Lands of the Semipalatinsk Test Site can be used in Agriculture

  Mr. Vladimir Oleynik, parliamentarian of RK Mazhilis proposed to rehabilitate the contaminated territory of Semipalatinsk test site, during the plenary session of the chamber, according to Today.kz. In his request to Mr. Kanat Bozumbayev, Minister of Energy, the parliamentarian mentioned that the territory can be used for agricultural development.

According to Mr. Oleynik, 40 years of nuclear weapon testing resulted in radioactive contamination of environment at the area over 18 300 square kilometers. He emphasized that the territory comprises three regions – East-Kazakhstan, Pavlodar and Karagandy.

“The survey at testing sites “Degelen”, “Sary-Uzen”, “Balapan”, “Telkem”, “Experimental Field” and “Atomic Lake” detected areas with significant radioactive contamination, values reaching level of medium active radioactive wastes, presenting hazard for the environment and public living near the test site. However, the radiation survey of the area beyond the testing sites area revealed their suitability for economic use following the rehabilitation measures”, - said Vladimir Oleynik.

According to him, people domiciling the area close to the STS many times requested the lawmakers to give the lands for grazing area, however, the resolving the issue depends upon completion of nuclear weapon test consequences elimination. 

“Measures for the STS contaminated lands rehabilitation include removal of radioactive contaminated soil and its disposal at radioactive wastes storage, and establishing a system to prevent access to the most hazardous objects. According to the information of RSE “National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, the lands rehabilitation is planned together with comprehensive environmental survey of the STS area, and by 2021 comprehensive measures shall be completed, thus, allowing to transfer the most part of the lands to economic activity”, - added Mr. Oleynik.

Moreover, the deputy informed that the contaminated land rehabilitation costs 2.6 billion tenge.

However, budget request for the effort is still open. According to the deputy, delay in the issue will result in overhead costs related to additional survey and verification of radiation situation, and also will negatively affect the environment.

In this regard, the parliamentarian requested the minister to resolve the financial issues, take the control and assure in-time implementation of comprehensive measures to delimitate the territories, remediate the environment, create radioactive wastes storage sites and provide physical protection system for the radiation hazardous sites, and complete rehabilitation of radioactive contaminated areas. 

Source: http://today.kz/news/zhizn/2018-01-17/758201-zemli-semipalatinskogo-poligona-mogut-ispolzovat-dlya-selskogo-hozyajstva/