting substances are changing in foggy days. The most prevailing air pollutant i s sulfur dioxide gas dissolved in drops of fog, resulting in formation o f sulfuric acid aerosol, which i s a typical phenomenon for Ust- Kamenogorsk area. Furthermore, such sulfuric acid aerosol contained in drops o f fog i s of higher toxicity than sulfur dioxide gas emitted by the industrial enterprises. Lowering of polluted fog drops downward from the upper and most polluted air layers down to the near- surface air layer and onto the ground surface leads to strong deterioration o f environmental conditions, which i s similar to acid rain impact. Close relationship was identified between a number o f foggy days and the ambient air pollution level, and the factor o f such correlation i s assessed as equal to 0,9. Specific features of the geologic structure

Paleozoic rock and Neogene patches are overlaid by Quaternary sediments, which are formed o f various complexes being different in terms o f lithology, genesis and age. Quaternary sediments in the valleys o f Irtysh and Ulba rivers are composed o f alluvial and diluvial

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sediments in a form o f deep erosion trench in the Paleozoic basement. Total thickness o f Quaternary sediments reaches up to 20-120 m.

Lower part (40-60 m thick) o f Quaternary sediments i s formed o f sand-gravel-pebble sediments with clay inter-layers. Age o f these sediments i s Lower Quaternary. T h i s formation i s overlaid by alluvial sand-gravel horizon o f Middle Quaternary, characterized by less content o f clay and practical absence o f clay inter-layers. Thickness o f Middle Quaternary horizon i s 40-60 m. Lower- Middle Quaternary strata form a single grey-color alluvial complex, being the main aquifer in Ust-Kamenogorsk alluvial basin.

The alluvial complex i s overlaid with Middle-Upper Quaternary diluvial & proluvial sediments, which thickness i s varying from several meters near the river bottomlands up to 30-40 m strata occurring in the flanges o f the valley. These sediments play a role o f the sedimentary cover that protects sediments o f alluvial aquifer f rom infiltration o f toxic pollution f rom the ground surface resulted from the activities o f the industrial enterprises and the city population. I t i s believed that just minimum 4 m thickness o f the loamy covering layers may provide the effective protection for underlying layers f rom their pollution. However, the protection efficiency depends not only on the covering layer thickness but depends to a greater degree on the presence o f sandy inter-layers within the covering loamy layers. So, despite good thickness o f loamy layers occurring in the region o f Nor th industrial zone (8 m thick and more), efficiency o f the covering layers protection i s l o w because o f a big number o f sandy inter-layers which are worsening the protective properties, so that this horizon may not prevent pollution penetrating f rom the industrial sites into ground waters o f the alluvial complex.

Infrastructure of Ust-Kamenogorsk city At present Ust-Kamenogorsk city i s one o f the biggest industrial centers o f nonferrous metallurgy in Kazakhstan. Nonferrous metallurgy and mechanical engineering, which are the most developed industries in this region, have been growing in close cooperation with local facilities o f the electric power industry. The administrative register o f the legal entities operating in Ust-Kamenogorsk includes 6072 commercial enterprises. There are 143 joint-stock companies, 2335 l imi ted liability partnerships, 48 agricultural farms, 1333 trade companies in the city. 78,7 thousand people are engaged in the operation o f the large-scale and moderate-size enterprises o f Ust-Kamenogorsk, including 3 1,4 thousand people involved in the industrial production, 5,8 thousand people engaged in the construction activity, 16,l thousand people involved in the fields o f education and public health services, 9,7 thousand people - in trading activity, 10,3 thousand people - transport and communication services, etc. about 17,7 thousand people are engaged in the business o f small and medium-size enterprises.

Ust-Kamenogorsk i s characterized by a big number o f technogenic pollution sources, such as the industrial enterprises, transport facilities, agricultural farms, gas stations, food industry enterprises and the sector o f private houses. Major environmental impact i s caused by the industrial enterprises and transport facilities o f the city.

As for the industrial enterprises, the major pollution sources in Ust-Kamenogorsk are such enterprises as JSC “KazZinc”, OJSC Ust-Kamenogorsk Heat Power Plant, JSC UMP, OJSC UK TMC (Fig. 3.1). Ust-Kamenogorsk i s one o f the cities characterized by the most adversely impacted environment and the highest concentration o f industrial enterprises causing considerable pollution o f the city environment, as well as a number o f enterprises located in the immediate proximity to the city. Summary o f the city environmental features i s provided below.

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3.2. AMBIENT AIR CONDITIONS Under conditions o f insufficient ambient air ventilation in the city (days with calm weather comprise 48% on average), a big number o f constant pollution sources and transport facilities in the c i ty bring to the unquestionable fact o f critical situation with air pollution i s Ust-Kamenogorsk.

Monitoring o f Ust-Kamenogorsk ambient air pollution i s carried out by East Kazakhstan Hydro-Meteorological Center through involving 5 stationary observation stations and 1 mobile observation station, as well as using the industry-controlled monitoring stations established at the industrial enterprises.

There are about 170 enterprises in the city that create over 3 thousand constant pollution sources bringing an adverse impact on both biocenoses and the city population. The city enterprises are divided into several categories in terms o f their potential environmental hazard, air pollutants quantities and composition. Six enterprises are placed into the 1’‘ hazard group, including such industrial giants as Ust-Kamenogorsk JSC “KazZinc” (76,8% o f air pollution) , Ust-Kamenogorsk Heat Power Plant (12,21?4 o f air pollution), Ust-Kamenogorsk Heating Network (4,91% o f air pollution), Sogrunsky Heat Power Plant (4,01% o f air pollution) (Fig. 3.2). Contribution o f small enterprises into the city air pollution i s not big, but taken altogether, such small enterprises also cause certain impact on the city environment,

Motor transport causes an essential impact to the near-surface air layer o f the city, contributing 30% o f the total air pollution.

76,80% 0 HPP UMP 0 TMP

lant USHPP

Figure 3.2. Contribution o f enterprises into air pollution in Ust-Kamenogorsk

Up to 92 chemical components are emitted by the enterprises o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city. In 2004 about 92,2 thousand tons o f air polluting substances were emitted by the industrial enterprises, including 6,206 thousand tons o f solid pollutants and 85,98 thousand tons o f gaseous and liquid pollutants.

Figure 3.3 demonstrates the shares o f major air pollutants emitted by the city enterprises. Sulfur dioxide comprises 72,38% o f the overall pollutants.

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Figure 3.3. Shares o f air pollutants emitted by Ust-Kamenogorsk city enterprises

In 2004 the average concentrations o f air pollutants were as follows: sulfur dioxide - 1,7 MPCaverage daily, dust - 1,5 MPCavemge daily, nitrogen dioxide - 1,3 MPCaverage daily, formaldehyde - 1,1 MPCaverage daily, chlorine - 1, 0 MPCavemge daily, lead - 1,o MPCaverage daily. Average concentration of carbon oxide, phenol and arsenic did not exceed 1,0 MPCaverage dally.

Maximum single concentrations o f air pollutants were as follows: sulfur dioxide -

MPC,,, single, carbon oxide - 2,8 MPC,, slng~e, chlorine - 2,4 MPC,,, single. There were no any registered cases of pollutant concentrations in excess of 10 MPCmax single

The city area located close to the site o f 6, Rabochaya Street i s characterized as the most polluted with al l controllable substances. In 2004 the air pollution index (API5) was ranging within 4,5-9,5. Regions o f Zaschita station and 30, Uritsky Street were slightly less polluted areas. Sites o f Novaya Sogra, Silk Factory, Ablaketka village, Airport area were relatively clean parts o f the city.

5,7 MPC,, single, phenol - 6,9 MPCmax single, nitrogen dioxide - 5 MPCmax single, dust - 5,O

3.3, SURFACE WATER CONDITIONS Major pollution sources o f Ust-Kamenogorsk surface waters are discharges o f industrial and household sewage into the rivers. Major volumes o f sewage waters are discharged into Ulba river from such enterprises as Sogrinsky Heat Power Plant and Ust-Kamenogorsk Heat Power Plant. Less volumes o f sewage waters are discharged into Ulba river f rom the state enterprise “Novaya Sogra”, JSC UMP, JSC UK TMP, OJSC UK “Heating Network”. According to the enterprises’ records and reports, in 2004 the total o f 48913 thousand m3/year o f industrial sewage were discharged into Irtysh river, and the total o f 66930 thousand m3/year o f industrial sewage were discharged into Ulba river. Hence, the total discharge o f pollutants into Ulba river was about 19896 tons, and the total discharge o f pollutants into Irtysh river was 9439 tons. I’f to refer to the enterprises’ records and reporting documentation, the aggregate total pollutants discharge from these enterprises did not exceed the discharge volumes which were specified as the limits o f Maximum Permissible Discharge for the mentioned enterprises.

In addition to that, the smaller enterprises also discharge their industrial sewage into the rivers without having any preliminarily approved limits for volumes o f such sewage discharge.

In certain seasons o f the year ground waters also become the source o f pollution supplied together with water drain into Ulba river.

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Pursuant t o results o f the environmental surveys conducted in 2003-2004 by the order o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city administration, conditions o f the surface waters were assessed as follows.

Ulba river

Stone Pit - the mouth of Makhovka river Within this river section surface waters are already polluted with sewage discharges from the big mining enterprises located upstream o f the said area. Within the c i t y boundaries o f Ust- Kamenogorsk, polluted waters o f Ulba river are intensively supplemented with waters drained from TMP waste storage dumps. Average integrated index o f water pollution was Zp = 2,2. Concentrations o f T1, C d and o i l products exceeded the limits o f maximum permissible concentration (MPC).

The mouth of Makhovka river - the railway bridge This river section i s characterized by very high level o f water pollution. During water sampling, concentration o f thallium (Tl) was assessed as being 6 times higher than the limit o f maximum permissible concentration for surface waters (MPCs,rface water), concentration o f cadmium (Cd) was assessed as being 1,7 times higher than maximum permissible concentration for waters o f fishing industry (MPCfishing industty), concentration o f vanadium was 10 times higher than the relevant MPCfishing industry. Mahovka river, Sogra village, etc. are the sources o f pollution impact for this river section.

The railway bridge - Ulba river mouth The biggest number o f polluting sources are located within this sector o f Ulba river channel including such polluting sources as the industrial sites o f UK M P JSC KazZinc, JSC UMP, Heat Power Plant, storm water drain and others. Integrated index o f surface waters pollution (Zp) was equal to 4,3. Concentration o f thallium (Tl) was on average 3,2 times higher than the relevant limit o f maximum permissible concentration for surface waters (MPCs,,face water),

concentration of cadmium (Cd) was 2,67 times higher than MPCs,,face water, concentration o f lead was 1,2 times higher than MPCs,face water, as well as concentration o f o i l products was 1,3 times higher than MPCswface water.

Irtysh river

Strelka (the mouth of Ulba river) - the Pontoon bridge Within the said river sector, a stream o f Ulba river polluted waters inflows into Irtysh river, resulting in a considerable deterioration o f Irtysh waters quality. Water quality i s worsening from the level o f ‘‘increased pollution” to the level o f “high pollution”. Polluting substances are delivered into this sector o f Irtysh river together with a stream o f polluted ground waters from the city o f Ust-Kamenogorsk and together with discharges o f storm water drain system. Here, concentration o f thallium was assessed as being 7,O times higher than MPCsurface water,

concentration of o i l products was 1,46 times higher than MPCsurface water, concentration o f cadmium was 1,06 higher than MPCsurace water.

The Pontoon bridge - Uvarovo passage This river section i s the last one located within the territory under study, and this river section i s reflecting the overall impact caused to Irtysh river by the whole o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city territory. The city’s Sewage Treatment Facilities (STF) discharge sewage into this part o f Irtysh river. Since volumes o f the current sewage are more than twice bigger than the STF

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nominal treatment capacity, these treatment facilities fail to ensure a proper treatment o f a l l sewage volumes. Pollution o f the river waters with groundwater drain was also identified. Within the given sector, the river channel i s of rather twisted shape and covered with numerous islands associated with a considerable increase o f the bottom sediments thickness. This insufficient treatment o f supplied sewage i s clearly observed 3-5 km downstream o f the Sewage Treatment Facilities, where concentrations o f thallium and o i l products exceeded the established limits o f MPCSu,~,,, water, and concentrations o f ammonium ions and nitr i tes were higher than the limits o f MPCfishing industry. All these factors lead to classifying the pollution o f this river section as o f “high level”.

