National Report Concerning
the Baltic Green Belt (the coastal zone),
RUSSIA
The report is prepared by Vera Ovcharenko, Green World
2011
CONTENTS
Territory ……………………………………………………………………………..
2
Population …………………………………………………………………………...
2
Habitation …………………………………………………………………………...
2
Length and type of coastal line ……………………………………………………...
3
Coastal Protected Areas Network …………………………………………………..
6
Degree of exploitation of the coastal zone ………………………………………….
13
Industrial development in the coastal zone and fishery …………………………….
24
Protection of the coastal zone (national legal system) ……………………………...
25
The national procedure of EIA ……………………………………………………...
26
EU regulations. The procedure of EIA in the context of Espoo Convention ……….
27
Spatial planning and Integrated Coastal Zone management ………………………..
28
Good examples ……………………………………………………………………...
29
Bad examples ……………………………………………………………………….
29
Suggestions for implementation of Sustainable Coastal Development …………….
31
References …………………………………………………………………………..
32
1
Territory
Russia is the largest country of the Baltic Sea Region but only 2 % of its territory belongs to Baltic
Sea catchment basin [1]. There are 1439 km2 belongs of St. Petersburg with its suburb areas,
85908,8 km2 - Leningrad Region, 13134 km2 - Kaliningrad Region, proximally 1/3 territory of Karelia and small parts of Pskov, Novgorod, Smolensk
and Tver’ regions [1]. Russian territorial waters are
15125 km2.
Image source: http://vistino.ru
Population
In the Russian part of the Baltic Sea catchment basin live 12% of the total population of the Baltic
Sea Region (it is 7% of the total population of Russia) [1]. In St. Petersburg live 4 600 276 inhabitants, in Leningrad Region – 1 714 403, in Kaliningrad Region – 937 900 inhabitants (results of census of enumeration in 2010).
Habitation
The coastal areas of the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland are populated rather densely, but unevenly. The population density decreases with increasing distance from St. Petersburg. The average
density of population in St. Petersburg is 8081 inh/km² and in Leningrad Region – 20 inh/km². Fife
central, densely populated and most industrial developed districts of St. Petersburg: Krasnosel’sky,
Kirovsky, Admiralteysky, Vasileostrovsky and Petrogradsky are located within the boundaries of
the city in the Neva River delta with the average population density 5339.5 inh/km².
There are 3 districts of St. Petersburg: Primorskiy, Kurortny
and Petrodvortzovy with recreational and tourist value located directly on the Gulf of Finland coast area. The total
length of shoreline in these districts is about 110 km. The
population density is 1432,25 inh/km². The lowest population density in the Kurortny district (252 inh/km²), which is
rightly called the "lungs" of the city and the northern health
resort of the country, as there still remained untouched by
human activities natural complexes which occupying 99% of
the total area of the district. Kronshtadskiy district of the city
is located on the Kotlin Island and other small islands near
Kotlin (see table 1).
Image source: http://www.spb4rent.ru/info/karta-rajonov/
The boundaries of three districts of the Leningrad Region of the 17 are located on the Gulf of Finland coast. There are Kingisepp, Lomonosov and Vyborg districts with population 338 551 inhabitants. In addition, Sosnovy Bor - a town with status of the urban district is located on the southern
coast of Gulf of Finland with population of 66 700 inhabitants.
2
The total population density of these districts is 32,74 inh./km², which is 63% higher than the average for the Leningrad region. In summer the population of coastal areas of St. Petersburg and Leningrad region increases several times due to holidaymakers and tourists. All data are presented in
the table 1.
Table 1.
Habitation of the coastal zone within St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region.
St. Petersburg
No
District
Area
(km²)
Population
(inh.)
1
2
3
4
Petrodvortsovy
Krasnosel’sky
Kirovsky
Admiralteisky
115,34
115,00
48,00
13,82
128 929
330 773
333 668
158 414
5
6
7
8
9
Vasileostrovsky
Petrogradsky
Primorsky
Kurortny
Kronshtadsky
TOTAL:
14,64
24,00
109,87
267,92
19,35
727,94
203 181
130 417
509 944
67 412
42 999
1905 737
Leningrad Region
Population
density
(inh./ km²)
1118
2876
11463
District
Kingisepp
Lomonosov
Vyborg
Sosnovy Bor
(urban district)
Area
(km²)
Population
(inh.)
Population
density
(inh./ km²)
2908,00
1919,10
7475,47
72,00
81 900
67 800
188 851
66 700
28
35
25
926
12374,57
405 251
32,75
13878
5434
4641
252
2222
Source: http://www.spb4rent.ru (data for table)
Kaliningrad Region has population 945996 inhabitants with average population density 62,5
inh/km². The administrative center of Region is Kaliningrad city with population of 423 700 inhabitants. The urban population is 4 times as large as that rural areas and is 80% of total number of inhabitants. Sovetsk, Cherniakhovsk, Gusev, Baltiysk are the largest cities in the Region [28].
Length and type of coast line
Russia owns only 7 % of the coast of the Baltic Sea. The length of the shoreline within Kaliningrad
region 145 km including Sambiyskiy peninsula (71 km), Curonian (49 km) and Visla (25 km) spits
[2].
The length of the shoreline of the Russian part of the Gulf of Finland is 820 km (without island’s
coasts), of which 350 km are the Northern coast [3] with heavily indented by fjords and skerries
fringe forming numerous gulfs divided by belts. The Gulf of Vyborg is the largest one (Photo
below).
View of the Gulf of Vyborg from the Vyborg fortress. Photo: Andrey Frenkel’
The Northern coast of the Gulf of Finland consists of hard crystalline rocks (granites and gneisses)
3
forming the so-called “mutton foreheads” to the west of Vyborg. The coast is mostly sloping with
sandy dunes and coast walls. It is low, heavily intersected and almost completely covered with
coniferous forest. Numerous moraines and hills interspersed with lakes and swamps are
characteristic of this coast.
The “mutton foreheads” on the Northern
Coast of the Gulf of Finland near Vysotsk.
Photo: Elena Glazkova
Sandy beach and pine forest near Primorsk.
Photo: Gennadiy Shabarin
The shoreline of the Southern coast is less jagged
but forms several small but deep enough gulfs and
bays: the Narva Gulf, the Koporie Gulf, the Luga
Bay, the Batareinaya Bay. The gulfs are divided
with peninsulas. The biggest of them are the
Kurgalsky, Soykinsky and Karavaldaysky peninsulas.
The Southern coast of the Gulf of Finland is composed of sedimentary rocks, chiefly limestone. The
Baltic-Ladoga Glint up to 40 m high runs along the
full length of the coast. In some places the glint
comes close to the water edge, in some places it moves away giving room for lowland. Such alternation of steep and low sites is characteristic of the Southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. The basin
of the Gulf of Finland is bordered from the south by the Izhora Elevation, reaching up to 168 m
high.
The steep coast near Lebyazhie.
Photo: Gennadiy Shabarin
A low site of the Southern coast near
Bol’shaia Izhora. Photo: Gennadiy Shabarin
4
A special kind of relief determined by the Kurgolovo Plateau descending to the sea in benches, once
forming the coasts of the ancient Littorina Sea, is shaped within the Kurgalsky Peninsula. The
Southern coast of the Gulf, as well as the Northern one, is covered with forests alternating in many
places with plough-lands and bushes. Coniferous forests prevail, broad-leaved and mixed forests are
few.
The Neva Guba is the eastern and most shallow part of the Gulf of Finland where Saint-Petersburg
with its nearest environments is located.
