15 December 2005 -- Russia's Altai Krai has become the first Russian region to formally agree with the Roskosmos federal space agency on the use of its territory as a designated dumping ground for jettisoned rocket parts.
Under an agreement signed between regional authorities and Roskosmos, the space agency will increase by up to five times the compensation it pays to three of the territory's districts for damage caused by jettisoned parts of the rocket boosters launched from the Baikonur space center in neighboring Kazakhstan.
Regional authorities believe the money will be enough to compensate possible damage to the health of local residents.
Roskosmos will also pay the bills for regular medical checkups of local residents and for environmental monitoring.
(RIA-Novosti/lenta.ru)