Ust-Kamenogorsk Heat Power Plant - Strelka (mouth of Ulba river)

This Irtysh river section may be regarded as the river part where water pollutant concentrations are assessed as being within the background limits. At the same time, this river section i s supplied with waters from Ust-Kamenogorsk water storage reservoir, which are s t i l l carrying pollutants f rom Zyryanovsky mining enterprise and Ognevsky mine (additionally contaminated with stable organic pollutants). Contamination with stable organic pollutants i s resulted from the operations o f Ust-Kamenogorsk Condenser Plant, where trichlorbynethyl (THB) (with up to 2,5% o f high-chlorinated bynethyls (PHB) o f chloren type (A-50 and A-60) i s used as dipping electric insulating liquid.

Surface waters contamination i s also caused by pollutants supplied f rom the adjacent territories. Sector o f private housing i s predominanting on the river’s banks, and i t s population use the river banks as the place for disposal o f household, construction and other wastes. Based on results o f water sample tests, pollution o f this Irtysh river sector i s assessed as having the “increased pollution level”.

Continuous monitoring o f the surface waters pollution i s carried out by East Kazakhstan Hydro-Meteorological Center (EK HMC). Water quality in the upper reach o f the river within Ust-Kamenogorsk city area i s assessed at the place called as “Stone Pit”, located 3 km. upstream o f Sogrinsky industrial complex. Variation o f macro-components composition in the river waters i s predetermined by the seasonal changes. Min imal i on concentration i s observed in April - May, i.e. during the spring high waters. The second minimum o f the river water mineralization i s detected in November-December. Throughout a year term i o n concentrations in the waters are fluctuating from 50 up to 250 mg/dm3. Hydro-physical characteristics o f the river waters, such as transparency, chromaticity, temperature, pH, quantity o f suspended matters are subjected to sharp changes. At the same time such river water parameters as content o f oxygen, BOD5 and carbon-dioxide gas were relatively unchangeable throughout a year term. Concentrations o f a l l nitrogen-containing ions in the river waters were below the limits o f the specified maximum permissible concentrations established for the fishing industry (MPCfishing industry). AS for micro-component concentrations in the river waters, in certain months o f a year te rm concentrations o f some heavy metals exceeded their relevant MPCfishing industry as follows: for copper such excess over the limit o f MPCfishlngindustry was 2-6 times, for zinc - 3,8-16 times, for beryll ium - 1-2 times, for manganese - 1-2,5 times. Just at the place o f the river stream reaching the ci ty area, in certain months o i l products concentrations were 1-1.8 times higher than the limits o f

Other hydro-monitoring station o f East Kazakhstan Hydro-Meteorological Center (EK H M C ) i s located just in the city area, at the motor road bridge, 1,45 km upstream o f the mouth o f Ulba river. Changes o f total i on concentrations are o f the same character as in the previous river sections, because such changes are basically depending on the seasonal factors. Concentration o f water-dissolved oxygen i s remaining practically the same throughout a year term, however concentration o f carbon dioxide gas i s slightly growing. Chemical oxygen

MPCfishing industry.

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demand (COD) i s insignificantly fluctuating within a year term, s t i l l being within the same limits, as detected at the previous monitoring station. Concentration o f nitrogen ions does not exceed the limit o f MPCfishing industry. In certain months copper concentration in this river section i s 1-7 times higher than the appropriate limit o f MPCfishing industry, zinc concentration i s 1-24 times higher than the appropriate limit o f MPCfishing industry, concentration o f beryllium i s 1-3 times higher than the appropriate limit o f MPCfishing industry, concentration o f manganese i s 1-3,7 times higher than the appropriate limit O f MPCfishing industry. In general, concentrations o f practically al l water pollutants and values o f other water parameters, characterizing the worsening river water quality, are increasing from the upper to lower river sections.

River waters pollution with o i l products i s detected at the both monitoring stations. Just immediately in the upper reach o f the river concentrations o f some pollutant are higher than the established limits o f MPCfishing industry caused as a result o f sewage drain f rom Leninogorsk city and agricultural farms situated upstream in the upper reaches o f Ulba river.

Results o f water pollution sampling at three observations stations were taken into consideration at performing the water quality studies. These stations include the f i r s t one located 0,8 km downstream o f the dam o f UK Hydroelectric Power Plant, the second observation station was placed 0,5 km downstream o f the Condenser Plant and the third hydro-post was located 0,35 km downstream o f the pontoon bridge (i.e. 3,2 km downstream of Ulba and Irtysh rivers junction). Concentrations o f macro-components in the river waters are remaining more or less stable in al l seasons o f the year. Increased copper concentration was detected in the river waters (source o f such copper pollution i s the ore mining zone o f Zyryanovsky city). Concentrations o f other analytes were below the specified limits o f

In the middle o f March 2005 LOTUS laboratory (Ust-Kamenogorsk) undertook water sampling in Irtysh and Ulba rivers pursuant to the work order o f CC "NEDRA" LLP. L i s t of analytes included such heavy metals as beryllium, iron, magnesium, manganese, copper, lead, chromium, and zinc.

Concentrations o f manganese, copper and zinc in the river waters exceeded the specified MPC limits, established for fishing industry (MPCfishlng industry). Oil products concentration in the river waters also considerably exceeded the limits o f MPCfishing industry, moreover within the c i t y area o i l products concentration in the upstream river section was higher than the o i l products concentration, detected in the area o f the river mouth. Similar character o f pollution distribution was also observed for zinc concentration in the river waters. Hence, at performing the river waters monitoring i t was revealed that metal concentrations are higher in the upstream river section within the city area comparing to metal concentrations detected at Ulba river confluence into Irtysh river. The acquired results showed that the river waters coming into the ci ty were already polluted and underwent certain purification within the city zone.

MPCfishing industry.

3.4. GROUND WATER CONDITIONS IN UST-KAMENOGORSK CITY AREA Ust-Kamenogorsk region i s characterized by the unique groundwater accumulations confined to Quaternary alluvial sedimentary strata, forming Ust-Kamenogorsk alluvial basin. The basin i s composed o f paleo-channel sediments o f Irtyshs and Ulba rivers, retaining hydraulic connection with the waters within the recent river channel sediments o f these rivers and with the surface watercourses. Water-bearing thickness reaches up to 20-120 m. Volume of groundwater static accumulations i s about 5 b i l l ion m3. General direction o f groundwater drainage coincides with the direction o f the surface water flows. There i s a hydraulic contact between alluvial aquifer and Ulba and Irtysh rivers. W h e n the rivers water level i s low, ground waters are supplemented into the said rivers, however during the season o f high waters

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in the rivers, the river waters are feeding groundwater bearing horizon. During the autumn season a hydraulic continuum i s practically established between the groundwater table and the river waters. Major part o f the natural groundwater resources i s accumulated within the alluvial water bearing horizon due to surface waters absorption from the current river water f lows (about 95%). Additional water supply to the aquifer i s provided by water leaks from the city municipal water supply and sewage networks. Based on results o f modeling, the size o f such leaks was assessed o f 17 l/sec per each K M ~ area, which i s equivalent to about 20-25% o f the total volume o f groundwater intake carried out by Vodocanal water supply facilities.

According to the information from "VostokKazNedra" Territorial Committee, the following groundwater reserves were explored, estimated and proven within the limits o f Ust- Kamenogorsk alluvial basin: Korshunovsky, Severo-Atamanovsky, Nizhne-Sogrinsky, Atamanovsky, Pionersky, Elevatorny, Topolinny, Levoberezhny, Novo-Ust-Kamenogorsky groundwater deposits. Total usefu l groundwater resources, proven for A+B+C, categories and approved by the State Committees o f Reserves o f the USSR and the RoK, were equal to 121 7,7 thousand m3/day, including 774,9 thousand m3/day o f groundwater resources o f industrial quality. Ground waters o f the explored deposits are characterized by 0, l - 0,6g/l mineralization containing calcium bicarbonate. At the time of groundwater resources exploration, water quality corresponded to the state GOST standard specified for "Drinking Waters".

In 2004 five groundwater intake facilities have been operating in the sites with the explored and proven groundwater reserves, including Pioneer intake facility with 34,9 thousand m3/day output capacity, Elevatorny (1 9,2 thousand m3/day), Severo-Atamanovsky (55,6 thousand m3/day), Novo-Sogrinsky ( I O $ thousand m3/day) and Atamanovsky (1 9,3 thousand m3/day), shown in Fig. 3.1. Total output capacity o f these water-intake facilities was equal to 139,8 thousand m3/day (equivalent to 1618 dm3/sec), inclusive o f 19,3 thousand m3/day (i.e 234 dm3/sec) used for industrial/technical purposes. Novo-Ust-Kamenogorsky groundwater deposit i s not being utilized.

In 2004 about 15 grouped groundwater intake facilities o f various output capacity have been operated in the sites with non-proven water reserves. The biggest o f them were Oktyabrsky (27,3 thousand m3/day), Ablaketsky (2,3 thousand m3/day), Lesozavodsky (7,s thousand m3/day), Microdistrict I11 (3,l thousand m3/day), JSC Adil (1,4 thousand m3/day), Akhmirovsky (6,85 thousand m3/day) and others (Fig.3.1). Total output capacity o f these groundwater intake facilities was around 50 thousand rn3/day (579 dm3/sec), including 47 thousand m3/day (544 dm3/sec) supplied for residential & sanitary use. Major part o f these water intake facilities are not provided with any sanitary buffer zones, and their supplied water quality i s low. For this reason in the 90-ties o f the last century several groundwater intake facilities were abandoned, including those located in Stary Ploschadka district, in the city blocks 19 and 20, the area o f Zaschita district. Waters o f Octyabrsky water intake facilities are under the threat o f being polluted beyond the maximum permissible limits.

There i s a significant number o f the groundwater pollution sources located within the territory o f aquifer occurrence. Basically al l the pollution sources are caused by the industrial enterprises. At present the industry-run environmental monitoring i s carried out practically at a l l the industrial enterprises, and such monitoring includes investigations o f groundwater conditions. Major groundwater pollution sources and groundwater monitoring results are summarized below.

Within UMP tailing dump area, aquifer i s polluted with toxic components. Mineralization o f groundwater in the area o f UMP tailing dump is ranging from 10 up to 48 g/dm3. The overall concentrations o f polluting substances are equal to thousands o f the maximum permissible limits. Concentrations o f such polluting substances as dry residue, nitrates, sulfates,

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ammonium, lead, cadmium, fluorine and lithium exceeded the concentration limits established for the standards o f drinking water quality. Concentration o f beryllium assessed in the environmental monitoring wells in the territory o f the tailing dump were 1,5 higher than the maximum permissible concentration limits (MPC). The integrated pollution indices were estimated as equal to 647 MPC limits for polluting substances o f 1 & 2 hazard classes and equal up to 2624 MPC limits for polluting substances o f 3 & 4 hazard classes, total level o f alpha- and beta-radioactivity was up to 1650 and 130 MPCsUrface water limits accordingly.

Ecological parameters o f ground waters occurring in the area o f the U M P tailing dump were assessed as "dangerous" in terms o f their overall pollution level which was considerably exceeding the specified MPCsurface water limits.

Dry residue, sulfates, ammonium, manganese, beryllium, fluorine, total alpha- and beta- radioactivity pollution were measured in the environmental monitoring wells at the previously used UMP tailing dump and assessed as exceeding the specified MPC norms. The overall pollution level (measured in a number o f the relevant MPC limits) was up to 76 MPC limits for polluting substances o f 1 & 2 hazard classes, and up to 48 M P C limits for polluting substances o f 3 & 4 hazard classes, total level o f alpha-radioactivity was equal to 250 MPC limits.

