ECOLOGICAL BASELINE SURVEY ON FORMER MILITARY SITES OYUNTSETSEG Luvsandash, Ph.D, Senior Desk Officer, Strategic Policy & Planning Department, Ministry of Defense, Mongolia CONTENTS Rationale Soil contamination in Mongolia Research methodology Ecological health of sites previously used for military purpose Conclusion NATIONAL SECURITY GUIDANCE OF MONGOLIA Environmental Safety ▪ Prevention from water supply ▪ Reduction of environmental pollution scarcity; ▪ Reduction of risks associated with ▪ Reduction of land degradation and natural calamities and disasters. changes to the climate; ▪ Preservation of biodiversity and prevention from supply shortage. Principle of ensuring healthy living environment for humans and environmental safety is to preserve balance of nature, protect water supply, reduce negative impact on climate and land degradation, prevent from scarcity of biodiversity and reduce environmental pollution and natural disasters. Mitigating soil contamination and soil degradation, managing rehabilitation processes ▪ Concept of Sustainable ▪ Law on hygiene; Development of Mongolia ▪ Law on Soil Protection and 2030; Prevention from ▪ Government program for Desertification; 2016-2020; ▪ Law on Environmental ▪ National Program on Soil Protection; Protection. ▪ Law on Land; ▪ Law on Subsoil; ▪ Law on allocation of land to Mongolian citizens; ▪ Law on Urban Development. MAIN CAUSES OF SOIL CONTAMINATION • Urban area: Level of soil Mining contamination related to ger district sanitation is HIGH; Air Processing • Rural areas: Waste accumulated Pollution plants from mining site and Aimag/ Soum centers is major source of soil contamination. Waste Ger district sanitation SOIL CONTAMINATION IN MONGOLIA SOIL CONTAMINATION IN ULAANBAATAR CITY Soil quality in Ulaanbaatar city Soil quality MNS 5850:2008 standard: Soil contents from Baganuur, Bagakhangai, Bayanzurkh, Sukhbaatar, Songinokhairkhan, Chingeltei, Khan-Uul, Nalaikh districts do not contain contamination from heavy metals such as strontium, cobalt, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead and cadmium. However, levels of arsenic, chromium, zinc, strontium contents were reported higher than the Soil contents from Chingeltei district contained higher than maximum permissible amount by 30.1 mg/kg of zinc. Soil sample obtained from near Tsetseg Hotel point showed 655.3 mg/kg of zinc content which exceeded the maximum permissible amount by 2.2 times. Soil quality in Ulaanbaatar city Compared to MNS5850:2008 standard: ▪ Soil sample obtained from Baganuur district 3 Khuslen supermarket west point showed 981.3 mg/kg of strontium content which exceeded the maximum permissible amount by 181.3 mg/kg. ▪ Soil sample obtained from Khan-Uul district Khargia (47°53’31.8”, 106°53’32.5”) point showed 612.4 mg/kg of chromium content which exceeded the maximum permissible amount by factor 4 times. ▪ Soil samples obtained from Bayanzurkh district points showed zinc contents exceeding the maximum permissible amount by 1-2.1 times. Quality and condition of soil in rural areas • Total of 298 points are used for soil quality monitoring across the rural areas. • Heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, arsenic, bromine, chromium, zinc, copper, cobalt, strontium is analyzed at the laboratory of Center for Environment and Meteorology. • Survey results on soil quality and heavy metal contents obtained from Bayan-Ulgii, Dornogovi, Dornod, Dundgovi, Uvurkhangai, Umnugovi, Sukhbaatar, Khentii Aimags showed normal levels in accordance with MNS 5850:2008. Soil quality and soil condition in rural areas Arkhangai •Soil sample obtained from Tsagaan Davaa point showed strontium contents exceeding the maximum permissible Aimag amount by 185.2 mg/kg. • Magnai Trade sample point: total amount of 359 mg/kg zinc, total amount of 931.3 mg/kg strontium content; Bayankhongor • Bayankhongor power station sample point: total amount Aimag of 318.1 mg/kg zinc content; • 1st Secondary school area sample point: total amount of 971.8 mg/kg strontium content. • Deed Durvun zam sample point: total amount of 3.3 mg/ kg cadmium content which exceeded the maximum permissible amount by 0.3 mg/kg; Bulgan Aimag • All of the soil sample points showed strontium content exceeding the maximum permissible amount by 59.3-943.2 mg/kg. Soil quality and soil condition in rural areas • Soil sample points in Shine-Altai market, 1st secondary school, Gobi-Altai thermal and power plant: chromium contents exceeded the maximum permissible amount by 20.9-86.7 mg/kg; Aimag • Soil sample points in Goviin nuruu: strontium contents exceeded the maximum permissible amount by 366.6 mg/kg. • Bayan nexus sample point: Total amount of 4.6 mg/kg cadmium, 680.5 mg/kg lead which exceeded the maximum permissible Gobisumber amount by 580.5 mg/kg and reached toxic levels. Aimag • The