The authorities set up laws for those who make money, meanwhile not paying any attention to colossal damages. Wealth flows to private pockets, the state and people are only left with toxic wastes and destroyed soil. These are comments made by Hakob Sanasaryan, Chairman of Greens Union of Armenia, PhD in Chemical Sciences, about the new bill “On Soil” in his interview with EcoLur. This bill has been worked out by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia with the financial and technical support of the World Bank, and the National Assembly Standing Committee on Economic Issues is currently considering this bill. The biggest threat is that the new legislation continues the faulty practice of the old legislation, and as a result wastes and inferior ores are taken out of taxation in the form of wastes, the company doesn’t have to pay for the wastes, as no piece of legislation reflects this obligation. As a result, we already have this ‘accumulation’ in the form of tails and inferior ores that contain heavy and toxic elements, thus posing a real danger for health and deteriorating environmental situation in Armenian regions. “Article 25 of this bill specifies where soil management is prohibited, while forests are not included in this list. It turns out we can just change category of forests and to allow forest felling for the needs of mining industry.” On EcoLur’s behalf it should be noted this is the way the category of forest territories have been changes in Teghout for the implementation of Teghout copper and molybdenum mine, and in Zangezour for mining new reserves in Kajaran copper and molybdenum mine. Soil management is already a branch with high corruption risks, particularly in the matter who can receive a licence for soil management. The new bill defines this right can be transferrable even through inheritance right. “New mining dynasties will show up according to law.” EcoLur 14.03.2011

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