Citizen Representation. Safe Environmental Situation and Hydrocarbon Extraction Seminar in Lokhvytsia
15 June 2016
A seminar on Citizen Representation. Safe Environmental Situation and Hydrocarbon Extraction was held in Lokhvytsia on 15 June 2016. The event was organized within the framework of the USAID Municipal Finance Strengthening Initiative (MFSI-II) Roll-out Project as part of assistance in implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Ukraine component.
The seminar focused on the mechanisms of control over spending of local budgets. How the community interests could be advocated, what advocacy instruments could be used in a specific situation in the areas of hydrocarbon extraction.
Viktor Bobyrenko, a civil advocacy expert, delivered training for local deputies,village mayors, staff of village councils and raion administration, as well as community activists of the Lokhvytsia raion.
City mayors told the participants above the large-scale environmental problems in the raion because of an inappropriate disposal of waste from well drilling and operati
on. The main violation is that the used drilling mud and mud solids from wells are collected in sedimentation pools without any waterproofing, being just pits dug in the ground. The Lokhvytsia Raion Council has petitioned the Prosecutor's Office regarding the observance of legislation on waste disposal by extractive companies.
An extremely pressing for the local communities is the issue of well drilling and building of water lines to deliver water from clean water-bearing formations, since water in local water wells is undrinkable. Budgets of rural communities are very limited and they cannot afford such projects. Therefore, it would only be logical that the extractive companies, which have caused such environmental pollution in the first place, must pay into village budgets.
As the result of general discussion, the participants have decided to lobby the interests of the Lokhvytsia community via deputies of the Verkhovna Rada. They have decided to appeal to the VR Committee on Budget, three members of which were elected from the Sumy oblast, which also suffers from violation of environmental standards during hydrocarbon extraction, with a proposal to hold parliamentary hearings before the development and approval of next year's budget. This should take place not later than October 2016.
The seminar focused on the mechanisms of control over spending of local budgets. How the community interests could be advocated, what advocacy instruments could be used in a specific situation in the areas of hydrocarbon extraction.
Viktor Bobyrenko, a civil advocacy expert, delivered training for local deputies,village mayors, staff of village councils and raion administration, as well as community activists of the Lokhvytsia raion.
City mayors told the participants above the large-scale environmental problems in the raion because of an inappropriate disposal of waste from well drilling and operati
on. The main violation is that the used drilling mud and mud solids from wells are collected in sedimentation pools without any waterproofing, being just pits dug in the ground. The Lokhvytsia Raion Council has petitioned the Prosecutor's Office regarding the observance of legislation on waste disposal by extractive companies.An extremely pressing for the local communities is the issue of well drilling and building of water lines to deliver water from clean water-bearing formations, since water in local water wells is undrinkable. Budgets of rural communities are very limited and they cannot afford such projects. Therefore, it would only be logical that the extractive companies, which have caused such environmental pollution in the first place, must pay into village budgets.
As the result of general discussion, the participants have decided to lobby the interests of the Lokhvytsia community via deputies of the Verkhovna Rada. They have decided to appeal to the VR Committee on Budget, three members of which were elected from the Sumy oblast, which also suffers from violation of environmental standards during hydrocarbon extraction, with a proposal to hold parliamentary hearings before the development and approval of next year's budget. This should take place not later than October 2016.
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