According to the accepted classification (Ionin, Kaplin, Medvedev, 1961) [4], in the Eastern part of
the Gulf of Finland (within the boundaries of the Russian Federation) the group of shores formed by
subaeral and tectonic processes and affected little by the sea include the Northern coast of the Gulf
(from the state border to the Kiperort Peninsula). The coast zone over the stretch of the rest part of
the Gulf belongs to a group of shores formed mainly by wave processes and may be classified with
the type of leveling abrasive-accumulative bay shores. The exclusions are short sites of leveled
abrasive shore from the Cape Flotsky till the Cape Peschany, leveled accumulative shore from
Solnetchnoye till Sestroretsk and on the eastern shore of the Narva Gulf and of technogenic shore in
the Neva Guba. The coast zone of the Gulf from the state border till the western end of the Kiperort
Peninsula belongs to the type of skerries characterized by a jagged shoreline, numerous islands and
inlets. The abrasive moraine (boulder) subtype is the most common in the coast zone described and
equally developed on the Northern and Southern coasts. It stands out, as a rule, on land sites protruding into the sea - capes. A boulder-pebble bench, which impedes the further washout, is formed
both on the shore and on the submerged littoral slope as a result of intensive moraine washout processes. Such shore sites usually demonstrate a low abrasion step (up to 1 m). The active abrasion
steps reach the biggest heights in the south shore zone of Krasnaia Gorka Fort (see photo below).
The boulder-pebble area.
The high coastal bench of the of the ancient
5
Photo: Gennadiy Shabarin
Littorina Sea in the area of Krasnaia Gorka
Fort. Photo: Gennadiy Shabarin
In the peripheral part of the Kourgalsky Peninsula, the Luga Bay (westwards of the Cape Kolgompia) and the Koporie Bay the boulder bench is covered with aquatic plants.
The longest sand beaches lie in the Narva Gulf (about 20 km) and in the area of Sestroretsk (12
km), as well as in the Luga Bay and the Koporie Bay (in the area of Sosnovy Bor). Furthermore,
local sand beaches are developed in small bays all along the perimeter of the Gulf. However, previously formed sand beaches are now subject to wash-out processes over a sufficient stretch. This applies in part to the zone of sand spits in the area of Lebyazhye – Bolshaya Izhora.
The shoreline of the Neva Guba belongs over a sufficient length to the techno genic type.
Hydrological region, tipes of coast and vegetation of the area
Source: Nature Conservation Atlas of Russian Part of the Gulf of Finland. St. Petersburg, 2006
Coastal Protected Areas Network
The combination of various landscapes, forest stands, swamps, meadows, coastal zones and vast
water surfaces defines the unique features of coastal natural complexes of the Eastern part of the
Gulf of Finland and the abundance of their biological diversity. Measures for protection of those
6
Protected Areas of Leningrad Region
natural complexes have special importance under conditions of active industrial development of the coast of the
Russian part of the Gulf of Finland. For
this purpose 45 Protected Areas (PAs)
of different importance (2 Federal, 39
Regional and 4 local) are established in
Leningrad Region and St. Petersburg
where the economic activity is limited
in accordance with the protective status
of those areas defined by the legislation
of the Russian Federation (see the
map).
Source: Baltic Fund for Nature
Regional PAs were established for protection of rare biological species and communities, unique landscapes, geological and
hydrological objects. The main principle of
the Regional PAs network development is
the preservation of the areas in their entirety. Therefore, the most PAs have the status
of complex ones.
There are just only 11 PAs of 45 which are
located directly in coastal zone and includes water areas (see the map).
Source: Baltic Fund for Nature (base).
On the Southern coast of the Gulf of Finland 3 regional PAs and 2 complex natural
monuments are located which include coastal zones and water areas: Kurgalsky, Kotelsky, Lebyazhiy, Sergievka Park and Strelninskiy Coast (Table 2). Two of them, regional nature reserves
Kurgalsky and Lebyazhiy, are Ramsar Sites protected by Ramsar Convention as Wetlands of International Importance. They cover approximately 110 km of the coast (13,4 % of total length of
coastal line).
Table 2.
Existing Coastal Protected Areas in the Russian part of the Gulf of Finland.
№ on
the
map
Name of PAs
Kurgalsky
1
2
“Kurgalski Peninsula”
Kotelsky
Lebyazhiy
3
4
5
“Southern coast of the Gulf of
Finland”
Park Sergievka
Strelninsky Bereg
Category, type
Regional complex nature reserve
Ramsar Site No 690
Regional complex nature reserve
Regional complex nature reserve
Ramsar Site No 689
Complex natural monument
Complex natural mon-
Common
area (ha)
Water area
(ha)
Coastal zone,
length (km)
59 950,00
38 400,00
75,00*
16 146,30
301,80
3,00*
6 344,65
5 298,35
30,55
120,00
0
0,50
20,00
0
1,00
7
ument
Regional complex na6
ture reserve
The Northen Coast of the
Regional complex na7
Neva Bay
ture reserve
Komarovsky Coast
Complex natural mon8
ument
Gladyshevskiy
Regional complex na9
ture reserve
Vyborgsky
Regional complex na10
ture reserve
The Berezovye Islands
Regional complex na11
ture reserve
Ramsar Site No 691
The total length of the continental shoreline of PAs
Yuntolovsky
976,80
0
1,00*
330,00
0
4,60*
180,00
0
0,65*
8419,00
0
4,20*
11 295,00
6 940,00
40,00*
55 295,00
47 020,00
No official data.
82580,95
97960,15
160,50*
*No official data. Approximate data of author.
1. Kourgalsky nature reserve is a standard of seaside landscapes of the southern coast of the
Gulf of Finland with the highest biodiversity level in the Leningrad Region. More than 100 species
are included in the Red Data Books national and international level. Waterfowl nesting places and
migration stops, as well as gray and ringed seal rookeries, are under protection. The off-shore shallow waters have great importance as spawning areas and zones of natural sea water purification.
Photos: Andrey Frenkel’
8
Photo: Andrey Frenkel’
Photos: Andrey Frenkel’
2. Kotelsky nature reserve includes some picturesque well-drained lakes of glacial origin:
Kopanskoye, Gloubokoye, Babinskoye, Khabolovo, Soudachye, as well as a part of the water area
of the Gulf of Finland. The lakes are rich in fish. Baltic trout and European white shell are found in
the Peipia Brook running from the Kopanskoye Lake.
Moose, roe, wild boar, bear, fox, badger occur in
forests surrounding the lakes. Rare birds: common
crane, golden eagle, spotted eagle, erne, fish hawk and
a number of others also live here. The lake shores are a
favorite recreation place for thousands of people due to
the abundance of mushrooms and berries.
The Kopanskoye lake. Photo: Vera Ovcharenko
9
The autumnal forest in Kotel’sky zakaznik. Photos: Andrey Frenkel’
3. Lebiazhiy nature reserve includes unique natural complexes of the coastal zone of the Gulf
of Finland. For many centuries the shallow coastal areas are traditional for concentration of waterfowl stopping here during spring and autumn migrations for rest and feeding, as well as nesting.
The most numerous stopping of swans, up to 10,000 individuals, is registered here. Rare species of
animals and plants entered in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation and the Red Data Book
of the Leningrad Region are found in this area.
The shallow water in Lebyazhiy nature reserve.
Photo: Gennadiy Shabarin
Lebyazhie is “the swan’s capital”.
Photo: Andrey Frenkel’
4. The natural monument “Park Sergiyevka” was established in order to protect landscapes of natural and cultural value on the Southern coast of the Gulf of Finland for scientific, educational and recreational purposes.
10
5. The natural monument “Strelninsky Bereg” was established in order to conserve typical
landscapes of the Eastern coast of the Gulf of Finland, places of constant living and dwelling of
passing birds. The natural monument territory is a standard of seaside black alder moors, practically
extinct due to overbuilding and recreational arrangements in the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland.
The thick arboreal and dumetosous brushwood provides unique conditions for living of 80 species
of birds of passage. The coastal shallows and the littoral zone provide space for waterfowl during
seasonal migrations.
