Yerevan Municipality has granted over 20 mining permits for the extraction of minerals from non-metallic mines. Operating mines have adverse impact on the environment of the capital. They pollute the air with dust and truck emissions, destroy the landscape of the capital, pollute the soil with waste, dumps, car oils, and make noise.

"Trav Stone Group" LLC was planning to develop a basalt mine in Yerevan (Spandaryan basalt mine). In order to prevent further pollution of the city, its citizens and NGOs issued a statement against the proposed mining project in Yerevan.

Yerevan Municipality responded to the statement with a letter, saying that city authorities have rejected all applications for the development of new mines during their tenure, and have initiated an environmental impact assessment of the existing abandoned mines.