I. Environmental protection during current economic activities
II. Environmental protection in dredging operations
III. Environmental protection in construction works
IV. Environmental expenditures
V. Environmental activities prospects
The FSUE “Rosmorport” Astrakhan Branch main aims in the field of environment protection are:
- decrease of the Branch's activities negative impact on the environment;
- implementation of federal and regional normative legal acts in the field of environmental protection;
- production control over the Branch's environmental activities.
The Astrakhan Branch carries out ecological activity in accordance with Environmental Action Plan, which is annually approved by the Head of the Branch.
To carry out ecological activities the Astrakhan Branch has an department that solves all the issues, connected with organisation of control over the Branch’s fulfilment of requirements and regulations established by the Russian Federation Legislation in the field of environmental protection, implements activities of production ecological control when carrying out Branch's statutory activities in the corresponding seaports.
All employees of the Astrakhan Branch engaged in those activities have necessary specialized education with degrees in environmental protection and rational usage of natural resources and also 3 years of professional experience.
I. Environmental protection during current economic activities
In accordance with the requirements of the environmental legislation of the Russian Federation, objects that have a negative impact on the environment must be put on state registration in the federal state register.
As of 01.01.2023, 13 site facilities were delivered to the Federal State Register of Objects, which are operated by the Astrakhan branch. Objects relate to the II, III and IV categories of objects that have a moderate, insignificant and minimal environmental impact.
For other objects of the Astrakhan branch, in the prescribed manner, work is carried out on their categorization and registration.
In accordance with the requirements of the Federal Law “On Environmental Protection” and the provisions of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation order dated 11.10.2018 No. 509, the Astrakhan Branch developed and approved declarations on the environment impact of negative impact objects for 6 objects of category II, which were submitted to the Interregional Department of Rosprirodnadzor for the Astrakhan and Volgograd regions in the prescribed manner.
The environmental protection activities conducted by the Astrakhan Branch in the sphere of environmental protection during current economic activities are implemented in the following directions:
In order to conduct its statutory activities the Astrakhan Branch possesses permanent assets, which include stationary and mobile sources of air pollution. The latter include automobile transport and Branch’s vessels; stationary pollution sources include emergency and stand-by diesel-generator stations, energy wagons, tanks and storage warehouses for fuel and POL of the Astrakhan Branch.
In accordance with the requirements of the environmental legislation, the Astrakhan Branch has elaborated a project of guidelines on maximum allowed emissions of polluting substances into the atmospheric air. On the ground of this project the Branch obtained the permission to emit harmful substances (pollutants) into the air (except for radioactive substances) No. 7838/769 of 26.12.2017. The permission was issued by order of the Astrakhan Rosprirodnadzor Department No. 1621 of 26.12.2017, valid untill December 25, 2024.
Dynamic of emissions of hazardous (polluting) substances from stationary sources of pollution by FSUE “Rosmorport” Astrakhan Branch
There is an increase of atmospheric emissions from stationary sources of air pollution in the Astrakhan Branch in 2022 due to the increase of the working time of power cars at sections No. 2 and No. 3 of the Navigation and Hydrographic Support Service of the Astrakhan Branch for climatic reasons.
The Astrakhan Branch carries out systematic production control over compliance with maximum permissible emissions into the atmosphere at sources of pollutant emissions with the involvement of a specialized organization.
Among the measures taken by the Branch to ensure cleanliness of the air is regulation of emissions of hazardous (polluting) substances from sources of pollution during periods of unfavorable meteorological conditions on the basis of the forecast information provided on a contractual basis by the Astrakhan Center for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring - Branch of the FSBI North-Caucasian Weather Control and Environmental Monitoring Service.
The Astrakhan Branch plans to continue regulating emission of harmful (polluting) substances from sources of pollution during periods of unfavorable meteorological conditions in order to reduce emissions of harmful (polluting) substances into the air, and to optimize the operation of all diesel-generator stations in the Branch which are used in case of disconnection of electric power, by shutting them down to cold reserve.
The Astrakhan Branch uses water bodies for realization of its statutory tasks for construction and dredging works in the water area of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (without withdrawal of water resources), and also uses water bodies with withdrawal of water resources for the needs of certain structural divisions of the Branch.
