In response to the publication by the Armenian Environmental Front Civic Initiative entitled "A company of unknown origin wants to be permitted to do mineral prospecting in a huge forested area in Lori region", where the authors of the initiative pointed out  the inappropriate public awareness regarding  the public reviews to be held on April 16, we deem it necessary to clarify the following:
According to the 3rd point of N 1325 decree (November 19, 2014) of the Government of the Republic of Armenia on "Defining the order of public notification and reviews":
Public notification and reviews in accordance with the law of the Republic of Armenia on Articles 12, 13 and the 3rd point of the 2nd paragraph of Article 26 and the 2nd, the 3rd points of  the 5th paragraph, of “ Environmental Impact Assessment and Expertise” (hereinafter referred to as the Law), in the first and third phases, in collaboration with the holder implement:
1) in case of a founding document, the governor, the mayor of Yerevan or the head of the relevant affected administrative district, and in case of the envisaged activity, the head of the affected community (hereinafter referred to as the person in charge of discussions).
Only after receiving a positive opinion as a result of the first public discussion, the holder prepares a preliminary assessment bid and enters "Environmental Impact Expertise Center" SNCO through the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration.