In 2023 Rosprirodnadzor Rejected Two-Thirds Of Subsoil Users’ Projects For Geological Exploration In The Arctic
In 2023, Rosprirodnadzor reviewed 120 projects for the construction of exploration wells in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, according to a report on the agency’s activities.
“As a result of reviewing the specified project documentation, Rosprirodnadzor issued 80 (67%) negative conclusions and 40 (33%) positive conclusions,” the document says.
It is noted that in 2022 the department did not approve a single project: “21 projects were reviewed, comments were identified on all projects and negative conclusions were given.”
Rosprirodnadzor provides consideration of projects for the development of mineral deposits in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation from September 2022 on the basis of Russian Government Decree N674 dated April 16, 2022 (“On approval of the Rules for the examination of project documentation for the implementation of regional geological study of subsoil, geological study of subsoil…” ).
“The development of design solutions that fully comply with the requirements of environmental legislation will allow subsoil users to minimize the negative impact of planned activities in the field of subsoil use,” the department emphasizes in its report.
In total, as part of geological control in 2023, Rosprirodnadzor reviewed 2 thousand 787 technical projects for the development of mineral deposits, technical projects for the construction and operation of underground structures, technical projects for the liquidation and conservation of mine workings, boreholes and other structures related to the use of subsoil. Of these, 1 thousand 360 projects have been agreed upon, 1 thousand 427 projects have been sent for revision. For solid mineral development projects, 817 documents were approved, 685 were returned, for hydrocarbon raw materials, 142 projects were approved, 213 had comments and were sent for revision.