Pollution from the waste dump site of JSC KazZinc. Major groundwater pollutants in this area are cadmium, thallium, zinc, manganese, beryllium, selenium, arsenic, mercury, lead, lithium, ammonium salt. The biggest polluting impact was caused by thall ium (39-53%), cadmium (20%), ammonia (6-18 %), manganese (9-13 %).

Pollution from the operational premises of JSC KazZinc. Major groundwater pollutants in the area o f the operational premises include cadmium, thallium, zinc, manganese, beryllium, selenium, arsenic, mercury, lead, lithium, ammonium salt. Pollution from the ash disposal dumps of Heat Power Plants 1 and 2. Results o f ground water surveys conducted in 2003-2004 in this site showed that the maximal pollutants concentrations in groundwater occurring in the area o f the ash dumps (taking into account the background level as well) was 4,6 MPCs,face water limits - for fluorine, 2,29 MPC,,face water

limits - for manganese, 2,5 MPCs,face limits - for nitrates, 3,7 MPCsWace water limits - for boron. Concentrations o f other polluting components spreading from the ash dump into ground waters were below the MPCsUface water l imits. Pollution from the waste disposal sites of UK Condenser Plant. The largest toxic wastes disposal site used for disposing trichlorodiphenyl, i.e. the lSt hazard class pollutant i s the waste storage pond at the Condenser Plant. This waste storage pond i s a source o f local pollution. Here the polluting elements are thallium (20 MPCsWface water limits), lead (3,3 MPCsurface water limits), i ron (2 MPCsurface water limits), mineral salts (2 MPCsurace Water

limits), sulfates (1 MPCS,,face water limits). Trichlorodiphenyl, i.e. the major pollutant generated from the waste storage pond, was not subject to metering. Pollution from the solid waste disposal sites of UK TMP and Slurry Pond No.3. UK TMK solid waste disposal facilities are located in two different places including one place used for solid waste disposal (sites No.1 and 2), and the second place used for the slurry pond (site No.3) and disposal facilities for solid chlorine-containing waste. Since there i s no any reliable waterproofing o f the previously used waste disposal facilities, chlorine-containing compounds are escaping from the waste disposal site together with atmospheric precipitation. The major polluting substances are chlorides. As for pollutants which concentrations were exceeding the established norms for drinking waters, lead concentrations in ground waters were ranging within 6-57 MPCsurface water limits, cadmium and lithium concentrations were up to 280 MPCsurface water limits, manganese concentration was up to 800-35 10 MPCsurface water limits.

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Pollution from the operational premises of JSC UK TMP. Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium- Magnesium Plant i s located in the northwest part o f the city. Assuming the overall polluting impact o f the operational premises, the waste disposal sites and slurry ponds, groundwater o f the alluvial aquifer within about 3,5 KM* area do not meet the requirements specified to drinking water norms. The drainage water-intake facilities used for supplying technical water from the currently operable water wells ensure quite efficient water supply in the controlled mode, thus contributing to limiting and localizing groundwater pollution. These drainage water-intake facilities enable to provide a successful pollution protection o f Novaya Sogra drinking water intake facilities located in the immediate proximity (600 m to the south) as wel l as to ensure protection for the municipal water intake facilities o f the city located downstream o f the groundwater flow.

In addition to the pollution sources in the survey area as mentioned above, there i s a number o f smaller pollution sources caused by the ash disposal site No. 1 o f Sogrinsky Heat Power Plant, waste disposal dumps o f Ci ty Municipal Utility Enterprise “GorComChoz”, operational premises o f OJSC “Adil”, the solid waste disposal site, the city water treatment installations, the previously used storage o f mineral fertilizers and pesticides, storm drain storage pond o f Silk Factory, Ust-Kamenogorsk Condenser Plant. Furthermore, there are areas in the city where ground waters are polluted from the outskirts housing blocks which are not outfitted with the sewage drain system and lead therefore to a significant pollution o f ground waters with nitrogen-containing substances.

Fig.3.4 and 3.5 illustrate the areas o f ground water pollution with 1” hazard class substances (Tl, Be, Hg), 2nd hazard class substances (Se, Cd, Sr, Co, B, Li), 3rd hazard class substances (Mn, V, Ni, Cr’6) and 4th hazard class substances. As clearly seen in the said Fig. 3.4 and 3.5, ground waters occurring between Ulba and Irtysh rivers are characterized by significantly large areas o f pollution. Ground waters o f the right bank o f Irtysh river occurring downstream of the junction o f Irtysh and Ulba rivers are practically deprived o f any volumes o f good- quality groundwater, as pollution level o f these ground waters i s assessed as “high” (3-10 MPC,,,face water limits) and “extremely high” (10-100 MPCS,,face water limits) in terms o f pollutants concentrations o f the 1’‘ and 2nd hazard classes.

Regular monitoring o f the city ground waters radiation pollution was started after the introduction and implementation o f the Sanitary Regulations and Norms SanR&N 3.01.067- 97, specifying a maximum allowable limit for total a-radioactivity (0,l Bq/l) and a maximum allowable limit for total P-radioactivity (1 ,O Bq/l), deemed acceptable to ensure the radiation safety o f drinking waters. According to the results o f laboratory sample analyses accomplished in 2003-2004, pollution level o f groundwater radiation in the central and western parts o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city was characterized by the values which exceeded maximum permissible limits specified for a- and P-radioactivity (Fig.3.6) The adverse ground waters radiation pollution was identified within the zone o f impact caused by the U M P (Ulba Metallurgical Plant) operational premises and the neighboring tailing dumps. According to the results o f analyses accomplished in 2004, total a-radioactivity level o f ground waters occurring in the close vicinity to the pollution sources, was 16 - 80 times higher than the norms specified for drinking waters, total P-radioactivity level was up to 6 times higher as against the norms specified for drinking waters. The water intake facilities belonging to the Airport, the Factory o f construction materials, as wel l as “Altay geologist” water intake facilities, etc. and a big number o f groundwater wells, aimed for personal use, are located in the area where ground waters are assessed as being adversely polluted with radioactive elements (downstream o f the groundwater flow). As per the results o f sampling undertaken in 2004, the total a-radioactivity level o f ground waters was 2-4 times higher than the Maximum Permissible. Concentration (MPC) limits specified for drinking waters, and total 0-radioactivity level o f the ground waters was within the limits o f M P C norms specified for

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drinking waters. Taking into account the specific character o f the production operations of JSC UMP, total a-radioactivity pollution o f ground waters was probably caused by the occurrence o f natural uranium, so that uranium concentrations in ground waters were lower than the permissible sanitary-toxicological limit o f 1,8 mg / 1.

The city’s major water intake facilities used to ensure water supply for residential & sanitary purposes are included into the program o f the state ground waters monitoring, being focused o n the control upon the water pollutants concentrations. As per the monitoring results, several aspects were identified as follows.

As o f the beginning o f 2005, ground waters in such major water intake facilities o f the city, as Nizhne-Sogrinsky, Octyabrsky, Novo-Sogrinsky, Severo-Atamanovsky, Pionersky, Lesozavodskoy, Elevatorny, Ablaketsky (Table 3.1) may be recognized as o f satisfactory quality (i.e. concentrations of controllable pollutants did not exceed the limit of MPC,,race water

, and the aggregate o f pollutants concentrations measured in a number o f the specified MPCSurace water limits, did not exceed 3 MPC,,,faCe water limits, what corresponded to the permissible and moderate degree o f pollution). However, constant use o f waters with a moderate degree o f pollution adversely affects the population health, resulting in the revealed intoxication symptoms. Concentrations o f certain controllable pollutants in ground waters of the intake facilities subjected to polluting impact o f the city’s Nor th Industrial Zone, periodically exceed the established MPC,,faCe water limits, and the aggregate pollutants concentration i s constantly exceeding the MPCsurface water limit, being equal to 6 or more MPCs,,face Water limits, which was assessed as moderate and high degree o f water pollution (such as “Altay geologist” groundwater intake facilities located outside the western part o f the surveyed area, and such as the intake facilities o f the Airport and Microdistrict 111). Ground waters o f these water intake facilities are not fit for drinking purposes.

So far, radiation pollution o f the water intake facilities used for the municipal residential & sanitary water supply i s remaining satisfactory.

I t i s necessary to note that in 2004 about 185,O thousand m3/day o f water were supplied to meet the residential & sanitary needs o f over 305 thousand people. Water supply of 5,4 thousand m3/day (2,9%) o f unsatisfactory quality was provided to 23,770 people (7,8%), and such groundwater was taken from small intake facilities (Microdistrict 111, the Airport facilities, “Altay geologist”, Opytnoye field) as well as from the private water wells (in Menovoye and Stepnoye villages, close to Zaschita station).

Thus, so far some water intake facilities o f the city provide clean water o f drinking quality, however there i s a certain probability o f their quality deterioration in the near future because o f the fact that these water wells are located o n the way o f the pollution migration along the aquifer.

In spite o f the fact that quantities o f natural groundwater resources are significant in

Ust-Kamenogorsk area, such ground waters are becoming less fit for satisfying drinking water needs o f certain parts o f the city because o f their high pollution.

There i s an urgent need o f undertaking cardinal remediation measures with the purpose to prevent pollution spread throughout the aquifer.

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P I f

I

C


Pollutants of 1 & 2 class hazard

2002-2004

Table 3.1

Pollutants of 3 & 4 class hazard

2002-2004

Quality characteristic o f ground waters in major water-intake facilities of Ust-Kamenogorsk

Airport, No2

1 1 1 Microrayon, KSM, No3

Water-intake (ref. No. on the map)

* 1,7-5,9; Cd, Pb, Ba (2,3) 2,4-2,6; NO3, SO4 (2)

d 2,7-3,7; NO3, SO4 (2) 3,2-5,4; TI, Cd, Pb, Ba (3)

Symbol Summary pollution factor, calculated in numbers of MPC limits;

Fig. 3.1 Major pollutants, (pollution degree)

Nizhne-Sogrinsky, No27

Novo-Sogrinsky, No31

Severo-Atamanovsky, No32

a 0,5-1; Cd (1) 0,3-0,4; NO3 (1)

k 0,9-1,3; Cd (1-2) 0,4-0,9; NO3, Fe (1)

b 0,251; Cd (1) 0,3-03; NO3, SO4 (1)

Altaisky geologist, No1

Lesozavod, No54

Elevatorny, No55

I * I2,4-12,9; Cd, TI, B, Pb (2-4) 13,3-4,7; NO3, SO4 (2-3) I

f 0,4-1,1; Cd (1-2) 0,4-1,57; Mn, NO3 (1-2)

c 0,5-1,5; Cd (1-2) 0,5-1,2; NO3, SO4, Mn (1-2)

I Octyabrsky, No19 I g 11,3-2,6; Cd, Pb (2) 10,4-0,9; No3 (1) I

I Pionersky, No39 I c 10,3-1,2; Cd (1-2) I0,3-1,34; Mn, NO3 (1-2) I

I Ablaketsky, No57 I h I0,2-1; Cd, Pb (1) 10,2-0,5; NO3, Fe (1) I * - water intake facilities located outside the western boundary of the city

3.5. CONDITIONS OF THE CITY SOILS The industrial giants o f non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy, nuclear industry, heat & power engineering are located just within the residential areas o f Ust-Kamenogorsk and cause strong adverse impact on the city soils. Such soils impact i s resulted f rom ambient air pollution with heavy metals which subsequently fall-out on the city soils, that are the major depository element o f the environment. Soils pollution with heavy metals o f certain intensity was detected in al l parts o f the city - on the area o f more than 200 sq. km. N o w soils are regarded as the areal source o f secondary contamination with heavy metals that might cause an adverse impact to the contacting elements o f the environment. Summary o f the soils environmental surveys earlier accomplished in Ust-Kamenogorsk city i s provided hereunder. In the beginning o f 90-ties o f the last century sampling was carried out in the area o f Altay Hydro-Geological Expedition, and in 2000 JSC Institute o f Geologic Sciences performed the laboratory sample analyses and accomplished the report preparation. The areal distribution o f soils pollution with heavy metals i s characterized by a well-defined zoning, expressed in reducing range o f toxicants and decrease o f toxicant concentrations versus the increasing distance from the major pollution sources. Soils pollution within the city territory i s configured into concentric-zonal shape. The zone with ZC> 128 i s characteristic for the industrial sites o f OJSC “KazZinc”, JSC U M P and UK Heat Power Plant as wel l as for the adjacent territories. In these areas the average value o f integrated contamination index Zc i s 1534 times bigger than the background concentration value. Range o f heavy metals i s wide enough and includes the following elements ranged based on their relevant K, values:

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Sb624, Pb406, Ag”’, Asloo, Cd62, Zn49, C U ~ ~ , Sn3*, Bi2’, Hg8, Mo3, Ba3

(Kc - is the ra t i o o f actual and background concentrations o f each pol lut ing element, Zc - i s the integrated index showing the total sum o f abnormally sincreased concentrations o f po l lu t ing elements versus the background concentrations)

As per snow sampling results, beryll ium was additionally detected amongst the area pollutants. Total area o f this zone i s 7.38 sq. km. Soil contamination intensity eas defined as extremely hazardous.

