MOSCOW, February 1 (RIA Novosti) -- A leak of fuel oil into the Klyazma River in the Moscow Region in early January caused 1.8-billion-ruble ($72 mln) environmental damage, the deputy head of the country's environmental watchdog said on Friday.
Around 540 cubic meters of fuel oil leaked from a 2,000 cubic meter container at the Energia rocket and space corporation in Korolyov, near Moscow, on January 5. Some 300 cubic meters of the fuel polluted the Klyazma's tributary.
Oleg Mitvol said his agency, Rosprirodnadzor, had urged the Moscow Region authorities to sue Energia for damages.
"We have estimated the damage caused by Energia and sent the relevant paperwork to the environment and natural resources minister of the Moscow Region. Our estimate is 1,786,880,000 rubles," he said.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Russia said previously that the 3 km long brook was totally polluted and that fuel oil had formed a 40-50 cm thick layer on the surface, hampering the rescue efforts.
