Mineral Resources Strategy – environmental contribution Scientific recommendations from DCE and GINR

Kalaallit Nunaanni uuliasiornernik aatsitassarsiornernillu periusissatut pilersaarut – avatangiisit pillugit tapiliut. DCE-mit Pinngortitaleriffimmiillu avatangiisinut tunngassuteqartunik innersuussutit eqikkarnerat

Memo from DCE - Danish Centre for Environment and Energy - and the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources Date: 19 March 2019

Authors: Anders Mosbech1 David Boertmann1 Peter Aastrup1 Line A. Kyhn1 Kim Gustavson1 Josephine Nymand2

1Department of Bioscience, Section for Arctic Environment

2Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

Ordered by: The Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities

Number of pages: 75

Quality assurance, DCE: Kirsten Bang

Internal review: Susse Wegeberg

Greenland summary: Tupaarnaq Olsen and Emma Kristensen

Translation to English: AdHoc Translations

PINNGORTITALERIFFIK GREENLAND INSTITUTE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

2

Table of Contents

Preface 4

1 Summary and recommendations 5 1.1 Recommendations on strategic environmental impact

assessments: Continue to build, communicate and operationalise knowledge 7

1.2 Recommendations regarding research aiming to further develop norms, standards and guidelines 8

1.3 Recommendations on further development of oil spill response and preparedness 8

1.4 Recommendation regarding heavy fuel oil (HFO) 9 1.5 Recommendations regarding further development of

environmental monitoring 9 1.6 Recommendations regarding improved handling of

accumulated effects and the way towards more ecosystem-based management 10

1.7 Recommendations regarding special areas and offshore oil exploration 11

1.8 Recommendations regarding small-scale activities 12

2 Eqikkaaneq innersuussutillu 13 2.1 Avatangiisit pillugit iliuuserineqartussatut

nalilersuisarnernut tunngatillugu innersuussutit: Ilisimasanik annertusaajuarneq, paasissutissiineq kiisalu atoriaannaasunngorsaanerit 16

2.2 Ileqqut, malitassat najoqqutassiallu ineriartorteqqinneqarnissaat anguniarlugu ilisimatusarnikkut innersuussutit 17

2.3 Uuliakoortoqartillugu upalungaarsimaniarluni periusissat ineriartorteqqinnissannut innersuussutit 18

2.4 Uulia oqimaatsoq (HFO = Heavy Fuel Oil) pillugu innersuussutit 19

2.5 Avatangiisit nakkutigineqarneranni isumassatigut ineriartortitsinernut tunngatillugu innersuussutit 20

2.6 Pinngortitami sunniutit annertusiartortarnerisa iliuuseqarfigineqartarnerisalu pitsanngorsaaviginissaannik innersuussutit aammalu pinngortitami uumassuseqassutsit ataqatigiinnerat aallaaviginerullugu aqutseriaaseqariartuuaarnissamut aqqut 21

2.7 Sumiiffinnut immikkuullarissunut imaatigullu uuliamik ujaasinernut tunngatillugu innersuussutit 22

2.8 Annikitsumik misissuinissamik piiaanissamillu akuersissutinut tunngatillugu innersuussutit 23

3 Introduction 25 3.1 The scientific advisors – DCE and GINR 25

4 Background 28 4.1 Environmental impacts from mineral resource industry 28

4.1.1 Physical impacts 28 4.1.2 Disturbance of wildlife 30 4.1.3 Discharge and emission – pollution 31 4.1.4 Accidents 34

3

4.2 Past problems in connection with oil exploration and mining activities in Greenland 35

4.3 How do conditions other than mineral resource activities affect the Artic environment, nature and climate? 36

4.4 What knowledge has been built in Greenland on the impacts of mineral resource activities and how is it used? 38

5 Future knowledge-based regulation of mineral resource activities 41 5.1 Regulation of land-based activities 41 5.2 Regulation of offshore oil activities 45 5.3 Regulation of small-scale activities 45 5.4 Offshore regulation – underwater noise and oil spills 46

5.4.1 Underwater noise 47 5.4.2 Oil spill 50

5.5 Regulation of discharges and emissions 53 5.5.1 Mineral resource activities 53 5.5.2 Shipping 56 5.5.3 Recommendations in connection with release of

pollutants 57

6 Appendices 58 6.1 Appendix 1. List of acronyms used in this memo. 58 6.2 Appendix 2. Memo on the use of heavy fuel oil in

Greenland. 59 6.3 Appendix 3. Memo on some areas proposed to be kept

free of hydrocarbon exploration activities (in Danish) 64 6.4 Appendix 4. Memo on strategic environmental impact

assessments (in Danish) 67 6.5 Appendix 5. Memo on prioritation and costs of

future updates and new strategic environmental impact assessments (in Danish) 71

6.6 Supplementary map 75

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Preface

The Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities is the administrative unit responsible for

the regulation of environmental, nature and climate conditions in connection with mineral resource

activities in Greenland. This is done within the scope of the provisions of the Mineral Resources Act

on environment, nature and climate protection.

The overall purpose of the Mineral Resources Act is for all activities in the area to be carried out with

due regard to the environment – and in accordance with recognised good international practice under

similar conditions.

Comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of environment and nature is required to meet this purpose.

Already when the mineral resource exploration starts, we have to be able to asses the future environ-

mental effects. How many birds and animals live in the area and how will they react to noise and

disturbance? Which potential polluting compounds are bound in the rocky cliffs and will they be

washed out if the cliffs are blasted and mined? Will any rivers or lakes be affected by dust from the

industrial activities? What will happen to the local vegetation cover if roads have to be constructed?

The mineral resource companies have an obligation to take account of, assess and uncover the envi-

ronmental conditions.

In this connection, the independent scientific advisors, help the Environmental Agency for Mineral

Resource Activities, by providing the necessary background knowledge through their own research

and studies. Moreover, they help ensure that the studies made by mineral resource companies are

adequate and accurate to plan the activities properly and with due regard to the local conditions – and

using methods that are in accordance with recognised good international practice. Finally, they help

consider all applications for new licences, activities, etc.

The scientific advisors also make recommendations to the Environmental Agency for Mineral Re-

source Activities, which either makes decisions based on the recommendations or prepares decision-

making proposals for Naalakkersuisut based on the recommendations. The division of responsibilities

is clear. This is to ensure that the scientific consultancy work and the content of the recommendations

are independent of administrative or political interests. As a result, these recommendations

constitute an independent contribution to the future mineral resources strategy 2019-2023.

Najaaraq Demant-Poort The Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities

1 Summary and recommendations

This report contains advice from Danish Centre for Environment and Energy (DCE) and

Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR) to the Environmental Agency for Mineral

Resource Activities on the development of an environmental strategy for mineral resource

activities in Greenland. The first chapters give a brief general introduction to the environmental

issues and how they can be handled, whereas the following chapters describe more specifically

how the challenges are handled through planning, rules and regulations, and activities are pointed

out that can strengthen the efforts in the coming strategy period.

The purpose of this background report is to point to development potential in the knowledge base and

regulation which can ensure:

• Minimisation of environmental effects from mineral resource activities.

• That the environmental effects do not exceed the effects prescribed by international

standards.

• Consideration for special Arctic or Greenland conditions.

• That no environmental effects occur other than those accepted by the authorities in their

approval of the project, including that areas do not have or will not get environmental

problems limiting the use of the areas after the exploitation of mineral resources.

• That the environmental regulation is based on an adequate knowledge base, making it

unnecessary to recommend stricter requirements due to lack of knowledge of the possible

effects (the precautionary principle).

Mineral resource activities (for more details, see Textbox 1) will necessarily impact nature and

environment. Typically, it will be necessary to establish temporary industrial areas in connection with

exploitation of mineral resources, whether it is mining or oil production. However, while opening up

for development and industrialisation, environmental regulation and nature planning must ensure that

the environmental and natural basis is not destroyed for current and future generations. With sufficient

knowledge about e.g. process technology, geochemistry, ecotoxicology, biodiversity and ecological

contexts, the environmental effects from a new mineral resource activity can be predicted and often

limited significantly, especially outside the actual exploitation area. Focus must be on ensuring that

the activity does not pollute the surrounding environment to an unacceptable degree, that nature is

not disturbed unnecessarily and that the activity area is left in a good environmental condition once

the activities have ended.

In mineral resource projects, it is important to identify the total possible environmental effects already

at the planning stage. Detailed planning and use of the best technology may significantly limit the

impacts on the environment. Ongoing monitoring can also ensure that environmental requirements

are met and that any adjustment of regulation based on unexpected environmental impacts can be

made in time. Mineral resource extraction often have a lifespan of several decades, and it is important

to plan right from the start how to remove infrastructure and restore affected areas before they are

left. Long-term planning can help ensure the same environmental quality when a mine is closed as

before the mine was established.

The framework for mineral resource activities in Greenland allows the authorities to demand that all

relevant environmental issues are uncovered before a licence is granted for the activity applied for

and before environmental requirements and terms are laid down. Mineral resource activities often

cover major projects each of which has special issues to be identified before the environmental effects

can be described and before it can be considered whether the planned activities are environmentally

safe and what environmental requirements should be made to ensure this. It may be a time-consuming

process, but thoroughness is necessary to limit uncertainties in the environmental impact assessments.

Experience from similar projects in comparable environments is often limited, and lack of due care

in major projects may result in inappropriate solutions with long-term environmental impacts which

may cause a significant cost for the society in the long term.

Even though specific environmental impact assessments (EIA) are prepared for each individual

mineral resource projects, there are still knowledge gaps, and in many areas, more information is

needed. The more knowledge, the greater possibility of recommending an accurate regulation leading

to the desired result in the environment. In case of major knowledge gaps, or if existing knowledge

is not coordinated, the precautionary principle will have to be applied. This results in use of greater

safety margins, i.e. stricter regulation that may be to the detriment of the industry. A robust and

coordinated knowledge base thus helps ensure an environmentally safe but still efficient execution of

mineral resource activities.

The observed and expected climate change further increases the need for research related to industry

pollution and disturbances as climate changes and greater temperature fluctuations also affect nature,

the environment and ecological relationships.

To sum up, the continued efforts to systematically build knowledge of the Greenland environment,

the ecological dynamics and potential effects of mineral resource activities are considered to give a

more robust and accurate assessment of nature and environmental conditions in connection with

mineral resource projects. It is important that the new knowledge is utilised through publication and

systematisation in databases and that it is embedded in knowledge environments and operationalised

to make it available to the industry for planning and preparation of environmental impact assessments

etc.

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Environmental strategy for mineral resource activities. Proposals for initiatives and recommenda-tions

1.1 Recommendations on strategic environmental impact assessments: Continue to build, communicate and operationalise knowledge

General knowledge about natural resources and understanding of the ecological dynamics is neces-

sary to plan and assess the vulnerability and importance of potential mineral resource activity areas.

For the marine areas, this knowledge is compiled and summarised in the strategic environmental

impact assessments (SEIA) which also identify significant gaps and uncertainties in the knowledge

to be used to regulate oil activities. A similar summary only exists for a limited part of the Greenland

land and fjord areas, and in certain areas it may therefore be more difficult to assess the regional

nature and environmental context in which a large mining projects will be a part of. Relatively un-

spoiled nature is a Greenland resource which is scarce seen from a global perspective, and it is ex-

pected to be in increasing demand in relation to e.g. tourism/experience economy and research. It

should therefore be future-proofed through e.g. planning. This means that it is appropriate to have

environmental regulation of mineral resource activities at a high level supplemented with area man-

agement that keeps the most valuable natural areas free from activities that may leave permanent

footprints on the environment and landscape.

It is recommended: • That further regional SEIAs be prepared based on studies on land, in fresh water areas and in

adjacent fjords. These SEIAs are to ensure knowledge for planning for both authorities and the

industry, including also small-scale activities. A number of regions should be selected that are

interesting in terms of mineral resources, and for these regions, all available data will be pro-

vided about natural resources and land use (hunting, recreational activities, tourism, etc.). Data

on land use will be collected broadly and if possible with local partners. Additional analyses

will be made using remote sensing data1 and field studies will be made. Then a SEIA will be

prepared containing analyses of the sensitivity of the area to noise, physical impacts, waste

disposal, releases to water and air, etc.

• That SEIAs be prepared for new offshore areas where oil exploration is planned.

1 remote sensing data are collected at a great distance of what you would like to study by means of satellites, airplanes, monitoring buoys at sea, etc.

8

• The oldest SEIAs are updated if new activities are planned.

1.2 Recommendations regarding research aiming to further develop norms, standards and guidelines

Knowledge is needed about the degradation and ecotoxicology of chemicals and oil components,

long-term deposit of mining waste (tailings, waste rock), including radioactive minerals and the ef-

fects of noise on particularly marine mammals. Often, no studies have been made under Arctic con-

ditions, and significant uncertainty may be involved if knowledge is only available from temperate

conditions. Some studies have been initiated, but generally further studies are necessary to limit the

uncertainty when making suitable, efficient and relevant environmental considerations and solutions.

For the strategy period, it is recommended: • That continued active participation is ensured in international work on the development of

norms and standards2 based on scientific studies while at the same time continuing research to

support this work with a Greenland/Arctic perspective.

• That a catalogue of environmental standards be prepared. This is to contribute to streamlining

the work of preparing environmental impact assessments for mining and oil projects and is to

collect and describe environmental standards, environmental requirements, technologies ac-

cording to the BAT principle (see Textbox 3), etc.

1.3 Recommendations on further development of oil spill response and preparedness A major oil spill in the sea may have major and long-term effects. Oil exploration drilling should

therefore focus on safety. So far, practice has been that exploration drilling could only be carried out

during the ice-free season and with a safety margin to the expected arrival of sea ice to ensure a

sufficiently long operative window in case of blowout and oil spill. It is recommended to continue

this practice and continue to set high standards for safety and oil spill response and preparedness in

exploration drilling.

No well-documented methods are yet available for handling major oil spill in drift ice and in the dark.

As a result, considerable technological advancement is necessary before it can be considered envi-

ronmentally safe to explore and exploit oil in Greenland offshore areas all year round.

The development and establishment of oil spill contingency plans and preparedness for the activities

of the mineral resource industry is a substantial task, which is, however, also relevant for other ship

2 norms = recognised methods, standards =guideline values, concentration of pollutants

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traffic in Greenland. The development of an efficient strategy for combating oil spill requires tech-

nological advancement, research into any harmful effects of the oil and the control methods, analysis

of vulnerable biological resources and mapping of the potential for degradation and spreading of oil

in the various waters.