Strel’ninsky Bereg. Photos: Vladimir Fedorov
On the Northern coast of the Gulf of Finland 6 Regional PAs and one complex natural
monument are located which includes just a small part of the continental coastal zone and marine
area: Yuntolovsky, The Northen Coast of the Neva Bay, Gladyshevskiy, Vyborgsky, The Berezovye Islands nature reserves and complex natural monument Komarovsky Coast (Table 2). They
cover approximately km of the coast (13,4 % from total length of coastal line). The Regional nature
reserve Beryozovye Islands being as well a Ramsar site lies in the immediate vicinity of the coast,
within 2 km to the south-west from Primorsk, on the Beryozovye Islands Archipelago. They cover
approximately 50,5 km of the coast (6,2% of total length of coastal line).
6. Yuntolovsky nature reserve was established for protection seaside landscapes of the Eastern
part of the Gulf of Finland, the Lakhtinsky Razliv water area, inhabitations of rare plant species,
routes of passage, nesting and dwelling places of birds, fish spawning areas.
7. The Northern Coast of the Neva Bay nature reserve was established for conservation
and restoration of valuable natural complexes of north coast of Neva Bay and maintaining of ecological balance on the territory of St. Petersburg. Particularly valuable objects are rare in St. Petersburg deciduous forests and places of nesting and dwelling of waterfowl birds.
View to the Northern Coast of the Neva Bay nature reserve. Photos: Vladimir Fedorov
8. Gladyshevsky nature reserve was established for the purpose of conservation, restoration
and reproduction of the valuable salmon species of fish and conservation of endangered species of
mollusks (European oyster), maintaining the natural state of habitat and the overall ecological
11
balance.
9. Komarovsky Coast natural monument was established for protection and restoration of
coastal natural complex with sand dunes with pine forest and rare species of cereals. There are a lot
of big size ant colonies, about 50 species of birds including rare. The old spruce forest occupies the
main part of area. The coastal strip is a sand beach and the favorite recreation place for thousands
city dwellers.
10. Vyborgsky nature reserve is established for conservation valuable natural complexes and
landscapes of the islands of the Gulf of Vyborg with rare species of plants and animals, areas of
maritime vegetation of Kiperrot Peninsula, number of stop places of waterfowl birds, spawning areas of valuable commercial species of fish.
Vyborgsky zakaznik. Photos: Nadezhda Alekseeva
11. The Berezovye Islands nature reserve was established with aim for conservation of
reach and diverse nature complex of archipelago and water area in the north-eastern part of the Gulf
of Finland and protection of zones of seal whelping, spawning of fish, shallow waters as the basic
stop places of waterfowl birds, rare species of plants and animals.
12
Zapadny Berezovy Island. Photos: Vera Ovcharenko
All mentioned PAs lies within the boundaries of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region. The total
area of PAs within St. Petersburg is approximate more then 5 500 ha what is slightly more 4% of
the total area of the city. The total area of coastal PAs within Leningrad Region is 72 934,65 ha (including Berezovye Islands) what is less then 1% of the total area of Region. The total length of the
continental shoreline of coastal PAs is 160,5 km (19,57% of total length of coastal line of the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland).
At now days a new state nature reserve “Ingermanlandskiy” (zapovednik) on the islands of
the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland is under establishment. The positive statement of State
Environmental expertise is gotten. The total area of zapovednik is 17 901 ha. It will be the
first marine PA in the Baltic Sea within Russian territory.
The shallow water on the western part of
the Seskar island. Photo: Vera Ovcharenko
View to the archipelago Bolshoy Fiskar.
Photo: Vera Ovcharenko
All coastal and marine PAs are extremely important for keeping the region’s biodiversity, primarily
for the migrating species of birds, being Important Bird Ares.
In December of 2009 the Russian Federation nominated four coastal protected areas of the Gulf of
Finland (3 Ramsar sites Kourgalsky, Lebiazhiy and Beryozovye Islands) and the nature reserve
Vyborgsky into the HELCOM Network of the Baltic Sea Protected Areas (BSPA) what impose on
Russia additional obligations.
13
However the existing network of Protected Areas does not allow in full measure to solve the problems with nature protection and conservation of biodiversity because of different administrative,
legislative, management reasons.
According to Russian legislation, Regional PAs (zakazniks) have the most strict protection status
next to the Federal PAs (zapovednik). The functions of state control of these territories are held by
Committee on Natural Resources of the Leningrad Region Administration within the boundaries of
the Leningrad Region and the Committee on Nature Management, Environment Protection and
Ecological Safety within the boundaries of St. Petersburg. The state inspection of functioning of
wetlands (Ramsar Sites) is performed by the Leningrad Regional State Department “The Forest
Administration of the Leningrad Region” within its competence or other specially authorized State
Institutes of the Russian Federation in the sphere of environment protection.
The economic activity within the PAs territories is strictly specified according to the Regulations of
PAs. The protective regime forbids any expansion of the existing building area, tree felling, sand
extraction in the shallow part of the Gulf, dump organization and littering, filling of interstitial
swales and any disturbance of their hydrological regime. All kinds of activity leading to disturbance
of the natural hydrological regime, dumping of pollutants, industrial waste storage, meliorative and
floor-deepening works, storage and use of poisons and other dangerous materials, the erection of
economic, industrial and living objects and communications in the sites of mass bird gathering, as
well as mass types of recreation, are forbidden within the wetlands (Ramsar sites).
At present the Committee on Natural Resources of the Leningrad Region works on bringing the
passports and regulations of PAs into correspondence with the Law requirements of Russian
Federation in sphere of environment protection. Apart from the basic regulations there will be
specified recommended measures, such as development of management plans according to the EU
standards and creation of administrative and inspectorial stuff providing the operation and the
proper control on its territories which they lack now. Perhaps, if these recommendations would be
taken into account and realized the situation with management of PAs will change for the better.
Degree of exploitation of the coastal zone
The Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland, including the Neva Guba and the biggest megapolis in the
Baltic Sea region, St. Petersburg, due to its geographical situation, has a special strategic importance for the development of Russia’s international economical relations. A new sociallyeconomical situation has occurred after the breakdown of the Soviet Union and the inclusion of East
European countries into the European Community. Since a half of the ports was left outside Russia,
the construction of new ports in the Russian part of the Baltic Sea and the modernization of the Big
Port St. Petersburg have become a most important state aim for the RF Government in the area of
provision of national interests and economical security during the transition of different cargoes,
including oil, gas and electricity transport. The construction of new port complexes is especially
active (see map below).
Russian Port Complexes in the Eastern part
of the Gulf of Finland
Proximally 65 km (8% of total coastline) of coastal
line is under different industrial installations like
ports complexes and other facilities including St.
Petersburg city industrial territory. A powerful
transport corridor for the export of irreplaceable
mineral resources from Russia to Europe is being
formed here. The creation of this transport infrastructure is accompanied by destruction of natural
14
complexes and replaceable resources. The selection of construction territories is governed only by
the economical interests and profits and does not consider the factors like the specially protected
nature territories in the immediate vicinity of port complexes, the cumulative effect of all industrial
objects on marine and coastal ecosystems, as well as the opinion of local inhabitants, which is very
often directed against the industrial expansion.
At present, the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland has the following operating port complexes:
The “Greater Port of St. Petersburg” - the largest port in the North-West Russia situated
on the Neva River delta islands. It includes roadsteads, terminals, warehouses, quays, rented by 28
stevedoring companies within the port water area and the adjacent waters. The St. Petersburg port
aquatory area is about 164.6 sq. km. The port has about 200 quays, the pier line of 31 km total. The
port specializes in the export of mineral fertilizers, wood, container cargoes, metals and oil products
and import of food and perishable goods and container cargoes.
The total freight turnover in 2010 was 5,478.7 thousand tons, including 1 577.8 thousand tons of oil
products. In 2011 the company handled over 7.4 mln. tons of cargoes.
The freight turnover of the “Greater Port of St.
