This article discusses issues related to optimizing the state of East Kazakhstan environment. It is emphasized that along with the industrial progress observed in recent years in the East Kazakhstan region in such sectors of the economy as machinery and metal working, heat and power, woodworking, timber, light and food industries, production of building materials, the level of environmental pollution has increased. The article gives examples of how the activities of the enterprises of metallurgical industry, heat power engineering and motor transport cause a real threat of the environmental crisis in the region. It is concluded that the solution of the environmental problem is possible through comprehensive measures, including the issues of increasing the efficiency of use and protection of water resources, reducing the chemical load on the soil, creating infrastructure for waste processing, improving the health and quality of life of the residents of the region. These measures together can contribute to overcoming the current environmental crisis of the East Kazakhstan region and radically improving the environment as well become the key to optimizing the region’s environment. The methodological basis of the study is the principle of scientific objectivity, which allows analyzing the subject under study taking into account the realities of economic changes in theregion.