But Wait! There's More! Another Toxic Waste Accident At Norilsk, Where 20K Tons Of Diesel Spilled
EDIT
Then, just one month later, news of a second serious incident broke. On June 28, reports surfaced that wastewater containing toxic elements had been pumped from a settling basin into the tundra. According to the independent Moscow daily Novaya Gazeta, which looked into the case with help from local Greenpeace activists and a former staffer of Russia's environmental agency, Vasily Ryabinin — the water was contaminated with heavy metals and sulfuric acid. Nornickel has since confirmed the incident, yet claimed the wastewater spilled over the edge of the basin due to heavy rainfall. It claims it halted the spillage by pumping excess water into the "neighboring area."
Environmentalists and journalists contest this version of events. Ryabinin, who sent a letter to President Putin detailing the extent of the pollution, says he visited the settling basin with a Novaya Gazeta reporter on June 20. He had previously noticed on Google Maps that local lakes had acquired an unnatural hue. He then sent a drone over the area and was able to document two hoses pumping water out of the basin.
Eight days later, environmental activists headed to this location. They found the hoses in question and detected a strong chemical scent emanating from the water being pumped out of them into the surrounding area. They filmed and photographed the scene, including trees dying nearby. Immediately afterwards, Nornickel workers and police officers showed up. The workers then hastily dismantled the pumps and hoses.
EDIT
On June 29, the association of independent Russian media outlets, Syndicate 100, then demanded Russian authorities explain how "businessman Vladimir Potanin has been able to establish a quasi-autonomous state on Taymyr Peninsula with its own laws." It urged the Russian state to reassert its control over the region. That same day, a major fire broke out at a garbage dump only 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the city of Norilsk. An area of 1,000 square meters (10,764 square feet) containing industrial waste went up in flames, producing thick clouds of smoke. State-run news agency TASS later reported the fire had been put out.
EDIT
https://www.dw.com/en/russia-norilsk-oil-spill-nickel/a-54009207
= new reply since forum marked as read
