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Shymkent
Baikonur Cosmodrome
Semipalatinsk Test Site
Ecological Policy
Full text of this report
Home
About this report
Topics
-- Air
-- Water
-- Land
-- Biodiversity
-- Agriculture
-- Transportation
-- Energy
-- Climate Change
-- Waste
The Regions (oblasts)
-- Nur-Sultan
-- Almaty
-- Akmola Oblast
-- Aktobe Oblast
-- Almaty Oblast
-- Atyrau Oblast
-- West Kazakhstan Oblast
-- Jambyl Oblast
-- Karaganda Oblast
-- Kostanay Oblast
-- Kyzylorda Oblast
-- Mangystau Oblast
-- Turkestan Oblast
-- Pavlodar Oblast
-- North Kazakhstan Oblast
-- East Kazakhstan Oblast
-- Shymkent
-- Baikonur Cosmodrome
-- Semipalatinsk Test Site
Ecological Policy
Full text of this report
BAIKONUR COSMODROME
In 2018-2019, on behalf of the Aerospace Committee of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Gharysh-
Ecology Research Center (a state enterprise) conducted environmental study of the territories affected by activities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome complex. However, a lack
of funding in 2019 did not allow for an environmental impact study of areas affected by fallen spacecraft stages and debris.
In 2018-2019, the Gharysh-Ecology
Research Center conducted environmental
monitoring of the effect of rocket launches
on chemical pollution levels in the air, soil
and vegetation on the territory of the
cosmodrome immediately following a
launch. Analyses record levels of rocket
fuel components and their burn products in
an environmental survey of the air, soil,
water, a vegetation at fall sites.
In 2018-2019, analyses of the air, soil and
snow conducted in the area of the
cosmodrome did not detect any
exceedances of hazardous substance
concentrations. In contrast, substance
exceedances were detected in 65 air
samples and 7 snow samples taken from
the area of the fall of the first stage of the
Proton-M rocket in 2019.
Aggregate: spacecraft launches subject
to environmental monitoring – 2018-2019
2018
2019
Soyuz
Proton-M
7
7
2
5
Aggregate – Soyuz rocket launches subject
to environmental analysis at the Baikonur Cosmodrome,
its fueling facility and launch complex.
2018
2019
7
7
Aggregate and type of environmental
analyses of rocket launches
at the cosmodrome - 2018-2019
Metered surface atmosphere
air quality samples
Air samples
Soil samples
Snow samples
2018
2019
52
14
96
16
47
12
96
8
Aggregate and type of environmental analyses
conducted of the effect of launches
at the sanitary protection zone
around the fueling facility - 2019-2018
Metered surface atmosphere
air quality samples
Soil samples
2018
2019
24
48
23
48
Maximum exceedances
of approximated secure levels
of airborne saturated hydrocarbons
at the sanitary protection zone
around the fueling facility
- 2018-2019
2018
2019
Exceedance multiplicity
1
02
,
,
1
15
Analysis of concentrations of petroleum products in the soil at the
sanitary protection zone of the launch complex were conducted
following seven successful Soyuz rocket launches revealing pollutant
concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 80.5 milligrams per kilogram.
Allowable concentrations of petroleum products in the soil have yet to
be established complicating the interpretation of the results from the
samples taken. For comparison, in determining soil safety standards
applied elsewhere, norms established at the Zhetybai and Karazhanbas
oil fields indicate an allowable value of 100 milligrams of pollutant per
kilogram of soil.
In 2018 and 2019, air, snow, and soil samples were tested at the fall
sites of Soyuz rocket stages. The air was tested for concentrations of
oxocarbons, nitrogen oxides, nitrogen dioxides and saturated
hydrocarbons. No exceedances were recorded. The interpretation of the
results of soil and snow samples is complicated by the lack of
established allowable concentrations. In nearly all soil samples taken
petroleum by-products were recorded revealing a maximum
concentration of 28,375 mg per kg or 19,625.04 mg per dm
.
3
In 2019, the environmental state of seven previous fall sites of Soyuz
rocket stages were monitored. 35 soil samples were taken of which 20
were within norms for petroleum product concentrations established at
the Zhetybai and Karazhanbas oil fields - 100 mg per kg. Nine samples
revealed petroleum by-product concentrations within the maximum
allowable limits established at the Zhetybai and Karazhanbas fields. Six
soil samples revealed exceedances of the above established allowable
levels and require the collection of regular control samples.
In the city of Baikonur, the village of Akai, and the rural settlement of
Toretam, all of which are adjacent to the cosmodrome territory, soil and
drinking water samples were taken to assess their pollution levels and
metered air quality monitoring was conducted.
Of the 228 metered air quality measurements taken, 73 were found to
exceed safe levels of hydrocarbon content. Analysis of 144 soil samples
found high concentrations of petroleum by-products were revealed,
ranging from 101 to 153 mg per kg. Nitrite concentrations and the pH
balance of soils tested fell within allowable limits. In 144 samples of
drinking water, nitrite ion and petroleum by-product concentrations did
not exceed allowable limits.
In 26 soil samples, exceedances of allowable concentrations of nitrites
were detected. No exceedances of hazardous substances were
detected in collected snow samples. Petroleum by-product allowances
were within normal ranges in 68 drinking water samples collected, with
two samples showing no traces of petroleum by-products. No
exceedances of allowable concentrations of nitrites in drinking water
were detected.
In the city of Zhezkazgan and the village of Talap, which are adjacent to
rocket stage fall areas, 252 metered air quality measurements were
taken, as well as 70 soil samples, 14 snow samples and 84 drinking
water samples. Air samples revealed no exceedances of allowable
pollutant concentrations. 68 of the soil sample analyses revealed
petroleum by-product concentrations ranging from 5.6 to 3612 mg per
kg, with only two samples not exceeding soil safety standard norms
established at the Zhetybai and Karazhanbas oil fields – 100mg per kg.
Aggregate and type of environmental analyses
of rocket launches at the Ulytau district, Karaganda Oblast
(the area affected by the fall of the first stage
of the Proton-M rocket)
- 2018-2019
2018
2019
20
83
25
50
224
26
14
250
200
150
100
50
0
Aggregate and type of environmental analyses
of rocket launches at the cosmodrome
– 2018-2019
Metered surface
atmosphere air quality samples
Soil samples
Snow samples
Air samples
2018
2019
8
8
8
32
40
16
50
40
30
20
10
0
8
4
Metered surface
atmosphere air quality samples
Soil samples
Snow samples
Air samples
This interactive report was created by the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the support of the European Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme, and Zoï Environment Network.