The report deals with social problems, which usually emerge while exploiting the North of Russia. Peninsula Yamal that soon will be subjected to gas exploration was chosen as a representative area. INTRODUCTION Social problems that emerge as a result of economic activities should be solved from a point of view of a system approach using criteria of sustainable development. According to this, the area of Yamal Peninsula is considered as a socio-economic and environmental system where integrated approach to the environmental impact assessment from industrial objects could be implemented. Sustainable development of the area implies:
Natural conservation and backing of biodiversity within the area;
Restoration and keeping a traditional way of life of indigenous population.
Considerable attention should be given to the setting up of control unit for managing the socio-economic and environmental system. If this approach is implemented the social domain is defined as a priority. By solving social problems one can expect a restoration of a traditional land use - fishery, reindeer-breeding, and also a cultural heritage of small number peoples including handicraft. The authors believe that it is possible to include social and managerial issues into the Environmental Programme "Arctic- Gaz" developed in JSC "Gazprom", which has been realised since 1999 by JSC "Eco-System Consulting".
This is the most remote area from the Northern Atlantic region subjected to atmospheric processes of the middle latitude. In the annual run of sunshine one can distinguish a winter polar night (about 40 days) and summer polar day (about 60 days). This fact explains the shortness of a vegetation period (2 months), almost everlasting ice cover (a period without ice is merely about 70 days).
