GOVERNMENT OF ST. PETERSBURG
Committee for Nature Use, Environmental Protection
and Ecological Safety
Environmental Policy of St. Petersburg
for the years 2008 - 2012
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
1. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY OF SAINT PETERSBURG
2. STATE MANAGEMENT IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF ST. PETERSBURG
4. SUSTAINABLE USE AND PROTECTION OF WATER BODIES
5. PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF THE SUBSURFACE
6. SOIL PROTECTION
7. PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT FROM NEGATIVE IMPACT CAUSED BY PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION WASTE
8. PROTECTION, MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION OF ST. PETERSBURG GREENERY
9. PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF NATURE PROTECTION AREAS OF ST. PETERSBURG
10. IDENTIFICATION, REGISTRATION AND ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS OBJECTS AND ZONES; MEASURES FOR MITIGATION (REDUCTION) OF THEIR NEGATIVE IMPACT, PROVISIONS FOR ECOLOGICAL SAFETY
10.3. Provisions for the safety of hydraulic engineering facilities
10.4. Prevention and abatement of oil spills
11. ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS OF ST. PETERSBURG CITIZENS 10.4. Prevention and abatement of oil spills
12. CONCLUSIONS
Attachment
to the Decree
of the Government of St. Petersburg
of_______________ N _____
Environmental Policy of St. Petersburg
for the years 2008-2012
The Environmental Policy of St. Petersburg (hereinafter the Environmental Policy) empowers the executive authorities of St. Petersburg, within their competence, to determine the main directions of environmental protection in St. Petersburg aimed at providing favourable living conditions for the present and future generations of St. Petersburg citizens, sustainability of natural resources, preservation of the biosphere.
The Environmental Policy follows the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws and other legal acts of the Russian Federation, the Charter of St. Petersburg, regulations and other legal acts of St. Petersburg.
The sustainable development of St. Petersburg, high standard of living and health of St. Petersburg population can be ensured only by keeping the appropriate quality of the environment. For that it is necessary to formulate and consecutively implement an environmental policy aimed at the protection of the environment and sustainable use of natural resources.
A strategic objective of the Environmental Policy is to safeguard a favourable environmental situation as an indispensable condition for the improved quality of live and health of the population, sustainable use and protection of natural resources and preservation of the natural systems for the sustainable development of the society, improved demographic situation and guaranteed ecological safety of St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg implements the Environmental Policy, which is based on the principles defined by the Federal legislation, and which pursues the following goals:
sustainable development, which implies equal consideration of the economic, social and environmental aspects; acknowledgement that St. Petersburg development is impossible, if the urban habitat is deteriorated;
participation of the executive authorities of St. Petersburg, institutions of local governing in St. Petersburg, non-governmental organizations in the preparation, discussion, adoption and implementation of decisions in the field if environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources;
understanding that the environmental protection and ecological safety are not an isolated sphere of activities, but a component integrated into all spheres of urban management without exclusion;
development and improvement of the regulatory and legal provisions in the field of environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources by drafting and adopting legal acts on environmental protection and use of natural resources, urban development, land use, public works, administrative enforcement, etc.;
development and improvement of the governmental management system in the field of environmental protection and rational use of natural resources within the boundaries of St. Petersburg;
registration and prevention of negative effects on the environment resulting from economic activities, including long-term and delayed environmental consequences; ban of economic and other projects posing a potential environmental impact, if their consequences are unpredictable;
availability and accessibility of environmental information;
availability and accessibility of environmental information;
enhancement of environmental awareness of the public, upgrading the educational level, professional knowledge and skills in the environmental field, bringing environmental awareness into the individual and public mentality;
conservation and restoration of the landscape and biological diversity sufficient for keeping natural systems capable of self-recovery and for the compensation of anthropogenic impact;
safeguarding ecological safety of potentially hazardous activities, remediation of land and water bodies subjected to a technogenic impact; identification and minimization of risks for the natural environment and public health, which can be caused by natural disasters and technogenic emergencies;
support of environmental public movements and charity activities aimed at the preservation of the natural habitat.
support of environmental public movements and charity activities aimed at the preservation of the natural habitat.
2. STATE MANAGEMENT IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF ST. PETERSBURG
The state management of environmental protection is performed by St. Petersburg authorities in compliance with federal laws and other legislative acts of the Russian Federation, regulations and other legal acts of St. Petersburg.
In accordance with provisions of the acting legislation the state environmental monitoring is a complex system for the survey of environmental situation, assessment and forecasting of changes in the environment caused by natural and anthropogenic factors (hereinafter environmental monitoring).
Objects of the environmental monitoring are the ambient air, soil, greenery, urban forests, water bodies, flora and fauna, nature protection areas, subsoil, sources of anthropogenic impact, natural factors.
Information provided by the environmental monitoring, which is budgeted by St. Petersburg authorities, belongs to the governmental information resources of St. Petersburg; and it is systematized in the information and analysis complex “Environmental Passport of St. Petersburg” (hereinafter Environmental Passport); it is shared with the executive authorities of St. Petersburg, regional bodies of federal executive authorities in order to be included into the Unified State Database on the Quality of Natural Environment; it also can be used for informing St. Petersburg citizens about the quality of certain components of the city’s environment.