Petersburg” in 2011
Sourse: http://www.en.seaport.spb.ru
Panorama of the port. Sourse: http://forpower.ru
Ust-Luga Port is a new multifunctional port for transfer and additional treatment of more than
20 categories of cargoes situated on the Southern coast of the Gulf of Finland placed on the Southern coast of the Gulf of Finland in the area of the Luga Bay, immediately near the Kurgalsky nature
reserve. The sea port territory is 1,045.91 hectares. The water area is 67.56 sq. km. The construction
of 10 terminals with the total freight turnover of 35 mln. tons per year is planned here. The total
freight turnover in 2010 was 1 400.4 thousand tons. The development of the Ust’-Luga complex is
taking place within the framework of the federal program named “Modernization of the Transport
System of Russia” (Modernizatsiya, 2001).
Freight turnover of Ust-Luga Port in 2010.
15
Source: OAO Ust-Luga Company http://www.baltslon.ru
Motor-Railway Ferry Complex.
Source: http://www.ust-luga.ru
Transport infrastructure of the Ust-Luga
Port. Photo: Gennadiy Shabarin
At present the port has 7 operating
terminals: the multifunctional transfer
complex “Yug-2”, the forestry and coal
terminals, the universal transshipment
terminal, technical sulphur transshipment
complex, the auto-railway ferry complex.
The bulk cargo complex is under testing
now. The oil products terminal “UstLuga”, the terminal point of the Baltic
Pipeline System-2 (BPS-2), was come into
operation in the 4 th quarter of 2011.
Panorama of Ust-Luga Port. Source: http://sdelanounas.ru
The commissioning of the first phase of the stable gas condensate transfer complex and the
liquefied hydrocarbon gas and light oil product transfer complex is expected in 2012.
Simultaneously with the building of new terminals, the active reconstruction of external approaches
to the port, automobile routes and railroads connecting the port of Ust-Luga with main traffic roads
is in process. The port of Ust-Luga can expand to the North of the Soykinsky Peninsula, which case
is extremely undesirable, as soon as this territory already experiences a sufficient industrial
pressure.
16
Apart from that, the Sea trade port of St. Petersburg and the Sea port of Ust-Luga have been
included by the Russian Government into the list of the sea ports of the RF opened for entrance
(exit) of ships and other sailing objects transporting nuclear materials, radioactive substances and
products containing them in transport packaging sets. Hence the two largest ports in the Russian
part of the Baltic Sea are destined to provide the import from Europe and other countries to Russia
of radioactive and nuclear wastes across the Baltic Sea. This political decision has been adopted by
the Russian Government as early as in 2003 (The Decree No. 1491-r of October 14, 2003). The port
construction and the intensive ship traffic increased the hazard of pollution by oil products for the
coastal waters in the Luga Bay and the disturbance factor for birds and seals.
The Specialized Oil Sea Port of Primorsk is a part of the Baltic Pipeline System (BPS)
and the biggest port exporting crude oil and oil products in the North-Western region of Russia. The
port is located in 8 km from the town of Primorsk on the North-Western coast of the Gulf of Finland. The total port territory is 246.85 hectares. The water area is 31.36 sq. km. The port started operating in late 2001. The freight turnover in 2010 was 6 549.5 thousand tons of crude oil and oil
products.
The level of oil cargo in 2010-2011, thousand tons.
Source: http://www.unesco.org
Source:
http://www.baltslon.ru
The Sea Port of Vysotsk is situated on the Vysotsky Island, 24 km from the town on Vyborg.
The port territory is 143.6 hectares. The water area is 1.26 sq. km. The port consists of two terminals: the coal terminal and the oil terminal. The terminals have no common border and lie at 12 km
apart. The ship operating quay wall is 683 m long, with 4 berths. The oil terminal “The Distribution/Transfer Complex Vysotsk – Lukoil II (RPK – Vysotsk – Lukoil II)” is an oil product transfer
complex. The terminal’s capacity is more than 12 million tons per year. The total freight turnover in
2010 was 1,287 thousand tons, including 1 120.20 thousand tons of oil products.
17
The Oil Terminal RPK-Vysotsk- Lukoil II.
Source: http://shelfspb.ru
The Coal Terminal. Source: http://softboats.org
The Sea Trade Port of Vyborg is one of the eldest trade ports in the Gulf of Finland, originating from the 16th century. Today the port has 13 berths, including one passenger quay and 12
quays for operating general and bulk cargoes. The port mainly specializes in the cargo transfer
(coal, rolled stock) for export (96%); mineral fertilizers since 2001. The total port territory is 16.66
hectares. The water is 2.87 sq. km. The quay wall is 1,327 m long. The total freight turnover in
2010 was 75.9 thousand tons.
Percent of freight turnover of Russian ports of
Baltic Region for the ten month of 2011.
The Sea Trade Port of Vyborg.
Photo: Vera Ovcharenko
Source: http://www.baltslon.ru
Kaliningrad Region is the Special Economic Zone
On January 22, 1996 the RF President signed a Law "On the Special Economic Zone in the Kaliningrad Region" stipulating the legislative and economic basis for setting-up and functioning of the
Special economic zone. The Special Economic Zone offers the free customs zone regime. The
Law provides for privileges to investors and other entrepreneurs doing business in the region, including external economic activities. About 300 enterprises in the territory of the
region export products to more than 70 countries of Europe, Africa, Asia, and to the USA.
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About 40% of the total regional external trade turnover is represented by the trade with
three countries - Germany, Poland and Lithuania. The main exported items are: oil,
cellulose, fertilizers, non-organic chemical products, fish and other sea products, paper
and cardboard, ships and boats.
“Kaliningrad Sea Commercial Port” JSC
is the largest enterprise of regional port
complex. The total port territory is 66,4 hectars.
It has two freight and one container terminals with
total freight turnover 13,8 million tons in 2010.
The port is a universal and handle all tipes of cargo
(excluding raw oil) [25].
Panorama of “Kaliningrad Sea Commercial Port” and the basic type of handled cargoes.
Source: http://www.kscport.ru
Construction of Nord Stream gas pipeline
In April 2010, Nord Stream AG began constructing the first of its two, 1,224-kilometre natural gas
pipelines through the Baltic Sea from Vyborg, Russia to Lubmin near Greifswald, Germany. It is
the most direct connection between the vast gas reserves in Russia and energy markets in the European Union. By the end of the third quarter of 2011 the main works relating to construction of the
Russian sector of the Nord Stream Pipeline had been successfully completed: landfall facilities in
Portovaya Bay had been erected, both pipelines had been laid at the Russian landfall and in the sea,
and pressure tests of Line 1, which went into operation on 8 November 2011, had been completed.
By the end of 2012, both lines of the Nord Stream Pipeline system will be operational. Combined,
they will be able to deliver up to 55 billion cubic meters of gas annually. The potential environmental impact of the construction in Russia was mainly associated with pressure tests performed in
summer 2011, seabed works and laying Line 2, сconstruction of which began in May 2011.
The onshore part of the Nord Stream Pipeline, includes two lines 904 m length and technological
unit of diagnostic treating facilities, is located on the North shore of the Gulf of Finland in Portovaya Bay to the south-west from Vyborg in thinly populated area. There was execute deforestation by plot in 100 m on width of allotment of land for pipeline 52 m and total extension 1,102 km
from the coastal line in the very beginning of pipeline construction. Construction was going in accordance with Russian legislation and international standards with using of best technologies, which
allowed minimizing negative impact on environment.
19
Onshore Facilities at the Landfall Russia. Source: www.nord-stream.com
The constructed and planned port complexes in the Eastern Part of
the Gulf of Finland
The Russian Marine Oil Terminal “Vistino” (RMOT)
The construction of the new RMOT “Vistino”, which includes a port terminal with 4 berths for
ships of 20-100 thousand tons, a system of coast structures and an access railroad started early in
2009. The total terminal area is 125.4 hectares, the total building area is 186.5 thousand sq. m. The
shore line (the berth front) is 891 m long. The projected design turnover of oil and oil products is 10
million tons per year (an increase up to 18 million tons is possible). The number of ships accepted is
297 per year. The construction end and putting into operation is scheduled for late 2011.
