Epress.am News from Armenia
Residents of Fioletovo village in the Armenian Lori province have addressed a letter to the RA Nature Protection Minister Aramayis Grigoryan, querying as to why the minister has not issued a negative conclusion on the Fioletovo gold mining project, EcoLur reported on Thursday, June 4.
The residents' letter, in particular, says,
“We, the residents of the Lori village of Fioletovo (most of the residents of Fioletovo are Molokan – Epress.am), expressed our vehement disagreement with the Fioletovo gold mining project at the public hearing on Nov. 25, 2014. The project area is located in direct proximity to our houses, pastures, and meadows. The project bears risks related to soil and water pollution, which are the main source of income for Fioletovo villagers.
We have sent a complaint to the RA Ministry of Environment, the RA Government, the President, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Armenia, as well as the the OSCE ambassador. Four committees of the Armenian Public Council have reached a negative conclusion on the project.
We received a reply from Nature Protection Ministry that 'GreatRedMet' LLC has suspended the expertise of this project.
We would like to ask you to help us understand;
– Which clause of RA Law 'On Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise' lays down, whether or not the company itself adopts a decision to suspend the project and if such decision is adopted, what are the actions to be taken by the competent body – 'Environmental Expertise' SNCO?
– Why we, Fioletovo residents, are not informed about the status and the progres of the environmental expertise of the given project?
– Why the competent body – 'Environmental Expertise' SNCO didn't issue a negative opinion to the project, as the timeframes for considering the project laid down in Article 19 of RA Law 'On Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise' are expired.
Dear Mr. Minister,
We hope that you will assign the competent body – 'Environmental Expertise' SNCO to give in-detailed replies to our questions and to take proper measures, so as Fioletovo gold mining project complies with the provisions of RA Law 'On Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise' and protection of our rights."