EPPR
EPPR - Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response
To provide a framework for future co-operation between Arctic states in responding to environmental emergencies.
About EPPR
The Arctic is an environmentally sensitive area with an extreme climate characterized by low temperatures, snow, ice and permafrost. These harsh conditions and the lack of existing infrastructure in much of the Arctic create a higher vulnerability to emergencies than in more temperate climates. Actions for prevention, preparedness and response must be adapted to the conditions and remoteness of the Arctic. Accordingly, international co-operation in this area is of major importance.
The Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) Working Group exchanges information on best practices for preventing spills, preparing to respond to spills should they occur, and practical response measures for use in the event of a spill. EPPR is not a response agency. The work has focused mainly on oil and gas transportation and extraction, and on radiological and other hazards. In 2004, EPPR was directed by the Arctic Ministers to expand its mandate to include natural disasters.
Expanded use of natural resources (oil, gas, and mining) and growth in tourism will lead to new and more frequently used navigation routes. This calls for new efforts to enhance the security of marine transport, prevent emergencies or respond to them effectively, including smooth cross-border assistance among neighboring states. The EPPR Working Group has developed a number of tools including an Environmental Risk Analysis of Arctic Activities, a Circumpolar Map of Resources at Risk from Oil Spills in the Arctic, a Field Guide for Oil Spill Response in Arctic Waters, the Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) Manual and Source Control Management approaches for selected facilities.
Past and present human activities associated with the production, storage, transportation, and use of oil, nuclear materials, and other hazardous chemicals or materials, together with mining and metallurgy industries, pose the greatest risks of accidents in the Arctic.