The general plan of RMOT “Vistino”
Source: http://vistino.ru
Source: http://www.indpg.ru
The construction site has been selected without considering the existing port complexes on the
Southern coast of the Gulf of Finland and their cumulative pressure on the region. The public
opinion directed against the building of the complex in the immediate vicinity of inhabited areas
(Zalesie in 1 km to the North-East, Vistino in 1.5 km to the South-East, Valianitsy in 1.6 km to the
East) where representatives of the native small nations Izhora and Vod’ live was not regarded
during the selection of the construction site for the oil complex. For example, the interests of the
Baltika fishing kolkhoz which has its berths, production structures and repair facilities in 1.2 – 2 km
from the complex were not accounted. The dredging operations during the construction produced an
extremely negative effect on the environmental conditions of the area.
Apart from that, the complex is situated just 15.5 km to the North-East from the place where the
Luga, the only river at the Russian Baltic territory where a population of the wild Baltic trout exists,
enters the Luga Bay.
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The Multifunctional Sea Transfer Complex “Bronka” (MSTC “Bronka”),
the construction of which has been started in 2010 on the South coast of the Gulf of Finland in the
area where the complex of structures keeping St.Petersburg from floods (dam) borders the existing
coastline within the town of Lomonosov. The projected turnover of the MSTC “Bronka” is 15
million tons of container cargoes and 260 thousand units of rolling equipment per year. The
structure will become a major traffic center of the North-Western region and one of the biggest
Russian ports. The construction end and putting into operation is scheduled for 2013.
The construction of MSTC “Bronka”.
Source: http://portnews.ru
Construction site of MSTC “Bronka”.
Source: http://smstroy.com
Apart from that the construction of the Sea Trade Port “Lomonosov Cargo Terminal” aimed for
processing container goods and rolling equipment with the annual turnover of 11 million tons when
brought to full capacity was started to the East of the Lomonosov harbor. A new territory of 63 ha
will be created for building the terminal. The complete amount of capital investments into the terminal building and development will be approximately 400 million euros. These projects are to be
realized within the framework of the Concept of Development of Prospective Regions (Avant-ports)
of the Big Port St. Petersburg. The Concept has been ordered by the Ministry of Transport of the
Russian Federation and the Government of St. Petersburg. Bottom dredging and soil depositing
have been performed here since 2008 for the port complex construction producing an adverse effect
on the local coastal and auatic ecosystems due to water pollution.
Hydrotechnical projects
Apart from the construction of port complexes, some major hydrotechnical projects have been
carried out in the Neva Guba of the Gulf of Finland since 1979, such as:
 the construction of the complex of flood protective structures (CPS) of St.Petersburg,
1979-2011; the CPS provides the flood protection of the city, the ship passage and the automobile traffic on the highway. The structure is 25.4 km long. It includes protective dams,
aqueducts, navigation passes and a highway running along the dam’s crest with bridges, a
tunnel and traffic interchanges;
 the large-scale project “The Sea Facade of St. Petersburg”, since 2006. The biggest in
Europe project for territory creation and development in a coastal zone. The new deposited
476.7 hectares of land will carry a passenger sea port terminal with the passing capacity of
1.2 million passengers per year, a segment of the Western High-Speed Diameter, new business and cultural centers of St. Petersburg (see photos below);
21
“The Sea Facade of St. Petersburg”
Source: www.portspb.ru


The complex of flood protective structures
of St. Petersburg.
Source: http://dambaspb.ru/gallery
“Tne Baltic Pearl” project. A multifunctional complex of residential and business structures in the South-Western part of St. Petersburg with the total area of more than 1 million sq.
m.;
The construction of “The Western High-Speed Diameter”, a 46.6 km long highway partially passing in the Neva Guba aquatory and including 19 traffic interchanges and three
bridges, 55 m high.
The plan of “Tne Baltic Pearl”complex.
Source: http://www.bn.ru
“The Western High-Speed Diameter”
Sources: http://www.asi-spb.ru; http://www.stpr.ru
On the one side, the realization of these projects solves socially-economical problems of the city
and the region as a whole, increases its attractiveness for investors and tourists. On the other side,
the construction works within the framework of these projects have sufficiently affected the ecological condition of the Neva Guba and the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland. For example, the results of the satellite monitoring of the Neva Guba and the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland performed by NIIKAM on the basis of the data obtained from Terra/MODIS, Aqua/MODIS and ENVISAT/MERIS have indicated that the scale and intensity of pollution of the water area by suspended sediments during the realization of “The Sea Facade of St. Petersburg” project were sufficient, tens or even hundreds times as high as before (from 300 to 1,000 mg/l). The suspended substances extended for great distances, up to 200 km from their sources. The areas of pollution by fine
dispersed solids often reached 1,000,000 sq. km and more. The excavated ground was disposed directly into the Neva Guba, multiple cases of uncontrolled ground disposal were registered.
Moreover, constant dredging works at the Petrovsky waterway and the Podkhodny channel, the reconstruction of the Sea channel, 27 miles long, joining St. Petersburg and the Gulf of Finland have
been performed in the Eastern part of the Gulf (2008-2012).
22
Studies aimed to evaluate the condition of the geological and marine environment of the Neva Guba
under the powerful anthropogenic pressure were performed in 2005-2009 (FGUNPP “Sevmorgeo”,
GU “Sankt-Peterbourgsky CGMS-R”). The results of these studies indicate changes of water
quality and bottom sediments.
The modern situation necessarily influenced the coastal zone. The comprehensive studies using the
results of remote monitoring of the Gulf of Finland and the data of field observations carried out by
the VSEGEI and NIIKAM personnel have proved that the works under “The Sea Façade of St.
Petersburg” project (2006-2008) have produced an intensive effect on the coasts and the underwater
coastal slope of the Neva Guba and the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland. The local bottom silting
in the zones of sand sediments development has been noted in the Kurortny region. A layer of clay
technogenic sediments has formed in the shallow area along the Northern shore of the Neva Guba
(the ground disposal has been conducted here since 2007). The bottom relief in the vicinity of
Lakhta is formed entirely by technogenic processes (underwater open cuts, ground wastes), which
can directly influence the coast washout processes.
The international experience of coastal bottom dredging works give the acceptable factor of ground
losses constituting 5% of the excavated amount. In case of exceeding of this limit all operations
should be immediately changed or stopped. But the results of satellite monitoring demonstrate that
the capital bottom dredging under “The Sea Façade of St. Petersburg” project lead to ground losses
(including the ground disposal into the Neva Guba) at least ten times as high (e.g. more than 50%).
In expert’s opinion, the ecological monitoring/auditing of the project has been performed
inappropriately, against the international norms and rules. Not only the results of the monitoring
were not regularly covered by the mass media, but they have been classified as “a commercial
secret”. The official conclusions about “a minor effect” of the conducted hydrotechnical works on
the environmental condition of the water area do not represent the facts. The commercial interests
of the investors are directed first of all to gaining the maximum profit, the expenditures for using
environment-friendly technologies, protection and restoring of the environment are minimized. The
formed unsatisfactory environmental situation is hushed up and/or concealed by investors,
administrative and control bodies on all levels.
All these projects directly influence the coast and the water area of the Gulf of Finland, as soon as
they are related with the forming of new territories, the creation of waterways, repeated increase of
the traffic pressure.
The process of forming of new risk factors takes place on the territory already burdened by a whole
range of harmful installations. For instance, a number of nuclear industry objects are concentrated
in the vicinity of the town of Sosnovy Bor on the Southern Coast of the Gulf of Finland. It is the
largest nuclear complex in the Baltic Sea Region where located (see the map below):
23
Map of Natural Values and Harmful Installations of the South Shore of the Gulf of Finland
Source: www.greenworld.org.ru
24
Leningrad NPP (LNPP) - the largest on Baltic Sea region with 4 old Chernobyl type reactors on
the coast of Koporskaya Bay uses 200 m³/sec. of seawater for cooling system. The direct negative
impacts to environment during the operation without accidents are: thermal pollution which increases of eutrofication, fish death in NPP cooling system, depression of sea fish spawning and
emissions of radioactive gases into the atmosphere. However, the main unsolved problem is absence of national strategy and money for the safe LNPP decommission process after its lifetime expires. Problems with long-term isolation of spent nuclear fuel unsolved as well.
