Sverdlovsk Region’s division of Rosprirodnadzor (the state environmental watchdog) carried out a scheduled inspection of VIZ Stal on March 17-31, 2008. The inspection was targeted at checking the enterprise’s compliance with the existing water code, the spokesperson for Rosprirodnadzor says.

The inspection revealed that VIZ Stal was using the water from Verkh-Isetskiy water reservoir and was dumping manufacturing water in the River Iset without any permission to do so. Sverdlovsk Region’s division of Rosprirodnadzor therefore initiated an administrative lawsuit against the offender. The damage done by VIZ Stal to the river is currently being estimated.