The stationing of the crushing and sorting complex in Sotq is illegal. This is EcoLur’s position expressed in the official letter for the working group of Nature Protection Ministry of Armenia. The working group was established by the order of Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan and PM Tigran Sargsyan’s assignment for the examination of stationing the crushing and sorting complex in Sotq by GeoProMining Gold Company. EcoLur President worked as the member of the working group on the recommendation of the Alliance of Public Environmental Organizations. The official letter particularly says, “I think that a) the stationing of the crushing and sorting complex in the drainage territory of Lake Sevan is illegal, as the crushing and sorting complex is an ore processing object, which significantly increases harmful environmental impact taking into consideration that it is included in the drainage area of Lake Sevan and contradicts to Article 10 of RA Law “On Lake Sevan” and b) the process of crushing and sorting complex construction was a planned activity, which was implemented in 2011, and not implemented earlier in line with the project for 1988. Consequently, the project is subject to environmental impact expert assessment in accordance with Article 1 of Chapter 2 of RA Law “On Environmental Impact Expert Assessment” and c) the State Environmental Inspection should carry out the examination of this complex, to reveal all the existing violations, i.e. increased impact on environment as regards with dust, its content in environment – water and soil, environmental dissemination of heavy metals and toxic elements and compounds and to draw up an appropriate act, and d) to dismantle the object.”

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