Law No. 16-VIII ZRK “On the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone”. Country/Territory Kazakhstan Document type Legislation Date 2023 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Environment gen., Land & soil Keyword Radiation Soil conservation/soil improvement Soil rehabilitation Monitoring Geographical area Aral Sea, Asia, Caspian Sea, Central Asia, CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), Europe and Central Asia, Landlocked Developing Nations, North Asia Entry into force notes This Law enters into force on 1 January 2024. Abstract Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone shall be intended a limited part of the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which was subjected to excess radioactive contamination as a result of nuclear weapons tests on the territory of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, which has a special legal regime provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone is being created in order to ensure nuclear and radiation safety in the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as the rehabilitation of the territory of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site to create the possibility of gradually returning its land area to economic management. The objectives of creating the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone are: (a) fulfillment of the state’s obligations to ensure nuclear and radiation safety, maintain the non-proliferation regime of nuclear weapons in the territory of the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone and adjacent land areas; (b) organization of effective management and proper maintenance, repair, reconstruction and modernization of infrastructure facilities; (c) carrying out work to limit the spread of radioactive contamination, rehabilitation of land areas subjected to excess radioactive contamination, and strengthening the security of the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone; (d) ensuring constant monitoring of the level of radioactive contamination of atmospheric air, ground and surface water, soil and plants, as well as determination of radionuclide migration parameters in the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone; and (e) development of science and technology in the field of peaceful use of atomic energy and radioecology. The principles of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of creation and implementation of activities of the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone include: (a) safety – ensuring high-quality and reliable analysis of the radioecological situation when conducting a comprehensive environmental survey, monitoring the level of radioactive contamination, as well as determining the parameters of radionuclide migration; (b) transparency - ensuring the availability of information about the functioning of the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone, as well as carrying out measures to publicize activities related to the implementation of this Law; (c) non-proliferation - fulfillment of the international obligations of the Republic of Kazakhstan to limit the proliferation of nuclear materials and ensure nuclear and radiation safety in the territory of the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone; and (d) prevention – implementation of activities aimed at limiting spread of radioactive contamination and rehabilitation of the territory of the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone, which was subjected to excess radioactive contamination. Full text Russian Website adilet.zan.kz