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Opening Remarks
1 Welcoming Remarks Nikolay Laverov, Russian Academy of Sciences In Russia the most serious contamination of territories with radioactive materials is due primarily to development and fabrication of nuclear weapons, submarines, and icebreakers. First and foremost, we are concerned about the areas hosting (1) the Mayak reprocessing facility, (2) navy bases in the north European part of Russia and the Pacific Coast region, and (3) Kara Sea hot spots adjacent to Novaya Zemlya, where damaged nuclear submarines, the reactor of the ice- breaker Lenin, and compacted radioactive waste have been deposited. In past years, research has been carried out to facilitate efforts to clean up contaminated territories, develop new decontamination technologies, and reduce radionuclide levels in reservoirs like Karachai Lake, the Techa Cascade, the Kola fjords, and elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Principles of State Policy for Elimination of Radiation Hazards that were approved by President Vladimir Putin have de- fined objectives aimed at removing the waste that accumulated during the arms race in the Soviet era and that resulted from peaceful uses of atomic energy. A long-term program (up to 2020) on radioactive waste management and rehabilita- tion of contaminated areas has been developed. I hope that at this workshop participants will present new findings on im- proved technologies for such work and that new opportunities for joint collabora-
CLEANING UP SITES CONTAMINATED WITH RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS tion will emerge to promote the application of knowledge, expertise, and practical experience existing not only in Russia but in the United States and other countries as well. I wish all participants every success in carrying out their seminal work at the workshop.