The environmental monitoring is to meet the demand of St. Petersburg executive authorities on the actual and reliable information about changes in the environmental situation, which is used for taking measures on protecting St. Petersburg environment and defending its population in emergency situations.
The environmental monitoring activities shall be directed at:
the development of regional system for monitoring environmental parameters in order to get actual and reliable information about changes in the environmental situation, assess and forecast changes of the environmental quality caused by natural and anthropogenic factors;
methodological and metrological support of the environmental monitoring carried out within the boundaries of St. Petersburg;
development of numerical methods for assessing environmental situation in order to identify and forecast the development of negative phenomena, which influence the quality of environment.
methodological and metrological support of the environmental monitoring carried out within the boundaries of St. Petersburg;
development of numerical methods for assessing environmental situation in order to identify and forecast the development of negative phenomena, which influence the quality of environment.
2.2. State environmental examination
Environmental examination (environmental impact assessment) is the check of documents and/or documentation package, which substantiate an economic or other activity related to the implementation of the examined project, for compliance with environmental requirements specified by technical regulations and environmental legislation. The examination is made in order to prevent a negative environmental impact from such activities.
In accordance with the federal legislation executive authorities of St. Petersburg are empowered with the responsibility delegated by the Russian Federation on establishing and performing the state environmental examination of facilities belonging to the regional level.
In order to increase the efficiency of regulated state environmental examination of regional facilities it is necessary:
to develop and adopt legal acts in the field of the state environmental examination of regional facilities taking into account environmental, social and economic aspects of St. Petersburg;
to shorten the period, within which the environmental examination is prepared and performed, by establishing and operating the computerized information system, which includes a subsystem for informing St. Petersburg citizens about planned and carried out environmental impact assessments and their results.
to shorten the period, within which the environmental examination is prepared and performed, by establishing and operating the computerized information system, which includes a subsystem for informing St. Petersburg citizens about planned and carried out environmental impact assessments and their results.
2.3. State environmental control
Environmental control is the system of measures for prevention, detection and termination of violations of the environmental legislation, enforcement of compliance with environmental requirements, including standards, norms and regulations, by economic and other entities.
The objects of public environmental control carried out by the executive authorities of St. Petersburg are economic and other entities having different forms of property, excluding those subjected to the state environmental control of the federal level.
Appropriate implementation of the state environmental control requires the following:
development of the material and technical infrastructure of the divisions carrying out the state environmental control, their increased mobility and availability of equipment for the on-the-spot diagnostics of environmental pollution;
development and further improvement of the computerized environmental control system;
introduction of the system for the voluntary declaration of measures implemented to meet environmental requirements by companies (the system of self-declaration by companies).
development and further improvement of the computerized environmental control system;
introduction of the system for the voluntary declaration of measures implemented to meet environmental requirements by companies (the system of self-declaration by companies).
3. AMBIENT AIR PROTECTION
The pollution of ambient air is the key factor causing the negative impact on the quality of St. Petersburg environment. The quality of ambient air depends on the emission of pollutants by St. Petersburg industries and by motor vehicles.
The protection of ambient air shall be directed at:
the reduction of pollution from mobile and stationary sources;
monitoring of ambient air using instrumental and numerical methods;
compliance with the standards of the ambient air quality.
monitoring of ambient air using instrumental and numerical methods;
compliance with the standards of the ambient air quality.
The main stationary sources of pollution are heat-and-power producers and power facilities of industrial companies.
The environmental policy on the protection of ambient air from the pollution by stationary sources is oriented on the reduction of polluting emissions from the heat-and-power generating facilities by the introduction of energy-efficient and other best available technologies, which contribute to the environmental protection.
Protection of ambient air from pollution by stationary sources shall be directed at:
reduction of gross amount of pollutants emitted into the ambient air by operating power generating facilities and boiler houses by way of their refurbishment and modernization;
reduction of gross amount of pollutants emitted into the ambient air by changing fuel of boiler houses – coal or fuel oil replaced by natural gas;
introduction of advanced technical solutions in the new or refurbished generating facilities and boiler houses, which reduce the amount of nitrogen and sulfur oxides released into ambient air (changes in the design and operation modes of burners and furnaces, their equipment with clean-burn combustion chambers and other devices);
establishment of integrated sanitary protection zones around industrial clusters;
further improvement of the state control of the air protection measures carried out by the economic and other entities within the boundaries of St. Petersburg, including the instrumental chemical and analytical control of compliance with regulated emission limits.
reduction of gross amount of pollutants emitted into the ambient air by changing fuel of boiler houses – coal or fuel oil replaced by natural gas;
introduction of advanced technical solutions in the new or refurbished generating facilities and boiler houses, which reduce the amount of nitrogen and sulfur oxides released into ambient air (changes in the design and operation modes of burners and furnaces, their equipment with clean-burn combustion chambers and other devices);
establishment of integrated sanitary protection zones around industrial clusters;
further improvement of the state control of the air protection measures carried out by the economic and other entities within the boundaries of St. Petersburg, including the instrumental chemical and analytical control of compliance with regulated emission limits.
3.2. Protection of ambient air from pollution by mobile sources
Motor vehicles produce a negative impact on the quality of ambient air in St. Petersburg. They account for 80 % of the total amount of polluting emissions in the city.
