 The Baykalsk Pulp and Paper Mill was constructed in 1966, directly on the shoreline of Lake Baikal.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).