Kazakhstan - Ust-Kamenogorsk Environment Remediation Project : environmental impact assessment

This is an Environmental Assessment for the Ust-Kamenogorsk Environment Remediation Project for Kazakhstan, which aims to: (1) secure containment oft he toxic waste plume that is contaminating the groundwater of Ust-Kamenogorsk to prevent its discharge into the Irtysh river and the city's drinking water supply; and (2) address water quality by building institutional mechanisms to monitor water quality and control ongoing city and industrial pollution. This report identifies the negative environmental impacts and proposed mitigations associated with project activities. They include reducing air pollution from equipment and vehicle emissions, and dust; and preventing impacts from storage of ash disposal waste by relocating material, contouring, extraction and filling of the material, delivering and unloading the loam, compressing under layers, and building drainage channels. Temporarily store and transport drill wastes (including wastewater) to a predetermined place as agreed. There is only a slight possibility that construction might cause penetration of contaminants (chemical reagents in drilling fluid) into the aquifer, but the report suggests removing contaminated soil and formations from aquifer, repairing leaky equipment, and covering dumps to prevent leaks and leaching of hazardous substances from wastes. After the project ends acquired lands will be reclaimed after being cleaned of construction waste and the topsoil will be improved.