For the strategy period, it is recommended:

• To continue to support internationally coordinated research that can minimise the environmen-

tal hazard through knowledge about where and when the different oil spill response methods

can be used most effectively to protect the ecosystem in the best possible way. This knowledge

is to be included in the development of regional, strategic analyses that support a response ca-

pacity (Net Environmental Benefit analyses).

• To improve the oil spill contingency in Greenland through specific requirements for the indus-

try and supplemented with coordinated research, development and establishment of response

and preparedness in the Kingdom and internationally.

1.4 Recommendation regarding heavy fuel oil (HFO) The use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) is an environmental problem for several reasons. It generates higher

emission of air pollutants than diesel and other gas oil, and if spilled in the marine environment, it is

very difficult to clean up. For those reasons, HFO may not be used or transported in the Antarctic.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is working to implement a similar ban in the Arctic

and now encourage not to use or carry HFO there. In Greenland, the oil companies exploring offshore

have so far been required not to use HFO.

For the strategy period, it is recommended

• That in future, HFO is not used in connection with mineral resource activities in Greenland and

that the initiative about a general ban in the Arctic is supported.

1.5 Recommendations regarding further development of environmental monitoring Environmental monitoring of mineral resource projects is an important part of the regulation of min-

eral resource activities in Greenland. Monitoring includes checking that the discharges and emissions

by the industry stay within the approved limits. Even though comprehensive studies are conducted

before mineral resource projects are carried out, there will always be some uncertainty about whether

the effects on the environment will be as expected. The results from the monitoring is an important

tool to assess whether regulation is adequate compared to the discharge and emission requirements

or whether cleaning methods etc. need to be adjusted.

10

The following is monitored:

1. Discharge and emission: volumes and concentrations of pollutants at outlets. These measure-

ments will often be part of the industry self-monitoring. Experience shows that it is important

that authorities make spot checks and monitor the results of the companies' monitoring.

2. Local environment: concentrations of critical substances and bioindicators. This monitoring is

to document how and at what distance, the industry impacts the environment. This makes it

possible to assess whether the environmental impacts are in accordance with the expected im-

pacts when the project was approved.

3. Monitoring after the activity has ended. This monitoring is to document that no unintended

pollution occurs from waste disposal sites etc. Long-term focus is important, taking into account

the climate change with changed precipitation and permafrost conditions. Disposal of radioac-

tive waste requires special focus due to the very long period during which such waste will re-

main environmentally harmful.

For the strategy period, it is recommended: • That instructions be prepared for the companies on monitoring and development of monitoring

programmes, including the possibility of various forms of citizen participation and local in-

volvement.

• That research in development of monitoring method with particular relevance for Greenland

still be supported, including identification of bioindicators and concentration analysis methods.

1.6 Recommendations regarding improved handling of accumulated effects and the way to-wards more ecosystem-based management

The impacts of mineral resource activities on the ecosystem interacts with other impacts from e.g.

fishing and hunting, long-range transboundary pollution from the industrialised world and climate

change. With the continued development of the mineral resource industry, it would be appropriate to

manage the environmental impacts from the mineral resource activities more integrated with the need

for protection of a nature which is exposed to the mentioned impacts and for co-existence with a

fishing and hunting industry which is totally dependent on the natural basis.

For the strategy period, it is recommended:

• That for large mineral resource projects, environmental monitoring of indicators of the state of

the ecosystem (biodiversity, system processes) be carried out at a regional level. This monitor-

ing is not only to uncover the environmental effects of a single mineral resource industry but

the total (accumulated) effects on the ecosystem of the mineral resource activities, climate

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change, long-range transboundary pollution, ship traffic, other industry as well as fishing and

hunting. The monitoring is to ensure that studies can be initiated to explain the cause of unex-

pected observations and whether changes are e.g. caused by the mineral resource activity or

climate change, and then, if necessary, introduce stricter requirements. Monitoring should

therefore be coordinated with the monitoring of the effects of climate change (Greenland Eco-

logical Monitoring Programme), long-range transboundary pollution (Arctic Monitoring and

Assessment Programme AMAP) and biodiversity (Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Pro-

gram CBMP) which is already in progress in Greenland.

• To work towards more ecosystem-based management (see Fact Box 2), with more cooperation

across sectors to be able to better handle challenges in relation to regulation and adjustment in

a changing environment due to climate changes. Coordinated monitoring at ecosystem level as

mentioned above may, along with dialogue between sectors and players, become an important

tool in this connection.

1.7 Recommendations regarding special areas and offshore oil exploration Based on the knowledge acquired and analysed about particularly sensitive areas in Greenland waters and the limited possibilities for establishing an efficient oil spill response, it is found appropriate to keep certain areas free from oil exploration to safeguard the environment (Appendix 6).

For the strategy period, it is recommended:

• In connection with licensing rounds and open door areas, DCE and GINR recommend not to

open the waters north of Greenland – i.e. north of 75° N in West Greenland and north of 80° N

in East Greenland – due to the more or less permanent presence of sea ice which poses an

increased risk of accidents and oil spills and complicates the oil spill response (Appendix 6).

• Three other areas have been identified as being of particular biological and ecological im-

portance, and the recommendation is also to keep these areas free from oil exploration (Appen-

dix 3, Appendix 6):

- The North Water (the large polynya between Qaanaaq and Ellesmere Island), see SEIA

report (Link),

- Store Hellefiskebanke, see report (Link),

- The mouth of Scoresby Sound (also an important polynya), see SEIA report (Link).

• That in the future, the demarcation of offshore areas planned to be opened should be given a

specific environmental assessment, which in particular includes the distance to the nearest

coast, the vulnerability of the coast and the possibility of combating oil spills.

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1.8 Recommendations regarding small-scale activities Small-scale mineral resource licences were introduced in 2009, and the number of licences issued has

increased steadily ever since. As activities are evidently limited, no immediate significant environ-

mental impacts are expected from the individual activities, and the 'Field Rules', along with the spe-

cific assessment of an application for an activity, will in many cases be sufficient to environmentally

regulate the activities.

For the strategy period, it is recommended

• That instructions be prepared to applicants for small-scale licences on how they can meet the

environmental requirements.

• That small-scale strategic environmental impact assessments be prepared in areas where many

applications for small-scale licences are expected in order to simplify the processing of appli-

cations while ensuring that possible cumulative effects are taken into account.

• That an assessment be made of the need for environmental monitoring (during and possibly

after) in connection with small-scale projects.

Wolly lousewort Pedicularis lanata. Photo: David Boertmann.

13

2 Eqikkaaneq innersuussutillu

Nalunaarusiaq manna Kalaallit Nunaanni aatsitassasiornerni avatangiisit mianeriniarlugit

periusissiat ineriartortinneqarneri pillugit DCE-miit Pinngortitaleriffimmiillu Aatsitassanut

tunngassuteqartuni Avatangiisinut Aqutsisoqarfimmut innersuussutinik imaqarpoq. Kapitalit siulliit

avatangiisini aaqqinniagassaqartillugu qanorlu iluarsiivigineqarsinnaanerannut naatsumik

paasissutissiipput, kapitalit tulliuttut unammilligassat pilersaarusiornikkut maleruagassiornikkullu

qanoq iliorluni aaqqiiviginiarneqarsinnaanerinik siunnersuutinik tigussaasunik

allaatiginninnerupput. Taakkunanilu ingerlassat piffissami periusissatut pilersaarusiorfiusup

ingerlanerani pingaartillugit aallunneqarnerusariaqaraluartut tikkuartorneqarput. Taamaattumik

tunuliaqutaasutut nalunaarusiami matumani ilisimasassatigut tunngavigisat

ineriartortinneqarnissaannut aqutsivigineqarnerinullu tunngassuteqartutigut tikkuaanissaq

siunertarineqarpoq, makkuninnga qulakkeerinnissinnaasutut:

• Aatsitassarsiornerni avatangiisinik sunniinerit annikillisarnissaat.

• Avatangiisinut sunniutit nunani tamalaani killissarititaasutut aalajangersakkanit sukan-

nernerunnginnissaat.

• Issittumi Kalaallillu Nunaannut pissutsit immikkuullarissut eqqarsaatigineqarnissaat.

• Ingerlassat akuersissuteqarfigineqarnerini avatangiisit qanoq sunnerneqarnissaannut pisortat

akuereriigaasa saniatigut sunniuteqalinnginnissaat, aatsitassarsiortut sumiiffinnik atuereer-

nerisigut maanna siunissamilu sumiiffiit taakkua siunertanut allanut atorneqarsinissaannik kil-

liliinnginnissaq ilanngullugu.

• Avatangiisitigut aqutsineq naammattumik ilisimasaqarnermik aallaaveqassasoq, tassa sunni-

utaasinnaasunut (mianersortussaatitaanermik periuseqarnissamik aaliangiussaq naapertorlugu)

ilisimasaqannginneq pissutigalugu piumasaqaatit sukateriffigineqartariaqarnissaat inner-

suussutigineqartariaarullugu.

Aatsitassarsiornerit (Tekstboks 1-ip oqaasertai takukkit) pinngortitamut avatangiisinullu

sunniuteqanngitsoorsinnaanngillat. Aatsitassarsiornernut atatillugu, aatsitassarsiorneruppata

imaluunniit uuliasiorneruppata imaluunniit sumiiffimmi pineqartumi aatsitassanik

suliareqqiiviliortoqarallarnissaanik pisariaqartitsisoqakkajuttarpoq. Ineriartortitsisoqartilluguli

imaluunniit suliffissuaqarfiliortoqarallarnerani kinguaarinnut maassakkut inuusunut siunissamilu

takkukkumaartussat eqqarsaatigalugit avatangiisit pinngortitallu atornissaannut pilersaarusiornerit,

taakkualu innarlerneqannginnissaannik qulakkeerinniarluni maleruagassiortoqassaaq. Ilaatigut

teknik atorlugu ingerlatseriaatsinik, nunarsuup ullorissallu sananeqaataannik tunngassutilinnik,

14

uumassuseqassutsit mingutsinneqarsinnaanerat, uumassuseqassutsip assigiinngisitaarneranut kiisalu

uumassuseqassutsit ataqatigiiffiinik tunngassuteqartunik naammattumik ilisimasaqarnerup

aatsitassarsiornikkut suliniummik nutaamik aallartitsinermi sunniutaasinnaasut qanoq

issinnaanissaat naatsorsorneqarsinnaasarput taamaalillunilu amerlasuutigut

pinngitsoortitsisoqartarluni, pingaartumik aatsitassarsiorniarnermi akuersissuteqarfigineqarsimasup

avataaniittut eqqarsaatigalugit. Aatsitassarsiorniarluni ingerlatap akuersaarneqarsinnaanngitsumik

avatangiisinut mingutsitsinngissaa, pinngortitamut pisariaqanngitsumik

akornusersuisoqannginnissaa taamatullu aatsitassarsioreernerup kingornatigut avatangiisinut

pitsaasumik qimatsisoqartarnissaa qulakkeerniarlugit pimoorussisoqassaaq.

Aatsitassarsiorniarnermi ingerlanniakkap pilersaarusiorlugu aallartinneraniit suliniutigisap

tamakkiisumik avatangiisinut sunniutigisinnaasaanik qulaajaareersimanissaq pingaartuuvoq.

Suliniutigisap avatangiisinut pinngortitamullu sunniutigisinnaasaanik

minnerpaaffianiititsisoqarsinnaavoq, sukumiilluinnartumik pilersaarusiornikkut teknikkikkullu

atortunik pitsaanerpaanik atortoqarnikkut. Taamatuttaaq avatangiisit mingutsinneqannginnissaat

qulakkeerniarlugu piumasaqaatigineqartut naapertorlugit sulisoqarnera paasiniarlugu

ingerlaavartumik nakkutilliinerit kiisalu mingutsitsinerit naatsorsuutigineqarsinnaanngitsumik

pisinnaanerat siorngersimaarfiginiarlugit piffissaagallartillugu aqutsinikkut iliuutsinik

nalimmassaajuarnissat pisariaqarput. Aatsitassarsiornerit ukiuni qulikkaartuni arlalinni

ingerlanneqarajuttarput, atortulersuutillu qanoq iliorluni piiarneqarumaarnerannut aammalu

sumiiffiit sunniivigineqarsimasut qimanneqartinnagit qanoq

pissusissamisoortunngorteqqinneqarnissaannut aallaqqaataaniilli pilersaarusiorneqarsimanissaat

pingaaruteqarpoq. Siunissaq ungasinnerusoq eqqarsaatigalugu pilersaarusiornikkut,

assersuutigalugu aatsitassarsiorfiup matuneqarneratigut avatangiisit pissuserisimasaannut

uterteqqinneqarsinnaanerat qulakkeerneqarsinnaavoq.

Kalaallit Nunaanni aatsitassarsiorniarnerni maleruagassiornikkut akuersissutit

tunniunneqannginnerini, aammalu avatangiisit eqqarsaatigalugit piumasaqaatit atugassarititaasullu

aalajangersarneqannginnerini, avatangiisinut tunngatillugu ajornartorsiutaasinnaasunik tamanik

qulaajaaqqaarsimanissat pisortanit piumasaqaatigineqarsinnaapput. Aatsitassarsiornerni ingerlassat

annertoorsuugajuttarput tamakkulu avatangiisinut sunniutigisinnaasaannik allaaserinninnginnermi

pissutsit assigiinngitsut tamarmik immikkoortitaarlutik unamminiarnartortallit avatangiisit

eqqarsaatigalugit illersorneqarsinnaasumik ingerlanneqarsinnaanerannik allaaserinninneq, taamalu

avatangiisit illersorneqarnissaat qulakkeerniarlugu sunik piumasaqaatitalersorneqarsinnaanerat

nalilersorneqareersimasassaaq. Taamaaliornerit sivisuumik ingerlanneqaqqaartarput, avatangiisilli

nalilersorneqarnerini nalornissutigineqarsinnaasut ikinnerpaaffianiitinniarlugit peqqissaarussamik

suleriuseqarnissaq pisariaqarpoq. Avatangiisini assersuunneqarsinnaasuni suliniutinik taama ittunik

15

ingerlassaqarnermik misilittakkat amerlanerpaatigut killeqartarput, taamaattumillu

sanilliussiffigineqarsinnaasunik qiviallakaasaqarnissat taamalu suliniutini angisuuni

piffissaagallartillugu peqqissaarussisimannginnerup kinguneranik naleqqutinngitsunik

aaqqiissuteqarsimanerit peqqutaallutik avatangiisinut ukiorpassuarni

kingunipilutsitsisoqarsinnaavoq, inuiaqatigiit aningaasaqarnerinut allaat nanertuutaalersinnaasunik.

