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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.