JSC Volga is one of the largest newsprint producers in (555,000 tonnes were produced in 2005). Clearly, such operations have an environmental impact.

Environmental monitoring and assessment are the responsibility of the Ecological Department of JSC Volga and its Environmental Analysis Centre (EAC). The EAC was established in 1997 and now includes 5 laboratories.

The EAC is in charge of: monitoring and control of industrial impacts on the environment; administration of fees and fines for the use and contamination of nature resources; education and expansion of a ‘green’ culture

Monitoring and control of industrial impacts requires trained and skilled personnel. The EAC status has been attested by the Russian State Standards System (GOSSTANDART) and the centre is registered in the State Register (No. RU.0001.512138). Gosstandart has confirmed the EAC capacity to test parameters of waste water, natural water, drinking water, hot-water supply and swimming-pool water.

Water samples from the Volga River are taken at the water intake point, 300 m upstream and down stream from the discharge point and in some other key locations on the river. The results are used to determine the impact of the discharged water in the natural waters of the Volga River .

JSC Volga’s water treatment facilities process waste water coming from the Mill but also from other companies and from the local community. The EAC specialists monitor the volume and content of effluents supplied on a contractual basis from other industrial concerns and supervise the performance and payments of such service contracts.

Over the last years, a serious effort has been made to reduce consumption and waste generation, in line with the state policy to reduce the environmental impact of industry.