Ingerlassani assingusuni assingusunillu avatangiisilinni misilittakkatigut assersuussisinnaanerit

killeqarajuttarput, ingerlassanilu annertuuni piffissaagallartillugu peqqissaarussinngitsoornermik

tunngaveqartumik naleqqutinngitsunik aaqqiissuteqartoqarsinnaasarpoq, piffissap ingerlanerani

avatangiisinut sunniuteqariartortartunik, allaat inuiaqatigiinnit aningaasartorfiususussatut

kinguneqartunik.

Naak aatsitassarsiorniarnerit tamavimmik avatangiisinut sunniutigisinnaasaannik

nalilersuisoqartaraluartoq (VVM) maannamut suli ilisimasatigut amigaateqartoqarpoq, sorpassuillu

assigiinngitsut pillugit paasissutissanik amerlanerusunik pisariaqartitsisoqaraluarluni.

Aatsitassarsiorniarnerup avatangiisinut sunniutigisinnaasaanik pakkersimaarinninniarluni

siunnersuinerit paasiuminarnerulerlutillu pitsaanerulernissaannut periarfissaq ilisimasat

amerlatsikkiartornerat ilutigalugu anneruleriartortarpoq, taamaalillunilu avatangiisinut

kingunerutikkusussinnaasatut kissaatigisat piviusunngortikkuminarnerulersinnaallutik.

Ilisimasariaqakkanik annertuumik amigaateqartoqarpat, imaluunniit ilisimariikkat

ataqatigiissarneqanngippata, taava mianersortussaatitaanermik periuseqarnissamik aaliangiussaq

atortinneqalissaaq. Taamaattoqarnerani sillimaniarnissamut piareersimanerunerusariaqarneq

qaffasinnerusumiitinneqartariaqarpoq, ima paasillugu aqutsinikkut piumasaqaatit suli

sukannernerusunngortinneqartariaqarput, aatsitassarsiorfimmut akornusersuutaalersinnaasunik

allaat. Taamaattoqarnerani qulannginnissamut sillimanerit annertunerussapput, tassa

ersarinnerusunik naleqqussaanerit suliffissuaqarnermut akornutaasinnaasut. Aatsitassarsiornerit

pitsaasumik avatangiisinullu illersorneqarsinnaasumik ingerlanneqarnissaannut ilisimasat

tutsuiginarluartut ataqatigiissakkallu qulakkeerinnittuusarput.

Silap pissusiata allanngoriartorneranik paasisat sulilu allannguutaaqqittussatut naatsorsuutigisat

eqqarsaatigalugit aatsitassarsiorfiit mingutsitsisinnaanerisa akornusersuutaasinnaanerisalu

ilisimatusarfigineqarnerunssaannik suli annertunerusumik pisariaqartitsisoqarpoq, tassami silap

pissusiata allanngoriartornera silaannaallu – kissassutsit nillissutsillu – malunnaatilimmik

allanngorarnerusulernerisa kingunerisaanik pinngortitaq, avatangiisit aammalu uumassuseqassutsit

ataqatigiiffii assinganik sunnerneqarsinnaammata.

Kalaallit Nunaani aatsitassarsiornernik ingerlataqarnermi avatangiisiinut, uumassuseqassutsit

ataqatigiiffiisa imminnut sunniivigeqatigiittarnerinut aammalu aatsitassarsiornerit

kingunerisinnaasaannut tunngassuteqartunik ilisimasanik annertusaaniarluni iliuuseqartarnerit

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aaqqisssuussamik ingerlanneqartuartarnissaat erseqqissaatigineqarluni eqikkaalluni

inerniliunneqarpoq, taamaaliornikkummi aatsitassarsiorniarnernut atatillugu pinngortitap

avatangiisillu nalilersuiffigineqartarnerini tunngavigisassat tutsuiginaateqarnerullutillu

eqqornerulertussaassammata. Ilisimasammi taama ittut aatsitassarsiorniartut pilersaarusiornerannut

aammalu avatangiisit sunnerneqarsinnaanerinik nalilersuilluni nalunaarusiornerannut allatigullu

soorlu ilisimalikkat pillugit allaatiginninnerni atorneqarsinnaalersillugit ilisimasanik

katersuivimmut (databasenut) immiunneqarsinnaalissapput, taamaalilluni kikkunnit tamanit

atorneqarsinnaalersillugit aariaannanngorsarneqarlutik.

Aatsitassarsiorniarnerni avatangiisit pillugit periusissatut pilersaarutit. Iliuuserineqarsinnaasutut

siunnersuutit innersuussutillu.

2.1 Avatangiisit pillugit iliuuserineqartussatut nalilersuisarnernut tunngatillugu innersuussutit: Ilisimasanik annertusaajuarneq, paasissutissiineq kiisalu atoriaannaasunngorsaanerit

Aatsitassarsiorniartut suliniutaasa tutsuiginassusiat, sanngiiffiisa pingaarutaasalu

naliliiffiginiarneqarnerini pingaartuuvoq pinngortitamut avatangiisinullu tunngassuteqartut

ilisimasat siammasissut pigineqarnissaat uumassuseqassutsillu ataqatigiiffiisa

sunniivigeqatigiittarnerinut tunngassuteqartunik paasisimasaqarnissat. Imaani uuliasiorniarluni

ingerlatat aqutsiviginiarnerini pingaartuuvoq imarmiunut tunngatillugu ilisimasat tamakkiisut,

ilisimasatigut amigaatigisat ilisimariikkanullu tunngatillugu nangaassutitaat paasineqareerlutik

avatangiisinut tunngatillugu periusissatut nalilersuinertaani (SMV) eqikkarneqarlutik

qulaajarneqarsimanissaat. Kalaallit Nunaanni nunat immikkoortuinut aammalu kangerlunnut

tunngassuteqartut eqikkaanerit taama ittut pigineqartut ikittuinnaapput, taamaattumillu nunap

immikkoortuisa ilaanni aatsitassarsiorfinnik annertuunik ingerlatsinermut pinngortitap avatangiisillu

ataqatigiissitsiniarnissat paasiuminaassinnaasartoq. Pinngortitaq inunnit

sunnerneqarsimarpianngitsoq kalaallini pisuussutaavoq nunarsuaq tamakkipajaarlugu

amigaatigineqartoq, assersuutigalugulu takornariaqarnermi/misigisassarsiornermi

ilisimatusarnermilu tamatuma soqutigineqaleriartuinnarnissaa ilimanarpoq. Taamaattumik ilaatigut

pissutsit taamaannerat eqqaamallugu siunissami pilersaarusiornerni taannartaa

qulakkeersimaniarneqartassaaq. Aatsitassarsiorfiginiakkami avatangiisinik mingutsitsinnginnissaq

anguniarlugu qaffasissumik pitsaassusilimmik piumasaqaateqartarnissaq, taamatullu

nunaminertanik atuinissani pinngortitami immikkut eriagisariaqartutut nalilerneqarsimasunik

kalluaannginnissaq, taakkulu atuuttuartussamik sunnerneqarsinnaanerat pinaveersimatinniarlugu

iliuuseqarnissat naleqquttuussapput.

Taamaattumik innersuussutigineqarput:

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• Nunami, taseqarfinni kooqarfinnilu kangerluillu taakkununnga attuumassutillit

eqqarsaatigalugit misissuinertigut sumiifikkaartunik nunap immikkoortukkaartunillu

avatangiisinut tunngatillugu periusissatut nalilersuinernik suliaqarsimanissaq. Nalilersuinerit

taakkua pisortat suliffissuaqarfiillu pilersaarusiornissaannut atorneqassapput, annikitsumik

aatsitassarsiorniarnerit ilanngullugit. Nunap immikkoortui aatsitassarsiorfissatut

soqutiginaatillit arlallit toqqarneqassapput, taakkunanilu pinngortitamut avatangiisinut

sumiiffiillu atorneqartarnerannut tunngasutigut paasissutissanik atorneqarsinnaasunik

pissarsisoqassaaq (piniarnerit, asimi alianaarsaarfiit, takornariaqarfiit il.il.). Sumiiffiit qanoq

atorneqarnerannut paasissutissat sapinngisamik tamakkiimasut katersorneqassapput,

pisariaqassappat sumiiffimmi najugaqartut suleqatiginerisigut. Paasissutissat

atortorissaarutinik ungasianiit atorneqarsinnaasunik remote sensing data3 –nik atuinikkut

kiisalu sumiiffimmi pineqartumi misissuinertigut pissarsiarineqassapput. Tamakku

saniatigut avatangiisinut tunngatillugu periusissatut nalilersuinernik sumiiffiup

suliniuteqarfiginiakkap nipimit sunnerneqarsinnaaneranik, nunataagut

sunnerneqarsinnaaneranik, eqqakkanik toqqorsiuviusinnaaneranut, imikoorfiusinnaaneranut

aammalu silaannakkut mingutsinneqarsinnaaneranut assigisaannullu tunngassutilinnik

nalunaarusiaq ilaqartinneqassaaq.

• Imaani uuliasiorniarluni ujarlerfiusunut nutaanut tunngatillugu avatangiisinut tunngatillugu

periusissatut nalilersuinerit suliarineqarsimassaput.

• Ingerlassassat pilersaarusiorneqarpata avatangiisinut tunngatillugu periusissatut

nalilersuinerit pisoqaanerpaat nutarterneqassapput.

2.2 Ileqqut, malitassat najoqqutassiallu ineriartorteqqinneqarnissaat anguniarlugu ilisimatusarnikkut innersuussutit

Akoorutissat uuliallu akuisa nungujartortarnerannut uumassuseqassutsillu ataqatigiiffiinut

akornusiisartut akoorutissat toqunartortallit, aatsitassarsiorfiit eqqagassaataanik sivisuumik

inissiisarnernut, aatsitassat qinngornernik navianartortallit ilanngullugit (sinnikut) aammalu imaani

uumasunut miluumasunut nipitigut sunniisinnaanernut tunngassutillit ilisimasat

pisariaqartinneqarput. Amerlasuutigut issittumi pissutsinut tunngasutilinnik misissuisoqarneq

ajorpoq, nunarsuup ilaani kiannerusuni misissuisimanernit inernerusut taamaallaat pigineqartarmata

paasissutissat taama ittut nangaassutitaqartorujussuusinnaasarput. Misissuinerit ilaat

ingerlanneqalereersimapput, ataatsimulli isigalugit nangaassutigineqarsinnaasut

annikillisarnissaannut avatangiisinut naleqquttunik, sunniuteqarluarsinnaasunik

3 Remote sensing-data tassaapput paasissutissat ungasianiit katersorneqarsimasut, assersuutigalugu qaammataasat, timmisartut, immami paasissutissanik katersuutitalinnik boojiliinertigut assigisaanillu atuilluni katersinerit.

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pisariaqartinneqartunillu iliuuseqarsinnaanissanut misissuinerit suli amerlanerusut

pisariaqartinneqarput.

Piffissamut periusissatut pilersaarusiorfiusumut tunngatillugu makku innersuussutigineqarput:

• Ilisimatuussutsikkut misissuinerit tunngavigalugit periutsit nalinginnaasumillu

maleruagassat4 ineriartortinneqarnerini nunanit tamalaaneersut peqataatinneqartuarnissaat

pingaartuuvoq, peqatigitillugulu suliamut tamatumunnga ikorfartuutitut kalaallit

issittormiullu isiginninnittariaasiisa ilanngunneqartarnissaat nangittumik

qulakkeerniarneqartassaaq.

• Avatangiisit mianeriniarlugit nalinginnaasumik ileqqussaasut allattorsimaffiliuunnissaat.

Taama ittup ilaatigut aatsitassarsiornikkut uuliasiornikkullu ingerlassani avatangiisinut

sunniutaasinnaasunik nalilersuinerit nalunaarusiornerannik, kiisalu avatangiisit

mianeriniarlugit nalinginnaasumik ileqqussaasut, avatangiisit isumannaarniarlugit

piumasaqaatinik, atortorissaarutinik (takuuk Atortorissaarutit pitsaanerpaat

pissarsiarineqarsinnaasut allaaserineqarnerat BAT atuinissamik aalajangiussaq, takuuk

Boksip oqaasertaa 3) atuinissamik piumasaqaatinik, il.il. qulaajaasimanissamik

nalunaarusiap ilaqartinneqarnissaanik piumasaqaatit piuminarnerulersissavai.

2.3 Uuliakoortoqartillugu upalungaarsimaniarluni periusissat ineriartorteqqinnissannut innersuussutit

Imaani uuliakoornerit annertuunik sivisuumillu atasussanik kinguneqarsinnaapput. Taamaattumik

uuliamik ujaasilluni qillerisoqartillugu isumannaallisaaneq pingaartinneqartariaqarpoq. Manna

tikillugu ujaasilluni qillerinerit sikoqannginnerani taamaallaat ingerlanneqartarput, sikunialerneralu

sioqqutingaatsiarlugu unitsitsinneqartarput, uuliamik supisoornerit uuliakoortoqarsinnaaneranullu

iliuuseqarsinnaanissamut piffissaagallarnerani. Taamatut periuseqaannarnissaq innersuussutaavoq,

soorlu aamma uuliamik ujaasilluni qillerisoqarnerata nalaani sillimaniarnermut

upalungaarsimaniarnernullu pitsaassutsip qaffasissumiitiinnarnissaanik piumasaqaateqartarneq

ingertiinnarneqassasoq.

Imaani sikumi saatsersumi taarneranilu annertuumik uuliakoortoqassagaluarpat qanoq

iliuuseqartoqarnissaanik periutsinik uppernarsagaasumik atorsinnaassusilinnik suli

pigisaqartoqanngilaq.

4 Ileqqut = periutsit akuerisat, malitassat = atsitassarsiornermi uuliasiornermiluunniit killissarititaasut, mingutsitsissutit annertus-susiats

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Taamaattumik Kalaallit Nunaata imartaani avatangiisinut illersorneqarsinnaasumik ukioq

kaajallallugu uuliamik ujaasisoqartarnissaani qalluisoqartalissagaluarneranilu atortulersuutitigut

annertuumik ineriartortitsisoqarnissaa suli pisariaqartinneqartupilussuuvoq.

