Arctic for the Future. Sergei Tambiev. Action for the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment

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1 Arctic for the Future Marine Debris: Cleanup Experience in the Russian Arctic Sergei Tambiev Russian Federation Support to the National Programme of Action for the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment

2 Arctic for the Future R i A ti i t f 8 bj t f th R i F d ti Russian Arctic consists of 8 subjects of the Russian Federation, total area is 7,775.3 th. of sq. km, length of costal zone is about 40,000 km, 1 mln of people

3 Arctic Ocean plays a crucial role in the movement of oceanic waters through h connections and exchanges with the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

4 Arctic for the Future NPA-Arctic Project components: 1. Preparation and adoption of a Strategic Action Programme (SAP); 2. Completion of a set of Pre-Investment Studies (PINS); 3. Development and implementation of Environmental Protection ti System (EPS); 4. Demonstration projects

5 Arctic for the Future Strategic Action Program for Protection of the Russian Arctic Environment Directed to preserve and protect Arctic environment and to eliminate negative environmental impacts from economic and other activities. Approved by Maritime Board at the Government of the Russian Federation

6 Arctic for the Future The following gpriority environmental issues were identified in SAP-Arctic: 1. Environmental pollution and the deterioration of surface and ground water quality of the coastal areas of the Russian Arctic 2. Land degradation and irresponsible use of land 3. Biodiversity Change and depletion of biological resources 4. Deteriorating living conditions of the indigenous population p of the Russian Arctic and disruption of traditional nature use of indigenous peoples 5. The adverse effects and threats of global climate change

7 Goal and Objectives of the SAP-ArcticArctic The long-term goal of the SAP-Arctic is to implement measures aimed at preventing, eliminating, and reducing the consequences of adverse human-induced environmental impacts in the Russian Arctic from activities on land and in the adjacent seas down to levels that will ensure sustainable development while at the same time taking account of the interests of the human population, including the native small nations of the North Prevention and abatement of pollution of the coastal and marine environments in the Russian Arctic, including the transboundary transport of pollutants with aquatic and atmospheric flows oil, chemical, and radiation contamination Conservation and improvement of the quality of the environment, living conditions of the indigenous peoples and conditions for traditional nature use by native nations Prevention and mitigation of the negative consequences of natural disasters and technological emergencies, as well as of global climate changes

8 Arctic for the Future Stages of the SAP-Arctic Implementation Stage I ; Stage II ; Stage III ; Targets and performance indicators for each stage has been also designed

9 Pre-Investment Studies in the Russian Arctic Arctic Pre Investment Studies in Russian Purpose of this component is to prepare PINS documentation on selected environmental investment projects (EIP) for the Russian Arctic that should lead to the projects funding by Russian and/or International sources including businesses Selected EIP are strongly supported by regional and local authorities.

10 Development and implementation of Environmental Protection ti System (EPS) The EPS component is a first step of the SAP Arctic implementation and will result in the improvement of legislative, administrative and institutional conditions in the Russian Arctic.

11 Arctic for the Future Demo, Pilot & Investment clean-up Projects fall into three main categories: Arctic islands and shoreline clean-up of steel drums; seafloor clean-up from sunken logs and shipwrecks; locating and removal of outdated Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTG)

12 Arctic for the Future According to Polar Foundation and Russian Ministry of Defence about tonnes of fuel and dlubricants bi left ftbehind din drums and tanks together with about millions of empty steel drums scattered around FJL islands Remediation of Decommissioned Military Bases o FJL Archipelago (phase II), o New Siberian Islands o Wrangel Island

13 Environmental remediation of Decommissioned Military Bases on Franz-Josef Land Archipelago The pilot project is co-financed by USEPA

14 SHIP WRECKS IN THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC Arctic for the Future The downsizing of the Russian fleets brought about many ship wrecks dumping grounds in the Russian Arctic. These ship wrecks are a permanent source of pollution of the ambient waters and sediments. Over 170 major wrecks such as freighters, fishing vessel, military ships, submarines, reactor compartments, pontoons etc. posing a threat to navigation. Pilot project Monitoring of hazardous substances in Kola Bay revealed high concentrations of heavy metals, PHB and oil hydrocarbons in the dumping areas. To demonstrate a practical approach to the clean-up of the port areas in Arctic, the pilot project Cleanup of the Bay of Tiksi Seafloor from Sunken Logs and Shipwrecks was launched in Tiksi Port (the Laptev Sea).

15 Removing of sunken wood and ship frames from the sea bottom in Tiksi Bay

16 Arctic for the Future The phase II of the Tiksi Bay pilot project is cofinanced by the Ministry for the Environment in Iceland Tiksi Bay phase II

17 Arctic for the Future RADIOISOTOPE THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS (RTG) Abandoned Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) are the priority issues in the Russian Arctic. There are approximately 1,000 Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators in Russia, most of which were used as power sources for lighthouses and navigation beacons. 80 percent of all the RTGs are found along the Northern Sea Route in Arctic. All these RTGs have completed their projected 10-year service life and are to be shipped in an urgent way to specialized sites for dismantlement. Some RTGs were taken apart by hunters and reindeer breeders for home needs. Local people also saw polar bears warming themselves next to RTGs.

18 Arctic for the Future Environmental Investment Project Recovery and Disposal of the RTG device located at Rogers Bay, Wrangel Island.

19 Arctic for the Future Project Outputs and Outcomes Project results have been used for preparation of Regional Programme of Action for the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment from Land based Activities that was adopted by the Arctic Council in The Project was also supported by international donors including Canada, Iceland, Italy, and USA which consider that project results can be useful for the Arctic Ocean by abating land based pollution. The Project played catalytic role in leveraging additional funds for demo and pilot projects. For example: Russian Ministry of Defense funded FJL remediation project Arkhangelsk government supported remediation of former military base Murmansk administration funded Kola fjord cleaning up US Environment tprotection ti Agency s support of clean up project on FJL archipelago Iceland s support of Tiksi bay clean up pilot project

20 Lessons Learned Arctic for the Future Technically, the projects are rather complicated and in some cases require specialimplementingapproaches implementing approaches Another problem is the amount of funding needed to finance the shipment of staff and machinery to these areas. Expensive and complicated environmental operations in the Arctic need to be implemented in close cooperation between the Russian authorities, NGO and businesses interested in the Arctic development as a whole and in the Russian Arctic in particular These activities should be coordinated by an integrated plan (e.g. SAP Arctic) and be implemented as environmental investment projects Arctic Project like NPA Arctic could be catalysts in leveraging additional funds nationally and internationally for the cleaning of the Russian Arctic.

21 Arctic for the Future We are inviting everyone who is interested in the Arctic future to support our demonstration and ecological investment projects. Investments in the ecological projects is a great opportunity to be involved in the Russian Arctic development!

22 THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE