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joint Russian-Nozvegian' expedition to survey nuclear waste 

 disposal sites in the Kara Sea planned for this month, and 

 infomation-sharing made possible by the collapse of Communism. 



The newly free republics of the former Soviet Union and 

 Eastern Europe face enormous environmental challenges. The 

 deteriorating industrial infrastructure presents a high risk of 

 disasters. The chemical and energy sectors — where much of the 

 equipment is old and in need of replacement — appear to face the 

 highest risk, but serious breakdowns could occur in railroads, 

 civil aviation, and nuclear power plants. In some cases, 

 accidants have already occurred. For example, an oil well in 

 Uzbakistan drilled with inadequate equipment ruptured in March, 

 contaninating farmland and threatening to pollute a vital river. 

 Only through intensive round-the-clock efforts, aided by US 

 experts who in turn were supported by intelligence reports, were 

 workers able to cap the well and protect the river. 



Environsantal destruction caused by Soviet troops in Eastern 

 Europe is adding substantially to the already heavy cleanup 

 burdens new governments face as the result of foxir decades of 

 •nvironaental neglect by the region's former communist rulers. 



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