Uuliasiorniarnernut atatillugu upalungaarsimanissamik pilersaaruteqarnissaq tamatumalu

pitsanngorsarneqartuarneqarluni ineriartortinneqartusarnissaa suliassaavoq annertoorujussuaq,

aammattaaq tamanna Kalaallit Nunaanni imaatigut isumannaatsumik angallannissamut

attuumassuteqarpoq. Uuliakoorsinnaaneq akiorluarneqassappat periusissatigut atorluarsinnaasumik

pilersaaruteqarnissaq aammalu atortulersuutitigut ineriartortitsiuarnissamik, uuliap aammalu

uuliakoorutinik saliinermi atorneqartartut avatangiisinik akornusiisinnaanerannut tunngassutilinnik

ilisimatusarnernik, pisuussutit uumassusillit mianerisassat sumiinnerinik misissuinernik

nalunaarsuinernillu kiisalu uuliap uuliakoorutaasup arroriartortarneranut imartanilu assigiinngitsuni

siaruaattarneranut tunngassutilinnik ilisimasaqarnissamik pisariaqartitsisoqarpoq.

Piffissamut periusissatut pilersaarusiorfiusumut tunngatillugu makku innersuussutigineqarput:

• Uumassuseqassutsit ataqatigiiffiisa ilisimasat tunngavigalugit pitsaanerpaamik

angusaqaataanerpaamillu illersorneqarnissaat anguniarlugu nunarsuarmioqatigiit

ataqatigiissakkamik tamakkununnga tunngassuteqartunik ilisimatusartarnerinik nangittumik

tapersersuinissaq. Ilisimasat tamakkua nunap immikkoortuini pilersaarusiorluakkamik

misissueqqissaanernillu tunngaveqartunik upalungaarsimasuutitaqarnernut tapertaassapput

(Net Environmental Benefit-analyser).

• Naalagaaffeqatigiit nunallu tamalaat uuliasiornerni upalungaaarsimanernut sillimaniarnerisa

pitsanngorsarnissaat ineriartorteqqinneqarnissaallu pissapput, tamakkunuunatigut

piumasaqaatit erseqqeqqinnaalersinnerisigut ilisimatusartarnerillu ataqatigiissartarnerisigut.

2.4 Uulia oqimaatsoq (HFO = Heavy Fuel Oil) pillugu innersuussutit Uuliamik oqimaatsumik (HFO) atuisarneq avatangiisit eqqarsaatigalugit arlalitsigut

ajornartorsiutitaqarpoq. Dieselimik gasuuliamillu atuinernut sanilliullugu uulia pineqartoq

silaannarmik mingutsitsinerujussuusarpoq, imaanullu maqisoorutigineqarnerani

salikkuminaatsupilussuulluni. Tamakkua peqqutigalugit HFO Qalasersuup Kujalliup imartaani

atorneqaqqusaananilu assartorneqaqqusaanngilaq, nunallu tamalaat akornanni umiartornermi

kattuffiup (IMO) uuliap oqimaatsup Issittumi atorneqartarnerata inerteqqutaalersinneqarnissaa

sulissutigivaa. Maannamut uuliasiorfiutileqatigiiffiinnut Kalaallit Nunaata imartaani uuliamik

ujarlernernik ingerlataqarsimasunut piumasaqaataasarsimavoq HFO uuliamik atuinnginnissaq.

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Piffissamut periusissatut pilersaarusiorfiusumut tunngatillugu makku innersuussutigineqarput:

• Kalaallit Nunaanni aatsitassarsiornernik ingerlatsinerni HFO-mik siunissami

atuinnginnissap, Issittorlu ataatsimut isigalugu atuinnginnissamik inerteqquteqalernissap

tapersersornissaa.

2.5 Avatangiisit nakkutigineqarneranni isumassatigut ineriartortitsinernut tunngatillugu innersuussutit

Kalaallit Nunaanni aatsitassarsiornernik ingerlataqarnerup aqutsivigineqarnerini avatangiisit pillugit

nakkutilliinertaa pingaaruteqartuuvoq. Ilaatigut aatsitassarsiornermik ingerlataqartup avatangiisinut

aniatitaasa killissarititaasutut aaliangersakkat iluiniinnerat paasiniarlugu nakkutilliisoqartarpoq.

Naak aatsitassarsiorniarnerup aallartinnginnerani sukumiisumik misissuisoqartaraluartoq,

avatangiisinut sunniutaasinnaasutut naatsorsuutigineqartut ilumut piviusumi aamma

taamaassanersut nalornissutigineqartuarsinnaapput. Nakkutilliisarnernit aatsitassasiorfinniit

aniatinneqartartut qanoq isikkoqarnerannik paasisaqarnerit aallaavigalugit, aniatinneqartartut ilumut

piumasaqaatinut naapertuunnerat imaluunniit, saleeriaatsinik assigisaanillu

naleqqussaasoqartariaqarneranik pisariaqartitsisoqarnersoq nalilersorneqartarput.

Makkunatigut nakkutilliisoqassaaq:

1. Aniatitsinerit: kuuffinni akoorutissat mingutsitsissutaasartut sorliit annertussusiinullu

tunngassutillit. Uuttortaasanerit aatsitassarsiorfiutileqatigiiffimmeersut

aniatitsinerminnik nammineerlutik nakkutilliisussaatitaanermikkut

suliarikkajuttarpaat. Misilittakkat takutippaat oqartussat takkullutik nakkutilliiniarlutik

misissuisarnerat kiisalu aatsitassarsiorfimmeersut namminneerlutik

nakkutilliinermikkut paasissutissaataannik misissuisarnerat pingaartuusut.

2. Qanittumi avatangiisit: akoorutissat navianarsinnaasut annertussusiat avatangiisinilu

nalilersuutissatut toqqartorneqarsimasut. Nakkutilliinerit taama ittut

takussutissiorniartussaavaat aatsitassarsiorfiup ingerlanneqartup qanoq qanorlu

ungasitsigisumut avatangiisinut sunniutigisimasai. Taamaalilluni aatsitassarsiorfiup

aallartinneqarsinneqarsinnaasutut akuersissuteqarfigineqarnerani naatsorsuutigisat

naapertorlugit avatangiisit sunnerneqarsimasinnaanerat nalilersorneqarsinnaalerluni.

3. Aatsitassarsiornerup unitsinneqareernerata kingorna nakkutilliineq. Nakkutilliinerup

tamatuma eqqakkanit inissiivinniit il.il. siunertarineqanngitsumik

mingutsitsisoqartuulernissaanik pinaveersimatitsiniarneq uppernarsarniartussaavaa.

Silap pissusiata allanngoriartornerata kingunerisaanik apisarnerata siallertarneratalu

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nunallu qerijuaannartup aakkiartorneranut tunngassuteqartut siunissartaaq

ungasinnerusoq eqqarsaatigalugu isiginiartuarneqarnissaat pingaartuuvoq. Eqqakkat

qinngornernik ulorianartortallit piffissami sivisuupilussuarmi avatangiisinut

ulorianaateqarlutik pinngortitamiititaasarmata immikkut iliuuseqarfigineqarlutik

alaatsinaaqqissaarneqartariaqarput.

Piffissamut periusissatut pilersaarusiorfiusumut tunngatillugu makku innersuussutigineqarput:

• Aatsitassarsiorfiutileqatigiiffiit nakkutilliissutinik pilersitsillutillu ineriartortitsinissaat

anguniarlugu ilitsersuusiortoqassasoq, taakkununnga innuttaasut sumiiffigisaminni

assigiinngitsutigut peqataatinneqarnissaannut periarfissinneqarnissaat ilanngullugit.

• Kalaallit Nunaannut naleqquttunik nakkutilliissutinik pilersitsiniarluni ilisimatusarnerit

nangittumik tapersersorneqarnissaat, taakkununnga ilanngullugit pinngortitami

nalilersuutissatut toqqartueriaatsit aammalu suut akoqassusiannik misissueriaatsit

nalilersorluarneqarnerannik.

2.6 Pinngortitami sunniutit annertusiartortarnerisa iliuuseqarfigineqartarnerisalu pitsanngorsaaviginissaannik innersuussutit aammalu pinngortitami uumassuseqassutsit ataqatigiinnerat aallaaviginerullugu aqutseriaaseqariartuuaarnissamut aqqut

Aatsitassarsiornerup uumassuseqassutsip ataqatigiinneranut sunniutigisartagai inuussutissarsiutit

allat sunniutigisartagaat soorlu aalisarnerup piniarnerullu, nunanit suliffissuaqarfiusunit nunarsuup

ilaanit ungasissumiit mingutsitsinerit annguttartut silallu pissusiata allanngoriartornerata

sunniutigisartagaat peqatigalugit pipput. Aatsitassarsiornermik inuussutissarsiornerup

ineriartortinneqartuarnera eqqarsaatigalugu, pissusissamisuussaaq aatsitassarsiornernit sunniutit

pinngortitamik illersuisariaqarnermik pisariaqartitsinermut ataqatigiissillugit taamatullu

aalisarnermik, piniarnermik inuussutissarsiuteqarnerit pinngortitap tunniussinnaasaanik

tunngaveqarluinnartut attattuaannarneqarnissaattaaq eqqarsaatigalugit ataqatigiissumik

aaqqiiviginiarneqartarnissaat pisariaqarpoq.

Piffissamut periusissatut pilersaarusiorfiusumut tunngatillugu makku innersuussutigineqarput:

• Aatsitassarsiornernik annertuunik ingerlassaqarnermi nunap immikkoortuini avatangiisinik

nakkutilliisarnerit uumassuseqassutsit ataqatigiiffiisa qanoq issusiannik (uumassuseqassutsip

assigiinngisitaarnera, aaqqissuussimasat (systemit) ingerlariaaseqarnerat)

malinnaaffiginninniarnermi nalilersuutissatut toqqartorneqarsimasut aamma immikkut

misissuiffigineqarlutik nakkutigineqartarnissaat pisariaqartutut isigineqarpoq. Taamatut

nakkutilleeriaaseqarnerup aatsitassarsiornermik ingerlataqartup ataasiinnaap avatangiisinut

sunniutaanik taamaallaat malinnaaffiginninneruinnaassanngilaq, kisiannili pissutsit

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assigiinngitsut peqqutaallutik uumassuseqassutsit ataqatigiiffiinut sunniutigisaasa

kattunneqarnerisigut sunniutit annertusiartuaarsimanerisa kinguneri paasineqassapput,

soorlu silap pissusiata allanngoriartornerata, ungasissumiit avatangiisinut mingutsitsinerup,

umiarsuarsornerup, suliffissuaqarfiit allat, aalisarnerup piniarnerullu kattullutik sunniutaat

eqqarsaatigineqarlutik. Taamatut nakkutilleeriaaseqarnerup naatsorsuutiginngisamik

pisoqarnerani suut peqqutaasinnaanerinik paasiniaalluni misissuisarnerit

aallartinneqartarnissaat qulakkiissavaa, assersuutigalugu paasiniarneqartassalluni pisoq

aatsitassarsiorfiup ingerlanneqarneranik imaluunniit assersuutigalugu silap pissusiata

allanngoriartorneranik), peqquteqartumik pisuunersoq paasiniarneqartassalluni,

pisariaqarfiinilu piumasaqaatinik sukaterisoqartassalluni. Nakkutilliisarnissat uani pineqartut

ingerlanneqartassapput nakkutilliinermik ingerlatsinernut allanut ataqatigiissarnerisigut,

soorlu silap pissusiata allanngoriartornerata sunniutaanik nakkutilliinernut (Greenland

Ecological Monitoring-programme), ungasissumiit mingutsitsinerit nakkutigineqarnerinut

(Arctic Monitoring and Assesment Programme), aamma uumassuseqassutsit ataqatigiiffiisa

nakkutigineqarnerinut (Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program CBMP).

• Uumassuseqassutsit ataqatigiiffii aallaaviginerullugit aqutseriaaseqalernissamik (Tekstboks

2, takuuk) anguniagaqarnermi ilaatigut silap pissusiata allanngoriartorneranik

peqquteqartumik aqutsinikkut unammilligassat isumagilluarneqartarnissaat aammalu

avatangiisit allanngoriartortut naleqqussarfigilluarnerujumallugit suliassaqarfitsigut

sammiviit akimorlugit suleqatigiinnerusoqartariaqalerpoq. Siuliani taaneqartutut

uumassuseqassutsit ataqatigiiffiinut tunngatillugu suliassaqarfiit assigiinngitsut kiisalu

soqutigisallit qanimut suleqatigiinnerulersinnerisigut suliniarnissami sakkussat

pingaaruteqartut pilersinneqarsinnaapput.

2.7 Sumiiffinnut immikkuullarissunut imaatigullu uuliamik ujaasinernut tunngatillugu innersuussutit

Kalaallit Nunaata imartaani sumiiffinnut immikkuullarissumik malussarissuseqartunut kiisalu

uuliakoornerni pitsaasunik upalungaarsimasoqarnissaanut periarfissanut tunngatillugu ilisimasat

katersorneqarsimallutillu paasiniaqqissaarneqarneranni piffissami periusissatut

pilersaarusiorfiusumi pinngortitaq avatangiisillu eqqarsaatigalugit sumiiffiit ilaasa

ujaasiffigineqannginnissaat pitsaasuussasoq naliliisoqarpoq.

Piffissamut periusissatut pilersaarusiorfiusumut tunngatillugu makku innersuussutigineqarput:

• Imartanik uuliamik ujarlerfigineqarsinnaasutut akuerisaasunik ujarlernissamik

neqeroortitsinermut atatillugu DCE-p Pinngortitaleriffiullu innersuussutigaat imartat

Kalaallit Nunaata avannaaniittut - tassa Kalaallit Nunaata kitaani allorniusaq sanimukartoq

23

75° tungaaniit avannamut, Tunumilu allorniusaq sanimukartoq 80° tungaaniit avannamut –

neqeroorutigineqanngikkallarnissaat. Tassunga peqqutaavoq imartat pineqartut ukioq

kaajallaasavillugu sikuusarmata, uuliasiortoqassagaluarpallu ajutoorsinnaanissaq

uuliakoorsinnaanissarlu qaninnerussammat aammalu uuliakoorummillu saliinissaq

ajornakusoortussaammat.

• Imartat immikkoortut pingasut uummavittut tamakkulu ataqatigiiffinut immikkut

pingaaruteqartutut naliliiffigineqarsimasut uuliamik ujarlerfiunnginnissaat

innersuussutigineqarpoq:

- Pikialasorsuaq (Ikermi) avatangiisit nalilersuiffigineqarsimanerannik nalunaarusiaq

takuuk (Link),

- Attup Uummannaata Avataa, nalunaarusiaq takuuk (Link),

- Kangerlussuup (Scoresby Sund) paavani (taamatuttaaq ukiuugaluartumi sikuneq

ajormat uumavik pingaaruteqartoq, avatangiisit nalilersuiffigineqarsimanerannik

nalunaarusiaq takuuk (Link).

