Mining Controversy: Exploitation poses threat to Jermuk, environmentalists warn

“We believe it poses a serious threat to Jermuk resort town and its more than 6,000 population, because it is only 12 km away from the peak of Amulsar,” says Zarafyan.

The law on Lake Sevan prohibits any activities in the area that could be damaging for its ecosystem.

According to Artur Grigoryan, member of Teghut Protection Civil Initiative, on July 18, 2013, the government adopted a decree, clarifying the concept of Sevan water basin, and the segment of Amulsar to be exploited as a mine falls under the area of direct impact, where any damaging activities are prohibited.

Environmentalists say the open gold mining would generate lead, which affects the nervous and circulatory systems in humans leading to high mortality rates in the given area, and can also cause mal-development; cyanides could cause severe respiratory damage as fine dust spreads by 30 km, accumulates on plants, and through food chain reaches humans.
http://armenianow.com/news/49043/mining_armenia_amulsar_geoteam_jermuk