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Baikal-Amur Railroad Area
Data provided by the following organizations: Rosprirodnadzor Directorate for Republic of Buryatia, Territorial Department for Water Resources for Republic of Buryatia under Yenisei basin directorate of the Russian Water Resources Agency, Federal State Budget Enterprise “Buryatia Center for Hydrometeorology and Environment Monitoring” under Trans-Baikal Directorate of the Central Department for Hydrometeorology and Environment Monitoring of the Russian Agency for Hydrometeorology.
Part of the Baikal-Amur Railroad (BAM) runs through the Baikal catchment basin within North-Baikal district of the Republic of Buryatia.
The territory is known for its complex engineering and geological conditions. High seismic activity is a challenge for all types of construction.
The forests in the area are dominated by mature and old-growth stand, particularly coniferous trees. The most common species are common pine, Siberian and Dahurian larch, Siberian cedar, Siberian dwarf pine, Siberian spruce, Siberian fir, birch, and many others. A total of 1800 species of higher tracheophytes, of which more than 140 species are entered in the Red Book of endangered species of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Buryatia.
North-Baikal district is the home to many hunting and game resources, including musk deer, moose, reindeer, wolves, bears, lynx, sable, squirrels, musk rats and others. The local fauna is also represented by ringed seal, Baikal omul, cisco, etc.
Natural monuments are present in the area, such as Turali singing sands, Papakha rock, Ayaya Bay, Turali resection, and thermal springs of interest.
The anthropogenic impact zone in the Northern part of Baikal catchment basin is associated with the BAM railroad. The railway line runs from a seven-kilometer Davan tunnel through Goujekit and Tiya river valleys down to the Baikal shore, passing right along the Baikal rocky shores for 20 km between Severobaikalsk (population 24,600) and Nizhneangarsk (population 5,000) to the Kichera river estuary, then up the Kichera and Verkhnyaya Angara river valleys.
Emissions to the atmosphere Emissions into the atmosphere from stationary sources amounted to 3,990 tons (3,584 tons in 2011). Enterprises along the BAM railroad have trapped 3,599 tons of pollutants. Key contributors to the atmospheric pollution from stationary sources is made by land transport enterprises and companies producing, transmitting and distributing electricity, gas, steam and hot water.
30 natural resources users in the BAM area provided 2-TP (air) reporting forms in 2011. 24 enterprises have Maximum Permitted Emissions norms approved and reached.
Status of water bodies Water samples were drawn in 2012 in the following points of the National Observation Network: River Tiya – Severobaikalsk (two locations), River Goujekit – meteorological station, River Kholodnaya – Kholodnaya township, River Verkhnyaya Angara – Uoyan and Verkhnyaya Zaimka villages, River Angarakan – Angarakan township hydrometeorological station. Detailed information on the results of monitoring tributaries of Lake Baikal is presented in the Lake level subsection.
River waters along the BAM had a satisfactory oxygen regime throughout the year, low mineralization in winter period to very low mineralization in summer, and almost neutral reaction. Suspended solids content, color and oxygen demand of the waters vary from moderate to elevated values. Maximum values of these water quality indicators are seen mainly in the spring flood season; sometimes a second peak is observed in the river flood period.
Organochlorine pesticides (DDT, alpha and gamma HCH) were not revealed. Synthetic surfactants and oil products were discovered in concentrations not exceeding maximum allowed values. Biogenic substances content was small. Maximum allowed concentration was exceeded for copper, zinc, total iron, phenols and oil products.
Organized discharge of sewage waters was performed to River Tiya (North-Baikal production site of Heat and Water Supply Directorate of East-Siberian Railroads, a subsidiary of Russian Railroads OJSC) and to River Verkhnyaya Angara (Vodokanal LLC).
The pollution status of main Northern tributaries of Lake Baikal in 2011 was characterized as follows:
River Tiya. Maximum allowed concentration in the river waters was recorded for 6 ingredients. MAC was exceeded for total iron content (excess values were observed in 55.6% of the samples in the monitored draw, vs. 33.3% in reference draw), oxidation-resistant organic substances (11%), copper (66.7%) and zinc (55.6%).
MAC was exceeded for phenols in the reference draw in 11% samples, and for nitrite nitrogen in the monitored draw in 11% of the samples.
Maximum concentration of pollutants discovered: oxidation-resistant organic substances – 1.7 MAC (23.05), total iron – 2.5 MAC (26.09), copper – 6.4 MAC (19.06), zinc – 1.4 MAC (19.06), phenols – 2 MAC (23.05). According to frequency of pollution cases, water pollution with copper and zinc in the river can be classified as characteristic, total iron – as stable, oxidation-resistant organic substances – as unstable, nitrite nitrogen and phenols – isolated.
Specific Combined Water Pollution Index (SCWPI) was 1.92 in the reference draw (2.16 in 2011) and 1.86 in the monitored draw (2.28 in 2011). Water is considered as weakly polluted, quality class 2. Goujekit River – Tiya River tributary. MAC was exceeded in the river water for 4 chemical ingredients, vs. 3 in 2011. Characteristic pollution with copper, stable pollution with total iron and unstable pollution with zinc and phenols was observed.
Maximum concentrations reached: total iron – 1.5 MAC (20.03), copper – 6.9 MAC (19.06), zinc – 1.1 MAC (23.08), phenols – 2 MAC (23.08). Water is considered as weakly polluted, quality class 2, with SCWPI of 1.68 (1.44 in 2011).
Kholodnaya River. MAC was exceeded in the river water for 3 chemical ingredients, vs. 4 in 2011, out of 13 total chemicals sought. In 75% samples drawn, MAC was exceeded for zinc and copper, in 50% – for total iron. Pollution with zinc and copper is characteristic, total iron – stable.
Maximum concentration of 2.1 MAC for total iron and 1.8 MAC for copper were observed on 05.06; for zinc, the maximum concentration reached 1.5 MAC on 21.03. Water is considered as weakly polluted, quality class 2, with SCWPI of 1.51 (1.84 in 2011).
Verkhnyaya Angara river was observed at two sites. The water quality observations were performed at the river stretch between Uoyan and Verkhnyaya Zaimka. Water mineralization changed throughout the year from 45.9 mg/l to 125.0 mg/l. Maximum mineralization value was observed near Verkhnyaya Zaimka village.
MAC was exceeded for 5 chemical ingredients.
According to frequency of MAC exceeded, overall water pollution level in the Verkhnyaya Angara was classified as characteristic for total iron, copper and zinc, and as unstable for oxidation-resistant organic substances and phenols.
Maximum concentrations near the Verkhnyaya Zaimka village were registered as follows: 4.6 MAC for total iron (23.05), 6.0 MAC for copper (26.10), 1.6 MAC for zinc (26.10), 1.2 MAC for oxidation-resistant organic substances (23.05).
SCWPI value by sampling sites was: 2.39 by Uoyan village (2.44 in 2011), 2.21 by Verkhnyaya Zaimka village (2.64 in 2011), water is classified as polluted, quality class 3a.
Discharge into rivers According to 2-TP (water resources) reports, 1,096,000 m3 of insufficiently treated waste water was dumped to River Tiya in 2012 (1,108,600 m3 in 2010). The factors having negative impact on the status of the water body are showing a clear trend for reduction.
Local equipment for treating industrial sewage at the locomotive depot and sewage treatment facilities for passenger carriages were operating in a stable manner in 2012, with no emergency discharge recorded. Since the launch of Severomuisky Tunnel, the drainage water from the tunnel is dumped westwards, including Verkhnyaya Angara river.
After sewage treatment facilities in station villages were transferred from East Siberian Railroad to municipal authorities in North-Baikal district, the sewage treatment quality went down; environment protection measures are not being taken in full, power outages are frequent at environmental facilities, the laboratory control over the work of sewage treatment facilities and sewage discharge into Kichera and Verkhnyaya Angara rivers has been weakened.
Production and consumption waste Northern Baikal area has several waste disposal facilities – 7 ranges and landfills, including 1 in Severobaikalsk town and 6 in North-Baikal district, of which 2 were built under BAM project, 1 was built with the state money, and 4 were developed in depleted quarries under temporary permits.
The total area occupied by dry waste disposal ranges and landfills is 36.1 hectares. The aggregate capacity of these facilities is 38,200 m3 a year.
Aggregate waste production, disposal and storage data by hazard classes in North Baikal district and Severobaikalsk town in 2012, tons
|
Type of waste |
Produced in the reporting year |
Trapped and disposed of (recycled) |
Transferred to other organizations For storage and burial |
Present at the enterprise site as of end of 2012 |
Burial of waste (own or received from third parties for burial) at waste disposal facilities |
|
Total waste |
644,911.19 |
146,630.58 |
6,628.47 |
966,893.4 |
10,912 |
|
Hazard rating I |
1.866 |
0.000 |
0 |
0.224 |
0 |
|
Hazard rating II |
3.32 |
1.981 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hazard rating III |
6,590.043 |
547.994 |
0 |
59.522 |
0 |
|
Hazard rating IV |
7,272.491 |
7,058.284 |
3,912.992 |
231.48 |
6,179 |
|
Hazard rating V |
631,043.6 |
139,021.5 |
2,715.427 |
966,602.1 |
4,733 |
The storage of waste as of the beginning of 2012 was 972,681 tons (966,615 tons in 2011). A total of 644,911 tons of waste was produced in the reporting period, including 161,470 tons in Severobaikalsk town (in 2011 the figures were 1,225,133 tons total and 258,441 tons in Severobaikalsk, respectively). Lower waste production in 2012 is explained by lower waste rock quality at mining industries (Sininda-1 LLC), as well as lower waste production resulting from renovation works at Russian Railroads OJSC sites.
Hazard class I waste is represented by mercury vapor lamps and luminescent tube lights, also containing mercury. Hazard class II waste includes acids and alkali contained in depleted car batteries, as well as lead electrodes and electrolytic fluids from the same source.
Most of the new waste comes as waste rock and rock refuse from mining non-metallic mineral resources (483,300 tons, or 75%). The remaining waste is produced by: operation of railroad transport (158,211 tons, or 24.5%) and from the activities of economic agents producing and delivering steam and hot water (heat energy), other enterprises and individual entrepreneurs (3,400 tons, or less than 1%).
Specially protected natural areas Frolikhinsky wildlife sanctuary of federal importance and Verkhnyaya Angara wildlife sanctuary of regional importance are located in the ares (see sub-section “Specially protected natural areas”).
Certain tourism and recreation sites are used intensively for recreation purposes, with the flow of tourists steadily growing. Sports tourism, organized and self-organized recreation are developed to a certain degree.
Conclusions
1. The condition of environment around BAM railroad within the BNA borders remains satisfactory. There wasn’t a single case of environmental emergencies, burst or accident discharge or emissions into the atmosphere in 2012. Emissions into the atmosphere from stationary sources increased by 406 tons. The negative effect of discharge from Severobaikalsk on Lake Baikal water was minimum in 2012, as well as in the previous years. The volume of waste produced in 2012 decreased by 47.4% compared to 2011.
2. Extensive transport and engineering infrastructure in the area (airport, railroad, boat traffic and motorways), plenty of picturesque sights and recreation facilities make this place one of the most attractive parts of Baikal for tourism and recreation.
Source: the Government report on the status of Lake Baikal and the measures for its protection in 2012 published by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation.
In 2024, the Baikal Mile will be held from 6 to 8 June.
Taking part in the Baikal Mile is a great way to test your limits of possibilities and feel the breath of nature in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
In 2024, the festival of ice sculptures on Lake Baikal is scheduled for the period from February 15 to 28. During these two weeks, the lake shore will turn into a real open-air museum, where everyone will be able to enjoy sculptural masterpieces created from ice.
The portal has been created for FSBI ”Informational and Analytical Center for Development of Water Bodies and Associated Properties” under the special program “Protection of Lake Baikal and Socio-Economic Development of the Baikal Natural Preserve for 2012-2020.”
