195 million rubles in fines were recovered from the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill

The Arbitration Court of Appeal ordered OAO Baikalsky Pulp and Paper Mill to pay 19.5 million rubles for polluting Lake Baikal in a claim by Rosprirodnadzor. The ruling continued a long dispute. The agency sought far more damages, but the court found discharges of several substances unlawful and confirmed the need to comply with environmental law.

The Arbitration Court of Appeal yesterday decided to recover 19.5 million rubles from OJSC "Baikalsky Pulp and Paper Mill" for pollution of Lake Baikal, following a lawsuit filed by Rosprirodnadzor.
The court hearing took place on February 4-5, 2009, in Chita. Rosprirodnadzor disagreed with the dismissal by the Arbitration Court of the Irkutsk Region of the agency’s claim against the Baikalsky Pulp and Paper Mill (BPPM) to recover 419.7 million rubles in damages caused to Lake Baikal and filed an appeal.
Recall that the legal battle with Baikalsky Pulp and Paper Mill has been ongoing since the end of 2007. Since November 3, 2007, the enterprise had been carrying out unauthorized discharges of pollutants into Lake Baikal. Later, a discharge permit was issued retroactively by Rostekhnadzor, and the court recognized it as lawful. However, discharge permits for 6 ingredients, such as nitrates, phosphates, and formaldehyde, were not issued. In this regard, the court recognized that the mill had caused damage to Lake Baikal and ordered OJSC "Baikalsky Pulp and Paper Mill" to pay 19.5 million rubles to the municipal budget.
Lake Baikal is a unique ecological system of Russia, a natural World Heritage site, and is subject to special legal protection. According to the federal law "On the Protection of Lake Baikal," in the central ecological zone of the Baikal natural territory, the production of pulp without the use of zero-discharge water use systems for production needs is prohibited.
"The amount of damage recognized by the court did not reflect the degree of negative impact on the waters of Baikal caused by the enterprise while operating in an open cycle," noted Rinat Gizatulin, Director of the Department of State Policy and Regulation in the Field of Environmental Protection and Environmental Safety at the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources. "Nevertheless, we are satisfied with this decision, since it fundamentally confirms the legality of the requirements of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia and Rosprirodnadzor to comply with environmental legislation in relation to this unique water body," he added.