above sample point showed 2356 mg/kg zinc content which exceeded the maximum permissible amount by 7.8 times and reached toxic level contamination.. • Darkhan town sample point showed strontium content Darkhan-Uul exceeding the maximum permissible amount by 2.3 mg/kg to Aimag 206.3 mg/kg. Soil quality and soil condition in the rural areas • Soil sample point at Provincial Capital’s Western zone market center revealed 854.9 mg/kg strontium content; Zavkhan Aimag • Soil sample point at the steam boiler showed 47.3 mg/kg cadmium, 747 mg/kg zinc, 34.7 mg/kg cobalt, 1972 mg/kg strontium contents. • Soil sample point at Erdene bag showed 4.5 mg/kg cobalt content; • Soil sample point at Solongo market showed 55 mg/kg lead, Orkhon Aimag 8.2-10.5 mg/kg zinc content; • Soil sample points at Foreign language school, 3rd secondary school, Tractor driver’s statue showed strontium contents of 2.8 mg/kg, 47.3 mg/kg, 68 mg/kg, respectively. • Soil sample point at Depo showed 582.4 mg/kg of zinc content; • All of the soil quality monitoring points showed strontium Selenge Aimag contents exceeding the maximum permissible amount by 135.1 mg/kg which suggests that the soil is contaminated with strontium. Soil quality and soil condition in rural areas • Soil sample obtained from elementary school of Zuundelger district in Zuunmod city showed 4.4 mg/kg of strontium content • Soil sample point at Fuel station showed 12.3 mg/kg of strontium Tuv Aimag content; • Soil sample point at Attorney’s office showed 548.7 mg/kg of zinc content. • Average amount of strontium content obtained from all of the soil Uvs Aimag sample points in Ulaangom city was 427.6 mg/kg which exceeded the maximum permissible amount by 127.6 mg/kg • Amount of zinc content obtained from Thermal power plant soil Khovd Aimag sample point exceeded maximum permissible amount by 652.3 mg/ kg. • Average amount of strontium content obtained from all of the soil sample points was 835.9 mg/kg which exceeded the maximum Khuvsgul Aimag permissible amount by 35.9 mg/kg. BRIEF INFORMATION • Initial survey identified 31 sites which were previously used by Soviet Union for military purposes. • Estimated 100,000 hectares of land was contaminated. These lands were used for military base and now have turned into ruins and cannot be reused. • The environmental condition is ecologically vulnerable and pose risk to human population due to accumulation of construction waste and heavy soil disturbance. • Several environmental assessments were conducted in the past at former Soviet Union military base camps. However, these assessments were conducted on a baseline condition and did not consider environmental management on soil degradation. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY US system Canadian system UK system Dutch system Australian system ▪ Priority setting/ranking ▪ Criteria and screening levels ▪ Further investigation/assessment Site Inspection / Preliminary Preliminary Assessment Investigation Identification process for contaminated AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM USA, CANADIAN, UK & sites CANADIAN SYSTEM ▪ Identification of contaminated site; ▪ Preliminary assessment; ▪ Land contamination survey ▪ Priority setting/ranking; ▪ Criteria and screening levels. Sample Risk Planning analysis identification Field survey Conceptual Reporting modeling ECOLOGICAL STATUS OF LAND PREVIOUSLY USED FOR MILITARY PURPOSES Location of site previously used by former Soviet Union for military purposes in Mongolia between 1960-1990 Total area 10.9 thousand hectares CONDITION OF ABANDONED MILITARY SITES Solid waste - 143,882.10 m3/ ha Soil disturbance - 20,077.30 m3 18 30 ▪ Soil contamination assessments were conducted at 18 locations. ▪ Main contaminants include oil products, lead, zinc, chromium. Accumulated waste and soil degradation on land previously used for military purposes The scope of contaminated site assessment for Former Military Sites Location Main pollutants Source of pollution 1. Shiveegovi, Govisumber. TPH, Pb, Zn Thermal plant, sanitation facility, parking, workshop Diesel fuel station, steam boiler, auto repair workshop, 2. Sumber , Govisumber. TPH, Pb airstrip and parking, chlorination centers, petroleum warehouse TPH, Cd, Pb, Thermal plant, sanitation facility, chlorination center, 3. Bayantal, Govisumber. Zn, Ni petroleum warehouse, pier, airstrip 4. Dalanjargalan, Dornogovi. TPH, Cd, Pb, Zn Flammable and lubricants storage, airstrip 5. Sainshand, Dornogovi. All range TPH Railway, Coal storage, power generator TPH, crude oil, 6. Mandalgovi, Dundgovi. Parking/workshop, power generator Pb TPH, Cr, Cd, 7. Choibalsan, Dornod. Flammable and lubricants storage, airstrip Pb, Zn Power generator, thermal plant, coal storage warehouse, 8. Arvaikheer, Uvurkhangai. TPH sanitation facility The scope of contaminated