Designing, Getting Approval, and Mediation in State Environmental Expert Assessment

Since 2015 specialists of our Company have successfully developed and implemented 7 projects in the field of applied ecology. Among others, our Company has carried out works related to developer’s support in the process of state ecological expert assessment.

In creation of intellectual products our Company collaborates with educational and research and information centers, including:

• Department of Ecology, Geography and Environmental Management of Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “M. Akmullah Bashkir State Pedagogical University”;

• Department of Ecology and Environmental Management of Southern Federal University;

• Department of Agrochemistry of Perm State Argo-Technological University named after Academician D.N. Pryanishnikov; and

• Institute of Soil Fertility of South Russia.

“Eco TeaM” LLC collaborates with many other organizations providing professional training of specialists and managers of organizations and enterprises operating in the field of industrial ecology. These partner research organizations have teams of highly competent specialists, including bioengineers, designers, research fellows of soil mechanics laboratories, centers of analytical research and meteorological support of ecological measurements, laboratories of economics and environmental and regulatory affairs.

Disturbed Land Reclamation Project

A disturbed land reclamation project is an ecological document executed in an established form, which is drafted to reclaim the fertile layer of soil disturbed by commercial activity. The following lands are subject to reclamation:

• Fields disturbed by open-pit and underground mining or removal of peat;

• Lands disturbed in the process of arrangement of pipelines, construction, amelioration, timber harvesting, geological exploration, testing, operation, design and survey and any other works which disturb soil;

• Lands disturbed in liquidation of industrial, military, civil and any other facilities and structures;

• Lands disturbed by industrial, household and other waste dumping and arrangement of landfills;

• Lands disturbed in the process of construction, operation and preservation of underground facilities and utility systems (drilling rooms, reservoirs, subway, sewage systems etc.);

• Lands disturbed in the process of elimination of consequences of soil contamination if reclamation of such lands requires removal of the upper fertile layer of soil; and

• Lands disturbed in the process of military field training exercises beyond purpose-specific reservations.

Structure of a Disturbed Land Reclamation Project:

1. Description of measures to be taken to reclaim the disturbed lands;

2. Estimation of tangible costs of the reclamation process, and a calendar schedule of works;

3. Diagrams including maps and drawings;

4. Cost estimates; and

5. A list of measures to be taken to reclaim the lands covered by the project, including engineering, mining, forestry, agricultural and other actions facilitating recovery of biological productivity and agricultural efficiency of the lands disturbed by industrial activity.

The project shall be approved by the following authorities:  Territorial Directorate of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision of the Russian Federation, and Territorial Directorate of the Department of the Federal Service for Supervision of Nature Management of the Russian Federation.

Development of such project requires at least 10 calendar days.

Approval of such project will take at least 30 business days.

Legal Framework:

• Resolution No.800 of the Government of the Russian Federation “On Soil Reclamation and Conservation” dated 10th July 2018; and

• Federal Law No.78 “On Land Management”.

• Penalties for Absence of a Project:

• In accordance with Article 8.7 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation (Failure to perform or untimely performance of obligations on land reclamation), absence of a project entails imposition of a fine imposed under administrative law:

• For individual persons – 20,000 to 50,000 rubles;

• For officials – 50,000 to 100,000 rubles;

• For legal entities – 400,000 to 700,000 rubles + order for correction of defects with suspension of business activity.

Deliverables:

Our Company will deliver a developed and approved Disturbed Land Reclamation Project.

Stages of Development of a Disturbed Land Reclamation Project

1. Preparation:

This stage includes selection of plans and cartographic materials, soil survey, and field survey of the affected area to be reclaimed. The said works are performed involving representatives of the user of the lands, and governmental authorities for land management. At this stage borders and location of the area to be reclaimed are determined;

2. Survey:

The second stage includes surveys (ecological, geological, ameliorative etc. surveys), and collection and analysis of information for the project;

3. Development of a disturbed land reclamation project; and

4. Approval of the disturbed land reclamation project.

Upon completion of execution of the Disturbed Land Reclamation Project our Company will mediate its final approval by governmental authorities, and State Ecological Expert Assessment (as appropriate).