Main factors, which influence the pollution of ambient air by motor transport, are the increase in the number of vehicles, slow development of the public transport infrastructure, drawbacks in the traffic management, inadequate environmental performance of cars produced (used) in the country, increased international truck haulage.
The protection of ambient air from mobile sources shall be directed at:
development of public transport, including the acquisition of buses having the emission levels not below Euro-3 standard, which use fuel having improved environmental characteristics; development of electricity-powered modes of transport, including metro, trolley-bus network, high-speed tram lines;
further improvement of the spatial planning structure for transport and development of St. Petersburg road network, which includes the completion of the ring-road around St. Petersburg, building of the West high-speed diameter, highway sections for non-stop driving along the boundaries of the central St. Petersburg districts, construction of the radial sections for the non-stop road sections, completion of work for establishing the Central archway; the transfer of Sortirovochnaya-Moscovskaya station and railway transshipment depots from the central part of St. Petersburgа to locations beyond the city boundaries, protection of residential districts from car emissions by the greenery;
further improvement of the road traffic management, including the development of the computerized traffic management system, restrictions on car trips to the historical center of St. Petersburg, deployment of the system of parking lots near metro stations, destimulation of trips in private cars to St. Petersburg city center;
increased efficiency of the public control of polluting emissions from motor vehicles;
incentives for measures on the reduction of gasoline vapour emissions at filling stations.
further improvement of the spatial planning structure for transport and development of St. Petersburg road network, which includes the completion of the ring-road around St. Petersburg, building of the West high-speed diameter, highway sections for non-stop driving along the boundaries of the central St. Petersburg districts, construction of the radial sections for the non-stop road sections, completion of work for establishing the Central archway; the transfer of Sortirovochnaya-Moscovskaya station and railway transshipment depots from the central part of St. Petersburgа to locations beyond the city boundaries, protection of residential districts from car emissions by the greenery;
further improvement of the road traffic management, including the development of the computerized traffic management system, restrictions on car trips to the historical center of St. Petersburg, deployment of the system of parking lots near metro stations, destimulation of trips in private cars to St. Petersburg city center;
increased efficiency of the public control of polluting emissions from motor vehicles;
incentives for measures on the reduction of gasoline vapour emissions at filling stations.
4. SUSTAINABLE USE AND PROTECTION OF WATER BODIES
Water bodies within the boundaries of St. Petersburg (hereinafter water bodies) are: the Eastern part of the Baltic Sea – the Gulf of Finland, the Neva River and its tributaries, natural and artificial water bodies, rivers, canals and marshes.
In order to guarantee the citizens’ rights to clean water and favourable aqueous environment, to maintain optimal water use conditions, the surface and ground water quality, which meets the sanitary and environmental requirements, it is necessary:
to reduce the discharges of untreated waste water into water bodies;
take measures for the restoration of water courses and water bodies of St. Petersburg;
round-the-year cleaning of water surface and water protection zones;
removal of bottom sediments from rivers and canals.
take measures for the restoration of water courses and water bodies of St. Petersburg;
round-the-year cleaning of water surface and water protection zones;
removal of bottom sediments from rivers and canals.
The development of St. Petersburg sewage system shall be directed at the termination of untreated wastewater discharge into the water bodies, which will improve the quality of St. Petersburg water resources and guarantee the compliance with international commitments by the Russian Federation.
Main activities in the reduction of untreated wastewater discharges into St. Petersburg water bodies shall be directed at:
complete elimination of untreated household and industrial waste water releases into the Neva River, its tributaries, the Neva bay and the Gulf of Finland;
completion of the main sewage collector for the Northern districts of St. Petersburg;
connection of direct outlets, through which the untreated waste water is discharged into water bodies, to the sewerage system;
solution of the surface waste water problem by building water treatment facilities for the surface run-off, which will stop the discharge of polluted run-off water;
improvement of technological processes for the treatment of waste water by the broad introduction of a technology for the efficient removal of nutrients from waste water and methods for the treated waste water decontamination;
reconstruction of currently used networks and facilities of St. Petersburg sewerage system;
decreased discharge of pollutants into water bodies after building closed-loop technical water supply systems at combined heat-and-power plants;
promotion of water-saving technologies at companies.
completion of the main sewage collector for the Northern districts of St. Petersburg;
connection of direct outlets, through which the untreated waste water is discharged into water bodies, to the sewerage system;
solution of the surface waste water problem by building water treatment facilities for the surface run-off, which will stop the discharge of polluted run-off water;
improvement of technological processes for the treatment of waste water by the broad introduction of a technology for the efficient removal of nutrients from waste water and methods for the treated waste water decontamination;
reconstruction of currently used networks and facilities of St. Petersburg sewerage system;
decreased discharge of pollutants into water bodies after building closed-loop technical water supply systems at combined heat-and-power plants;
promotion of water-saving technologies at companies.
The restoration of watercourses and water bodies of St. Petersburg shall be directed at improving environmental and recreational functions of the water bodies and adjacent territories by:
stepwise establishment of sustainable water ecosystems adapted to St. Petersburg conditions;
improvement of the water protection and landscape-environment quality of adjacent territories;
shore-strengthening and anti-erosion programs in the zones with unstable shoreline characteristics.
improvement of the water protection and landscape-environment quality of adjacent territories;
shore-strengthening and anti-erosion programs in the zones with unstable shoreline characteristics.
