MOSCOW, June 6 (AVN) - The State Duma lower house of Russian parliament approved on the third reading on Wednesday a package of bills allowing import of used nuclear fuel.
The bill "Concerning Special Environmental Programmes for Rehabilitation of Radiation-Contaminated Areas" was passed with 266 votes in favour, 117 against and four abstentions. Amendments to the law "Concerning Environment Protection" were approved by 243 votes with 125 votes against and seven abstentions. Amendments to the law "Concerning Use of Atomic Energy" were passed with 250 votes in favour, 125 against and 67 abstentions.
During the discussion of the agenda 105 Duma members voted to postpone consideration of the bill. Among them was Mikhail Grishenkov, a drafter of the package.
Chairman of the Federation Council upper house Yegor Stroyev said on Tuesday that the house would thoroughly study the bills in case they would be passed by the State Duma. According to him, Russia's economic profits from nuclear fuel import are superficial.