According to Russian legislation the Astrakhan Branch has made the following water use contracts:
- water use contract No. 00-11.01.00.025-М-DKhIO-Т-2015-01999/00 of 09.11.2015 with the Nizhne-Volzhskiy Basin Authority of Federal Water Resources Agency for the purpose of intaking (withdrawal) of water resources from a surface water body for drinking and domestic water supply, valid until November 18, 2035;- water use contract No. 00-07.02.00.100-M-DZIO-T-2019-03642/00/19/256 of 30.05.2019 with the Nizhne-Volzhskiy Basin Authority of Federal Water Resources Agency for intaking (withdrawal) of water resources from surface water bodies (region of the Caspian Sea, 117 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal) for drinking and domestic water supply, valid until May 29, 2039;
- water use contract No. 00-11.01.00.025-M-DZIO-T-2019-03751/00/19/484 with the Nizhne-Volzhskiy Basin Authority of Federal Water Resources Agency for intaking (withdrawal) of water resource in the area of 145 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal for drinking and domestic water supply of the Astrakhan Branch objects, valid until October 09, 2039.
- water use contract No. 23/155 dated 22.03.2023 with the Nizhne-Volzhskiy Basin Authority of Federal Water Resources Agency for intaking (withdrawal) of water resources from surface water body (Volga river) for watering green plantings of the Astrakhan Branch facilities, valid until October 09, 2039.
There were also received:
- decision No. 1 dated 31.01.2023, issued by the Nizhne-Volzhskiy Basin Water Management Board of Rosvodresursy, granting enjoyment of water objects for performing dredging, blasting, drilling and other works that change bottom and shores of a water body (when storing the soil in underwater dumps during dredging operations) in the northern part of the Caspian Sea (112.3-188.0 km of the VCSSC): on the left of 112.3-114.0 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (shallow underwater dump No. 1); on the right of 114.0-150.0 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (shallow underwater dump No. 2); on the left of 136.0-150.0 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (shallow underwater dump No. 3); on the left of 157.55-179.0 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (shallow underwater dump No. 4); on the left of 123.0-136.0 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (shallow underwater dump No. 5); on the right of 150.0-155.0 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (shallow underwater dump No. 6); on the left of 150.0-155.0 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (shallow underwater dump No. 7); on the right of 155.0-160.0 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (shallow underwater dump No. 8); on the left of 155.0-160.0 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (shallow underwater dump No. 9); on the left of 160.0-188.0 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (shallow underwater dump No. 10); on the right of 160.0-188.0 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (shallow underwater dump No. 11), with a total area of 176.86 sq. km. The decision is valid until December 31, 2032;- decision No. 00-07.02.00.100-M-RPBK-T-2019-03829/00 of December 27, 2019, issued by the Nizhne-Volzhskiy Basin Water Management Board of Rosvodresursy, granting enjoyment of the water object for using a section of the Caspian Sea for construction and reconstruction of hydraulic structures in the sections of the water area of the Caspian Sea: on the left edge of the channel (green) at 114.513-116.538 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (protective constructions No. 1), on the right edge of the channel (red) at 144.725-145.637 km; 145.903-147.038 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (protective constructions No. 2), on the right edge of the channel (red) at 147.748-148.350 km; 148.573-149.00 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (protective constructions No. 3), on the left edge of the channel (green) at 147.189-148.005 km; 148.233-149.000 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (protective constructions No. 4), relief passage for diverting water from the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal at 121.70 km with backwater (surge) from the sea. The decision is valid until December 29, 2027;
The Astrakhan Branch monitors the condition of water bodies and water protection zones with the involvement of a specialized organization, and sends annual reports to the Nizhne-Volzhskiy Basin Water Department of Rosvodresursy. Besides, the Branch quarterly submits reports on the implementation of measures for protection and rational use of water resources at water bodies which are used by the Branch, as well as information resulting from volume metering of abstraction (withdrawal) of water resources from water bodies to the Nizhne-Volzhskiy Volga Basin Water Department of Rosvodresursy.
In the framework of annual ecological monitoring of condition of water bodies at the site of dredging operations at the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (before, during and after maintenance dredging works), bottom sampling is taken to determine the particle-size distribution, redox potential, pH, heavy metals and other components, the equivalent dose rate of gamma radiation in bottom samplings. The Branch annually conduct laboratory researches of bottom soil on containing halogen-organic compounds and their concentrations with respect to MAC, in particular, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs). It was noted on the base of the received reports, that performing maintenance dredging works at VCMSC not only does not have a negative impact on the surrounding water environment, but also in some cases leads to lowering of concentration of background pollutants in the bottom deposits.
No facts of contamination of water bodies used by the Astrakhan Branch have been recorded last year.
In order to organize the functioning of the treatment facilities of the 1st cargo area of the seaport of Olya, the Astrakhan Branch, in accordance with the established procedure, in order to comply with the requirements of environmental legislation, received:
- Decision No. 00-11.01.00.025-M-RSVH-T-2016-02446/00 dated December 27, 2016, issued by the Nizhne-Volzhsky Basin Water Administration of the Federal Water Resources Agency, on granting for use a water body - a section of the Caspian Sea (Bakhtemir arm) for the discharge of waste, including drainage water, valid until December 27 2036.
When discharging water, the Astrakhan Branch, with the involvement of specialized organizations, controls the quality of the volumes of wastewater discharged. On a quarterly basis, the Astrakhan Branch submits to the Nizhne-Volzhsky Basin Administration of the Federal Water Resources Agency reports on the volume of wastewater discharges and their quality, as well as the quality of surface water at the discharge points, above and below the discharge points.
No excess of the maximum permissible concentrations of pollutants in treated wastewater have been recorded last year.
In order to prevent pollution, cluttering and clogging of territories used by the Astrakhan Branch, the following is carried out:
- timely conclusion of contracts with specialized organizations for removal and disposal of production and consumption waste generated in the Astrakhan Branch;
- equipment of places for temporary accumulation of production and consumption waste generated in the Astrakhan Branch in accordance with the requirements of environmental and sanitary-epidemiological legislation of the Russian Federation;
- monitoring of compliance with the requirements of environmental legislation of the Russian Federation when using the land by the property tenants of the Astrakhan Branch.
To correspond with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of forest areas use, the Branch also submits in due course a declaration on the use of forests and a report on the use of forests.
The Astrakhan Branch regularly performs activities aimed at reducing the impact of wastes, which are generated by the Branch's activities, on the environment. For this purpose the Branch has organized temporary storage of wastes, records of volume of formation and wastes management, control of regularity of its utilization (disposal).
According to the requirements of environmental legislation of the Russian Federation, the Astrakhan Branch has developed drafts on generation standards of hazardous waste and limits on its disposal for 10 objects of the II category.
The wastes generated in the Branch are classified as I-V hazard classes. The proportion of waste of the first and second hazard class in the total amount of wastes of the Astrakhan Branch is 0.54 %. In accordance with the established procedure, the Astrakhan Branch has concluded contracts with licensed enterprises for utilization and disposal of wastes generated by the Astrakhan Branch. In particular, the first and second hazard class wastes, such as mercury lamps, used fluorescent mercury-containing pipes and defects, used leaded undamaged batteries with non-fused electrolyte transferred for further circulation to FSUE "Federal Ecological Operator". The third hazard class wastes (used oil, used oil filters, contaminated with oil wiping material) are also sent to specialized organizations for neutralization. Solid municipal wastes are transported to urban landfills for disposal, and sullage and fecal waters go to municipal sewage system.
Dynamics of waste generation of the Astrakhan Branch
The Astrakhan Branch has developed and coordinated plans for the prevention of and response to emergency spills of oil and oil products (LARN) for FSUE “Rosmorport” Astrakhan Branch objects where the storage and use of petroleum products are performed (fuels-lubes storage of Section No. 2 of the navigation and hydrographic support service, Artificial island and fuels-lubes storage with a pumping station of Section No. 3 of the navigation and hydrographic support service, Nameless Island). Professional emergency response teams are involved on a contract basis in order to provide emergency preparedness, localization and mitigation of oil and oil products outflow at the objects.