In order to provide adequate ecological and sanitary-epidemiological quality of water bodies and improve their visual attractiveness it is necessary to carry out a complex of measures, which include cleaning of water bodies and water protection zones from dumped and floating litter, cut water plants in St. Petersburg streams, remove sunken shipborne and technical structures from the river- and seabed.
Main activities in the bottom sediment removal from the rivers and canals of St. Petersburg shall be:
introduction and application of modern dredging and auxiliary technologies, as well as the technologies for treatment and storage of contaminated bottom sediments;
completed construction of the winter moorage base for the specialized fleet of the city;
management of currently-used bottom sludge storage faculties and the preparation of new technological solutions for solving the problem of disposal and utilization of removed bottom sediments.
completed construction of the winter moorage base for the specialized fleet of the city;
management of currently-used bottom sludge storage faculties and the preparation of new technological solutions for solving the problem of disposal and utilization of removed bottom sediments.
5. PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF THE SUBSURFACE
The subsurface of St. Petersburg is used for the extraction of conventional mineral resources, groundwater, healing muds, for hosting different subsurface structures, also for geological studies.
The governmental regulation of the subsurface resource management is directed at the reproducibility of mineral and other reserves, their sustainable use and protection of geosphere for the sake of currently living and future generations.
The use of subsurface resources is regulated by the executive authorities of St. Petersburg following the acting legal procedures.
Main directions of activities for the protection and rational use of subsurface resources shall be:
provisions for the installation of licensing system for the use of sites containing the deposits of generally-used minerals, and other subsoil locations, which, in accordance with the current legislation, belong to the jurisdiction of St. Petersburg executive authorities;
establishment and updating of the regional geological database, balance of reserves, cadastre of deposits and indications of presence of generally-used minerals, system for the registration of subsurface locations, which are used for the construction and operation of subsurface structures not related to the extraction of mined resources within the boundaries of St. Petersburg;
state control of the geological studies, protection and sustainable use of mined resources within the responsibilities of the executive authorities of St. Petersburg;
protection of groundwater from surface pollution, filling in the neglected (abandoned) hydrotechnical wells on the territory of St. Petersburg, identification and removal of groundwater pollution sources;
development of the standby borehole network for the emergency intake of drinking water in St. Petersburgа and its suburbs, which can be used in case of a technogenic or natural disaster;
re-estimate of capacities of previously found and unused deposits.
establishment and updating of the regional geological database, balance of reserves, cadastre of deposits and indications of presence of generally-used minerals, system for the registration of subsurface locations, which are used for the construction and operation of subsurface structures not related to the extraction of mined resources within the boundaries of St. Petersburg;
state control of the geological studies, protection and sustainable use of mined resources within the responsibilities of the executive authorities of St. Petersburg;
protection of groundwater from surface pollution, filling in the neglected (abandoned) hydrotechnical wells on the territory of St. Petersburg, identification and removal of groundwater pollution sources;
development of the standby borehole network for the emergency intake of drinking water in St. Petersburgа and its suburbs, which can be used in case of a technogenic or natural disaster;
re-estimate of capacities of previously found and unused deposits.
Soils are a most important and essential component of the natural environment. The current condition of St. Petersburg soils is the result of urban and industrial development. At present technogenic processes prevail over the natural ones in soil development; therefore specific soil groups and complex top-soils are formed, Natural (undisturbed) soils (sod-podzol, marsh, alluvial) mostly remain in the outskirts of the city, as for the residential districts - within old park-forest zones.
Main sources of the soil contamination are industrial emissions, construction, traffic-generated and other dust, landfills with industrial waste, dumps of construction, household and other waste, fallen leaves. Degradation of the top-soil leads to the deterioration of soil quality; it is the pollution source for ground and surface waters; it causes the plant perish, open surface of contaminated soil is the source of secondary pollution of ambient air.
The protection of soil shall include a complex of anti-erosion and pollution measures, it will include the remediation of environmentally unhealthy territories and reduction of dust formation.
Activities on the protection of soils shall be directed at:
adoption of measures on the remediation (rehabilitation) of contaminated soils in St. Petersburg, including the territories of industrial companies, which are planned for closure or transfer to another location;
geochemical survey of St. Petersburg territory, in order to estimate the degree of soil contamination with heavy metals;
monitoring of soil contamination and degradation as an element of environmental monitoring;
setting up the quality standards for St. Petersburg soils.
geochemical survey of St. Petersburg territory, in order to estimate the degree of soil contamination with heavy metals;
monitoring of soil contamination and degradation as an element of environmental monitoring;
setting up the quality standards for St. Petersburg soils.
Production and consumption wastes are the source of anthropogenic impact on the environment. The production and consumption wastes include the raw materials, semi-finished products, other items or materials, which resulted from production or consumption; also goods and products, which lost their consumer properties. The production and consumption wastes can become raw materials for another production cycle, if environmentally safe technology of their utilization is available.
Protection of environment from the production and consumption waste impact shall be directed at the waste generation minimization, use of waste as the secondary material and energy resources, introduction of modern technologies for industrial waste recycling, prevention of environmental pollution.
