According to the minister, a total of 30 spills were registered in the republic compared to 11 in 2004. Borovinskih expresses special concern about the fact that oil companies more often conceal spills. A number of the registered 2005 spills came as a result of accidents with tanker trucks which subsequently polluted areas along roads, BarentsObserver reported.

According to Borovinskih, the gradual cut in powers of the regional authorities in Russia is a part of the problem. He believes it has become easier for oil companies to conceal spills after regional authorities were deprived powers within nature protection control.