 The plant bleached paper using chlorine and discharged waste directly into Lake Baikal.The decision to construct the plant on the Lake Baikal resulted in strong protests from Soviet scientists; according to them, the ultra-pure water of the lake was a significant resource and should have been used for innovative chemical production (for instance, the production of high-quality viscose for the aeronautics and space industries).The Soviet scientists felt that it was irrational to change Lake Baikal's water quality by beginning paper production on the shore.