Main activities in the management of solid household waste shall be:
development and adoption of legal acts, which create favourable economic conditions for minimization of waste generation;
development of modern technologies for the waste collection (including separated collection), transportation, recycling and decontamination;
introduction of modern technologies for waste incineration combined with power generation;
establishment of conditions for attracting investment into the waste management;
development of a computerized system for the control and monitoring of waste collection and management, more stringent control of the waste transportation, removal and prevention of unauthorized dumps;
motivation and involvement of St. Petersburg public and business into the separated collection and recycling of waste;
development of the system for collection and recycling of discarded vehicles, electronic and electrotechnical scrap, polymer materials;
introduction of separation and decontamination of hazardous waste, also included into the household waste;
introduction of modern environment-friendly technologies of waste recycling, including those combined with power generation;
information of St. Petersburg public and companies about the negative environmental impact of waste.
development of modern technologies for the waste collection (including separated collection), transportation, recycling and decontamination;
introduction of modern technologies for waste incineration combined with power generation;
establishment of conditions for attracting investment into the waste management;
development of a computerized system for the control and monitoring of waste collection and management, more stringent control of the waste transportation, removal and prevention of unauthorized dumps;
motivation and involvement of St. Petersburg public and business into the separated collection and recycling of waste;
development of the system for collection and recycling of discarded vehicles, electronic and electrotechnical scrap, polymer materials;
introduction of separation and decontamination of hazardous waste, also included into the household waste;
introduction of modern environment-friendly technologies of waste recycling, including those combined with power generation;
information of St. Petersburg public and companies about the negative environmental impact of waste.
St. Petersburg industries are the source of various production wastes. Most of this waste poses a serious threat to the environment due to its high reactivity potential and a presence of noxious components – heavy metals, polyaromatic carbohydrates, chlorine-organic substances and others.
The reduction of negative environmental effects from industrial waste can be achieved by:
establishment of the state-of-the-art recycling center, where modern technologies of industrial waste recycling and disposal are used;
development and implementation of measures for the reduction of negative environmental impact from buried hazardous waste;
organization of the system for industrial waste registration by establishing and maintaining the regional waste cadastre;
introduction of the system for tracking the hazardous waste itineraries in St. Petersburg;
stimulation of investment projects aimed at the introduction of modern methods and technologies of separate collection and reprocessing of hazardous industrial waste in order to increase the return of recyclable materials.
development and implementation of measures for the reduction of negative environmental impact from buried hazardous waste;
organization of the system for industrial waste registration by establishing and maintaining the regional waste cadastre;
introduction of the system for tracking the hazardous waste itineraries in St. Petersburg;
stimulation of investment projects aimed at the introduction of modern methods and technologies of separate collection and reprocessing of hazardous industrial waste in order to increase the return of recyclable materials.
Building, repairs and related activities carried out in St. Petersburg generate a great amount of construction and demolition waste (further on – construction waste); its post-reprocessing use as crushed stone and sand-gravel mixture can reduce building expenditures, amount of waste disposed at the city landfills and eliminate unauthorized dumps.
Management of construction waste shall be aimed at its maximum utilization for getting commercial products. Maximum percentage of construction waste is to be recycled for the second use, if St. Petersburg has appropriate reprocessing facilities. Construction waste, which cannot be recycled due to the absence of capacities, is to be used for filling exhausted quarries, ravines and other irregularities of the land relief.
Main directions of activities for managing the construction waste shall be:
development of legislation for construction waste management by the adoption of packaged legal acts, which establish motivating economic conditions for the maximum reuse of recycled construction waste;
introduction of new advanced technologies for the construction waste recycling and production of commercial products;
analysis of available technologies for processing construction waste into building materials, if necessary, the development of such technologies with their subsequent application;
development of recommendations for using construction and finishing materials made from the recycled materials and construction waste;
permitting of the construction waste transportation and disposal at landfills and authorized dumps in accordance with the developed technological procedures only in case of proven inexpediency of its recycling.
introduction of new advanced technologies for the construction waste recycling and production of commercial products;
analysis of available technologies for processing construction waste into building materials, if necessary, the development of such technologies with their subsequent application;
development of recommendations for using construction and finishing materials made from the recycled materials and construction waste;
permitting of the construction waste transportation and disposal at landfills and authorized dumps in accordance with the developed technological procedures only in case of proven inexpediency of its recycling.
One of the challenges faced by St. Petersburg is the problem of sludge from wastewater treatment facilities, which is conditioned at specialized plants or disposed at special landfills.
The activities for managing sludge of wastewater treatment facilities of St. Petersburg shall be directed at:
solving the problem of effective utilization of ash resulting from the incineration of the sewage sludge;
remediation of the lands currently used as disposal sites for the sewage sludge;
establishment of a standby landfill.
remediation of the lands currently used as disposal sites for the sewage sludge;
establishment of a standby landfill.
8. PROTECTION, MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION OF ST. PETERSBURG GREENERY
Green plants of St. Petersburg have numerous functions, most important of which is the improvement of ambient air quality by absorption of carbon dioxide and release of oxygen, also reduction of noise level, dust and gas contamination of air; the improvement of city's microclimate by reducing the ambient air temperature in hot weather by the evaporation, protection from winds, production of phytoncides - volatile compounds killing pathogenic bacteria.
