MOSCOW, October 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's environmental protection agency will investigate the compliance of the country's largest crude producer LUKoil [RTS: LKOH] with environmental regulations in its operations in the Republic of Komi in the northwest Urals, the agency's press service said Thursday.
A special commission led by Oleg Mitvol, deputy head of the Federal Service for the Oversight of Natural Resources, is heading to the region to conduct an investigation at LUKoil's production sites.
LUKoil said last year it had completed its mid-term environmental program in the Komi Republic for the ecological rehabilitation of polluted areas and the prevention of oil spills, after allocating 4.6 billion rubles ($160 million) in 2000-2005 for the project.
The environmental commission will inspect the company's compliance with oil production license agreements, and the condition of state forest areas, and soil and water reserves at oil extraction sites. Experts will make a preliminary report on the probe on October 13.