The Zone with ZC = 32 - 128. The area characterized by the specified level o f soils contamination i s o f complicated shape being close to an oval stretched in the north-west direction of the prevailing winds. The area includes housing blocks, which surround the industrial sites o f OJSC “KazZinc” and UK Machinery Plant lovated at 2.5-5 km distance (housing blocks are located in Lenin Avenue, Bazhova Street, at Zachita station, Melzavod, Shmelev Log, and include a part o f Krasina village, blocks o f many-storied buildings near the ash disposal sites o f UK Heat Power Plant, etc.)

Practically the full range o f major polluting elements, typical for this zone, was identified in soils o f this zone and assessed in anomalously high concentrations (ZC > 128). However, their average concentrations were the order-lower: for lead - 25 times lower, for antimony - more than 200 times lower, for silver - 23 times lower, etc. The integrated sum o f toxicants concentrations Z C was 28 times lower that the anomalously high integrated concentrations. Associative range o f heavy metals distribution i s as follows:

PbI6,Hgl5, Cd11,Zn8, Ag8, Cu3, Sb3, Sn2

Same as in the zone with (ZC > 128) predominant pollutants include the toxicants o f the 1st hazard class, such as lead, mercury, cadmium and zinc, appropriately placed in the left part o f the associative range o f heavy metals group.

Arsenic, bismuth, beryllium and zirconium were additionally identified in solid snow residue.

Total area o f this zone i s 22.92 sq. km. Soils Contamination with heavy metals was assessed as corresponding to a high level o f hazard.

Zone with (ZC = 16 - 32). T h i s zone i s shaped in a form o f the swath being from 1 to 4 km wide. I t i s surrounding the territory o f the zone with (ZC = 32 - 128) and includes narrow plums mapped in the north-east o f the survey area (i.e. Sogrinsly plum detected in Ulba river valley) and the plums in the north-west part close to the Airport area. Most o f housing blocks in the regional center o f Ust-Kamenogorsk are contaminated with pollutants which concentrations are ranging within the above specified limits: many-storied buildings adjacent to the Ust-Kamenogorsk railway station; Palace o f Sports, Ushanova square; Prombaza as well as including the private housing sector in Stary Podhoz village; and partially - in Staraya Sogra, Krasina settlement, Staraya Zachita, KSM, Airport, etc.

Composition range o f heavy metals detected in soils o f this zone (ZC = 16 - 32) i s somewhat narrower comparing to the zones described above, however heavy metals o f the 1st class o f hazard remain to be predominant pollutants in this area:

Hg8, Pb7, Zn5, Ag4, Cu2, Sn2 ZC average = 23 (in the city)

Polluting components detected in Sogrinsky pollution plum are remaining within the same composition, retaining the same prevailing character and concentrations, thus testifying to their emission from the same pollution source:

Hg8, Pb7, Zn3, Ag3, Cu2, Sn2 ZC average = 20

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The results o f snow cover sampling within the described zone are very much indicative. Antimony, cadmium, bismuth, arsenic were additionally identified in atmospheric precipitation together with a wide range o f the toxicants typical for rare-metals industrial production (Ulbinsky Metallurgical Plant), including such elements as zirconium, niobium and beryllium, which concentrations were assessed at the level o f 2 4 higher than the relevant soils background concentration limits. Titanium and vanadium were identified within Sogrinskiy pollution plum near the Titanium-Magnesium Plant. Soils contamination within the described zone corresponds to a moderate level o f hazard [20]. Area o f contamination i s 47.91 sq. km. Zone with (ZC = 4 - 16). The specified pollutant concentrations are most typical for the zones o f remote suburbs, surrounding the city from the north, east and north-west. Most part o f this area i s devoid o f inhabitants. Among the housing blocks o f the regional center, such contamination o f a relatively l o w level i s typical to the most comfortable part o f the city (“Strelka”, the embankment o f Irtysh river). Similar situation was detected in Ablaketka area and in the housing block adjacent to Ust-Kamenogorsk Hydroelectric Power Station Associative range o f heavy metals distribution was as follows:

Pb4, Zn3, Ag‘, Cu’, Hg’.

The average value i s ZC = 9, i.e. the integrated pollutant concentration i s 9 times higher than the value o f the relevant background pollution concentration limit. Based on snow sampling results, transgression impact from such elements as Cd, Sb, Sn, Bi, As, Nb, Zr was additionally revealed. Soils contamination with pollutants, which concentrations are 16 times higher than the background value o f such pollutants concentrations, i s regarded as admissible [Methodological Guidelines on soils chemical pollution assessment, Moscow, 19871. Assuming the specific features o f the regional center area, where the toxicants o f the 1 st class o f hazard are prevailing (lead, zinc, mercury), as wel l as the transgress impact f rom arsenic and cadmium, a “permissible” contamination i s divided into two ranges, including the range for average pollution level (Zc = 4 - 16) and the range for moderate pollution level

So, the area of 166.47 sq. km in Ust-Kamenogorsk city i s characterized by medium soils contamination (4-1 6 times higher than the background concentration level). Zone with (Zc = 2 - 3) i s outlined in a form o f separate spots located in the northern part o f the survey area, covering mainly the left bank o f Irtysh river. These areas coincide with the crop-lands and probably this fact led to decreased pollution concentrations in the top soil (0 - 5) layer, which was sampled at performing the environmental and geochemical surveys. In this zone only lead was identified in the increased concentration equal to 2 regional Clarks. As per snow sampling results, such pollutants as Ag, Cd, Zn, Cu, Hg, Bi, Sn, Nb, Zr. Zp were detected in the atmospheric precipitation in addition to the detected lead. The area, characterized by the specified level of soils contamination, i s equal to 19.32 sq. km. Hence, pursuant to the results o f the environmental-geochemical surveys accomplished in the beginning o f the 90-ties o f the last century within Ust-Kamenogorsk city and i t s outskirts, there were no any detected areas with the background level o f pollutant concentrations. As a result o f over fifty-year operations o f two large industrial enterprises, a technogenic areal anomaly was formed in Ust-Kamenogorsk city, being characterized by high heavy metal concentrations in soils. Soils pollution, caused by small spotted pollution sources including the heat power installations and motor transport facilities, is shaded by the strong impact made by the above specified industrial facilities. So small spotted pollution sources were therefore inaccessible for their pollution interpretation.

( Z C = 2 - 3).

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In 2004 Al tay Branch o f the Institute o f Geological Sciences named after K.I. Satpaev performed the controlling soils sampling in the regional center o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city, such sampling program comprised o f 802 soil samples in total. These investigations were accomplished within the program “Environmental surveys o f soils contamination in Ust-Kamenogorsk area” focused on analyzing the distribution regularity o f integrated heavy metals concentrations and their vertical migration in various surface terrain conditions.

Comparative analysis showed that by the year o f 2004 the previously revealed technogenic anomaly retained i t s general morphologic, structural and genetic properties. Same as in the beginning o f the 90-ties o f the last century, the soils contamination within the city temtory was shaped in concentric oval zones, affected by the inversion air flows along the valley o f Irtysh and Ulba rivers. Heavy metal concentrations and number o f polluting metals were detected t o be gradually reducing versus the growing distance from the major pollution source. Irtysh river retained i t s function o f a thermal-hydrodynamic bamer, hindering from pollution spread from the North Industrial Zone to the le f t side o f the river valley. Residential areas close to the sites o f Silk Factory (SF), Strelka, Irtysh Quay and Novaya Sogra remained to be relatively environmentally sound.

As for polluting elements detected in the zones o f adverse environmental impact, the l i s t o f pollutants as wel l as the range o f prevailing major pollutants (Pb, Sb, Cd, Ag) remained practically unchanged, and it remained the same as before for the left part o f the associative range o f toxicants distribution.

There were several new polluting elements newly detected in certain zones, such as Bi, P - detected in the zone o f high hazard, C d - detected in the zone o f moderate hazard, etc.

When assessing quantitative parameters o f the area o f technogenic impact, there was revealed a tendency o f the pollution level increase, leading to worsening o f soils pollution category, the increase o f Zc values and growth o f heavy metals concentrations. Areas characterized by hazardous and extremely hazardous contamination became more than twice larger, and average Pb concentrations increased by 10 - 34% in the said zones, leading to 1034 ton increase in Pb quantity occurring in the soils layer o f 0-5 c m thickness.

Hence, al l major environmental elements o f the city area were seriously changed owing to long-lasting adverse impact upon the elements o f the city environment caused by the city enterprises. All components o f the environment within the surveyed area (over 260 km2), including the residential & the industrial zones, the nearest outskirts and the city suburbs, were found to be polluted with heavy metals.

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4. Basic technical solutions o f feasibilitiy study

4. BASIC TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS OF FEASlBlLTlY STUDY As stated above, ground waters o f the main aquifer in Ust-Kamenogorsk city are greatly contaminated. Especially strong contamination o f groundwater was observed in the western part o f the city. Some water intake facilities designed for drinking purposes have been abandoned at the mentioned place. Water intake facility located in I11 Microrayon i s at the stage o f being closed. Drinking water from Oktyabrskiy water intake facility, situated westward o f Ulba and Irtysh rivers, i s under the threat o f becoming non-conformable to the standards o f drinking water quality. Contamination o f ground water gained a regional character. Currently, only ground waters o f the river bank territories remain clean (i.e. meet the standards o f drinking water quality). Certain industry-controlled water intake facilities o f industrial plants, maintained with the purpose to intercept polluted waters, formed within the Central Industrial Complex, are not capable o f providing a fully resisting barrier to contaminated ground waters progressing to south and south-west. I t i s required to take more thoroughgoing measures for the ground waters remediation.

This Feasibility Study proposes to conduct remediation measures on ground waters treatment in a form o f two groups. The purpose o f the f i rs t group o f measures i s to prevent further infiltration o f contamination f rom the slurry ponds into the subsurface horizons, and the second group o f measures i s aimed at intercepting the contaminated ground waters by using a hydraulic barrier, then to perform ground waters treatment and injection into the aquifer at the location upstream o f the Central Industrial Complex. In this case it will be required to liquidate any leakages from the industrial facilities, which i s to be undertaken by the enterprises themselves.

The required measures on improving the situation with ground waters in the ci ty o f Ust-Kamenogorsk are grouped into 3 classes:

0 measures at the industrial sites o f high priority;

0 measures at the industrial sites o f minor priority;

0 measures in the areas o f the municipal facilities.

This classification does not imply that the environmental hazards o f the “minor priority” objects are negligible and could be postponed for too long. But i s does mean that, given the limited funding available, these funds should be used for performing the high-priority activities f irst where the most pressing problems must be solved.