Main directions of activities for the protection, maintenance and rehabilitation of St. Petersburg greenery shall be:
maximum preservation of green plants used for different purposes; and in St. Petersburg center – every single tree, if it is not subjected to planned cutting due to ageing and diseases;
increase of green areas in St. Petersburg by developing new public green zones, greenery planting on unused sites; in the historical center of St. Petersburg it shall be done by planting on the former territories of industrial companies, which are planned for closure or removal; planting in the sanitary-protection zones around industrial facilities and on agricultural lands;
planned replacement of old trees posing a threat to life and health by young trees cultivated for the purpose, which have a good resistance against negative environmental effects, with the ratio between cut and planted trees improving in favor of the latter;
rehabilitation of greenery in public places;
effective prevention of plant diseases.
increase of green areas in St. Petersburg by developing new public green zones, greenery planting on unused sites; in the historical center of St. Petersburg it shall be done by planting on the former territories of industrial companies, which are planned for closure or removal; planting in the sanitary-protection zones around industrial facilities and on agricultural lands;
planned replacement of old trees posing a threat to life and health by young trees cultivated for the purpose, which have a good resistance against negative environmental effects, with the ratio between cut and planted trees improving in favor of the latter;
rehabilitation of greenery in public places;
effective prevention of plant diseases.
9. PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF NATURE PROTECTION AREAS OF ST. PETERSBURG
Nature protection areas (NPA) include the sections of land, water and air above them, where natural complexes and single objects are located; they have a special environmental, scientific, cultural, aesthetic, recreational and healing significance, and St. Petersburg authorities excluded them completely or partially from the economic activities and set a special protection regime within their boundaries.
At present there are six nature protection areas on the territory of St. Petersburg: two state nature reserves - Yuntolovsky and Gladyshevsky, and four nature landmarks - Komarovsky Bereg, Strelninsky Bereg (Shore), Park Sergievka and Dudergof Heights. The Master Plan of St. Petersburg foresees a package of design and management measures for establishing 21 new NPA with the total area of approx.23652 ha.
The NPA protection and development is aimed at establishing favorable environmental conditions for people living in St. Petersburg, preservation of St. Petersburg natural heritage for the sake of currently living and future generations.
The main directions of activities for the NPA conservation and development shall be:
appropriate legislation and a complex of organizational measures and projects for the NPA establishment;
enhanced state control of the compliance with the NPA regime;
provisions for NPA functioning in accordance with their status;
organization and keeping the State NPA cadastre in order to monitor and evaluate their quality, determine development perspectives, increase their functional efficiency and strengthen the governmental control of the special protection regime;
environmental quality monitoring of the NPA natural complexes.
enhanced state control of the compliance with the NPA regime;
provisions for NPA functioning in accordance with their status;
organization and keeping the State NPA cadastre in order to monitor and evaluate their quality, determine development perspectives, increase their functional efficiency and strengthen the governmental control of the special protection regime;
environmental quality monitoring of the NPA natural complexes.
10. IDENTIFICATION, REGISTRATION AND ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS OBJECTS AND ZONES; MEASURES FOR MITIGATION (REDUCTION) OF THEIR NEGATIVE IMPACT, PROVISIONS FOR ECOLOGICAL SAFETY
Ecological safety means that the environment and vital priorities of people are protected from possible negative impact of economic and other activities, emergency situations of natural and technogenic origin, and their consequences.
Ecological safety provisions include the system of measures aimed at detection, registration and assessment of environmentally hazardous objects and zones, elaboration of measures on elimination (reduction) of their negative impact in order to prevent environmentally hazardous situations and remove their consequences, also the long-term effects.
Radiological safety means that currently-living and future generations are protected from harmful ionizing radiation. The exposure of St. Petersburg population is caused by natural and technogenic sources, also by medical treatment.
One of the main directions of activities, which ensure public radiological safety, is the detection and elimination of technogenic radioactive contamination. In order to assess the radiological situation and plan measures for enhancing radiological safety the radiological hygiene passport of St. Petersburg is prepared on the annual basis; radioactive materials and waste St. Petersburg are registered and tracked from the moment of their arising, utilization and handling to the moment of disposal at appropriate facilities.
Provisions for radiolological safety shall be aimed at the reduction of human and environmental exposure risks posed by the natural and technogenic ionizing radiation sources to the socially acceptable level.
Main directions of activities for ensuring radiological safety of St. Petersburg citizens shall be:
registration and control of radiation sources, their production, use, transfers and long-term storage of radioactive materials and radioactive waste at the companies of St. Petersburg;
radiological survey of the territory in public use and the objects of social sphere, including the emergency cleanup of detected contamination sources;
radiological control of dismantling operations and transported cargoes;
annual preparation of the radiation hygiene passport of St. Petersburg;
operation and development of the computerized radiological control system.
radiological survey of the territory in public use and the objects of social sphere, including the emergency cleanup of detected contamination sources;
radiological control of dismantling operations and transported cargoes;
annual preparation of the radiation hygiene passport of St. Petersburg;
operation and development of the computerized radiological control system.
Chemical safety means that the living and future generations are protected from the contamination of environment caused by changes in its inherent chemical properties or by the ingress of alien chemical agents in concentrations exceeding the background (natural) average long-term variations of the substances for the reference period of time.
St. Petersburg has many hazardous industries, its transport network undergoes a dynamic development - this combination explains a high level of technogenic contamination risks. The main safeguard protecting the population of St. Petersburg and its environment from chemical contamination is the complex of preventive measures, which reduce the probability of emergency situations, in combination with timely detection and cleanup of detected sources of chemical contamination.