• Siunissami uuliasiorniartunut imartanik avataaniittunik neqeroortitsinnginnermi sumiiffiit

pineqartut avatangiisitigut nalilersorneqaqqaarsimanissaat piumasaqaataalersinneqassasoq,

taamaalilluni sinerissap qanoq mianernartigineranik uuliakoortoqassappallu saliinissamik

periarfissaqartoqarneranik nalilersuinernik ilaqartinneqartalissallutik.

2.8 Annikitsumik misissuinissamik piiaanissamillu akuersissutinut tunngatillugu innersuussutit

Annikitsumik misissuinissamik piiaanissamillu akuersissutit 2009-mi atortinneqalerput,

taamanimiillu tunniunneqartartut amerliartorsimapput. Akuersissuteqarfigineqartuni taama ittuni

suliniutaasartut killeqartarmata avatangiisinut annertunerusumik sunniuteqarnissaat

naatsorsuutigineqarneq ajorput, ‘Piiaaffimmilu malittariassat’, piianissamullu qinnuteqaatip

ataatsimut nalilersorneqarnera, amerlasuutigut ingerlassat avatangiisinik

sunniivallaannginnissaannik killilersuutitut naammattarput.

Piffissamut periusissatut pilersaarusiorfiusumut tunngatillugu makku innersuussutigineqarput:

• Annikitsumik misissuinissamik piianissamillu qinnuteqartunut avatangiisit

mianerineqarnissaannik piumasaqaatinut malinninnissaasnnik ilitsersuutinik

suliaqartoqassaaq.

• Annikitsumik piiaaffissap amerlasuunit qinnuteqarfigineqarnissaanik

naatsorsuutiginnittoqarpat, qinnuteqaatit pisariinnerusumik suliarineqarnissaannut

peqatigitillugulu sunniutissaasinnaasunut ataatsimoortunut sillimanissamik

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qulakkeerinninnissaq pillugu, sumiiffiup aatsitassarsiorfiginiarneqartup avatangiisai

naliliiffigineqaqqaarsimassapput.

• Sumiiffimmi annikitsumik aatsitassarsiorfiuniartumi avatangiisinik nakkutilliinissaq

(ingerlanerani kingornalu) pisariaqartinneqarnersoq nalilersorneqartassaaq.

Aappilatoq in South Greenland. Photo David Boertmann.

25

3 Introduction

Environmental protection in connection with mineral resource activities (see Textbox 1) is a political

choice, and the position in Greenland is clear as expressed in the report on the latest Mineral Re-

sources Act: The Act is to "prevent mineral resource activities from causing irreversible damage to

the environment, including the very vulnerable Arctic nature in particular".

Mineral resource exploitation cannot be carried out without impacts on natural resources, and the

environmental regulation is to ensure that such impacts are reduced to acceptable levels. At the same

time, the environmental regulation may not unnecessarily prevent or limit mineral resource exploita-

tion – and the benefits involved for society. In order for authorities and politicians to ensure a proper

balance, knowledge of the environmental impacts of the various activities is necessary, thus making

scientifically-based consultancy important. This report describes how the scientifically-based consul-

tancy can support the development of an environmentally friendly mineral resource industry in Green-

land in line with international practice and any special considerations for the Arctic nature.

Both Finland and Canada work with similar environmental awareness in connection with mining. In

Finland, it is called Best Environmental Practice in Metal Ore Mining (Link) and in Canada Towards

Sustainable Mining (Link).

3.1 The scientific advisors – DCE and GINR DCE – the Danish Centre for Environment and Energy, Aarhus University, and the Greenland Insti-

tute for Natural Resources (GINR) provide research-based consultancy to the Environmental Agency

for Mineral Resource Activities which regulates mineral resource activities with a view to minimising

the environmental impacts. For about 40 years, DCE has, as part of changing institutions, provided

such consultancy on the impacts on natural resources in Greenland. In 2014, GINR established an

environmental department and provides consultancy together with DCE. At the same time,

knowledge is transferred from DCE, and the environmental department at GINR is developed to be

able to take over the consultancy at some point.

Mineral resource activities have the potential to affect people's health, to harm the natural resources

and to inflict major financial losses on industries and society. The purpose of the environmental con-

sultancy is to support regulation which ensures that the environmental impacts from mineral resource

activities are kept at a minimum and that no unforeseen effects occur through ongoing environmental

monitoring. Consultancy is provided throughout the lifecycle of a mineral resource project, from the

opening by the authorities of areas for mineral resource activities, over the companies' exploration

and production activities and to the period after the activities have ended.

26

A key component in the environmental regulation is the environmental impact assessment (EIA state-

ments) made by the companies of their activities, and it is vital that the consultancy ensures that these

assessments are accurate and supported by facts. Once a project has started, it is decisive that the

Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities, based on the assessments of the advisors,

ensures that professional, focused environmental monitoring is carried out to allow the company and

authorities to respond quickly if unforeseen environmental impacts are discovered.

The consultancy is provided by cross-sectoral teams of specialists from DCE and GINR who are

biologists, chemists, engineers, geographers, etc. In addition to the actual consultancy, the work also

includes applied research and environmental monitoring. The research focuses on how mineral re-

source activities can affect the nature and environment in Greenland, and monitoring takes place in

the environment around the mineral resource activities. The research work includes basic mapping of

the Greenland biodiversity and environmental state and the sensitivity of animals and plants to dis-

turbance and pollution. The knowledge generated is collected in databases and published in scientific

reports and articles, and it is included in the overall scientific basis for the consultancy on environ-

mental regulation of mineral resource activities.

The consultancy also includes knowledge and experience of similar mineral resource activities from

other countries. DCE and GINR have developed a valuable network of contacts with researchers and

consultants, particularly in Norway, Finland, Canada, Alaska and Australia. Countries which all have

a well-developed mineral resource industry and contemporary environmental regulation. Moreover,

DCE and GINR take part in international work of assessing the state of the environment and devel-

oping joint recommendations for how the environmental impacts of mineral resource activities can

be minimised. This work is carried out in the Arctic Council working groups on monitoring of the

Arctic environment (AMAP), protection of the marine environment (PAME) and biodiversity

(CAFF), and in working groups linked to the Commission on environmental protection of the North-

Textbox 1 Mineral resource activities This memo uses the term 'mineral resource activities' in a broad sense. It covers all activities in the Greenland landscape – on land and offshore – in connection with mineral resource exploration and exploitation, including oil and gas. This includes the very simple small-scale activities and prelimi-nary studies where geologists and private individuals investigates an area for potential minerals by collecting rocks and surface samples, possible with the support of a helicopter or small ships. It also includes the major activities involved when searching for oil – such as seismic surveys using a ship or exploration drilling from large drilling rigs – or for minerals when kilometres of cores are drilled from the underground. The establishment of an oil field or a mine with comprehensive infra-structure and traffic, including ship traffic, is also covered by the term, and finally, it is important to remember the activities related to demolition, disposal and restoring the terrain when a deposit has been exhausted or abandoned for other reasons.

27

East Atlantic (OSPAR) and in the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for peaceful

use of nuclear technology.

The international work may also in future help ensure more uniform guidelines for the mineral re-

source industry both locally and globally.

The numerous abbreviations and acronyms are explained in Appendix 1.

Study of oil spill effects on kelp in the intertidal zone of a Greenland Fjord. Photo: Kim Gustavson.

28

4 Background

4.1 Environmental impacts from mineral resource industry Mineral resource activities generally affect nature and the environment in three ways:

• Physically, in terms of the location and establishment of buildings, the actual quarry, mining

waste disposal sites and other infrastructure, such as roads, marine structures, airports, pipe-

lines, etc.

• Disturbance of wildlife by noise, human presence and traffic or destruction of plant habitats.

• Discharge and emission to water, air and soil (pollution).

It is important to assess the impacts and the duration of their effects:

• Are they temporary? Will animals scared off return to the affected areas?

• Are they long-term or permanent? Will there be any permanent traces and effects after an

activity?

Mineral resource activities may also interact with impacts from other human activities, such as fishing

or hunting, and create cumulative effects.

Significant environmental impacts from mineral resource activities may lead to:

• Health problems and changed living conditions for people.

• Decrease in animal populations – caused by direct mortality, sub-lethal effects, permanent

scaring off.

• Destruction of habitats for flora and fauna.

• Ecosystem changes.

• Persistent landscape changes.

Along with the authority approvals of project activities, the companies' environmental impact assess-

ment (EIA statement) must ensure that the risk of unwanted environmental impacts are minimised or

preferably avoided. The worst environmental impacts often come from unforeseen events (accidents),

such as oil spill or failure of mining waste disposal sites.

4.1.1 Physical impacts

The physical impacts on terrain and vegetation leave footprints in the landscape. Those are buildings

and structures, such as drilling rigs, pipelines, marine structures and runways or where vehicles are

used in the terrain, gravel are dug for construction, where the mine is excavated and where waste rock

and tailings are deposited. Offshore, the physical impacts are limited to the seabed when exploration

drilling is carried out and production wells and facilities are established.

29

Track of this kind should be avoided during mineral exploration. Photo: Christian Glahder.

Preliminary studies on land are usually so moderate that they do not affect vegetation and the terrain

more than people's normal activities in connection with e.g. reindeer hunting and angling. To prevent

further impacts, the Mineral Licence and Safety Authority has issued a set of rules for traffic and

activities, such as helicopter flying (Link), commonly known as the 'Field Rules'.

Exploration activities are temporary and installations and equipment are removed once the activity

has ended if the exploration was unsuccessful. However, traces of e.g. seismic surveys or abraded

surfaces will often remain in the terrain for several years because the Arctic nature only regenerates

very slowly.

Adverse effects of the physical impacts The worst effects of the physical impacts of mineral resource activities are loss and destruction of

habitats for flora and fauna. This may pose a particular problem for rare and scarce species and for

species of very limited abundance or very specialised lifestyles. It may also be a problem when ani-

mals' paths of travel are blocked so that e.g. the Arctic char cannot pass a dammed watercourse or

reindeer cannot follow their migratory routes due to a pipeline. Knowledge of the abundance of flora

and fauna combined with targeted planning is key to preventing and limiting such effects.

30

Other adverse effects are spread of dust and thawing of the permafrost layer with a risk of terrain

changes.

Physical impacts on the seabed occur in connection with drilling and establishment of a production

field. In this context, it is important to pay special attention to vulnerable ecosystems, also known as

VMEs (Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems). In Greenland these could be cold water coral reefs and ma-

rine sponge communities (spongia), also known as sponge gardens. When a drilling site is designated,

the company must study the seabed in advance for the presence of such VMEs to avoid disturbing

them.

Dust from mining activities can contribute to environmental impacts. Photo: Lis Bach.

4.1.2 Disturbance of wildlife

When animal behaviour is affected by human activities, this is what we call disturbance. Noise (from

drilling, seismic surveys, machinery, etc.), traffic (helicopter, vehicles and ships) and the presence of

humans are the main causes of disturbance. For example, if a reindeer is scared away from a foraging

area or if foraging patterns or breeding pattern change. If this occurs in areas which the animals de-

pend on during particularly important periods of their lifecycle, this may have a long-term adverse

impacts on the affected populations, i.e. the number of animals is reduced.

31

Persistent disturbance A mine or an oil field will cause persistent disturbance during the production period, which may last

for several years. Especially around an offshore oil field, there will be numerous and far-reaching

disturbances because of constant drilling activities, maritime traffic to and from, and because the

seismic surveys continue throughout the lifecycle of the field. Those kinds of disturbances may cause

an actual displacement of animals – at sea mainly whales. As a result, wildlife disturbance should be

included in the planning of the location of disturbing installations.

4.1.3 Discharge and emission – pollution

Mineral resource activities generate various forms of waste to be disposed of. Some types of waste

are rather 'trivial' such as household waste and different kinds of wastewater: grey (kitchens, showers,

sinks) and black (toilets). Those types of waste are always similar to that of urban communities and

normal ships, and the environmental problems are the same. Mineral resource exploration in Green-

land generally follows the international agreements aiming to limit such pollution of the marine en-

vironment, including the OSPAR Commission and the MARPOL Convention, but for some areas,

DCE and GINR have recommended stricter requirements for e.g. discharge to freshwater.

Discharge from mines Seen from an environmental perspective, the key residual products from mining activities are tailings

and waste rock, collectively referred to as mining waste. Often waste rock contains small amounts of

the minerals and elements (such as heavy metals) that are found in the ore and which can be released

into the surrounding environment. Therefore, it is important to analyse waste rock to consider whether

it may constitute a pollution hazard. The environmental problems are most substantial if the waste

rock contains sulphides, because if oxidated, it forms sulfuric acid in aqueous solution. The acidic

water dissolves and washes out heavy metals, and if seeping out, they will spread to the surrounding

environment.

In addition to residues of the sought-after mineral, tailings may contain heavy metals and residues of

the substances used in the processes applied to produce a concentrate from the ore.

Tailings are usually fine sand and depositing is subject to special conditions in order not to pollute

the surroundings. As a result, the tailing dams must be very carefully designed and constructed.

Several of the processes in the post-treatment of the mined ore can generate wastewater (process

water) which cannot be discharged directly to the nearest lake, stream or fjord because of its content

of pollutants. These pollutants may come from the ore, from which heavy metals, sulphur and fluo-

rine, may be washed out, or from some of the chemicals added in the different processes.

In Greenland, all chemicals requested to be used in mining projects are required to be approved before

use, and unwanted pollutants from the wastewater must be removed before discharge to ensure that

the environment and drinking water are not affected. Furthermore, a certain water quality is required

32

in the lakes, rivers and sea areas (recipients) designated, and the component substances in outlets and

recipients must be monitored to ensure that the authorities' discharge requirements are met.

Another source of spreading pollutants from a mine to the environment is dust. This is not actual

discharge as the dust comes from the various mechanical processes taking place in a mine. The dust

in itself has a physical impact on the environment, but it may also contain pollutants, just like the ore,

tailings and/or waste rock from which the dust comes.

Just like requirements for discharge to the aquatic environment, the authorities also make require-

ments for the spread of dust from a mine.

Uranium The mining of minerals with radioactive elements give rise to special problems requiring particular

attention in order not to cause serious and long-term environmental and health problems.

Uranium in itself is not particularly radioactive when mined. However, uranium is always found to-

gether with naturally occurring radium and radon (elements) which are radioactive decay products

from the uranium. Radium is a metal which may in particular pollute water, and radon is a gas that

pollutes air. Moreover, uranium is usually found together with the radioactive element thorium. This

is not to be extracted, meaning that it will end up in tailings and deposits and chemical residues.