The Astrakhan Branch also implements required actions to train the employees for getting practical skills in using technical means to eliminate emergency situations in various conditions. In particular, there are regularly held:
- exercises on the organization of the use of various technical means for isolating an emergency situation;
- comprehensive emergency training exercises in liaison with professional emergency response teams for elaboration of management, communication and interaction in the event of an emergency.
II. Environmental protection in dredging operations
The Astrakhan Branch rivets special attention to the environmental protection in conducting dredging operations.
In order to ensure navigation safety and maintain the stated depths the Astrakhan Branch is annually carrying maintenance dredging (bottom-cleaning) operations on the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal, including the Astrakhan and Olya seaports water areas.
Maintenance dredging operations are conducted in accordance with:
- RD 31.74.08-94 "Technical Regulation for Marine Dredging Operations" and with the existing norms and instructions regulating the rules for carrying out and accepting dredging operations.
- RD 31.74.04-2002 "Technology of surveying work in the production of dredging and in the depth control for the safety of navigation of vessels in the seaports and on approaches to them";
- RD 31.74.09-96 "Sea dredging works standards";
- StO 14649425-0005-2019 "Dredging works in seaports and on approaches to them".
At present, maintenance dredging operations on the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal are conducted by the Astrakhan Branch in accordance with a project for conducting maintenance dredging operations in the water area of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal for the period up to the year 2027 with the development of the environmental activity and extension of the work completion period until 2032 (adjustment No. 2). The design documentation has received a positive conclusion of the expert commission of the state ecological expertise No. 78-1-01-1-07-0315-23 dated 02.05.2023, approved by the Rosprirodnadzor Order No. 1100/GEE of 02.05.2023.
The Astrakhan Branch has obtained the following decision of the Russian Federal Agency for Water Resources Nizhne-Volzhskiy Basin Water Department for the period of conducting respective dredging operations: Decision No. 1 of 31.01.2023 on provision of the right of enjoyment of the water body.
At the end of 2022, the total volume of excavated bottom soil amounted to 5 million cubic meters. The excavated soil was stored in shallow and deep-water dumps in accordance with the permit No. 319M of 06.06.2023 issued by Rosprirodnadzor for burial of the bottom soil, dredged during dredging operations, in inland sea waters. The permit is valid until December 31, 2032.
In 2023, from April to November repair dredging works are carried out at the limiting sections 130.0-180.0 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal, among them:
- on the 130-155 km sections of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal - by technical means of the Astrakhan Branch with the use of stationary refull dredgers;
- on the 162-163 km sections of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal - by technical means of the Astrakhan Branch with the use of multibucket dredgers;
- on the 130-180 km sections of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal - by specially involved contracting organizations with the use of stationary refull dredgers;
- on the 160-162 km and 163-165 km sections of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal - by specially involved contracting organizations with the use of multibucket dredgers;
- on the 170-180 km sections of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal - by technical means of the Astrakhan Branch and also by specially involved contracting organizations with the use of self-propelled bilge dredgers.
In order to ensure control over the impact of dredging operations on the Volga River environmental system, on its water passages, and on the Caspian Sea, and in order to timely reveal and prevent cases of exceeding permissible lecels of influence upon the environment, the Astrakhan Branch is monitoring the environmental situation by selecting specimens of seawater and the bottom soil, conducting chemical diagnosis of selected specimens in the areas of maintenance dredging (bottom-cleaning) operations and soil dumping. The monitoring program includes:
– hydrological and meteorological measurements of air and water temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, color and turbidity of water;
– selection of water specimens to determine pH, BOD5, mineralization, biogenic elements, the status of metal heavy and other components;
– selection of air samples to determine the status of CO, SO2, NO2, black carbon;
– selection of bottom materials to determine the texture, the oxidation-reduction potential, pH, heavy metal and other components;
– the power of equivalent gamma radiation dose in specimens of bottom materials.
Annually before, during and upon completion of maintenance dredging operations a specialized enterprise involved under contract conducts environmental monitoring. The results of monitoring of the state of water bodies where dredging operations are underway are provided to the division for supervision at sea of Rosprirodnadzor's Department for the Southern Federal District.
The received reports note that maintenance dredging operations do not negatively affect the water environment, but these operations lead to reducing baseline waste loads in bottom materials.
Under contract with Astrakhan Region's fisheries industries the Astrakhan Branch deals with young fish-farming for the release of fish in water bodies in order to compensate damage to water biological resources of the Volga Basin and the Caspian Sea in the course of maintenance dredging operations.
In 2010-2022 under the order of the Astrakhan Branch specialized aquacultural industries farmed and released 15.4 million young carps and 506.9 thousand young sturgeons in the Volga River and its water passage. The Branch spent 37 million rubles for these purposes.
In 2022, in accordance with the Astrakhan Branch compensatory measures program, there were no releases of juvenile fish.
III. Environmental protection in construction works
In accordance with federal target programs and investment programs of the enterprise in the seaports of the Astrakhan Region the Astrakhan Branch as a client builder is implementing projects for constructing and reconstructing facilities of the coastal and port infrastructure.
Since 2004 to the present day the Branch has developed design documents on the whole infrastructure in strict compliance with the norms and requirements of Russian legislation in the field of environmental protection. In line with established procedures public hearings have been held. After the hearings project documents have been sent for the Environment Impact Assessment to receive a conclusion.
Today, the Astrakhan Branch is implementing a project for the construction of protective structures for the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal at sections 106-135 km and 144.5-149 km. According to the established procedure, the developed design documentation was considered and received a positive conclusion of the state ecological expertise, approved by Order No. 73/OD of 04.04.2019 of the Rosprirodnadzor Southern Federal District Department. The design documentation and the results of engineering surveys in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation were submitted for consideration to the North Caucasian branch of the FAI “Glavgosexpertiza of Russia”. However, after being considered, it received a negative conclusion of the state examination No. 30-1-2-3-002617-2020 of 04.02.2020, approved by the North Caucasus branch of the FAI “Glavgosexpertiza of Russia”, on the inconsistency of the results of engineering surveys and design documentation with the requirements of technical regulations and other established requirements in force on 09.09.2019 (date of receipt of project documentation for state expertise).
After finalizing the documents, taking into account the comments received, the design documentation and engineering surveys were submitted for consideration to the North Caucasus branch of the FAI “Glavgosexpertiza of Russia” once more. After the submitted documents being studies for the second time, a positive conclusion of the repeated state examination No. 30-1-1-3-0351-42 of 29.07.2020, approved by the North Caucasus branch of the FAI “Glavgosexpertiza of Russia”, was received, confirming the compliance of the results of engineering surveys and design documentation with the requirements of technical regulations and reliable determination of the estimated cost.
To carry out dredging works for the construction of protective structures, the Astrakhan Branch received a decision on the provision of a water body for use No. 00-07.02.00.100-M-RPBK-T-2019-03829/00 of 27.12.2019, issued by the Nizhne-Volzhsky Basin Water Administration of Rosvodresursy, to use a section of the Caspian Sea for the construction and reconstruction of hydraulic structures in the water area of the Caspian Sea: on the left edge of the canal (green) at 114.513-116.538 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (protective structures No. 1), on the right edge of the canal (red) at 144,725-145,637 km; 145.903-147.038 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (protective structures No. 2), on the right edge of the canal (red) at 147.748-148.350 km; 148.573-149.00 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (protective structures No. 3), on the left edge of the canal (green) at 147.189-148.005 km; 148.233-149,000 km of the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal (protective structures No. 4), an unloading canal for diverting water from the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal at 121.70 km with backwater (surge) from the sea, valid until December 29, 2027. Based on the positive conclusions received by the state examinations, the Ministry of Construction of Russia issued a construction permit No. 00-000-2926-2021MS of July 30, 2021, valid until November 30, 2024.