This Feasibility Study concentrates on the f irst group o f measures, i.e. at the sites o f high priority. The strongest contamination o f ground waters i s localized in the area o f KazZinc Industrial Complex - U M P - UHPP. F low o f contaminated ground waters spreads towards the major water-supply sources o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city. I t i s required to prevent spread o f ground waters contamination downstream o f the water intake facilities through the liquidation of the following main sources o f ground waters contamination:

0 uranium slurry pond o f UMP-6;

0 “new slurry” terricone No. 6 KazZinc (State-owned facilities);

0 slurry reservoir o f the Condenser Plant;

0 removal o f leakages, if any, within the territory o f KazZinc, UMP, UKHPP premises.

L i s t o f the main (alternative) cardinal measures on the leaks removal or the impact mitigation i s as follows:

4- 1


0 relocation o f contamination sources to better suited sites;

0 covering o f dumps to minimize leakage through the sedimentary thickness;

0 wastes immobilization aiming to minimize leaching o f hazardous substances from wastes;

0 removal o f contaminated soil and formations o f aquifer;

0 repair o f processing equipment with leakages;

0 minimization o f wastes toxicity prior to storing.

More realistic way to reduce infiltration o f contamination into the aquifer under prevailing conditions (according to FS developers) might be a creation o f covering systems (Store and Release Cover), which may serve as a barrier preventing filtered atmospheric precipitation from further penetration. SRC-systems are based o n the principle o f “storage and evaporation”, i.e. exclusion o f infiltration into the aquifer by making a storage layer o f certain thickness. The said layer can restrain penetrated atmospheric precipitations o f wet season until a dry season, when the accumulated moisture from SRC system i s evaporated. Moreover, evaporation process, root system o f vegetation, which are slated to be planted along the surface o f the covering, will fortify the consumption o f moisture accumulated in SRC system. According to FS developers’ experience, brown loam i s suitable for overlapping, and the mentioned loam i s abundant in the region o f Ust-Kamenogorsk. Usable water capacity o f this loam i s estimated at about 10%. At such water capacity, loam thickness o f about 250 cm seems appropriate.

Final landscape design wil l consist o f grass sowing on the entire area o f settling vessel as well as in planting o f about 10 softwoods aiming to fortify process o f water evaporation, which accumulates in the center o f the reservoir, and to minimize volume o f water, which needs to be collected and processed.

Guarantee period o f such covering i s almost 200 years.

As stated above, second group o f remediation measures i s intended to intercept contamination through making a hydraulic barrier, to purify and inject treated waters into the aquifer upstream o f the Central Industrial Complex.

Hydraulic practice has several approaches on ground waters interception. Characteristic o f the said approaches i s detailed in Table 4.1. Removal o f contaminated soil might be included into this category of the aquifer treatment.

Two last options deemed to be as the most suitable f rom this l i s t o f ground waters treatment measures.

The idea o f ground waters pump-out and treatment leads to the arrangement that the contaminated ground waters are to be withdrawn from the aquifer and subjected to treatment. Next, purified water i s either discharged into the river or pumped into the aquifer upstream o f the Central Industrial Complex, aiming to fortify the dilution process. The repeated infiltration can significantly reduce time and costs required for ground waters remediation.

The specified capacity o f ground water intake consumption at the peripheral parts o f the Industrial Complex totals 830-1000 m3/hour. Each well i s able to yield 10 l/sec, i t should be noted that the water level lowering in the water intake facility wil l comprise less than 1 m. Therefore, the well field wil l consist o f 23 wells, and a distance between water wells wi l l be 150 m, wells’ depth will equal to 20-50 m. (depending on the bedrock occurrence), length o f mesh fi l ters wi l l be 10-40 m.

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Total operational capacity o f infiltration water intake facilities i s 830 m3/h. Production capacity o f one wel l i s 5-6 lisec, number o f wells - 46, distance between the wells- 100 m, wells’ depth i s 20-50m. Increase o f injected wells number comparing with a number o f wells within the water intake facilities i s conditioned by the fact that, under such conditions it will be minimal raise o f ground waters level at water injection point.

Removal o f contaminants from drinking water before supplying to central water supply network i s a technically resolvable task. In connection with the fact that ground waters contain great number o f various components, including toxic ones, which significantly threaten the water quality, i t i s required to apply multistage treatment. Treatment process i s based o n a combination o f physical-chemical and biological stages. Biological treatment i s required for neutralizing nitrates in water. The proposed stations o f ground waters treatment are constructed in the form o f two linear systems 500 m3/hour each.

Until water supply system in the city o f Ust-Kamenogorsk i s repaired, a l l purified water from the water treatment unit wil l be either discharged into Irtysh or Ulba river (since filtration volume f rom water-distribution system i s enough for diluting contaminated f low o f ground waters) or used by any consumers (if the consumer for this water volume wil l be announced). Purified waters will be discharged upon agreement with the environmental authorities, on the basis o f discharge standardization. In other words, withdrawn waters should be treated to the limits specified in the applicable standards.

Developers o f the Feasibility Study reviewed various ways o f groundwater treatment, however preference was given to sedimentation. Ferric chloride (100 g/m3) and lime milk (pH increases up to 10,s) i s used in the water treatment unit as the sedimentation agent. Formed sediments in the volume o f 7,5 t/year are anticipated to be transported to one o f U M P slurry reservoirs.

The effectiveness o f the implemented remediation measures will be traced by way o f monitoring ground waters in the area o f Industrial Zone, towards Oktyabrskiy and I11 Microrayon water intake facilities, as wel l as towards Irtysh river. Wells’ position should correspond to the expected migration o f ground waters pollution plum.

Monitoring system should be arranged so that al l the companies involved into such monitoring should have an access to the monitoring data, and observations should be undertaken according to the jo int program using certain technical means.

Based on combination o f the above listed remediation measures, (Table 4.2) Developers o f the Feasibility Study proposed 11 options for ground waters remediation. According to these options future ground waters conditions were forecasted on the basis o f the mathematical simulation.

Based on results o f Table 4.2 only options 4, 7, 9 deserve due attention:

Option 4 - exclusion o f contamination sources, elimination o f leakages from water supply network, remediation o f water intake facilities as wel l as the water intake facilities for purified ground waters injection;

Option 7 - removal o f contamination sources, remediation wells, elimination o f leakages from water supply network. However, treatment processes run slower than in option 4.

Option 9 - relocation o f Oktyabrskiy water intake facilities to the left bank o f Irtysh river, removal o f contamination sources.

4-4

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Obligatory condition for ground waters remediation as per al l three options (4, 7, 9), being o f interest, appears to be the removal o f contamination sources. Remediation wells are typical for options 4 and 7. The advantage o f such options i s the restriction o f contamination spread along the aquifer. Infiltration wells are envisaged only in Option 4. This option cardinally changes hydrochemical situation for much shorter time, if compared to Option 7, i.e. Option 4 seems to be the most optimal.

4-6

5. Environmental impact assessment during the progect impelementation

5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT DURING THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION Great positive effect associated wi th ground waters remediation i s anticipated while implementing technical solutions stipulated in the Feasibility Study. However, achievement o f this effect i s linked with some slight negative impacts upon environmental components, for example, during objects construction.

Option enabling to optimally solve problem on ground water remediation wi l l require construction o f remediation and infiltration water intake facilities (Table 4.2), plant for extracted ground water purification, the said option wi l l as well stipulate overlapping o f tailings storages, ash-disposal areas. Therefore, construction stage wil l be formed as follows:

Overlapping o f tailings storages and ash-disposal areas,

Wells drilling

0 Pipelining, construction o f purification plant for ground waters.

Construction o f purification plant for ground water.

Maintenance stage includes:

Ground water withdrawal /injection,

0 Ground water purification,

Discharge of purified waters into the river (provisional arrangements),

0 Storage o f wastes o f purification.

At the stage o f the Feasibility Study development, the FS section o f Pre-EIA summarized the impact factors upon the environmental components, and provides only with qualitative characteristics o f impact level. At the subsequent design stage it i s planned to provide with detailed qualitative assessment o f impact upon environmental components, which might be caused as a result o f construction operations while building remediation facilities for ground waters.

5.1, IMPACT UPON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS DURING THE FACILITIES’ CONSTRUCTION Impact on ambient air Emissions caused by internal combustion engines of the equipment, which serve the wel l at construction stage, and by dusting o f wel l site surface will be discharged into atmosphere in the course o f wells construction. I t must be noted that emissions into atmosphere wil l be minimal. Owing to the fact that wells will be drilled in the city, drilling equipment wi l l operate on electric power, in other words, n o emissions into atmosphere wil l be made.

The same w i l l be true during construction o f water-pipe trenches (construction o f the conduit) - pollutants’ emissions will be minimal.

Period o f purification plant construction includes those works, during which contaminants’ emission into atmosphere i s anticipated. Ma in impact factors upon ambient air wi l l be: leveling o f the site, access road construction; excavation for foundation; soil loading into dump-trucks and transportation; operation of internal combustion engines o f the main equipment and mechanisms; transportation, unloading and storage o f inert materials and cement; transportation and supply o f inert materials and cement into drilling rig bowl; welding operations; cutting o f reinforcement; production o f casing; standby diesel-generator.

5-1


Level o f impact upon ambient air o f the adjacent urban areas during overlapping o f slurry reservoirs and ash-disposal areas arouses special interest, since excavation works (contouring, leveling, final covering, building and development o f hydrotechnics) are accompanied with dusting o f movable stored wastes and emission o f exhaust gas released by the internal combustion engine. Overlapping i s planned to be undertaken at the following objects:

0 cone-shaped dump No.6 o f KazZinc;

0 dump 6 o f UMP;

0 slurry reservoir o f Condenser Plant

0 ash disposal site 1 o f UHPP;

0 ash disposal sites 2a and 2b o f UHPP;

0 TMPdump;

0 dump o f the experimental Lead-Zinc Plant;

0 dump o f Sogrinski Heat & Power Plant;

Process o f covering these waste storage reservoirs slightly differs, however common features of such covering are as follows: relocation o f the material, contouring, extraction and filling of the material, delivery and unload o f the loam, compressing o f under layers, construction o f drainage channels. It i s expected to employ special equipment at dumps and slurry reservoirs, such as: bulldozers, excavators, ditch diggers, truck cranes, self-dumping vehicles.

During restoration o f all dumps and slurry reservoir, gross pollutant emissions into atmosphere w i l l total 296,6385 t o f contaminants, including 119,2178 t o f harmfbl agents, 177,32068 t o f gaseous polluting components. Contribution share o f each contaminating agent into total volume o f gross emissions during dumps’ restoration i s provided in Figure 5.1.

% 0319% 17,55% 34,98 I

I 4,89%

5,32%

25,00%

Zinc oxide Arsenic

0 Sulfurous anhydride i l Carbon oxide,

Cupric sulphide nTnnmDn;r rlllat .7n-m% c ; ~ ?

Figure 5.1 Pollutant emissions (%) into atmosphere during restoration at dumps and slurry storage reservoirs o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city

5 -2


Forecasting o f atmospheric contamination (calculation o f pollutant ground level concentration) i s carried out according to software system “Era”, version 1.6, which was developed by “Logos-Plus’’ firm, Novosibirsk, and approved with the M a i n State Hydrometeorological Observatory named after A.I. Voyekov No.998/25 dated 30.04.99 o f the RoK Ministry o f Natural Resources and Environment Protection. “Procedure o n calculation o f contaminants’ concentration (in ambient air), which are contained in the emissions caused by plants” had been implemented in calculations WRD 21 1.2.01.01-97 (IRD-86).

According to calculations, the expected maximum ground level concentrations o f all analyzing ingredients at the border o f residential area won’t exceed quality criterion for ambient air, specified for populated area, air condition in the area o f projected site location will be changed within specified limits.

Impact on surface and ground waters N o impact wi l l be caused upon surface waters, since there are no any surface waters within the area o f objects construction.

M a i n impact factor upon ground waters while constructing the aforesaid objects might be penetration o f contaminants (chemical reagents) into the aquifer, which are contained in drilling fluid. However, geologic profi le and wells’ depths indicate that in the course o f drilling fluids preparation, no any chemical agents wi l l be used. Therefore, one shouldn’t expect any impact upon ground waters.