Chemical safety provisions shall be oriented at the implementation of a complex of measures to reduce the negative influence of chemical agents on the health of people and environment of St. Petersburg.
Main directions of activities to ensure the chemical safety of St. Petersburg population shall be:
inventory of companies, which use hazardous chemical materials;
chemical survey of public areas and objects of social sphere followed by the emergency cleanup of detected sources of chemical contamination;
establishment of facilities for reprocessing mercury-containing items and pilot sites where contaminated soils are cleaned up;
introduction of state-of-the-art technologies for cleaning soils contaminated with heavy metals and organic pollutants;
monitoring of the natural gas release processes on the territory of St. Petersburg, building and exploitation of gas-relief systems.
chemical survey of public areas and objects of social sphere followed by the emergency cleanup of detected sources of chemical contamination;
establishment of facilities for reprocessing mercury-containing items and pilot sites where contaminated soils are cleaned up;
introduction of state-of-the-art technologies for cleaning soils contaminated with heavy metals and organic pollutants;
monitoring of the natural gas release processes on the territory of St. Petersburg, building and exploitation of gas-relief systems.
10.3. Provisions for the safety of hydraulic engineering facilities
Hydraulic engineering facilities are dams, water collection, water-intake and water-discharge units, tunnels, channels, pump stations; facilities for protection against floods and erosion of banks of water storage basins, shores and bottoms of rivers; bank-protection structures of canals, as well as other facilities designed for the use of water resources and prevention of disasters caused by water.
Safety of the hydraulic engineering facilities (HEF) is their functional property, since they are used for protecting life, health and core priorities of people, environment and economic entities.
Provisions for the safety of HEF, which belong to St. Petersburg jurisdiction, shall be directed at the prevention of emergency situations; their main goal is the adequate level of St. Petersburg protection from accidents at HEF.
Main directions of activities aimed at the HEF safety shall be:
inventory and identification of all items in the network of St. Petersburg hydro-engineering facilities, elaboration of the complete list of St. Petersburg HEF;
improvement of the HEF governmental management system, including the appropriate documentation, which comprises the HEF certificate and safety declaration; instructions on its safe operation, proposal for the HEF safety monitoring;
preparation of proposals for improving the inspection system, which checks compliance with standards and operational rules by owners and operating utilities, as well as the oversight of certain activities, which can result in the HEF safety level degradation;
HEF monitoring, analysis of their quality, timely detection and elimination of defects, which, if neglected, can result in the complete or partial loss of the operational efficiency of a facility and lead to an emergency situation;
training of staff for performing emergency-response measures and actions for localization and elimination of emergency situations, as well as the availability of necessary material and financial resources.
improvement of the HEF governmental management system, including the appropriate documentation, which comprises the HEF certificate and safety declaration; instructions on its safe operation, proposal for the HEF safety monitoring;
preparation of proposals for improving the inspection system, which checks compliance with standards and operational rules by owners and operating utilities, as well as the oversight of certain activities, which can result in the HEF safety level degradation;
HEF monitoring, analysis of their quality, timely detection and elimination of defects, which, if neglected, can result in the complete or partial loss of the operational efficiency of a facility and lead to an emergency situation;
training of staff for performing emergency-response measures and actions for localization and elimination of emergency situations, as well as the availability of necessary material and financial resources.
10.4. Prevention and abatement of oil spills
Prevention and abatement of spills of oil and oil products is a complex of measures for preventing pollution of the environment by oil products; ensured preparedness and availability of emergency response services and management of emergency situations caused by oil spills, as well as other urgent actions taken in emergency situations and directed at the protection of people’s health, minimization of damage to the environment, and material losses.
The oil spill response operations follow the developed action plans for oil spill abatement on the waters and land of St. Petersburg, which regulate actions of the Commission for emergency situations and fire protection of St. Petersburg, emergency response services and companies on the territory of St. Petersburg. The availability of means and resources for the oil spill abatement at companies, their compliance with requirements of regulatory documents is checked by the examination and validation of the action plans submitted by companies and services, which store, transport, refine and use oil and oil products.
Main directions of activities for the prevention and cleanup of oil spills on land and waters of St. Petersburg shall be:
prevention of environmental violations during the transportation of oil and oil products;
improved planning of oil spill abatement actions, including the annual exercise for better interaction between the city’s emergency response services;
solution for the challenges caused by oil spills on the Neva River between Shlisselburg and St. Petersburg, which includs establishing an outpost of the oil spill abatement forces upstream of St. Petersburg;
deployment and further improvement of the unified computerized system for warning and response to oil spills on water;
establishment of the system for air-based monitoring of waters (together with federal authorities);
establishment of a training base for the oil spill abatement services.
improved planning of oil spill abatement actions, including the annual exercise for better interaction between the city’s emergency response services;
solution for the challenges caused by oil spills on the Neva River between Shlisselburg and St. Petersburg, which includs establishing an outpost of the oil spill abatement forces upstream of St. Petersburg;
deployment and further improvement of the unified computerized system for warning and response to oil spills on water;
establishment of the system for air-based monitoring of waters (together with federal authorities);
establishment of a training base for the oil spill abatement services.