Radium and thorium can also spread with dust from deposit sites and the mechanical processes which

the ore undergo.

DCE and GINR have accumulated expertise in this field, and in 2016, they published a report on the

environmental impacts of uranium production in Greenland (Link). Furthermore, DCE and GINR are

involved in the work of international forums (International Atomic Energy Agency under the UN,

IAEA), and research is conducted and networks are built to strengthen the competences and

knowledge base for the consultancy.

Discharge from oil drilling The most significant discharge from exploration drilling is cuttings (the bored material which resem-

bles fine sand) and drilling mud (see below). When drilling offshore, cuttings are deposited at the

seabed where they will settle as a thick layer. This is usually not toxic, but fauna that lives from

filtering organic material from the surrounding water will not be able to withstand heavy cover. Sea

sponges and cold water corals are particularly susceptible. To avoid harming such benthic fauna, the

mandatory environmental impact assessments include mapping of the seabed before drilling starts. If

areas with dense populations of sponges and corals are discovered, the drilling site must be moved.

When drilling is carried out in the underground (and this applies to oil and some mineral drilling),

drilling mud is added to the well. This fluid lubricates and cools the drill bit, carries the bored mate-

rials (cuttings) and stabilises the well to prevent it from collapsing (particularly when drilling in soft

33

and porous rocks). Finally, it prevents pressure increases in the deep holes drilled when searching for

oil.

To optimise the drilling mud for the various functions, a number of chemicals are added. Some are

environmentally harmless, such as common salt, whereas others may contain heavy metals or are

actual environmental toxins and finally, some are slowly degradable and will remain in the environ-

ment for a long time if discharged. Moreover, the mineral barite (BaSO4) is added to make the drilling

mud heavy. It is not toxic in itself but may be contaminated with by heavy metals such as mercury

(Hg).

The drilling mud is widely reused as long as drilling is in progress but has to be deposited one way

or the other when drilling has been completed. Large volumes of drilling mud and cuttings will then

have to be handled: In connection with the three exploration drilling activities off Disko in 2010,

between 650 and 900 m3 of cuttings were produced for each well, and a total of 6,000 tonnes of

drilling mud was used and discharged to the seabed once the activities had been completed.

Greenland follows the OSPAR Commission's standards on the chemicals added to the drilling mud

(offshore chemicals). These standards are about low toxicity, limited possibility of accumulation in

the food chains (bioaccumulation) and rapid degradability. The chemicals added to the drilling mud

in connection with drilling activities in Greenland must be included in the OSPAR Commission's

PLENOR5 list of environmentally friendly substances. As with mining projects, all chemicals used

during oil exploration must be approved in advance by the authorities.

After the eight exploration drilling activities carried out in Greenland in 2010 and 2011, the strategy

for using drilling mud was revised with a view to making the use of drilling mud more environmen-

tally friendly.

Emission to the air Emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere is not particular to the mineral resource industry, but

many of the activities are highly energy-demanding, and as oil is the main source of energy, large

volumes of CO2 are emitted.

Both oil production and mining activities will contribute significantly to the Greenland emission of

greenhouse gasses. In the EIA statement for the planned iron mine at Isua close to Nuuk, it was

calculated that the activities would increase the annual Greenland footprint by 89%. A large oil field

like the Norwegian Statfjord, has an annual emission of more than twice the total Greenland footprint.

In connection with mining, it may be possible to limit emissions as in many cases, hydropower can

be used as energy source. There is significant hydropower potential in Greenland, but the companies

are hesitant to use that energy form because construction costs are extremely high.

5 PLONOR = Pose Little Or No Risk to the environment

34

In addition to greenhouse gases, emissions to the air from energy production in connection with min-

eral resource activities also include NOx, SOx and various organic compounds, for example from

reloading of produced oil. Arctic haze is a phenomenon which occurs in connection with significant

air pollution from machinery, power stations or shipping activities. This is a particular problem in

valleys with still air but may also occur with long-range transboundary air pollution from industrial-

ised areas. Especially soot, SOx and NOx contribute to this pollution phenomenon. Soot (black carbon

– BC) is a particular focus area in the Arctic because soot on snow and ice surfaces reduces the albedo

(i.e. reflection of light and heat) and contributes to warming and increased melting.

Soot mainly comes from the burning of heavy fuel oil (HFO) and is partly related to the sulphur

content of the oil. The use of heavy fuel oil gives rise to other environmental concerns, and as a result,

HFO may not be used or transported in the area around the Antarctic. The International Maritime

Organization (IMO) is working to implement a similar ban in the Arctic. For several years, practice

in Greenland has been not to use heavy fuel oil in connection with offshore oil exploration, and gen-

erally, the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation for sulphur content in the oil used

for mineral resource exploration must be met. On this basis, DCE and GINR have recommended that

the use of heavy fuel oil be completely avoided in Greenland (Appendix 2).

4.1.4 Accidents

Accidents in connection with mineral resource activities may cause environmental impacts of a mag-

nitude not otherwise known in Greenland. Major oil spills as the ones from Exxon Valdez in Alaska

in 1989 and Deepwater Horizon in the Mexican Gulf in 2010 had extensive effects not only on the

environment but also on the communities and industries in the affected coastal areas.

Oil spill Seen from environmental perspective, a major oil spill6 in the sea is the worst that can happen in

connection with oil activities. There are two sources of major oil spills. One is the loss of a fully

loaded tanker and the other is an uncontrolled blowout from a well in connection with drilling in oil-

bearing layers.

Minor oil spills in the marine environment also comes from shipping and accidents on land – such as

marine structures.

Oil spills on land are hardly ever as extensive as at sea, and usually the impacts are more local. How-

ever, there may be a risk of run-off via rivers to the sea where the oil can spread over large areas.

Moreover, experience from Mestersvig shows that the oil can remain in the ground for a long time

and only degrades slowly. On land, the sources of oil spill are blowout of wells during exploration

and extraction, and spill in connection with storage and transport of oil, including from pipelines.

6 A major oil spill is of more than 700 tonnes or approx. 815 m3

35

The effects of a major offshore oil spill will depend on the type of oil, the location of the spill and

weather conditions. We have seen examples of major oil spill of the lighter oil types which have not

had any significant effects on the environment. On the other hand, there are examples of relatively

small oil spills of heavy oil types which have had extensive environmental effects.

Generally, coastal areas are much more vulnerable to oil spill than the open sea. The coasts have a

rich flora and fauna, many fish spawn in shallow water and birds breed on cliffs and islands. The

communities on the seabed are also rich, and the coastal regions are exposed to a greater risk of spilled

oil reaching the seabed, thus affecting the vulnerable fauna. Similarly, oil can be trapped in bays and

fjords and affect the surroundings for a longer period than at open sea. In Greenland, sea ice and the

cold temperatures can intensify the environmental effects.

This is why oil spills should be avoided, and they are prevented through comprehensive safety pro-

cedures, careful planning, use of the most recent and best technology (BAT principle, see Textbox 3)

and by using the most environmentally friendly solutions (BEP principle, see Textbox 3). All these

measures must be ensured through authority regulation. In order to be prepared for oil spills, despite

these measures, response plans must be in place containing clear procedures for use of the various oil

spill control technologies, such as chemical dispersion and burning of oil on the ocean surface, and

response equipment must be ready.

The challenges of combatting an oil spill in the Arctic are substantial. These include winter darkness,

rough weather and large distances to inhabited areas with infrastructure such as harbours and airports.

As a result, Greenland applies all existing oil spill control technologies, including mechanical collec-

tion, chemical dispersion and burning of oil on the ocean surface (in situ burning). These methods,

however, are not useful on ocean surfaces with drift ice. Yet, in situ burning is considered to be the

most promising method, and efforts are still made to develop the technologies.

Mining accidents The worst environmental impacts from mining accidents have occurred because of failure of tailing

dams. Suspended tailings can float over long distances in sloping terrain, and if washed into rivers,

the highly polluted water can move far away from the source and affect large areas. Such accidents

have never been seen in Greenland and should be effectively prevented if large mines are established.

4.2 Past problems in connection with oil exploration and mining activities in Greenland So far, oil exploration activities in Greenland have been carried out in an environmentally safe man-

ner. No major oil spills have been seen with the activities, and the monitoring of environmental im-

pacts has generally not given rise to concern, and, for example, no short-term impacts were seen on

the distribution of narwhals in Melville Bay as a result of the intensive seismic activities in the Baffin

Bay in 2012.

36

Experience from the drilling campaigns in 2010 and 2011 showed that regulation and control of the

discharge of drilling mud were important tasks for the authorities.

In a historical perspective, the mines at Ivittuut (active from 1854 to 1987) and Mestersvig (active

from 1956 to 1963) have caused pollution with heavy metals to the surrounding environment, and at

the lead and zinc mine at Maarmorilik, the environment was significantly polluted with heavy metals,

particularly during the first years (1974).

Thanks to thorough environmental impact assessments and state-of-the-art environmental regulation,

it has been possible to operate the mines subsequently established at Seqi (olivine) and Nalunaq (gold)

without causing any significant environmental impacts.

4.3 How do conditions other than mineral resource activities affect the Artic environment, nature and climate?

Although the Arctic and thereby also the Greenland environment is often referred to as clean and

genuine, it is far from unaffected by human activities.

The fishery – here a small boat fisherman in Ilulissat – also have environmental impacts. Photo:

David Boertmann.

37

The most extensive impacts are seen in connection with the climate change which strikes harder in

the Arctic than on the lower latitudes. Higher air and water temperatures, changed precipitation pat-

terns, temporal and spatial reduction of sea ice, broken down permafrost and an ice sheet the edge of

which is retracting rapidly.

The direct human environmental impacts from the other sectors in Greenland are generally of smaller

scale and with local impact. This includes washing out of pollutants from dumps and waste disposal

sites and discharge of wastewater from the towns. However, Greenland has a high emission of green-

house gases per capita as a result of the use of fossil fuels, but the overall emission is low compared

to that of the large industrialised countries, meaning that energy consumption in connection with

extraction of mineral resources may double this emission.

Hunting and fishing affect populations of fish, birds and mammals considerably through direct mor-

tality. Hunting also makes the individuals in the populations more shy and thus also more vulnerable

to disturbances from other activities, including tourism and mineral resource activities. It is to be

expected that the mortality caused by hunting will interact with any mortality caused by a mineral

resource activity – e.g. an oil spill.

Other activities such as flying, shipping and tourism also cause environmental impacts which may

interact with those of the mineral resource activities.

With the exception of urban areas, the most significant pollution in Greenland comes from industrial-

ised areas in Europe, Asia and North America. Environmental toxins, such as heavy metals (especially

mercury) and many different organic substances, e.g. those known as POPs (persistent organic pol-

lutants), are transported with winds and ocean currents to the Arctic, absorbed into the ecosystem and

accumulated in the food chains. As a result, they pose an environmental hazard but especially also a

health hazard because animals from the higher levels of the food chains (marine mammals) are an

important element in the diet of the Greenland population. The AMAP (Arctic Monitoring and As-

sessment Programme Link) working group under the Arctic Council monitors the level of many of

the long-range transboundary contaminants in different elements of the Greenland environment. Min-

eral resource activities may increase the level of these environmental toxins in the Greenland envi-

ronment if discharge is not minimised and carefully regulated by the authorities.

The projections of ice conditions around Greenland show that navigability – especially after 2050 –

will improve, paving the way for increased navigation and possibilities of mineral resource explora-

tion (see the report from the AACA work on the Davis Strait and Baffin Bay which will be published

in 2018). Impacts from this should be assessed along with the other human impacts and along with

the results of environmental monitoring programmes. Then it will be possible to assess, consider

and limit the overall environmental impacts through what is known as 'ecosystem-based

management' (Textbox 2, p. 43).

38

4.4 What knowledge has been built in Greenland on the impacts of mineral resource activi-ties and how is it used?

The consultancy provided on the environmental impacts of mineral resource activities in Greenland

is based on extensive knowledge built through research and studies over many years. This knowledge

is included in databases managed by DCE and GINR, and it provides a solid basis for authorities to

draw up requirements and terms that ensure low environmental impacts of new activities. This in-

cludes knowledge about pollution and its impacts on the ecosystems, about how the impacts of dis-

turbances and about mapping of areas of particular importance to wildlife.

Environmental studies at the former mine Maarmorilik. Photo: Jens Søndergaard.

Monitoring of mining activities in Greenland started more than 40 years ago at the Maarmorilik mine

and have continued in connection with all other subsequent mining projects. Solid knowledge has

therefore been built on how pollution spreads around the mines; knowledge which has been used in

the environmental regulation of the following mines. Monitoring reports are published on an ongoing

basis, and the underlying data and samples are stored in a data and sample bank. By storing baseline

samples from before the commencement of mining activities in an area, it is always possible to doc-

ument any new pollution. Monitoring has focused on concentrations of harmful substances. At the

same time, studies have been conducted of the biological effects of the pollutants, and DCE and GINR

39

are working to develop and improve methods for monitoring these effects. Whereas monitoring of

the content of pollutants shows snapshots, monitoring of biological effects shows the result of long-

term impacts. The two methods should generally complement each other in future monitoring pro-

grammes.

In 2013, Inarsisartut changed practice for extracting radioactive minerals in Greenland, thus allowing

for uranium mining. Extensive investigations were initiated to secure knowledge and competences to

be used to provide consultancy on the special environmental issues involved in radioactive mineral

exploration and extraction (Link. To support the case handling of specific applications, further work

is carried out to build knowledge and develop analysis options for radioactive substances.

In connection with offshore oil exploration, regional strategic baseline studies have been carried out

to achieve a sound basis for regulating the activities. These baseline studies have resulted in overall

mapping of particularly sensitive natural areas, such as bird colonies, moulting areas for diving ducks,

concentration areas for marine mammals and coastal pawning areas for fish. This knowledge is com-

piled in the strategic environmental impact assessments (SEIA) (Link) which today covers all of West

Greenland and North-East Greenland. The acquired knowledge is also included in the operational

costal zone atlas of particularly oil spill sensitive areas (Link) and in the work of planning general

protection of areas important for biodiversity (Link). Much of the collected data are available on

NunaGis, and this way, Greenland has benefitted from the baseline studies in connection with the oil

activities to support the development of a knowledge base which can be used not only to regulate oil

activities but also in the general natural resource management in the Greenland sea areas.

