Kenneth Thomas, from the Department of State , provided critical commentary on the analysis, and making suggestions for items to be included in future assessments. Wiessler-Hughes began the session by giving a brief overview of the report and the NIC series of assessments. The NIC conducted a prior assessment of Central and Eastern Europe and plans future reports on South Africa and China. The group is an outgrowth of a CIA-sponsored Environmental Task Force formed in 1992 to use classified systems to examine key environmental questions. Kenneth A. Thomas, Special Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Building upon the Wiessler-Hughes' presentation, Peterson identified the key environmental problems that plague Russia.
Water pollution is the leading environmental concern with municipalities acting as the main culprit.
Just over one-half of Russia's population has access to safe drinking water while wastewater treatment systems are insufficient to meet growing needs for municipal sewage. Secondly, although industrial air pollution has gone down as a result of the economic downturn, air pollution is still very high because auto emissions have shot up with the dramatic increase in cars combined with a reduction in industrial sector spending on environmental protection. The severity of air pollution is such that in 1996, the air pollution exceeded national standards in more than 200 cities. The third major immediate threat Russians face is municipal waste, the result of poor infrastructure and rising consumption. Helping municipalities provide basic services will have to be a critical element of funding in resolving the severe health and environmental deterioration.