While implementing the project, environmental protection measures are carried out by the contracting organizations in the following fields:
air protection:
a) all the constructing equipment is allowed to work only if it was tested for toxicity of exhaust fumes, adjusted for the minimum allowable emission;
b) in adverse weather conditions cars and constructing equipment are used in their turns;
c) waste burning is prohibited;
d) presence of temporary warehouses of fuel and lubrication materials and refueling of construction equipment are prohibited;
e) machines and equipment are at the site only during the period of work;
f) equipment not used during the construction period is not left with a running engine;
g) all powder-like and toxic substances are kept in containers.
water resources protection:
a) collection of household wastewater and bilge water from the technical fleet used in construction and installation works is carried out using a collection vessel with their subsequent delivery to treatment facilities;
b) permanent monitoring of the content of pollutants in water and suspended matter is organized as part of environmental monitoring of the aquatic environment in order to identify possible leakages of pollutants from vessels and technical equipment used in construction;
c) intake of pollutants from construction sites into the aquatic environment with sewage and storm waters is organized to prevent leakage of oil products from technical and transport equipment involved in construction.
protection against pollution of the territory:
a) special sites with tanks for collecting waste oils and other consumables are equipped for settling and technical maintenance of construction machines, equipment and vehicles, and during their operation strict control is exercised to prevent spills of oil and oil products;
b) special containers are equipped for separate storage of cleaning materials and sand contaminated with oil products;
c) pallets under the equipment are made to prevent spills of oil and oil products;
d) special area for the accumulation of construction debris and waste is equipped, their timely removal from the territory of the construction site is also organized.
In the short and medium term, the Astrakhan Branch also plans to implement the following investment projects:
– a project to build a base of the service port fleet in the Olya seaport for the purpose of integrated port service of vessels and terminals toward full development of the Olya seaport. This project, which is included in the federal target program “The Development of Russia's Transport System in 2010-2020”, envisages building a block of mechanical repair workshops with an administrative and service facility, a parking space, a boiler house, a unit self-contained transformer yard, a checkpoint, a platform for vessel winter storage, a warehouse, a petrol refilling point for vehicles, local sewage purification facilities, domestic sewage nets, rainwater sewage nets, a container platform for dry garbage, a balloon warehouse, pump stations, a stocks and equipment warehouse and a pressurization pump station. Following the results of the Environment Impact Assessment developed project documents have been received a positive conclusion approved by FAI “Glavgosexpertiza of Russia” No 018-15/GGE-5349/04 on January 16, 2015. The documents correspond with the results of engineering surveys and meet the requirements of Russian urban planning and environmental legislation. If necessary funding is provided, construction/installation works are planned to be started in 2024.
- a project for the construction of a storm sewer system with receiving tanks for collecting and accumulating wastewater at the "Prichal Expluatatsionny" facility in the seaport of Astrakhan. The implementation of the project will allow to collect storm wastewater at the facility into storage tanks for their subsequent removal for disposal by specialized organizations according to the requirements of the environmental legislation. The developed design documentation and documents on assessing the environmental impact of the planned construction activities were presented for public discussions in due order. There were no negative remarks during the discussions (record of the public discussions of the Public Services and Amenities Department of the Municipal Formation "City of Astrakhan" Administration dated March 30, 2021). The design documentation has also received a positive conclusion from the Federal Agency for Fishery No. U02-2352 of July 20, 2021 on the permissible impact of the planned activity on aquatic biological resources, provided that the planned environmental protection measures are carried out. According to the established procedure, the developed design documentation is submitted for consideration by the state ecological expertise. In case of a positive conclusion of state examinations and with necessary funding, construction and installation works are scheduled to start in 2024.
IV. Environmental expenditures
Totally in 2022 the Astrakhan Branch spent about 22.8 million rubles for all environmental activities, including payments for the negative impact on the environment.
Dynamics of Astrakhan Branch Environment Expenditure
V. Environmental activities prospects
The Astrakhan Branch has set forth the following priorities in the field of environmental projects for the next few years:
- to reduce the negative impact on the environment by efficient use of natural resources consumed by the Branch and to increase the efficiency of collection and disposal of wastes, including by means of common use of secondary raw materials (recycled wastes);
- to reinforce industrial environmental control by economic areas of the Astrakhan Branch;
- to organize initial provision of integrated environmental services to vessels in the Olya seaport;
- to realize up-to-dated energy-saving and resource-saving technology, aimed to prevent environmental pollution, in particular, to replace fluorescent (mercury-containing) lamps with LED lamps;
- to equip berths with structures that protect water bodies and adjacent territories from oil and oil product spills and other negative environmental impacts.
