Environment and Security: Transforming risks into cooperation

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Environment and Security

Koshkar-Ata was chosen in 1960 as a con- venient location to stockpile radioactive and toxic waste from the Caspian mining and hydrometallurgical industrial complex, which produced uranium concentrate and rare-earth metals. It is located in a natural depression about 5 km from Aktau and 8 km from the shore of the Caspian Sea. The Koshkar-Ata depression is one of the largest industrial tailings in the world, occupying an area of approximately 77 sq km. The southern part of the pond, an open sec- tion covering 10 sq km 57 , contains the high- est concentration of contaminants (80 to 150 micro roentgens per hour [uR/h] measured on the surface at this location). Large amounts of phosphoric gypsum formed a crust on the surface preventing the escape of radon gas. However the amount of water pumped into the lake to prevent dispersal and reduce radon emission is insufficient, and as it is constantly swept by strong winds, there is a serious risk of pollutants being dispersed. Higher concentrations of heavy metals in soils have been reported in the nearby set- tlements of Akshukur, Bayandy, and Man- dium-226, thorium-230) with a total activity of 11 242 Curie, and over 50 million tonnes of other toxic waste are stored there. The pond is also used for dumping industrial and municipal waste from Aktau city and several local industrial enterprises. In Turkmenistan, the environmental prob- lems resulting from Soviet military activities on the Caspian Sea coast are not as obvi- ous: several air defence and border-secu- rity facilities are positioned here, but there is not sufficient information to conclude whether their activities are affecting the lo- cal environment. Koshkar-Ata tailing pond, Kazakhstan

gystau. The poor neighbourhoods of Aktau city, located only a kilometre from the most dangerous dry area of the tailing pond, are particularly exposed to health risks. Groundwater monitoring around the lake suggests that the tailing does not currently constitute a significant health hazard. There seems to be no firm evidence that pollutants have reached the Caspian Sea either. Howev- er, given its location near the sea, the problem has a transboundary dimension. The situation is clearly precarious, as a rise in the level of groundwater and winds could cause more widespread dispersal of pollutants. Local environmental authorities and the population have expressed concern about the state and future of Koshkar-Ata. Recla- mation of the site is costly, and the meas- ures taken so far, although an important first step, are only a temporary solution. In 2007, 125 million tenge (about US$1 million) were allocated from the local budget for the first phase of reclamation. The total cost of initial reclamation measures is estimated at US$8–10 million 58 . Military sites are considered a problematic legacy for the whole eastern Caspian region. Past and current activities still represent a risk factor for the region’s environment and for the livelihoods of local people. To secure the environmental safety and sustainable de- velopment of the Caspian coastal zone, the problems related to military and industrial ac- tivities, includinguraniumextraction, process- ing and storage, demand attention. Risk as- sessment and land rehabilitation projects could be developed and implemented, and the information on risks for human health and the environment in and around those sites should be transparent for the public.