Construction works on overlapping o f slurry reservoirs, ash-disposal areas won’t cause any impact on ground waters in place o f their location, impact factors are not observed.

Land withdrawal, soil impact Construction o f wells (wells drilling), pipelines, plant for ground water treatment wi l l be associated with withdrawal o f urban lands inclusive o f the permanent land allocation for placing the wells and treatment plants and land location for the temporary use will be done during the water pipeline construction. Land withdrawal procedure within the limits o f the city i s stipulated in the relevant legislative documents. L ine o f remediation and infiltration wells will be located along the periphery o f the industrial complex; where land territories are available, i.e. not occupied by private housing sector and industrial buildings. As a part o f temporary soils withdrawal, certain adverse impact wi l l be caused to soils integrity. I t i s planned to reclaim soil in compliance with the relevant regulatory documents. Land wil l also be withdrawn for the construction o f ground water treatment facilities, which wi l l be located west o f the industrial complex. Here land areas are available for the construction o f the mentioned facilities. When construction works are completed, the territory o f the treatment facilities construction should be cleaned o f the construction waste and reclaimed. N o any additional land withdrawal i s envisaged during operations o f covering the slurry storage reservoirs and ash disposal sites. Works on covering these objects wil l be aimed at improvement o f the soil-vegetation layer o f slurry storage reservoirs’ surface.

Flora impact There i s a park zone located west o f Central Industrial Complex, where construction o f the ground water treatment facilities i s planned. Land allotment for construction o f the building should be made outside o f this park zone. At the subsequent facilities’ design stages it i s required to identify character o f vegetation within the construction area.

I 5-3


Forecast

1

Wastes formation

Drill wastes will be formed in the course o f wells construction. Mainly, drilling wastes would be represented by slurry o f drill cuttings, small amount o f waste drilling mud, drilling wastewater. Drilling wastes might be temporarily stored and then transported to the pre- specified place, according to the agreement concluded with organization, which i s capable o f storing these wastes.

During construction o f the ground water treatment facility, i t i s anticipated that construction wastes wil l be generated, and removal o f such wastes will be agreed upon with the relevant organizations.

Maximum annual zinc discharge into the

basin of lrtysh river, discharge tlyear

Year of maximum Characteristic of the forecast option

2 3 4

' 320

284 In 33 years

Inaction, leakages in water mains are not

Contamination sources are liquidated, leakages in water mains are not liquidated

' Option liquidated

Option

Contamination sources are not liquidated, water supply intake in commissioned, ~ 192 leakages in water mains are not liquidated.

In 50 years

204 Option In 43 years

Contamination sources are liquidated, leakages in water mains are liquidated, remediation and infiltration wells are commissioned

Option 84

Contamination sources are liquidated, remediation wells are commissioned, , leakages in water mains are not liquidated, infiltration wells are not commissioned

In 38years

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1 2 3 4

7.0ption

8 option

I the iefl bank of lrtysh river I Contamination sources are liquidated,

.

Contamination sources are liquidated, leakages in water mains are liquidated, remediation wells are commissioned, infiltration wells are not commissioned Contamination sources are not liquidated, leakages are not liquidated, remediation and infiltration wells are not commissioned. 300 In 50years Oktvbarskiv water intake facility is relocated to

220 In 44years

Option 72 In 36 years leakages are liquidated, Oktyabrskiy water intake facility is relocated to the lefl bank, remediation and infiltration wells don’t operate

Section 5. Environmental impact assessment during the project implementation

Figure 5.2. M a p o f forecasted ground water level lowering. Forecast opt ion No.4

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Change of ground water quality

Principal intention o f this FS i s to work out the program o n ground water remediation, Le. to work out the proposals oriented to improvement o f ground water quality. FS analyzes various options o f ground water remediation. These options are characterized by different combination o f remediation actions (Table 4.2). All the options had been implemented on hydrogeological model, including option “inaction”, which i s based on the fact that contamination sources are not liquidated. The only positive moment, for ground waters, found in this option i s presence o f leakages from water supply and sewage systems, which are currently observed. These leakages act as dilutant. Meanwhile, pollution keeps on easily spreading along the aquifer. At present, ground waters in the majority o f the river-bank water intake facilities s t i l l remain suitable for drinking purposes (contamination i s lower Maximum Permissible Concentrations for drinking waters), however, some day, according to forecast, there won’t be any water intake facilities on the l e f t bank which would withdraw water o f good quality. Acting water intake facility Oktyabrskiy, at this option, worsens the rate o f contamination spread along the aquifer. Closure o f Oktyabrskiy water intake facility will enable to reduce hydraulic gradient, and Contamination spreading speed in south direction.

Water intake facility o f I11 Microrayon, located in the west part o f the city, i s currently on the verge o f i t s hydrochemical capacities. Naturally, according to the forecast, i t i s abandoned once and for ever. “Inaction” option i s not acceptable, since al l water intake facilities along Ulba river and in the area o f i t s confluence with Ir tysh river should be closed for a long period. Closure o f Oktyabrskiy water intake facility wi l l entail reduction o f pollutant transport from Central industrial complex towards the said water intake facility, however, it will cause stronger progression o f contaminants from Central industrial complex in west direction towards gravel pits on the right coast o f Irtysh river. Based on the analysis o f forecasting alternatives, i t was made a conclusion stating that the most optimal solution o f problem associated with ground water quality improvement is:

0 unquestionable liquidation o f ground water’s contamination sources,

0 implementation o f ground water treatment system (remediation and infiltration water intake facilities),

0 l iquidation o f leakages in water supply and drainage systems.

This option o f forecast showed as follows.

According to simulation results, for some time, when the above l isted technical solutions are implemented, strengthening o f contaminations wi l l be observed in Oktyabrskiy water intake facility, and only after 10- 15 years water quality in this water intake facility will be drastically improved. O n the whole, i t will take almost 30 years for ground water treatment, as opposed to the option, when infiltration l ine o f wells i s not envisaged- treatment process in this option i s extended for 50 years. Implementation o f this option wi l l have positive impact o n ground water condition in west part o f the territory. However, even in this case it won’t be possible to improve water quality of I11 Microrayon water intake facility.

Negative moment o f the option o f non-infiltration l ine o f wells i s regional recession o f ground water level, which might lead to the necessity to deepen filters o f exploitation wells o f the municipal single water intake facilities, including Oktyabrskiy. Necessity to discharge withdrawn water into Irtysh river i s also deemed as negative.

I t must be noted, that during simulation, migration o f ideal indicators was imitated. Therefore, sorption processes by clayey materials, chemical, biological, radioactive disintegration hadn’t

5-7


been taken into account. Whereas the processes o f diffusion, hydrodynamic dispersion, dilution had been taken into account. Therefore, i t should be stated that heavy metals move in nature much slower comparing to those calculated in model. In this connection, forecasting concentrations according to model, are higher than those in nature. However, while modeling, FS developers made attempts to take into account moderation factor using two methods - f i r s t method stipulates usage o f moderating coefficient according to literature data and the second one stipulates solution o f reverse stationary problem using monitoring investigations data in order to obtain migrational characteristics o f the aquifer. Both methods o f problem solution appeared to be unsuccessful- the obtained model result i s far from real results. Therefore, pursuant to FS, it was made the decision o n the necessity to conduct (during a year) monitoring investigations on aquifer’s migration characteristics identification. Only when these characteristics are received it will be possible to make the adjustment o f these model solutions.

In spite o f the fact that the obtained forecasting results (exclusively o f moderation factor) are more “offensive”, these forecasts enable to evaluate tendencies o f change o f ground water quality condition in prospect, based on these model solutions one can make univocal conclusions regarding solution o f the problem associated with supplying the water o f good quality.

Impact on soil andjlora

Overlapping o f environmental contamination sources will definitely play positive role in remediation o f the environment, including soil.

Membrane wil l allow reducing filtration o f atmospheric precipitations into ground waters, it wi l l protect atmosphere against dusting, increased radiation, keep from contact with harmful agents, while the landscape arrangements (planting o f vegetation) w i l l add not only aesthetic appearance to the territory, but i t will as wel l play positive role in purifying air o f the adjacent territory. Emissions into atmosphere wil l be considerably reduced, and this, in i t s turn, will greatly slow down further soil pollution through ambient air.

Change o f balanced surface o f ground waters might influence on root system o f vegetation. However, natural level o f ground waters in the area o f maximum recession o f level during water withdrawal by remediation water intake facility comprises almost 7-10 m. Recession o f ground water level in the volume o f 1-2 m n o more o f the amplitude o f ground water level seasonal fluctuations. In other words, root system i s adapted to such leve l fluctuations o f ground water, and such changes wi l l unl ikely have great impact upon vegetation.

Impact on geotechnical soil properties (assessment of possible change of territoiy shakability and stability of buildings and structures).

Such changes o f level will hardly influence on territory shakability. Increase o f shakability approximately by +1 might be resulted in such case when i t would be thinning o f ground waters i f these waters will significantly rise. Meanwhile, in this particular case, thinning o f ground waters i s not the subject o f discussion. Ground water level will stay, as before, at considerable depths.

As for the changes o f soil bearing capacity, if i t s water saturation i s changed, main jeopardy wi l l be represented by soil, loams and sandy soil. Rubbly-pebbles and half-rocks don’t change bearing capacity in case o f soaking. Situation with level change, to this or other way, in both cases won’t entail worsening o f buildings’ stability. Value o f ground water level change as a result o f maintenance o f both l ines o f wells wi l l be n o more o f the value o f natural level fluctuation. I t should be noted that

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natural level o f ground water occurs at the depths, which exceeds the capacity o f sealing cover, i.e. i t i s set at occurrence depth o f loam bottom, and, as a rule, it i s set in gravel - pebbles. In this connection, level recession as a result o f pumping out, won’t influence on bearing capacity o f the said soil. Wastes

Special attention deserves formation o f great wastes’ volumes resulted in water treatment, the mentioned wastes should be either sent to one o f slurry reservoirs o f UMP, or subject to further processing for extraction o f metals, production o f construction materials, etc. Thus, analyzing the impact upon environmental components it might be stated that both at construction stage, and at the stage o f objects (designed for ground water remediation) maintenance all forecasted negative impact wi l l be o f l ow intensity (Table 5.2). No any great negative consequences are envisaged for the environment. However, at the same time it i s planned to solve acute problems associated with ground water quality condition. Positive effect as a result o f project implementation i s obvious. All these positive moments o f FS implementation wi l l positively influence on population health. The necessi ty o f FS solutions realization i s dictated by the following circumstances.

0 In the nearest future the issue regarding supply with qualitative drinking water to Ust-Kamenogorsk city wi l l escalate.

Ground waters on the right bank in the nearest 5-15 years wi l l be, as before, polluted even in case o f treatment o f the aquifer through pumping-injection o f ground waters.

Contamination o f Oktyabrskiy water intake facility in the nearest future i s inevitable. The effect o f treatment will appear only after 20-25 years.

In the nearest time one shouldn’t expect qualitative ground waters in the right bank o f Ulba and Irtysh rivers.

0 Real solution o f the problem regarding qualitative water supply for the forthcoming time appears to be maintenance o f ground water intake facilities located on the lef t bank o f Irtysh and Ulba rivers.

Relocation o f drinking water intake facilities to the left bank doesn’t ru le out the necessity in remediation water intake facility.

0

0

0

0

Therefore, water supply problem might be solved provided that:

0 Contamination sources are liquidated

0

0

Ground waters are purif ied (pumping out or pumping outlinjection)

Drinking water intake facilities located in central and western part o f the ci ty are relocated to the lef t bank o f Irtysh river

Water intake facilities located in south-east and eastern part o f the city are involved into water supply process

Exclusion o f the measures o n pumping out and treatment o f ground waters wi l l entail rapid spread o f contaminants towards Irtysh river to the zone o f acting Oktyabrskiy water intake facility.

Regardless o f the fact that the process o f aquifer remediation wi l l encompass several decades, i t i s required to start implementation now so that not to dramatize today’s situation.

0

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6. Environmental management plan

6. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN This FS i s the environment targeted project, that proposes ways o f ground waters remediation in the form o f the environmental measures. As mentioned above, FS proposed two main measures aimed at ground waters quality improvement:

0 Covering o f slurry reservoirs for liquidation o f atmospheric precipitation infiltration through the body o f slurry reservoir and contaminants penetration into ground waters (liquidation o f leakages, elimination o f contaminants infiltration within the area o f ground waters pollution sources deemed as obligatory activity, however, this activity i s not a part o f the measures stipulated in this project),

0 Interception o f ground waters using the remediation water intake facility, purification and injection o f waters upstream o f ground water f low.

According to investigations, while implementing FS solutions, resultant impact upon ground waters i s expected to be significantly positive, i t should be noted that the impact wi l l be observed o n the other environmental components, however, such impact will be slight. Meanwhile, it i s anticipated to undertake complex o f activities directed to reduce impact at the stage o f the facilities’ construction and maintenance.

6.1. CONSTRUCTION STAGE As it was previously noted, during the stage o f construction o f ground waters remediation facilities (construction o f water supply wells and infiltration wells, water pipeline, plant for ground water treatment, covering o f slurry reservoirs and ash-disposal areas), certain adverse impact upon the environmental components may be detected within the operational area. Notably, i t wi l l be impact on ambient air, caused by dusting o f stored wastes, excavation, loading, unloading operations. In this connection it i s planned to undertake monitoring o f ambient air.

6. I . 1. Monitoring of ambient air The purpose of this monitoring i s to monitor ambient air conditions while performing reclamation works at dumps and slurry reservoirs and after implementation o f the activities stipulated by the project.

Main objectives:

Quality control o f ambient air at the border o f buffer zones o f Cone-shaped dump No.6 o f KazZinc, dump 6 o f UMP, slurry reservoir o f Condenser Plant, ash disposal site N o . 1 o f UK HPP, ash-disposal sites 2a, 2b o f UK HPP, T M P dump, dump o f Experimental Lead-Zinc Plant, dump o f SHPP and in the residential areas closely located to these dumps.

Monitoring should be carried out in compliance with the “Instruction on atmospheric contamination control” WD 52.04.186-89 and “Standard rules for arrangement and conduction o f the industrial environmental monitoring”, approved by the Ministry o f Natural Resources and Environment Protection No.2 15-I l dated 16.08.1999,

According to R o K Law “On Environment Protection” as o f 15.07.1997 and clauses 21,22,23 o f R o K L a w “ On Ambient Air Protection” as o f 23.03.2002, all enterprises, which operate in the city o f Ust-Kamenogorsk and have sources o f contaminants’ emissions, should carry out industrial monitoring o f ambient air.

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Monitoring o f ambient air includes as follows: monitoring o f ambient air quality at the border o f buffer zones o f plants and control o f contaminants’ emissions in accordance with the approved projects o f standards for maximum permissible emissions.

As a part o f this work, due to the fact that in the course o f dumps and slurry reservoirs reclamation al l sources o f contaminants’ emission are fugitive, it i s slated to undertake monitoring only at the adjacent territories: at the border o f buffer zones and in the nearest residential zones.

While undertaking monitoring o f ambient air during reclamation works i t i s expected to obtain information on near-surface air layer concentrations o f contaminants in ambient air. Ambient air quality will be monitored for ingredients, acting as the main contaminants during works performance. The following substances relate to main contaminants: inorganic dust with silicon content 20 to 70%, carbonic oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, lead and i t s inorganic compounds.

Industrial monitoring o f ambient air i s required to be carried out on a contractual basis with the certified laboratories o f plants (lead-zinc plant, UHPP and others).

Values o f measurement results obtained in-situ are compared with maximum single permissible concentrations (MPCm.s.) or with tentative safe exposure level (TSEL) for populated areas, as per the l is ts o f R o K 3.02.036.99 and R o K 3.02.037.99 and additionally with the values o f near-surface air layer concentrations, which are obtained by using an approach o f the mathematical simulation, provided in section 5.4.

As required, near-surface air layer concentrations wi l l be monitored in working area, and criterion for ambient air assessment wi l l be maximum permissible concentrations for working area, adopted according to GOST (state standard) 12.1.005-88 “General sanitary-hygienic requirements to air o f working area”. Should the concentrations o f this or another components be increased it i s expected to use personal protective equipment (e.g., respirators with relevant filter for protection against dust, gloves).

Peculiar feature, while measuring atmospheric contamination at the border o f the buffer zone, i s a continuous or periodic variation o f wind direction, almost 40-500, in this connection, in order to get reliable data on air pollution, sampling should be undertaken according to the fan system - simultaneously in 3 points f rom leeward side and in 1 point f rom windward side.

In residential zone measurements will be undertaken in one - two points taking into account wind direction and impact o f the main contamination sources.

Duration o f air sampling, which i s intended to define single concentrations o f contaminants, will total 20-30 minutes. Some 3 samples will be collected during one sampling cycle in each point. Sampling will be performed at height o f 1,8-2,0 m above the ground surface. Monitoring frequency o f near-surface air layer concentrations will be once per 10 days.

Quality control o f ambient air i s anticipated to be undertaken at the border o f buffer zone o f Cone-shaped dump No.6 o f KazZinc, dump 6 o f UMP, slurry reservoir o f condensator factory, ash-disposal area 1 o f UHPP, ash-disposal areas 2a, 2b o f UHPP, TMC dump, dump o f experimental lead -zinc plant, SHPP dump and in residential zones closely located to these dumps. Size o f buffer zones i s specified for each plant in the projects o f standards for maximum permissible emissions.

Location o f sampling points during instrumental measurements i s given in Figure 6.1.

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Parameters

Tables 6.1 and 6.2 illustrate the controllable air parameters and instruments for their measurements. The controllable air components are as follows: nitrogen dioxide, carbonic oxide, inorganic dust, lead and i t s compounds, since the mentioned components dominate in ambient air at the sites targeted for reclamation.

Upon completion o f each stage o f measurements, such measurements should be registered in special logs, and i t i s required to prepare interim quarterly reports. Following the completion o f quarterly monitoring works it i s required to produce the final report representing the analysis and summary o f the acquired measurement results. The report should be agreed upon with the relevant environmental authorities.

Quantity and 1 Measuring I Accuracy 1 duration of observations * range Device

Table 6.1

Ambient air barometric pressure

Ambient air temperature, OC

Instruments for measuring meteorological characteristics

once during k5yn Aneroid-barometer 80 * 103

BAMM to 106 * 103 10 min

k0.5 Mercury thermometer -30 to +50 2 readings

Velocity of air flow, m/s

Wind direction

Digital anemometers 0 to 5, 0,2 M/M AP 1 1 to20 0,5 M/C

3 times

0 to 360 k 5 O 3 times Pennon, Compass

Air humidity, YO r 2 times min each

Aspirated hydrometer ~ 10 to 100 1 +1.0% 1

MV-4M

Weather condition

Ground surface conditions within 100 m radius

* - quantity and duration o f air parameters measurement during one cycle o f sampling

Visual

Visual

Table 6.2

Methods and instruments for measuring pollutants' concentrations in ambient air

2

No. I Aircomponent I Measuring methods

Carbonic oxide Electrochemical Palladium-3 Palladium-2M

Control by Ecoline Plus

dioxide

Main

Method

on membranous sorbent KFK-3

3 I Inorganic dust I Weight I Electrc-aspirator EA-3

Lead and its Atomic -absorption method Spectrophotometer compounds

Accuracy

* 18

* 20

+ 5

*20

f 1 5

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Cost o f ambient air monitoring will be specified based on the cost o f one analysis and quantity o f samples collected. As known, covering o f slurry storage reservoirs and ahs- disposal sites w i l l be performed within 2 years: four slurry reservoirs o f high priority w i l l be covered during 5 months, and the facilities o f lower priority will be covered during 3 months (it i s planned to perform simultaneous covering o f several facilities). I t i s expected to undertake 3 measurements per month at each site under monitoring. And 4 samples will be collected at each measurement in accordance with Figure 6.1. Price for one sample analysis wi l l total around 15,000 KZT. Hence, cost o f sampling at the objects o f high priority wi l l amount to 3,600 U T , while the cost o f sampling at the objects o f lower priority w i l l be 1.800 KZT.

6.1.2. Environmental protection measures during the drilling operations and soils extraction for temporary use At performing the construction operations, there wi l l be no impact o n the surface and ground waters, therefore any environmental protection measures are not planned.

Certain volume o f soils will be wthdrawn from the use during the construction o f the water pipeline system. After completion o f the water pipeline construction the soils must be reclaimed. Soils reclamation area wil l comprise o f 170 thousand m2, Reclaiming w i l l be carried out within the framework o f a separate project and wil l consist o f the return o f the removed soil layer to i t s init ial location. At the places where the soil layer was absent, grass sowing must be done so as to mitigate water and wind erosion processes. Cost o f the soils reclamation on the land strip o f the water pipeline wi l l be approximately 500 thousand KZT.

During the wells drilling, a l l generated drill cuttings should be removed to an appropriate place (under the contract with the enterprise capable o f accepting these wastes for storage). Volume o f drill cuttings to be disposed will total 207 m3 (393 t). Cost o f such waste disposal wi l l be about 43 thousand U T .

6.2. PERIOD OF EXPLOITATION Ground waters monitoring wi l l be the main activities enabling to ensure the control upon ground waters conditions during the conduct o f technical operations.

Ground waters monitoring

To monitor the environmental processes and to control the efficiency o f the pollution sources liquidation as wel l as to ensure the possibility o f undertaking a timely response, the Feasibility study recommended to construct a number o f monitoring wells in the area o f Central Industrial Complex and on the way o f the pollution plum spread towards the water intake facilities (Octyabrsky, North-Atamanovsy, I11 Microrayon) and Irtysh river bank. Total o f 25 wells will be drilled for this purpose, their location layout i s shown in Fig. 6.2. The remediation wells at the water intake facilities wi l l also be used for monitoring purposes (i.e. the additional 23 wells). Monitoring wells will be placed o n the expected way o f the pollution plum spread, enabling to identify the pollution sources and assess the impact f rom various enterprises. Depth o f the monitoring wells should be equal to at least 2/3 o f the aquifer thickness, while some f the wells should be as deep as till the base o f alluvial sediments. To perform interval sampling, wells should be grouped into clusters.

Monitoring wells located downstream of the remediation water intake facilities in the direction towards Octyabrsky and I11 Microrayon water intake facilities, Irtysh river and Central Industrial Complex should be used for the controlling o f the following water parameters:

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pH, dry residue, water hardness.

Macrocomponents: N02, N03, C03, HCO3, C1, S04;Ca, Mg, Na, K, NH4.

Microcomponents:

0 As, F, Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, Se, Cd, T1, Be, V, Ni, Sr, B, Cr+6, Co, Li, Al, Hg, Ti, Ba, Ta, Ag.

Organic matters:

0 Phenol, total hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, volatile organic compounds, polyaromatic hydrocarbons

Radioactivity:

0 Total a - radioactivity, total p - radioactivity.

Fig. 6.2. Layout scheme o f observation wells

As stated above, 25 monitoring wells in the central part o f c i t y (plus additional 23 wells o f the remediation water intake facilities) wi l l be purposed not only for monitoring o f the results o f the project performance. Results o f the f i rs t year o f observations should enable to make a reliable calibration o f the hydrochemical model. Therefore sampling frequency during the first year o f monitoring should be at least once a month. Further on the sampling frequency may be reduced down to 1-2 times per a quarter.

The covered areal pollution sources belonging to the group o f so called “lower priority” (TMP1, UK HPP 1, 2 a,b, Sogrinskaya HPP) should also be outfitted with the monitoring facilities so as to control the quality and efficiency o f the covering. Other 12 observation wells should be constructed on the sites o f the said enterprises. Frequency o f the observations should be twice a year (deemed as sufficient).

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Controllable groundwater parameters on the site o f TMP I - pH, water mineralization, water hardness, Ca, Mg, C1, S04, PO4, NO3, NH4, Fe, Ti, V, Mn, Pb, Cd, T1, Li, B.

Controllable groundwater parameters on the site o f ash disposal dumps: Ca, Mg, Na+K, C1, S04, HCO3, pH, N03, NH4, Fe, F, As, V, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Se, Cd, T1, Hg, Be, o i l products, total a - and p - radioactivity.

Some groundwater pollution sources such as, for example, domestic waste dump, do not contribute to pollution o f the aquifer, which i s used for the water supply to the city. Certain presence o f mercury and lead was detected in the wells located downstream o f the groundwater flow, ad it i s the unacceptable fact. I t i s necessary to clarify the reasons groundwater pollution with these components, which i s possible to do by virtue o f drilling the observation wells o f about 15m deep. Drilling o f 4 wells wi l l be sufficient at the f i rs t stage o f monitoring, ad such monitoring program may subsequently be expanded.

Controllable groundwater parameters wi l l include: pH, dry residue, Ca, Mg, Na+K, C1, SO4, HC03 , pH, NH4, N03, Fe, Cu, Pb, Cd, As, o i l products.

Frequency o f observations i s planned to be once per a quarter.

Water sampling in wells should be taken only after a sufficient water volume i s flushed with a use o f the electric pump. Immediately after flushing such water parameters as temperature, pH, redox potential should be measured. Water samples should be taken with a use o f the sampling instrument.

Accuracy o f the analytes detection method should be at least 0,5 MPCsurface water.

Tables o f chemical composition wi l l be compiled and hydro-chemical maps wil l be generated on the basis o f results o f groundwater chemical analyses. Changes in the qualitative composition o f groundwater and the reasons thereof will be revealed by virtue o f comparing the acquired results with results o f the earlier accomplished analyses.

As mentioned above, water sampling in monitoring wells should be at least once a month during the f i rs t year o f the monitoring program. T h i s means that (25 wells x 12 samples) = 300 samples will be taken during the f i r s t year o f the monitoring program. Cost o f 1 sample analysis for a l l controllable groundwater parameters wi l l be about 13000 thousand KZT per year (for the central line o f observation wells).

In the future, monitoring wi l l be carried out by involving 37 wells located in the central part o f the survey area and 12 wells located on the operational sites o f the enterprises belonging to the group o f lower priority. Analysis cost for samples taken in the in the central part o f the survey area wil l be (37 x 45000 x 4) = 6660 thousand KZT per year.

Assuming that the analysis cost for samples f rom wells o f the lower priority enterprises i s 22000 KZT, total cost o f analyses will equal to (22000 x 12 x 4) = 1056 thousand KZT per year. So, the total cost o f the sample analyses wil l be 20716 thousand KZT per year (151 thousand USD). Cost o f the analyses to be performed within 25 year term wil l amount to 5 17900 thousand KZT (3780 thousand USD)

Analytical works under the monitoringprogram

Analytical works should be carried out at the certified and approved laboratories. Currently in Ust-Kamenogorsk groundwater sample analyses are performed at the following certified laboratories:

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0 Laboratories o f JSC UMP, JSC TMP, UK JSC KazZinc, Oskemen-Vodocanal;

0 Laboratory o f TOPAZ L L P (previously owned by the former geologic exploration committee “VostokKazNedra”);

0 Laboratories o f Sanitary-Epidemiological Station (SES) and EKO Territorial Committee o f Environmental Protection (i.e. the noncommercial organizations)

Data acquisition, processing and management

Typically, each company, which causes the environmental pollution in Ust-Kamenogorsk city, i s conducting the environmental monitoring within i t s premises inclusive o f ground waters monitoring as well. Results o f the environmental monitoring are compiled into summary tables and reports, which are submitted to EKO Territorial Committee o f Environmental Protection and Territorial Committee “VostokKazNedra”. As monitoring under the proposed project may be classified as o f local level (intended for the study o f the subsurface technogenic changes in the socially-economically important areas), so the most rational approach in this case will be to entrust Territorial Committee “VostokKazNedra” to perform such monitoring, because this organization has the sufficient experience in performing the interpretation o f hydrogeological monitoring data, i s manned with the qualified experts and equipped with the relevant methods for data interpretation. At the same time local, industry-controlled and the state-run monitoring programs should be united by virtue o f using the up-to-date technical instrumentation and facilities. All companies, carrying out the monitoring operations, should have an access to al l monitoring results. The patented software ALWIS, developed by W I S M U T GmdH i s recommended for the implementation o f such large-scale environmental projects.

Alternatively, i t i s possible to employ the groundwater pollution database created on the basis o f the GIS system.

Continuously operable hydrogeological model, made for the river right-bank area, may serve as the basis for prediction and prevention o f hydrodynamic and hydrochemical processes.

Systems of reaction measures and engineering protection

Results o f the local monitoring data interpretation will enable to evaluate the efficiency o f the pollution sources isolation, to identify new pollution sources, to trace results o f groundwater remediation (efficiency o f groundwater treatment). At revealing a stable growth o f pollutants concentrations. in ground waters, it wi l l be necessary to identify a source o f such growing pollution and notify the company being the pollution source, to be followed by applying the sanctions.

Schedules of the remediation measures and monitoring observations i s provided in Table 6.3.

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Source of the impact

Table 6.3

Duration of the impact (months after the project commencement) cost of

remediation measures (USD)

finish

Measures on the impact

remediation

Measures on the environmental impact remediation, schedule o f the remediation measures and their cost

Pipeline construction 500 thousand KZT I 70 I 88 (3650 USD)

soils reclamation

Construction stage

Ground waters treatment

Drilling

t/year wastes of 3rd 40 52 toxicity class

I -c..-.. be., i^ I I 1 Cost of drill aviayc; VI I IUI I-LUAIL cuttings storage - 43,230 KZT (31 5.5 drillcuttings207m3, I 12 I 24 I

In A n I\

I I I . USD)' (J4J 1)

no Construction of water treatment facilities

5400 thousand KZT

(39.4 thousand USD)

Covering of the slurry storage ponds

Ambient air monitoring

Personal protective equipment

18 42

Pump out/ injection of ground waters

Stage of the facilities exploitation

Groundwater monitoring

24

13000 thousand KZT in the 1" year

(94.9 thousand USD)

7716 thousand KZT for each next

year (56.3 thousand USD)

3234 thousand KZT (23.6

thousand USD)

The project i s planed to be realized under the supervision o f the Committee o f water resources under the RoK Ministry o f agriculture. The Committee o f water resources wil l entrust Project Management Committee with the powers to organize construction o f the planned facilities. Such construction o f ground water rehabilitation facilities will be carried out by contracted companies, which will perform the following:

0 Wells drilling,

0 Construction o f the pipeline,

0 Construction o f the ground water treatment facilities

All the contracted organizations have special environmental protection divisions in their organizational structure, including as follows.

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0 Department (agency) for the environmental protection during projects implementation,

0 Department (agency) for work safety, f i re safety and industrial sanitation (responsible for supervising the compliance wi th work and fire safety rules, stipulated in the relevant normative documents),

0 Department for emergency situations management (responsible for the use o f money contingencies and implementation o f emergency measures, actions coordination (as required) under the threat o f emergency or in case o f any emergency occurrence).

At the stage o f the project designing, al l the contracted organizations should work out EIA projects, providing for maximum permissible air emissions (MPE), maximum permissible discharges to water bodies (MPD) and the Program o f the environmental monitoring during the construction operations. In addition to that, the Plan should be developed for reclamation o f soils to be exposed to the mechanical impact.

The above mentioned EIA projects, M P E and M P D projects, the Program o f the environmental monitoring and Plan o f soils reclamation should be prepared by the specialized organizations. These documents should be agreed upon with the state environmental protection authorities (Fig. 1.1.). Cost o f such projects will be 15-100 thousand U S D approximately.

At the sage of exploitation o f the ground water rehabilitation facilities, the institutional base will be as follows. All the rehabilitation facilities wi l l be under the management o f the independent operating body to be initiated and formed by the Committee o f water resources. This Operating Body wil l implement management and control o f the enterprise o f ground water treatment, the enterprise o f ground water pump out and injection. The ecologist o f higher authorities may be entrusted to supervise the implementation o f environmental protection measures during the project fulfil lment. The key aspect o f the facilities exploitation stage i s the ground waters monitoring. Such monitoring may be carried out by the territorial committee “VostokKazNedra” or the Oblast Committee o f environmental protection. Alternatively, an independent committee may be formed for the ground waters monitoring within the framework o f the planned project.

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7. Results of the public opinion analysis with regard to the FS solutions implementation

7. RESULTS OF THE PUBLIC OPINION ANALYSIS WITH REGARD TO THE FS SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTATION On M a y 11, 2005 the hal l o f Municipal Akimat (administration) hosted the meeting o f Working Group (in the presence o f Ust-Kamenogorsk Deputy Akim - Kudinov A.U), that i s responsible to supervise this project. The initiator o f this meeting was CC “NEDRA” LLP. Discussion o f the FS final version and EIA project were the main issues in the meeting’s agenda.

Specialists o f the industrial plants, including the representatives f rom Territorial Administration “VostokKazNedra”, WBRD representatives, representatives from “Sange” Research Center (Astana) were among the attendees o f the mentioned meeting. Specialists from the Regional Committee o f the Environmental Protection were invited to attend this meeting, but unfortunately they were absent. The attendees positively accepted the FS and EIA solutions.

The FS and EIA were put for the public discussion; and such public discussions were conducted on M a y 12 in the Technology park premises within the East Kazakhstan Territorial Geological Committee in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Information on the public hearings was advertised in the Republican newspaper “Kazakhstanskaya Pravda” and in the electronic newspaper “EcoPravda o f Kazakhstan”. Moreover, a week before the public hearings, the facsimile messages had been sent to the Regional Committee o f Environmental Protection and major industrial plants o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city, indicating the place and time o f the public hearings.

Representatives o f the International Bank o f Reconstruction & Development, as well as the representatives o f supervisory authorities, industrial enterprises, research organizations operating in the city o f Ust-Kamenogorsk were among the participants o f the mentioned hearings.

Total number o f attendees comprised o f 98 persons.

The Consulting Center “NEDRA” L L P was responsible for the public hearings arrangement:

The following reports were made at the meeting:

1. Results o f the geological simulation for options o f ground waters remediation. Methods o f dumps and slurry reservoirs remediation. Report was presented by Dr. Ral f Goerner, director o f JV Geooilservice Kazakhstan LLP, Ph.D o f Mineralogy Science.

2. Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment for FS technical solutions. Report was presented by Kalmykova N.V., the deputy director o f Ecological Research Department o f the Consulting Center “NEDRA” L L P (Almaty), Ph.D o f Mineralogy Science.

3. Results o f Social assessment o f Ust-Kamenogorsk Environment Remediation Project. Report was presented by: Dzhandosova Janar, Director o f “Sange” Research Center, Baitugenova Nataliya, Project Manager.

Ma in questions addressed to the reporters were as follows:

1. What kind o f polluting substances wil l be subject to removal f rom ground waters? 2. What kind o f methods for ground waters purification f rom trichlorodiphenyl polluting

substances o f Condenser Plant wi l l be applied? 3. I s it expected any slurry formation while purifying polluted waters in the treatment

facilities? What wil l be a volume o f such slurry and where wil l it be stored? 4. What kind o f remedial actions are proposed for Zachita station area?

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7. Results o f the public opinion analysis with regard to the FS solutions implementation

5. What kind o f remediation measures wil l be undertaken for remediation o f 3 Mikrorayon and Zachita water intake facilities, located in the west part o f the city?

6. Will Oktyabrszkiy water intake facility be relocated? Did you consider the option o f i t s relocation to the north?

7. I s i t planned to conduct any treatment to remove radionuclides? 8. What i s the expected capacity o f the ground water treatment facilities?

The meeting o f the public hearings approved the Feasibility Study solutions and emphasized the urgent necessity o f their implementation.

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