Publication Laka-library:
Sources to radioactive contamination in Murmansk and Arkhangel'sk counties
| Author | T.Nilson, N.Bohmer, Bellona |
| Date | 1994 |
| Classification | 2.34.4.10/03 (RUSSIA - WASTE / REPROCESSING GENERAL) |
| Front | 
|
From the publication:
Preface The report "Sources of radioactive pollution in the counties of Murmansk and Arkhangel'sk" supplies a survey of the information gathered by the Bellona Foundation on the use of nuclear energy, as well as storage and processing of radioactive waste in the region. The report intends to present a survey on the varying sources and the historical background for placing these sources in the region. The report is meant to be a reference work to improve the general level of knowledge of these serious matters. Bellona has made a point of describing the sources on a technical base. No general study or collocated information on these matters in this region has formerly been accomplished. One of the problems has been the information on sources of radioactive pollution circulating as rumours. This is due to the fact that such information formerly was, and to a certain extent still is, subjugated to a parade of secrecy. To Available information will have crucial significance for the future task of finding a solution to the problems. For this reason, this report is published in Norwegian, Russian, and English. Evaluation of the risks posed by different sources of radioactive pollution has not been stressed in this report. Neither has any list of measures to solve the problems been emphasized. On the base of this report and further gathering of information, Bellona wants to commence outlining future risk analyses and economically viable measures. This task will be performed in cooperation with organizations and authorities in Russia and in other countries working on matters described in this report. The Bellona Foundation has been preoccupied with environmental matters in Russia since 1990. Since 1990, the situation has been a very turbulent one in Russia, politically as well as socially. The considerable changes in the Russian society have made field work difficult. Political alterations have entailed confusion of distribution of responsibility and a widespread scepticism towards the authorities among the different participants in Russian society. These very changes in Russia have, on the other hand, made our work possible. During our task of obtaining information for this report, Bellona has attached special importance to extensive field work in Russia. Since 1989, we have visited Russia, the counties of Murmansk and Arkhangel'sk in particular, almost 50 times. Furthermore, we have performed an extensive field work in the areas surrounding Majak in southern Ural, as well as several visits at central institutions in Moscow and St. Petersburg working on the matters described in this report. As appearent in the report, the most significant source of possible radioactive pollution is the military activity in the region. Bellona accepts that the Russian military has technical secrets. For this reason, we have made no attempts at ferreting out classified information on military installations or technical particulars on reactor technology in submarines. However, a lot of information concerning military application of nuclear energy has lately been released, enabling a general image of the extent of the problem to be formed.
This publication is only available at Laka on paper, not as pdf.
You can borrow the publication or request a copy. When we're available, this is possible for a small fee.