A draft law that would lift the federal environmental impact assessment required to build or reconstruct social and transport infrastructure facilities in Arctic settlements has been submitted to the State Duma.

“The adoption of this draft law will accelerate the construction of infrastructure necessary to create conditions for the comprehensive socioeconomic development of Russia’s Arctic zone,” the lawmakers note.

At the same time, in order to ensure environmental safety in the Arctic zone, the draft law calls on the government to compile a list of facilities for which this requirement is canceled.