The objectives are:  
to define the distribution and degree of the mercury contamination in the Pavlodar region;  
to carry out a detailed survey and a sampling programme in the critical areas;  
to prepare cost measures to remediate soil and groundwater in the heavily contaminated areas;  
to develop protocols and guidelines for monitoring and assessment of mercury contaminated areas in Kazakhstan.  
 
            

The project research activities will include:  
setting up a small research laboratory unit in Kazakhstan;  
calibrating the mercury sniffer technology developed by one of the Kazakh participants. The mercury sniffer technology will be calibrated against appropriate 
bench mark tests. It is envisaged that this equipment would then be used widely in Kazakhstan for assessment of other mercury contaminated areas;  
developing a methodology and framework for measuring and assessing the mercury levels in air, groundwater, surface water and soil;  
carrying out the geochemical and hydrogeological surveys to measure the mercury levels in Pavlodar and its surroundings;  
establishing an environmental database that will enable a definition of the most heavily contaminated areas, and that will assist in the development and 
costing of appropriate remedial measures.  
  
The research results will be incorporated into an environmental database for the Pavlodar area, allowing those areas heavily contaminated with mercury 
to be defined and to serve for a longer term monitoring. Maps of soil, surface water, groundwater and sediments will be produced. Soil and groundwater remediation 
schemes for the critical sites will be prepared and costed (these will form the basis from which a regional mercury clean up could be initiated). Protocols and 
guidelines for monitoring and assessing mercury contaminated areas will be presented. It is envisaged that these would form the basis for national guidelines 
on monitoring and assessing mercury contamination in Kazakhstan.  
  
A network of stations should be established to monitor changes and the effects and consequences of remedial work.