New Leningrad NPP (LNPP-2)
The construction of the 1st and 2nd (from 6 planning) power units of LNPP-2 was started in 2007. It
will be the Pressurize Water Reactor VVER-1200. The project estimated $10 -20 billions. LNPP-2
does not foresee environmental consequences of the project taking into account existing pollution.
Construction of new NPP is planned in the conditions of considerable anthropogenic influence on
the ground and water ecosystems. Additional daily evaporation of up to 300.000 tones of water
from 6 power units via twelve 150 m-high cooling towers is comparable with the total water mass
of the Kovash River flowing near Sosnovy Bor. Acid rains can be triggered by the evaporated water
interacting with nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur oxides transferred to the LAES-2 area from
Kingisepp Phosphorite Company, Estonian shale-fuelled power plants in Narva and local transport
emissions. Acid rains threaten pine forests, traditional farming and gardening communities of the
region.
Escape canal of LNPP-1. Photo: Igor Ovcharenko
The first cooling tower of the LNPP-2.
Photo: Gennady Shabarin
Ecomet-S – provide the metallically radioactive waste melting from Russian nuclear and oil
industry and have plan to import the radioactive metallically waste. It was taken in operation
without Environmental expertise.
The construction of The Radioactive Waste Depository is under design and EIA procedure now.
250 000 m³ radioactive wastes will be hided at a distance of one km from the coast line of the Gulf
of Finland (Koporie Bay) and 40 km on the west from the administrative border of St. Petersburg
between LNPP-1 and LNPP-2. It is proximally 100 km from Finland and 50 km from Estonia.
Availability of a large source of electric power from Leningrad NPPs and a new Ust-Luga Port in
the Luga Bay provides conditions for developing large power-intensive projects on the South Coast
of the Gulf of Finland. They are oriented on the import of mineral raw materials and export of clean
products to the West. The production waste will stay on the South Coast, thus increasing
environmental risks not only for Russia, but also for the whole of Baltic Sea Region.
The modern conditions of the intensive industrial development of the territory and the attendant
repeated increase of the industrial pressure on the coastal zone and water area of the Gulf make the
solving of the problems related with the control of commercial activities in the Neva Guba and the
Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland extremely important. The present practice of commercial
operating when new projects are planned without concerning the environmental technogenic effect
of already existing industrial objects, as well as interests of other interested parties and the public
opinion, demands a revision.
Industrial development in coastal zone and fishery
The fact that the coastal water of the bays, well protected from wind and shallows of the bay, are the
most valuable areas as spawning and feeding grounds of tens of commercially valuable and rare
species of fish, including Baltic salmon, lamprey, Baltic herring, smelt, etc. is not considered when
they choose the places for construction of port complexes and other industrial facilities. The
commercial and sport fishery is developed well enough in the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland.
As of June 21, 2010, there are 39 teams which have permission for fishing and extraction of aquatic
biological resources in the waters of the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland. The recreational fishing
is not only fun, but also a means of livelihood for many coast inhabitants. It is a traditional
occupation for small nations Izhora and Vod’ living on the Southern coast of the Gulf of Finland.
Commercially value species are Baltic herring, sprat, smelt, bream, roach, perch, eel, lamprey, etc.
The water areas near Vyborg, Primorsk and Ust-Luga are the most important places for fishing, but
the biggest port complexes operates here as well, what have negative impact to the fish resources
and fishery.
Kovash river. Photo: Gennadiy Shabarin
Luga(salmon) River. Photo:Vera Ovcharenko
The construction and hydrotechnical work ongoing in the water area and on the coast have a
negative impact on the fish stocks and volume of catches. According to the Laboratory of Prognoses
of the State Scientific Research Institute of Fishery the volume of catch was reduced by 10 times
since 1989. So, the construction of the Ust-Luga port has negatively impact on the process of
herring spawning in the Luga Bay. According to preliminary scientific prognoses, the dredging
works in the Neva Guba for new hydraulic fill areas will destroy the main spawning sites for smelt
and Baltic herring. In accordance with the environmental legislation, the damage caused by the
construction must be compensated for the creation of objects on the reproduction of fish. However,
nothing like that has been done in the Gulf of Finland during the past 20 years.
26
Protection of the coastal zone (national legal system)
The Russian legislation determines procedures which guarantee the preservation of habitat,
maintaining the biodiversity and protection of ecosystem and recreational values at all new
proposals for exploitation in the coastal strip: design of the projects, construction and reconstruction
and operating of different installations.
For example, the Water Code of Russian Federation (further as WC), entered into force on June
3, 2006, established water protection zones (WPZ) and coastal protective strips (CPS) with the
purpose of pollution prevention, contamination, siltation of water bodies and their exhaustion, and
the preservation of habitat for aquatic biological resources and other fauna and flora objects.
In accordance with Article 65 WC, WPZ are areas that are adjacent to the shoreline of seas, rivers,
streams, canals, lakes, reservoirs, and on which a special regime of economical and other activities
are assigned.
The CPSs are assigned within the boundaries of WPZ where additional restrictions of economical
and other activities are imposed. The width of WPZ of the seas and width of their CPS outside the
cities and other settlements assigned from the line of maximum tide.
The width of WPZ of the seas is 500 miters.
The width of WPZ of rivers, streams assigned from their source and depends of their length:
 under 10 km - 50 m;
 from 10 to 50 km - 100 m;
 from 50 km and more - 200 m.
The WPZ and CPS are congruent for rives and streams with length from source to mouth less then
10 km. Radius of WPZ for the river and stream sources set at 50 miters.
The width of CPS assigned according to coast/bank gradient and amount:
 30 m for reverse gradient or level grade;
 40 m for gradient under 3°
 50 m for gradient 3° and more.
Within the boundaries of WPZ prohibited to use of sewage for soil fertilizing; to place of cemeteries, burial ground of cattle, sites for landfills, chemical, explosive, toxic and poisonous substances,
radioactive waste disposal facilities; to realize of aviation measures combating agricultural pests
and diseases; the flow of traffic and parking of vehicles (except special transport) outside the specially assigned ways and parking places.
Within the boundaries of WPZ permitted designing, construction, reconstruction and operating of
different installations provided facilities to insure water pollution prevention, contamination
and their exhaustion with accordance with Russian legislation.
Within the boundaries of CPS additionally prohibited plowing, placing of dump eroded soil, grazing livestock and organization for them summer camps.
Along the Water Code norms on using of water bodies including coastal zones and its protection are
contained in other Federal and Regional laws of RF.
For example, construction, dredging, blasting, drilling and other operations related to the change of
bottom and shores within their WPZ and within the boundaries most valuable wetlands must be realized in accordance with the requirements of Federal Law on Environmental Protection (N7-FL
entered into force on January 10, 2002) and Town-planning Code of RF (N190-FL entered into
force on December 29, 2004).
Forests using, conservation and protection which are located within the WPZ realized in accordance
with WC and Forest Code (N200-FL entered into force on December 04, 2006). Water bodies
which have the special environmental, scientific, cultural, aesthetic, recreational and sanitary im27
portance can be declared Particular Protected Water Areas within which the special regime in accordance with the Law on Protected Areas (N33-FL entered into force on March 14, 1995 with
amendment to act coming into force January 01, 2012). In fact, all these laws must regulate the relations of water and land users and have not contradicted with each other. However, in practice there
is a lack of harmonization what gives possibilities of abuse, evade and violations of the law.