Knowledge of natural resources on land is not nearly as comprehensive as that available about the

marine environment. By expanding the knowledge base about particularly vulnerable and valuable

areas on land, it is possible to achieve better regulation of mineral resource activities. Such knowledge

could also be included in the planning of activities at an earlier stage (see the localisation principle of

the Mineral Resources Act) than is the case today.

On land, however, strategic environmental impact assessments (SEIA) have been made of oil activi-

ties in the license round areas (Jameson Land (Link) and Disko/Nuussuaq (Link)). But so far, no

SEIAs have been made of mining projects. However, it is worth mentioning that within other onshore

industrial sectors, SEIAs have been prepared, including the plans for an aluminium smelter and es-

tablishment of hydropower.

With its relatively large unspoiled areas containing habitats of special flora and fauna, the Green-

land nature is unique. To limit the effects of disturbances from mineral resource exploration, a set of

rules has been developed regulating traffic on land (Link) – the 'Field Rules'. Disturbance of wild-

life from small-scale mineral resource exploration is often short-term and without any considerable

40

effects, but in certain areas and periods, wildlife may be particularly sensitive and activities are re-

stricted. Such areas include reindeer calving grounds, bird cliffs and walrus landings. A map of

these particularly sensitive areas is included in the 'Field rules' and should be kept up-to-date. In or-

der to make adequate regulation, research is conducted into what disturbances mean to wildlife and

what experience from abroad shows about regulation of traffic in similar areas (Link).

Our current knowledge about environmental effects of oil spill in Greenland consists partly of general

knowledge about the spread and degradation of oil in different environments and the effects of oil on

various living organisms, and partly of area-specific knowledge from Greenland about the abundance

and dynamics of the populations and ecosystems which can be affected by the oil spill. Moreover, we

have extensive research into environmental effects of the different oil spill control techniques which,

in addition to combatting the oil spill, may also have unwanted effects on the environment. Knowing

the pros and cons of oil spill control methods is therefore important to ensure that a Net Environmental

Benefit Analysis (NEBA) can be conducted before the methods are used. Although we still have gaps

in our general knowledge about oil spill in the Arctic, research into oil exploration areas particularly

in Alaska, Canada and Norway have contributed important knowledge, and now targeted research

relevant for Greenland is conducted. In 2017, a controlled, experimental oil spill was conducted south

of Nuuk involving researchers, authorities and the industry.

DCE and GINR acquire knowledge to be used to develop an oil spill response and preparedness which

can help reduce the environmental hazard from oil spill whether from mineral resource activities or

other ship traffic. For this purpose, an analysis tool is being developed which can asses the control

methods that can be used in a given situation based on oil type, the expected oil drifting path, the

abundance of seabirds, fishing interest, etc.

In addition to the scientific research and monitoring, the DCE and GINR acquire knowledge about

the abundance of animals and plants in Greenland. They also acquire knowledge about animals for

hunting and important hunting grounds in cooperation with hunters and other locals.

41

5 Future knowledge-based regulation of mineral resource activi-ties

5.1 Regulation of land-based activities So far, the area regulation in Greenland in the mineral resource field has been flexible with regard to

exploration which is usually carried out in limited areas (licence area) and during limited periods. In

practice, each case has been assessed specifically based on existing knowledge even when it was

obviously not adequate. An important premise for this has been that exploration usually only has

limited impacts on nature and the environment. It is therefore often possible to carry out disturbing

activities at the environmentally most advantageous locations and times, meaning that a disturbing

activity is carried out when the vulnerable moulting geese are not in the area or that driving in con-

nection with seismic surveys takes place when the landscape is covered in snow. It is considered

possible to keep this flexible approach to exploration in future.

In the late exploration phase and in the exploitation phase, the activities are linked to specific and

delimited areas and are carried out over long periods of time (decades). This means that in these

phases, there is no or only little flexibility with regard to where and when the activities have to be

carried out, and the companies will have to describe in their EIA statements how they are going to

avoid or minimise disturbances and other environmental impacts. In order for the companies to pre-

pare adequate and accurate EIA statements, it is decisive that a sufficient data basis is available. In

cases where the knowledge base has been insufficient, practice has been for the companies to conduct

surveys as a supplement to the existing knowledge. To help obtain a regional overview of natural

resources, the Greenland Self-Government asked DCE and GINR to prepare strategic environmental

impact assessments, in connection with the licensing rounds for onshore oil exploration and exploi-

tation.

As background to the environment impact assessment and for the planning by the mining companies

of activities, location of facilities, decommissioning and restoration, the following is important:

• Updated knowledge of the location of vulnerable and important areas and any temporal

changes of their location.

• Knowledge of the temporal and spatial distribution of plant and animal species and their use

of the areas.

• Knowledge of animal behaviour in relation to disturbances.

• Knowledge of environmental effects and of environmental monitoring.

In the mineral resource area, a GIS-based database containing the existing knowledge of important

areas and periods for selected species of birds and mammals has been an important tool since the

1990s. This knowledge is included in the maps in what is known as the 'Field Rules' which form the

basis for the regulation of onshore exploration activities (Link). The maps in the 'Field Rules' need

to be updated.

There are still areas in Greenland where the existing knowledge is insufficient to prepare adequate

environmental impact assessments. However, the three reports from DCE and GINR: 'Biologiske

interesseområder i Vest- og Sydøstgrønland' (Biological interest areas in West and South-East

Greenland) (Link), 'Naturbeskyttelse og turisme i Nord- og Østgrønland' (Nature conservation and

tourism in North and East Greenland (Link) and the report 'Biologiske beskyttelsesområder i Na-

tionalparkområdet, Nord- og Østgrønland' (Biological conservation areas in the National Park area,

North and East Greenland) (Link) along with knowledge about the coasts from the strategic envi-

ronmental impact assessments (Link), provide a good overview of the existing knowledge of natural

resources on land in most of Greenland. These reports can contribute important knowledge to the

Greenland area planning, and the latter report is part of the basis for the work to prepare the new

National Park executive order. The report 'Review af det videnskabelige grundlag for færdselsregler

i følsomme områder for dyrelivet' (Review of the scientific basis for traffic rules in sensitive wild-

life areas) (Link) is another new input to the management of Greenland natural resources. The re-

ports also contain information about areas which are subject to international nature conservation

conventions (the Ramsar convention). All these data can be included in the sector plan portal under

NunaGis mentioned in the draft National Planning Report 2017. Finally, the climate adaptation

report concern-ing the agricultural sector has to be mentioned (Link). Together, the above constitute

a significant basis for the Greenland management of the land areas and for the mining and oil

companies and other players, the basis for preparing adequate EIA statements about their activities

on land. The more knowledge is available, the better possibility of promoting wise use of the

Greenland mineral resources.

Most land areas in Greenland are open to applications for mineral resource exploration and licences

are granted without environmental impact assessment. Only when applications are made for specific

activities in the area, will an environmental impact assessment (EIA) have to be made unless other-

wise required by the authorities. The EIA statement is the document giving rise to the actual environ-

mental regulation and the assessment of whether this document is adequate is made by Naalakker-

suisut. As a result, companies can obtain an exploration licence, but there might be a risk that when

they apply for a specific activity, then particularly strict requirements are imposed because the activity

is planned to be carried out in a sensitive or important natural area. This indicates that designation of

areas where mineral resource activities are not possible (no-go areas) could be a useful management

tool as e.g. the proposed zoning in the National Park suggests. 42

43

An important element of the Mineral Resources Strategy should therefore be that environmental

knowledge is maintained and developed so that:

• Authorities can plan the use of the open land on an adequate basis.

• Vulnerable and important natural values are protected.

• An updated basis always exists for the authorities' regulation of mineral resource activities.

• Mineral resource companies and other players in the open land have optimum opportunities

of preparing EIA assessments and development plans on an adequate and correct natural and

environmental basis.

• International nature conservation conventions acceded by Greenland can be met.

For that reason, it is important that knowledge is updated on an ongoing basis with the contribution

of local knowledge – not least in the light of the impacts of climate change on natural resources.

The use of strategic environmental impact assessments in the field should be promoted and could

advantageously be integrated in the geological mapping work carried out in Greenland. The profes-

sional, financial and logistical advantages of integrating update and collection of new environmental

and geological knowledge would be significant and would promote the collection of adequate

knowledge of the environment and nature which can be included in the preparation of EIA statements,

ecosystem-based management, etc.

Textbox 2 Ecosystem-Based Management – EBM This type of management aims to secure the qualities of an ecosystem by covering all impacts that can be identified across sectors. In a Greenland context, this is e.g. fishing and hunting, shipping, traffic between towns, discharge and emissions from urban communities, long-range transboundary pollution and climate change. In this connection, mineral resource activities must be included when relevant. The management must be targeted to secure the ecosystem and the benefits generated, and all parties involved (people, communities, companies, authorities, etc.) must be able to participate in the discussions about management. Management is based on monitoring of natural resources and on scientific knowledge of effects and possible solutions, and the management is adaptive, meaning that measures can be changed if necessary to achieving the goal. Se the figure below (from PAME 2017 Link) showing the framework needed to protect ecosystem-based management of marine and coastal environments in the Arctic:

44

The prioritisation of areas where studies are needed to form the basis of strategic environmental im-

pact assessments may be based on the previously mentioned reports and in geological assessments of

where the greatest potential for mineral resource extraction can be found.

As a supplement to the integrated strategic assessments of the flora and fauna of specific areas, studies

of the effects of climate change are needed as a basis for ecosystem-based management. The studies

under the Greenland Ecological Monitoring (GEM) work at Zackenberg, Kobbefjord, Disko and

Sermilik are key, but studies at other locations related to issues in connection with specific mineral

resource projects will also be necessary.

Seabird monitoring at Cape Brewster in East Greenland. Photo: David Boertmann.

The draft to the next National Planning Report (Nov. 2017) points out that cooperation and

transparency are necessary for the planning. A key element of this is GeoData (georeferenced data),

and in accord-ance with this, easy access to updated knowledge about environmental conditions

and knowledge platforms should be ensured. In this connection, improved and updated NunaGIS

may play a central role. Accordingly, existing sets of rules and guidelines for onshore mineral

activities should be sup-plemented and updated.

45

Knowledge which is key to improving the knowledge base for regulating activities in open land could

include: The temporal and spatial distribution of reindeer (particularly about calving grounds and

winter residence), distribution of forests and distribution of terrestrial high-productivity areas.

5.2 Regulation of offshore oil activities In connection with future licensing rounds, DCE and GINR recommend not to put out the waters north of Greenland – i.e. north of 75° N in West Greenland and north of 80° N in East Greenland – due to the more or less permanent presence of sea ice which partly results in an increased risk of accidents and oil spill and partly complicates the collection of spilled oil (Appendix 6).

Three other areas are of particular biological and ecological importance and the recommendation is

also to keep these areas free from oil exploration (Appendix 3, Appendix 6):

• The North Water (the large polynya between Qaanaaq and Ellesmere Island)

• Store Hellefiskebanke, see report (Link)

• The mouth of Scoresby Sound (also an important polynya).

In connection with a memo on environmental assessment of oil activities and spill in the Naternaq

Block, St. Hellefiskebanke (18 April 2016), the Norwegian provisions on the distance of oil drilling

from the coasts were mentioned. In Norway, there is a protection zone off biologically important

coasts of up to 65 km.

In this connection, the DCE and GINR recommend, that in the future, the demarcation of offshore

license areas planned to be opened, should be given a specific environmental assessment, which in

particular includes the distance to the nearest coast, the vulnerability of the coast and the possibility

of combating oil spills there.

5.3 Regulation of small-scale activities Small-scale licences with exclusive right to exploration and exploitation of minerals include areas of

maximum 1 km2, and activities which might have an environmental impact will be concentrated to

the licence area and its access routes. Small-scale licences without exclusive right do not have the

same area restriction and do not exclude others from exploiting minerals. However, the possibilities

of activities are restricted to collection on the surface and what can be found using handheld equip-

ment.

As a result, the environmental effects of small-scale licences are found to be limited due to their small

extent and nature, and the regulation in the 'Field Rules' will in many cases be sufficient. However, it

is important to note that in areas with several small-scale projects, accumulated effects may occur.

46

This could be areas with an abundance of gemstones, areas with particularly interesting minerals or

easily accessible gold deposits.

Activities which would otherwise include environmental impacts are limited to:

• Use of mechanical handheld equipment, such as drilling, cutting and milling machines.

• Long-term storing, storage or deposits of minerals, fuel or other substances or materials.

• Establishment of living quarters in or at the licence area and their use for accommodation

purposes.

• Disposal of waste from staying and working at the licence area.

• Change of terrain for the purpose of exploitation activities, including establishment of

storage site, accommodation or work road.

Such activities (excluding the use of handheld equipment) are subject to specific approval and can be

handled flexibly and in most cases with very limited environmental effects. It is suggested that appli-

cations for small-scale licences should contain material in the form of information about geological

conditions, exact coordinates for activity areas and facilities, photos, etc. which can be used as a basis

for a further assessment of the environmental effects of the mentioned activities.

It is recommended to prepare small-scale strategic environmental impact assessments for areas in

which many small-scale licences are possible in order to facilitate the case handling of the applica-

tions. Based on available knowledge, a possibility could also be to identify areas for which it is as-

sessed that small-scale projects could be carried out without any special environmental regulation

being required.

In the application form, applicants for small-scale licences must give an account of how they intend

to minimise effects and damage to the environment. Instructions on how applicants must generally

meet requirements for environmental concerns should be prepared to make the application process

more manageable.

The need to monitor the environment in connection with small-scale projects and any subsequent

monitoring should be assessed and carried out by the authorities.

5.4 Offshore regulation – underwater noise and oil spills As mentioned above, the most significant environmental impacts from oil exploration is underwater

noise caused by seismic surveys and – in case of accidents – major oil spill. The following sections

focus on these two kinds of impacts.

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5.4.1 Underwater noise

Noise in the marine environment is a major impact of oil exploration. The different geophysical meth-

ods (of which seismic surveys are the most important) emit noise over very long periods of time,

affecting very large areas. But also sonar use, underground drilling and the extensive ship traffic in

this connection cause noise in the marine environment. Extraction of mineral resources on land may

also cause noise in the marine environment in connection with construction of marine structures,

inbound shipping of goods and outbound shipping of mineral resources. Underwater noise is a major

source of pollution despite of the fact that it does not leave any chemical or physical footprints in the

environment.

