VSC to increase environmental controls at its coal terminal
Vostochnaya Stevedoring Company LLC is to introduce on-going environmental monitoring at the coal handling operations of its terminal. The new stages of the environmental program are detailed in a five-party agreement entitled On Cooperation in Taking Measures to Ensure Favourable Environmental Conditions for the Life and Health of the Nakhodka Population and to Minimize Adverse Environmental Impacts of the Coal Handling Operations.
The agreement was signed by the Ministry of Transport of Russia, the Federal Agency of Sea and River Fleet (“Rosmorrechflot”), the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources (“Rosprirodnadzor”), the Administration of the Primoriye Region, FGUP Rosmorport and Vostochnaya Stevedoring Company LLC (VSC) on [ins ert date]. Under the Agreement, VSC will ensure on-going monitoring of environmental impacts and will inform the community on results through its website and the media.
The following measures will now be carried out in addition to its already existing environmental initiatives under current agreements detailed below. By 30 July 2018: VSC will prepare an action plan for a stage-by-stage upgrade for completion by the end of 2020 to a closed coal handling process that will minimize the adverse environmental impact of operations. By 1 September 2018: VSC to equip all of its operating yards with video monitoring systems and operational controls for the dust suppression system and to achieve compliance with the process requirements for coal reloading. By 1 November 2018: VSC will install devices for the automatic control of airborne emissions on its premises and will set up an automatic observation point to monitor key meteorological parameters, such as wind speed and direction, air temperature, humidity and precipitation.
Under the Agreements previously signed with the Primoriye Administration and the Nakhodka Urban District Administration, VSC is already implementing a comprehensive se t of measures focused on minimizing the impact of the terminal’s operations on the waters of the port and preserving the surrounding local ecosystem. The company has already installed a long dust wall in the coal yard (16m x 970m), and has completed the construction of rainwater drainage treatment works on berths 5 and 6. The company continues to carry out surface watering of coal stacks and watering of driveways and handling areas, lanes and the operating yards, as well as cleaning the berths, railways and crane runways, which has the effect of [insert result]. The total investment commitment of the steps taken by VSC under the existing Agreements is RUB 671.9 mln, including RUB 360 mln intended for the environmental program.