The National Procedure of EIA
The legal basis of the Environmental Impact Assessment (hereinafter EIA) is the Legislation of the
Russian Federation, the Legislations of the subjects of the Russian Federation, the international
treaties and agreements to which the Russian Federation is a party, as well as the decisions publicly
adopted in referendums and as result of execution of other forms of direct democracy (Point 1.4 of
the Regulations on EIA).
The principal legislative acts of federal level specifying the procedure of EIA are:
 The Federal Law of 23.11.95 No. 174-FZ “On Ecological Expertise” (as per ed. of
31.12.05.) which contains a direct indication that the execution of the state ecological expertise depends upon the presence among the papers to be submitted for the expertise of documents containing materials of EIA (Article 14, p. 1).
 The Regulations on Assessment of Impact from Intended Business and Other Activity on
Environment in the Russian Federation (hereinafter “Regulations on EIA”) approved by the
Order of the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection of
May 16, 2000, No. 372. This document reflects in more detail the regulations of EIA process
and preparation of papers to be submitted for the state ecological expertise.
Aside from these two legislative acts, a number of federal and regional normative documents
specifying the national procedure of EIA in different intended business areas exists.
The main principles of EIA are rather well defined in the Regulations on EIA (given selectively):
1. In carrying out EIA, it is necessary to assume a potential ecological hazard of every activity
(the principle of presumption of potential ecological hazard of every intended business or
other activity).
2. Carrying out EIA is obligatory on all stages of preparation of documents justifying every
business and other activity before submitting thereof for the state ecological expertise (the
principle of obligatory state ecological expertise). The materials of EIA are included in the
documents submitted for the expertise.
3. The provision of public participation in preparation and discussion of the materials of EIA in
intended business and other activity to be subject to ecological expertise as an integral part
of EIA process (the principle of publicity, participation of public organizations (associations), consideration of public opinion in ecological expertise).
4. The materials of EIA should be scientifically based, plausible and reflect the results of studies conducted with regard to interrelations of different ecological, as well as social and economical factors (the principle of scientific validity, objectivity and legitimacy of conclusions of ecological expertise).
5. The customer should present all participants of the environmental impact assessment with
the possibility for timely obtaining the complete and plausible information (the principle of
plausibility and completeness of information submitted for ecological expertise).
6. The non-admission (prevention) of possible adverse environmental impacts and related with
them social, economical and other consequences in case of realizing the intended business
and other activity.
7. The customer (the executor) is obliged to consider during the environmental impact assessment alternative options for reaching the aim of intended business and other activity, as well
as the “No Action” alternative (the rejection of any activity).
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8. The results of the environmental impact assessment should form the basis of monitoring after the project analysis and ecological control of conducting intended business and other activity.
Despite the clearance of the presented principles of the national EIA there is the problem of
possibility of formal execution by the customer of the legal requirements, which is the case. For
example, the information on possible adverse effects is presented inadequately using long outdated
results, no fresh pre-project studies of environmental conditions with account to the existing
negative loads are taken. Alternatives of accomplishing the objectives of the intended business
activity are disregarded. The so-called “No Action” alternative rejecting every activity is most often
neglected at all. It is especially the case with large-scale projects, such as building ports and nuclear
stations. The construction of such objects is planned on the highest level. The public gets informed
of these plans, as a rule, when the works have already been initiated. Such neglecting and violation
of laws is justified by national and economical interests of the state. The public discussions bear the
seal of formalism, and their significance is defined by project customers and bureaucrats as “We
told you, you listened”, e.g. the public opinion may be regarded as having no legal force in
decision-making.
EU regulations
The Procedure of EIA in the Context of Espoo Convention
According to Point 2.9 of the Regulations on EIA, “In case if the intended business and other
activity may have a transboundary effect, the conduction of studies and development of EIA
materials is performed with regard for the UNECE Convention “On Environmental Impact
Assessment in a Transboundary Context” (hereinafter “Espoo Convention”). Russia has signed the
Espoo Convention on June 6, 1991, but still has not ratified it.
At the same time, the Russian Federation has established a positive precedent by accepting and
voluntary meeting its commitments under the Convention in respect of the Nord Stream
transboundary project, thus enabling to settle the conflicts and lower the environmental hazard of
the project. But the state bureaucrats, having such a positive example in view, do not bother about
the ratification.
Nevertheless, the Russian public ecological organizations regard the ratification of the Espoo
Convention as a key instrument for providing ecological and state safety during planning and
realizing transboundary projects both in Russia and abroad. On January 29, 2011, they have issued a
letter to the President of the Russian Federation, the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly
of the Russian Federation and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
with an appeal “to finish the twenty-year long period of stagnation and ratify the Espoo
Convention”. In their opinion, the Convention gives an opportunity to minimize the hazards of
possible economical impacts, to provide keeping to the international standards by companies
involved in business activities in the Russian Federation and to harmonize the procedure of
correlating projects planned by Russia and other neighbouring countries that may have a
transboundary effect.
The ratification of the Espoo Convention would become a logical continuation of the initiated
actions for the practical use of its requirements, create a national legal basis for the realization of
major transboundary projects and bring the Russian Ecological Law closer to the European
standards. At present, measures are being taken to improve the procedure of ecological expertise,
and in this connection the ratification of the Convention appears to be an appropriate and necessary
step.
29
Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Zone Management
The protection and sanitation of environment are among the national interests of Russia exhaustively listed in the Concept of National Security of the Russian Federation (January 10, 2000).
However, the basic goals in the area of provision of national security of the Russian Federation in
the environmental sphere are set out in just one phrase of this document: “a principal improvement
of the environmental situation in the country”. Only one of the preferential state activities indicated
in the Concept may be directly called environmental – “the rational use of the natural resources, the
training of environmental culture of the people”. The other preferential activities deal with: prevention of environmental pollution related with burial and utilization of toxic industrial and household
wastes, prevention of radioactive contamination, minimization of consequences of previous nuclear
accidents and catastrophes, environmentally safe storage and utilization of arms removed from the
order of battle and stocks of chemical weapons, development and introduction of safe technologies,
designing ways of practical use of ecologically pure energy sources, introduction of urgent natureprotective measures in ecologically dangerous regions of the Russian Federation.
By now there is no plan of state strategic planning of Russia in general or plans of spatial planning
of territories in particular. A few documents concerning spatial and strategic planning of territories
on federal, regional and municipal levels are at the design and approval stage.
For example:




A draft is developed of the Federal Law “On State Strategic Planning” destined to form
the legal basis for working out, building and functioning of a comprehensive system of state
strategic planning of the socio-economical development of the Russian Federation, which
permits solving the problems of increasing the quality of the people’s life, the growth of the
Russian economy and the provision of the national security. The terms and data of adoption
of this Law are not defined.
A draft of “The Concept of Long-Term Socio-Economical Development of the Russian
Federation for the Period until 2020” (KDR-2020) exists, which is developed in accordance with the mandate of the President of the Russian Federation based on the results of the
meeting of the State Council of the Russian Federation held on July 21, 2006, and approved
by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of November 17, 2008,
No1662-p. The goal of the KDR-2020 Draft is to determine ways and methods of providing
in long-term perspective (2008-2020) of the stable increase of the Russian peoples’ prosperity, the national security, the dynamic economy development, the strengthening of Russia’s
positions in the global community, but there are no words about spatial planning of coastal
zones.
“The Basis of the Ecological Policy of the Russian Federation for the period until
2030” is developed. By now, the Government of the Russian Federation has not adopted an
official decision on approval of this document. As the Ministry of Resources of the Russian
Federation informed us, “if the Government approves the Basis, there is a plan of its realization to be made. This work may take years, too”.
The Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of November 11, 2010, No1950-p
approves the State Program of the Russian Federation “Environment” which designates protection of territories occupied by state natural preserves and national parks, increase of function efficiency of the system of ecological control and state ecological expertise as the main directions of its realization. However, this Program does not contain direct
specifications of measures purposed for protection of coastal areas and specially protected
nature territories.
30


“The Plan of Strategic Development of St. Petersburg” (1997) representing in general
terms the main tasks related with development of its coastal zone is worked out and adopted. This detail positively distinguishes St. Petersburg from many other subjects of the Russian Federation where such work is not finished yet.
The Federal Target Program of Development of “the Kaliningrad Region for the Period until 2014” is being realized, which does not contain any measures aimed at environmental activity in general or the shoreline in particular, since the Ministry of Resources and
Ecology of Russia did not provided within this program any means from the federal budget
to finance environmental measures. First of all, the ecological projects aimed at meeting the
obligations of the Russian Federation resulting from the Convention on the Protection of
the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (the 1992 Helsinki Convention) were effected in 2009-2010 due to the budget resources: the construction of new and the reconstruction of old water intake, treatment and purification structures. Bank-consolidating
works were performed in 2009 through the embankment reconstruction with a pier building
in the towns of Zelenogradsk and Svetlogorsk in the Kaliningrad Region and the embankment reconstruction in Kaliningrad.
According to a Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, since 2009, all municipal
districts of the Leningrad Region should prepare, until January 1, 2012, “The Drafts of Territorial
Planning Schemes”. However, in some districts this work is not finished yet because of a low
professional level of the document developers and the insufficient responsibility of a number of
local administration leaders for this work, as well as the poor understanding of the scale and
difficulty of preparation of these documents. Concerns are voiced that the final drafts would not
fully reflect the real situation in the area and account the interests of all interested parties, for the
administrators did not use them in working out the drafts. There is no public discussion. However,
according to the present legislation, if the documents of territorial planning and the rules of land
utilization and building are not approved by the local powers until January 1, 2012, it is impossible
to get the permission for building, reconstruction or overhaul of real estate objects. Only time will
tell if this demand of the law will be observed, or some “loopholes” will be found to bypass it.
Good examples:
1. Positive decision of State Environmental Expertise about establishment of State Nature Reserve (zapovednik) “Ingermanlandsky” was gotten.
2. NGO information centers, managing by NGOs, have been working actively in St. Petersburg
and Lomonosov (Friends of the Baltic), Sosnovy Bor, Lebjazhje, and Vistino (Green World).
3. Russia voluntarily met commitments of the Espoo Convention in respect of cross-border
project Nord Stream. NGOs got access to national EIA and ESPO report, have provided
comments and proposals to the project developers and Russian authorities, and had got more
or less adequate feedback.
Bad examples
1. In the Gulf of Finland region the nature protection regime is not taken into account during
the development of coastal projects (ports, transport facilities, residential buildings).
2. Illegal tree felling, sand quarrying, illegal private construction, hunting of rare and protected
animal species exist on the South shore of the Gulf, including Lebiazhiy and Kourgalsky nature reserves, as far as on the Northern coast and within its PAs.
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Illegal tree felling in Kurgalsky zakaznik.
Illegal private house in Lebjazhiy zakaznik.
Illegal sand quarrying in Lebjazhiy zakaznik
Photos: Gennadiy Shabarin
Parking within the coastal strip.
3. The protective regime of most PAs is not observed because of lack of real control over keeping of the protection status by authorized organs of the executive power or their connivance.
4. Because of close location (20 km – 150 km) of PAs listed above to St. Petersburg and its
environment with population almost 5 millions citizens they have an enormous
anthropogenic pressure caused by uncontrolled recreation and absence of tourism
infrastructure.
5. The evaluation of the influence on the environment of the new sea oil complex “Vistino”
(page 19) has been performed formally. The main conclusions of the EIA that “the
construction and exploitation of the complex would have no negative impact on the
territories of the object and the surrounding area” do not represent the facts at all. However
there is destroyed 500 m of coastline.
6. Offshore oil extraction near Kaliningrad coast.
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Suggestions for improvements
Taking in attention situation described above in the Russian part of the Baltic Sea where integrated
coastal zone management (ICZM) plan lucks, industrial development of the coastal zone dominates,
activities on the nature protection and biodiversity conservation is not priorities for the State level
and where public participation in the decision making process is proclaimed but realize formally
and not have real effect to decision process we consider necessary to present in the report our point
of view concerning NGO vision what have to be done on the State level for sustainable coastal
development.
International level:
1. Russia has to ratify Espoo Convention as a country where a lot of existing and planning
industrial projects have transboundary impact.
Federal level:
1. As soon as possible strategy plans of development of all regions of Russia have to be
developed, and spatial planning should include plans on ICZM.
2. Conservation and protection of natural renewable resources and values have to be included
as a one of priority to the all national documents (programs, conceptions, laws etc).
3. Environmental legislation and other legislations which are connected with spatial planning
have to be improved and harmonized.
4. As soon as the coastal territories are most often responsibility zones of several subjects of
the Russian Federation, it seems necessary to establish a special common governing body
(such as the Committee for the Coastal Zone Administration) and an inspection body (such
as the Commission for the Coastal Zone). It seems necessary to involve to these bodies the
representatives of municipal entities having a direct contact with the sea coast and public
representatives. The more so as the international practice has examples of successful work
of such special bodies of coastal zone control.
5. Development of Integrated coastal zone management plans have to be strong obligatory for
all coastal regions of Russia.
6. Change the practice when only commercial interest is priorities for socio–economic
development of territories. It is necessary to take into account alternative variants of
development.
7. The EIA and process of public consultations on the coastal industrial projects should be directed to the adequate compensation measures for restoration of the exact nature objects, and
people, affected with project impact.
Regional level:
1. The whole coastal territory within the administrative borders of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region should be considered as a single coastal area (coastal zone), and the common approaches and principles of spatial planning and coastal development should be established for efficient collaboration of the two subjects of the Russian Federation.
2. Because of coastal zone of the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland is an area of intensive
exploitation of natural resources in the interests of various kinds of economic activity, thus
determining the necessity to create a system of combined control of the coastal zone
(CCCZ), which is based on principles of the sustainable/balanced development of the area,
the rational use of natural resources and the ecological security, allowing for sociallyeconomical factors and interests of all interested parties. The CCCZ must become a basis
for getting administrative decisions on federal, regional and municipal levels.
3. The creation of the CCCZ demands drawing up an inventory of the existing coastal zone
users and making an analysis of economical, social and ecological effects of their industrial
activity, as well as evaluate their cumulative effect on the environment and the allowable
pressure on the territory.
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References:
1. Ionin A.S., Kaplin P.A., Medvedev V.S., Classification of types of coasts of the globe (with
reference to the maps of the Physical-geographical Atlas of the world)/Pr. Oceanogr.
Commission of AS USSR, 1961,T.XII, p.94-108.
2. www.avtoref.mgou.ru
3. http://coruna.coastdyn.ru
4. http://www.infoeco.ru/index.php?id=634
5. www.ampvyborg.ru
6. http://www.kingisepplo.ru/about/index.htm
7. http://www.spb4rent.ru/info/karta-rajonov/
8. http://www.pasp.ru/port_vyborg
9. http://ru.wikipedia.org/
10. http://worldgeo.ru/russia/lists/?id=26&page=1
11. http://www.nationalsecurity.ru/library/00002/00002concept2.htm
12. http://www.economy.gov.ru/minec/activity/sections/econreg/investproject/
13. http://stratplan.leontief.ru/textsp/vveden.htm
14. http://news.spbland.ru/i/18352/
15. http://www.mnr.gov.ru/news/detail.php?ID=127881&print=Y
16. http://ru.wikipedia.org/
17. http://dambaspb.ru/gallery
18. www.portspb.ru
19. http://www.baltslon.ru
20. http://www.unesco.org
21. http://softboats.org
22. http://www.kadis.ru
23. www.stockmap.ru
24. http://www.morspb.ru
25. http://investinkaliningrad.ru
26. http://www.kscport.ru
27. http://sdelanounas.ru
28. http://www.bdk.ru
29. Nature Conservation Atlas of Russian Part of the Gulf of Finland. St. Petersburg, 2006.
30. http://vistino.ru
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