The problem

Zmeenogorsk is a small town in an area of hills, about 250 kilometers south west of Barnaul, the capital of Altai Krai (in southern Siberia). A small mining town, it was a center for gold and silver mining over the past century. There was a concentration/processing operation on a flat area of riverbank on the outskirts of the town. Mining activities ceased about 50 years ago and there are now only ruins of the processing facilities (along with the ruins of a prison which as also on the site). No details are available of the specific operations of the plant but it is believed that mercury was added at the concentration stage.

Health Impact

The population of Zmeenogorsk has presumably been exposed to intermittent dust pollution from the tailings over the past decades. There are some dwelling/farms on the boundary of the tailings area.

Contamination of the downstream municipal water supplies is a possibility but the impacts are likely to be very small, given the distances involved (hundreds of kilometers to Barnaul, for example) and the fact that the area has high background metal levels. No arguments were made that this is a serious issue.

Current Activity

The site has had essentially no work on it for several decades and there appears to be little local concern.