Ecology

SALYAN OIL TO PURIFY OIL-STAINED LAND

"Salyan Oil" is using state of the art equipment to collect and utilize various drilling wastes, the company's general manager Colin Monroe told the vice-premier of the Azerbaijan government, chairman of the state committee on ecology Ali Hasanov Friday.

Since the Shirvan national park neighboring with the company's contract area is ecologically sensitive, drilling of new wells is not envisioned, he said. To be replaced first of all is the equipment of operating wells that have already been polluting the environment for 40 years. "In a week from now we will start purifying the oil-stained land", Mr. Monroe said.

According to him, the company has built a water canal to the lake on the territory of the preserve to provide gazelles with drinking water. Many local residents are involved in the work, who also enjoy free medical care in a newly-opened clinic.

SCHOLARS STRUGGLING FOR SAFER CASPIAN

An alien medusa-shaped organism Mnemiopsis leidyi first appeared in the Caspian in 2000 and is believed to have entered the Sea with ballast waters from the Azov-Black Sea basin via the Volga-Don canal.

Having become a serious rival for indigenous Caspian inhabitants in the struggle for survival, the Mnemiopsis leidyi is rapidly proliferating and threatens with extinction of seals and other valuable species. The situation can dramatically worsen as early as this year.

Ways out of the current situation were in the focus of a three-day international seminar in Baku, organized by the UNDP Caspian Ecological Program (CEP).

According to a CEP spokesman Vladimir Vladimirov, the seminar considered the possibility of introducing a similar organism, Beroe Ovata, which feeds on Mnemiopsis leidyi.

Another way out lies through the introduction of the so-called "butterfish", which, much to the satisfaction of fishermen, could also supplement the fishing assortment of the Sea.

However, this is not yet the time for active measure-taking, Mr. Vladimirov said. Therefore, the scientists have decided to remain content with sea monitoring.

Also attending the seminar were scientists from littoral countries, as well as Ukraine, Belgium, Germany, Finland, Italy, USA, Australia, and Turkey.

PROCESSED TOBACCO DUST TO BE UTILIZED

Public hearings on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by Tobacco Co., established on the basis of the Baku Tobacco Enterprise, were held at the Academy of Sciences Thursday. A State Committee on Ecology spokesman indicated that the enterprise's entire technology has been completely renewed and measures put in place on environment protection.

As a result of reconstruction, the release of harmful substances into the atmosphere has been reduced 10 times, of solid wastes 3 times, etc.

By and large, experts have agreed that the impact on the air and water basin does not exceed the allowable standard. The available filters enable to purify more than 99% of harmful substances.

570 tons of processed tobacco dust will be dumped every year, while in the future it will be recycled for use in agriculture.

NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION ON CASPIAN IN PREPARATION

As part of the Caspian Ecological Program (CEP), work has been started on a draft National Plan of Action on Caspian (NPAC). Structure of the plan was outlined by a recent meeting at the State Committee on Ecology.

According to a source from the CEP, the plan will reflect ways of rehabilitating the Caspian ecosystem: bio-diversity, hydro-resources, derelict and polluted lands, socio-ecological problems, as well as their interaction with ecological ones. The plan is also expected to lay groundwork for a unified Caspian strategy for all littoral countries.

The meeting, attended by ecologists, biologists, businessmen, and representatives of NGOs, also decided to include public hearings of the progress of work into the plan. The first meeting with NGOs has been scheduled for March 2002.

Preparation of the draft will commence in July 2001. It will then be submitted to the governments of coastal countries in May 2002.