The governmental environmental emergency response services have been established on the basis of the state unitary enterprises companies of St. Petersburg. At present the system of governmental environmental emergency response services includes:
emergency response service for the oil spill abatement on the Neva River and Gulf of Finland;
emergency response service for the oil spill abatement on rivers and canals;
emergency response service for the oil spill abatement on land;
emergency response service for the radioactive contamination cleanup;
emergency response service for the chemical contamination cleanup;
emergency response service for the mercury contamination cleanup.
emergency response service for the oil spill abatement on rivers and canals;
emergency response service for the oil spill abatement on land;
emergency response service for the radioactive contamination cleanup;
emergency response service for the chemical contamination cleanup;
emergency response service for the mercury contamination cleanup.
The governmental environmental emergency response services are incorporated into the St. Petersburg regional subsystem of the Unified State System of Emergency prevention and Liquidation as the task force for managing emergency situations caused by oil spills on surface waters, also for prevention and management of emergency situations on the public territories of St. Petersburg.
Development of the governmental environmental emergency response services shall be directed at improving the technical level and training of personnel of the services for more efficient prevention and elimination of environmental pollution.
Main directions of activities for the development of governmental environmental emergency response services shall be:
optimization of the system for managing the environmental emergency response services;
improvement of the logistics provisions for the governmental environmental emergency response services;
establishment of the district oil spill abatement units in St. Petersburg;
establishment of a training center for the employees of environmental emergency response services;
introduction of modern information technologies and computer-based means into the practical work of environmental emergency response services;
establishment of a unified electronic system of warning and response to emergency situations taking place on the land and waters of St. Petersburg;
improvement of the system of information exchange and interaction with divisions of Russian Emergency Response Service and bodies of the state environmental control.
improvement of the logistics provisions for the governmental environmental emergency response services;
establishment of the district oil spill abatement units in St. Petersburg;
establishment of a training center for the employees of environmental emergency response services;
introduction of modern information technologies and computer-based means into the practical work of environmental emergency response services;
establishment of a unified electronic system of warning and response to emergency situations taking place on the land and waters of St. Petersburg;
improvement of the system of information exchange and interaction with divisions of Russian Emergency Response Service and bodies of the state environmental control.
Environmental awareness is an integral part of the human and national culture, which includes the system of social relations, material values, ethical norms and relations between the society and environment. The awareness is shaped in the mentality and behavior of the people during lifetime activities of generations by continuous environmental education and insight enhancement. It contributes to healthy lifestyle, intellectual development of the society, sustainable social and economic development, ecological safety of the society and individuals.
The promotion of environmental awareness shall be directed at the active social position of all age and social groups of St. Petersburgers; this will mean the defense of constitutional rights on life in favourable environment and practical participation in the events aimed at the establishing of such environment, prevention and exclusion of environmental offence.
Main directions of activities aimed at raising the public awareness in St. Petersburg shall be:
improvement of the environmental education system (teachers’ training; development of experimental sites for ecological education on the basis of educational institutions of St. Petersburg);
development of environmental education activities in the centers of additional education for children and adults;
support to educational and children’s non-governmental organizations active in the environmental sphere;
motivation of public unions and other NGOs on participation in solving critical environmental problems of St. Petersburg;
organization of the city-level public environmental events directed at drawing public attention to the challenges of environmental protection, safe life and health in St. Petersburg;
development of the system for professional training (retraining) and advanced training of managers and specialists responsible for decision making in the field of natural resource management, environmental protection and ecological safety;
increased awareness of St. Petersburg business community on the issues of environmental legislation and rational use of natural resources, also their education on the environment-friendly management methods;
dedicated TV and radio programs, coverage of relevant environmental protection problems by the mass media, also by using the means of society-oriented public campaigns;
increased publication and circulation of specialized periodicals, magazines, newspapers, booklets, promotional editions on environmental issues, their wide public distribution in St. Petersburg, more efficient use of environmental video library;
establishment and maintenance of web-sites on topical issues of environmental protection.
development of environmental education activities in the centers of additional education for children and adults;
support to educational and children’s non-governmental organizations active in the environmental sphere;
motivation of public unions and other NGOs on participation in solving critical environmental problems of St. Petersburg;
organization of the city-level public environmental events directed at drawing public attention to the challenges of environmental protection, safe life and health in St. Petersburg;
development of the system for professional training (retraining) and advanced training of managers and specialists responsible for decision making in the field of natural resource management, environmental protection and ecological safety;
increased awareness of St. Petersburg business community on the issues of environmental legislation and rational use of natural resources, also their education on the environment-friendly management methods;
dedicated TV and radio programs, coverage of relevant environmental protection problems by the mass media, also by using the means of society-oriented public campaigns;
increased publication and circulation of specialized periodicals, magazines, newspapers, booklets, promotional editions on environmental issues, their wide public distribution in St. Petersburg, more efficient use of environmental video library;
establishment and maintenance of web-sites on topical issues of environmental protection.
The executive authorities of St. Petersburg implement the Environmental Policy by incorporating environmental priorities into the prepared legal acts, also by development, enactment and appropriate implementation of programs on the protection of environment and ambient air, organization of nature protection activities and events.
Implementation of the Environmental Policy will ensure the sustainable development of St. Petersburg, actualize the citizens’ rights on the favorable environment and ensure the ecological safety for St. Petersburg population; it will improve the quality of all components of the environment.
