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This project was carried out by the Social Ecology Institute,
a structural subdivision of the University, and the Russian
Shipping Company and Co.
The goal of this project was to introduce
an environmental quality management system at the Russian
Shipping Company in accordance with the International Standard
ISO 14001 and to prepare this company for independent
international certification.
At present, only one company in the Russian
Far East – The Coca-Cola Company – is putting out products in
accordance with the ISO 14000 international standard. The
Russian Shipping Company (RSC) is not a large company, its
annual income is 1 million rubles, and, thus, a non-risk
procedure of international certification is vital for it.
Quite often Russian companies that are not properly prepared
fail to pass certification, which is quite a costly procedure
(fees to foreign experts, payments for the services of a
certifying company and for certification, etc.).
The RSC procures, processes and transports
lumber and intends to certify its wood processing component,
which is located on two sites – one near Vladivostok and the
other in Chuguyevka Settlement.
The working group suggested RCS an
environmental policy model, a program for involving staff in
implementing this policy, and a documentation system. During
the first phase, the working group reviewed all of the
company’s documentation and provided assistance in drawing up
documents working out the company’s environmental policy.
Next, the project staff analyzed the RSC
sites near Vladivostok where they trained 5 staff members (4
on grant funds and 1 on RSC funds) in hazardous waste
management (112 hours of training during 2 weeks).
After that, the working group analyzed the
ESC site in Chuguyevka Settlement that operates jointly with a
North-Korean company and is planning to sell its products on
the international market. The members of the working group
noticed that a large amount of waste (bark and sawdust) was
produced during sawing and suggested to acquire wood drying
kilns that work on this type of waste. The working group
conducted a market study of available wood drying equipment
and selected and recommended the most suitable type. RSC
purchased and installed the kilns, which made it possible to
introduce a nonwaste technology.
RCS signed an agreement with the Institute
on the use of its facilities for training the company’s
students in the area of environmental management. The
company’s management has realized the importance of employing
highly qualified staff.
As a result of joint activities, the
assortment of products put out by the company has expanded
significantly. If previously RCS only produced square beams,
starting from January 2004, it will be making furniture
panels, parquet, kitchen working tops, and layered window
frames. For example, such high-quality window frames used to
be imported from Italy and now they will be produced in
Primorsky Krai. The company is currently engaged in
negotiations on exporting its goods to Japan.
Thus, in the process of interacting with
the Russian Shipping Company within the framework of the
project, the working group accumulated a large amount of
valuable experience, which it is planning to use at Port
Vostochny.
On November 22-24, at a meeting at the RF
Ministry of Natural Resources in Moscow, project coordinator
L.Lazareva made a presentation devoted to this project.
Representatives from Kaliningrad, Khanty-Mansiisk, and
Sakhalin expressed much interest in the process of
certification.
At present, the Institute is continuing
work in accordance with its priority areas, one of which is
pollution and radiation
background monitoring. This specific area is developing most
actively thanks to the ROLL project, which helped to acquire a
SIAK Laboratory to carry out oil products analysis. Because of
the availability of this equipment and previous experience,
the company became a contractor of Sakhalin and Sakhalin 2
projects. This was also made possible because 2 members of the
working group were sent to Moscow at the expense of the grant
to be trained as international certified environmental
auditors. As a result, the Institute won an oil waste auditing
tender announced by the Exxon Oil Company. The company is
looking forward to receiving hazardous waste passports,
sponsoring a seminar for ecologists and its staff, and in
carrying out waste monitoring. Recently the Institute received
a proposal from Sakhalin Energy to take part in three of its
projects. Since Sakhalin lacks trained professionals and
necessary equipment, the experience of the Institute
accumulated in the process of a ROLL project and equipment it
was able to purchase using ROLL funds, decided the choice of
contractor by the Sakhalin clients.
The Institute is also successfully
expanding its clientele in Primorsky Krai: it inspects areas
of former military bases (Vozdvizhenka Airport); and oil
lenses (Desantnaya Bay and Port Zarubino). The Institute has
also received similar orders from Khabarovsk Krai.
At present, the Institute is participating
in developing the Primorsky Krai Waste Management Program.
Primorsky Krai Association of Waste
Processing Companies was founded on the initiative of the
Institute that was supported by the Primorsky Krai
Administration.
The Institute works in close cooperation
with public organizations. Its staff takes part as consultants
in the Clean City project headed by Olga Yatsunenko. This
project was supported by the Hewlett Foundation within the
framework of the Support and Development of the Public
Environmental Movement in the RFE Program. Lilia Kondrashova,
head of ROLL Project 206-4, is a staff member of this project.
Thus, thanks to support from the ROLL
Program, the Institute of Social Ecology was able to ascend to
a new level of environmental monitoring and to expand the
range of its socially beneficial activities carried out in
interaction with public organizations, businesses, and
government.
Sergei Pleshakov, Regional Relations
Coordinator
RFE ROLL RC, Khabarovsk
sergey@green-house.khv.ru
(4212) 32-96-52
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