Underwater noise affects living organisms in the ocean from plankton to marine mammals causing

scaring off, behavioural changes, stress, masking of important sounds, hearing and tissue damage

depending on the distance to the source of noise, noise level and animal species. Seismic surveys

where low-frequency impulses are sent towards the seabed from air guns can be registered at a dis-

tance of more than three thousand kilometres. However, lethal tissue damage is only a risk in the

immediate vicinity of a seismic survey. Evidence shows that plankton may be killed or suffer from

hampered development if they are exposed to seismics within about five metres from the air guns.

However a recent study suggests that zooplankton (incl. larval stages of crustaceans and mussels)

can be killed over greater distances. Marine mammals may suffer permanent hearing loss within a few

hundred metres from the sound source and temporary hearing loss within a distance of about one

kilometre depending on the period of exposure. For marine mammals, scaring off,

behavioural changes, stress and masking of their communication are probably much more serious

than the risk of hearing loss as marine mammals generally move away from the noise source or lift

their heads above the water, thus minimising the risk of hearing loss. Behavioural changes, on

the other hand, may occur over long distances, and bowhead whales stay 20-30 km away from

seismic surveys when they migrate between winter and summer residences, whereas beluga whales

stay up to 20 km away. Har-bour porpoises reduce their foraging during seismic surveys, whereas

bowhead whales stop calling when the noise level reaches a specific value.

Several of the marine mammals that occur in Greenland are only found here and in adjacent Artic

areas, and several are important animals for hunting. The maintenance and wellbeing of the popula-

tions thus depend on the overall impact being taken into consideration by the Greenland management.

Moreover, it is important to know the temporal and spatial abundance of marine mammals, areas of

particular importance, how animals react to noise and what such impact can do to the populations.

With adequate knowledge in these areas, it is possible to make the best regulation for all activities in

relation to what is best for the environment.

48

Regulation of seismic surveys Greenland is an international leader when it comes to the regulation of offshore seismic. The reason

is that licences are granted on the basis of modelling of the overall noise from all anticipated activities

in an area. At the same time, a number of conservation areas have been designated which are only

open to seismic surveys during certain periods and/or on specific conditions. Applications must be

available at a certain date to ensure that all applications can be considered together and the companies

can then model the expected accumulated noise and include it in their environmental impact assess-

ment (EIA) of the activity. I.e. the decision to allow seismic surveys is based on knowledge about the

anticipated noise impact in a large area and the knowledge available on species level about effects.

Once the applications have been received, the scope of the individual projects will be considered, and

then it will be decided whether the applying company is to provide an actual environmental impact

assessment (EIA) or a reduced assessment focusing on mitigation measures (EMA – Environmental

Mitigation Assessment). Both the EMA and the EIA is sent for public consultation, and then

Naalakkersuisut will evaluate the EIA, and the Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activi-

ties will evaluate the EMA.

Narwhals are among the most noise sensitive organisms in the sea. Photo: Rune Dietz.

Mitigation measures If a company is granted a licence to conduct seismic surveys, a set of rules must be provided for

preventing harm to marine mammals. The Greenland rules for mitigation measures are based on the

49

UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee's (JNCC) guidelines. The core of the guidelines is that a

safety zone has been designated around the air guns within which marine mammals are not allowed.

This is ensured by means of observers who report to the operator that the air guns have to be turned

off when a whale is within the safety zone. This measure protects against hearing loss in marine

mammals. However, the observers cannot prevent impact over large distances, such as masking of

important noises or behavioural changes that make the animals leave the area. Furthermore, rules

specify how air guns should be started as they have to be started gradually (soft start) so that the air

pressure is increased slowly. The theory behind this approach is to give marine mammals an oppor-

tunity to get away before the air guns are operating at full speed. Additional requirements apply in

East Greenland where the population of bowhead whales is considered critically endangered. Here,

the seismic ships have to turn off their air guns if a bowhead whale is detected within a distance of 2

km from the ship (and the sound source). The ship then has to move 50 km away from the whale in

question before the air guns are turned on again.

International regulation Internationally, Germany has imposed a limit on the noise level to which marine mammals (harbour

porpoise, harbour seal and grey seal) may be exposed. The basis of this limit is knowledge about the

levels of seismic noise at which harbour porpoise in captivity suffer temporary hearing loss. This

means that the industry must ensure that the noise 750 m from the source does not exceed this limit.

This approach ensures that 1) when specific requirements are imposed on the industry, it has to be

innovative in relation to the development of new methods or mitigation measures, 2) no marine mam-

mal ears suffer any physical harm, and that the impact is smaller for exposed populations which are

adversely affected by fishing, pollution, climate change and bycatch.

As a supplement to the guidelines on seismic surveys, it will be relevant to have guidelines for the

emission of noise from common ship traffic, cruise ships, icebreakers, etc. and clarify in this con-

nection what areas, species and periods are most vulnerable to underwater noise. DCE and GINR

have initiated such work (Link 1, Link 2). Furthermore, this knowledge can also be included in a

more strategic approach to regulation of underwater noise.

The EU Water Framework Directive sets out a number of norms for Good Ecological Status (GES).

Descriptor 11 for Good Ecological Status reads as follows: "Introduction of energy, including un-

derwater noise, is at levels that do not adversely affect the marine environment." The Water Frame-

work Directive only applies in EU waters, but the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has

adopted guidelines to reduce underwater noise from the commercial ship traffic and also calls for

standardisation of rules at an international level. Therefore, the general trend is towards reducing

noise from commercial ship traffic which also operates in Greenland waters. This should also cover

50

the ships to be used to ship mining products from Greenland. This would be a good time to consider

how Greenland wants to regulate the increasing ship traffic in relation to underwater noise.

Future studies Human underwater noise is not a new phenomenon and seismic surveys have been carried out since

the 1960s but have gradually intensified in both volume and range into the Arctic sea areas. It was

not until the 1980s-1990s that studies started to look into what this noise means to marine mammals

and only this century have effect studies been commenced. Although the populations of marine mam-

mals evidently remain, there are still many unknown factors and we do know what impact noise may

have at population level and certainly not in interaction with the numerous other factors affecting a

population. Noise can be a possible tipping point for how much a given population can stand com-

pared to other impact to which they are exposed, such as hunting, fishing, bycatch, pollution and

climate change.

Actual effect studies, also known as dose-response studies, will be necessary to show what noise

levels have adverse impact on individuals and populations. Such results would considerably improve

the consultancy on the regulation of seismic surveys and will be of major relevance for the use of the

required noise models included in the EIA statements. In the summer of 2017, the GINR conducted

such studies with narwhals in East Greenland but the results are not yet available. The populations of

marine mammals in areas regularly exposed to a lot of underwater noise should be monitored regu-

larly to ensure that no long-term effects occur to the populations. Such monitoring could be annual

counts from airplanes like the ones performed by GINR in connection with the determination of catch

quotas or could be acoustic monitoring of marine mammal sounds.

5.4.2 Oil spill

Experience from the major spills in the US – Exxon Valdez in 1989 and Deepwater Horizon in 2010

– shows that spills of such magnitude in coastal areas also have extensive environmental impacts in

very large areas and at all levels in the ecosystem. They also affect the industry, mainly fishing, in

the affected areas, a fact which is especially relevant in Greenland where fishing is the main source

of income.

Regulation and mitigation In Greenland, regulation is done to prevent oil spill at two levels. 1) to ensure that activities are carried

out according to the highest international safety standards (see BAT principle in Textbox 3) and 2) to

ensure that an oil response and preparedness is up-to-date and ready in any given situation.

Greenland follows the Norwegian standards in the safety area for oil exploration, and these are of the

highest international standards. Intensive international research is conducted to improve methods to

combat oil spill and the methods' own environmental impacts. Greenland recently opened up for the

use of both in situ burning (ISB) and chemical dispersion of spilled oil – both methods can be more

51

effective than mechanical collection but have their own environmental impacts. This means that the

environmental impacts of the various methods must be considered – known as a Net Environmental

Benefit Analysis (NEBA). This analysis can also be conducted at a more regional level before any

spill occurs – a strategic NEBA – so that the use of the different control methods have been assessed

in the relevant areas in advance. The result of the analysis must be included in the control strategy for

the area so that control efforts can be initiated quickly and effectively.

Experimental in-situ-burning of an oil spill in a Greenland Fjord. Photo: Kim Gustavson.

Maps of the coastlines and oil sensitivity mapping are also included in the oil spill response and

preparedness in Greenland. The entire west coast is covered by this mapping and efforts are now

being made to map the east coast, just like the maps of the west coast are updated when new

knowledge becomes available (Link).

The effectiveness of the different control methods varies because of weather conditions, oil types and

technical limitations. Mechanical collection is generally not very effective, and as an example, only

3% of the oil from the Deepwater Horizon accident was collected from the sea surface whereas 14%

was collected from Exxon Valdez.

52

An important limitation in a Greenland context is that oil spill in more or less ice-covered waters

cannot be controlled effectively regardless of the choice of method. A major oil spill in waters with

ice, e.g. off North-East Greenland or in the Baffin Bay would be very hard to combat with the tech-

nology available today. Intensive efforts are therefore made to develop better methods and especially

burning is showing promising results.

Effect and environmental studies The environmental impacts of the major oil spills in the US – Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon

– is very thoroughly documented and monitored, and the results of this work constitute valuable

background knowledge in the assessment of impacts of any oil spill in the marine environment (in-

cluding coasts) in Greenland.

Experience from these spills shows that the control methods have their own environmental impacts

that interact with that of the oil, and it also shows that there is a potential for natural degradation of

oil in the environment. It is vital to be able to assess the different methods' overall environmental

benefit of a NEBA (see above) and then choose the environmentally best methods.

However, experience from these two spills does not answer the numerous questions about how spilled

oil works in the cold Arctic environments. This is of major importance for the assessment of the

potential effects of oil in the Greenland environment.

Research into the degradation of oil in the Arctic environment is therefore needed, as well as into

accumulation and toxicity of oil substances, particularly in high Arctic organisms. The available

knowledge in these areas is based on studies of organisms living under warmer conditions, meaning

that the results cannot necessarily be transferred to Arctic conditions. For example, it is important to

acquire more knowledge of the effects on polar cod and the large Arctic copepods which are key

species in the marine food chains in Greenland.

The behaviour of oil spill on ocean surfaces with ice and oil in ice are also subjects that should be

elaborated on.

There is a need to develop response and preparedness strategies based on strategic NEBAs to protect

the environment as much as possible in areas where oil exploration and ship traffic from mining

activities pose a risk of oil spill.

And in this connection (and as contribution to the specific response and preparedness plans to be

drawn up by the companies) knowledge about burning of oil on ocean surfaces is needed, including

in particular on surfaces with ice and, and about the environmental impacts of the products resulting

from the burning.

DCE and GINR work with the reactions of Arctic organisms to oil in cold water with environmental

effects of chemical dispersion and of burning of oil on ocean surfaces and with the degradation of oil

53

in cold environments. Many of these problems are general to oil exploration in Arctic areas, and the

results of the research conducted by DCE and GINR are therefore interesting not only locally in

Greenland but in the entire Arctic region.

Oil spill and natural baseline studies etc. For most Greenland sea areas, strategic environmental impact assessments (Link) and oil sensitivity

mapping (Link) have been prepared. Strategic environmental assessments for coasts and waters in

South-East and North Greenland are yet to be prepared. Moreover, collection of knowledge about

flora and fauna is needed for the areas already covered. Such knowledge is to be used to better identify

areas which are particularly sensitive to oil spill and it is to be included in the future consultancy on

activities that may pose a risk of oil spill. It is also to be included in updates of the strategic environ-

mental impact assessments and is made available when companies have to prepare environmental

impact assessments (EIA) of their activities. Furthermore, this type of knowledge should be updated

on a regular basis for all of Greenland as the climate change means that animal and plant species

undergo constant change. See also Appendices 3 and 4 which are assessments of how long time the

strategic environmental impact assessments are relevant, of how frequently they should be updated

and of the costs.

Recommendations in connection with oil spill. In order to strengthen the knowledge basis for the purpose of making mineral resource more environ-

mentally friendly, e.g. by ensuring prompt and efficient efforts in connection with oil spill, it is pro-

posed to continue the efforts concerning oil spill, including research into combatting oil in ice, into

the toxicity of oil, cocktail effects of oil and chemicals to be used for combatting purposes (dispersants

etc.), and further development and spreading of the strategic NEBA concept.

5.5 Regulation of discharges and emissions

5.5.1 Mineral resource activities

In order to limit the discharges and emissions of mineral resource activities of pollutants to water and

air, it is expected that the best available technologies and the best possible environmental protection

measures are used, see the principles on Best Available Technology (BAT) and Best Environmental

Practice (BEP) developed by the OSPAR commission. See Textbox 3 on these concepts.

54

Several of the BAT standards used in the EU in connection with mineral resource exploration and

extraction are also used in Greenland. These standards have been developed in close cooperation

between the industry and the authorities. BAT standards for the individual sectors are described in

what is known as the BAT reference documents (BREF) (Link) which are typically updated every 5

years.

In the EU, BAT has been developed for:

• Waste treatment

• Wastewater treatment

• Monitoring of industrial installations

• Incineration plant

• Energy generators

• Treatment and disposal of mining waste.

Similar rules and requirements for offshore oil activities under the auspices of the OSPAR Commis-

sion have been prepared on the basis of BAT. E.g. limit values for oil in process water, rules for

approval of process and drilling chemicals and rules for handling of cuttings have been determined

on the basis of use of cleaner technology, including the BAT and BEP principles (Fact Box 3)

As basis for the environmental regulation of the discharges and emissions from mineral resource

activities in Greenland, a number of instructions containing guidelines and limit values have been

prepared (Link). These instructions outlines requirements, interests and limitations to be considered

by the companies when they prepare project-specific environmental impact assessments (EIA) and

apply for large-scale activities. Based on the EIA assessment and application, the authorities will

prepare specific requirements and terms for the relevant project, including frameworks for environ-

mental monitoring and control.

Power stations and processing plants are often key to mining projects where large volumes of energy

is required for the processing and refining of minerals. In this connection, the EU Industrial Directive

Textbox 3 BAT and BEP These two acronyms mean Best Available Practice and Best Environmental Practice, respectively. The countries which have acceded to the OSPAR convention have undertaken to follow the two principles. BAT can also be called state of the art in the technical area, including processes, installations, infrastruc-ture and methods with a view to limiting discharge, emission and the amount of waste. BEP means that the most appropriate combination of mitigating strategies and control measures must be used to limit the environmental impact, e.g. that the most environmentally friendly chemicals must be used. Both princi-ples are dynamic as the technology and knowledge are constantly developed and made more environ-mentally acceptable. See also Link.

55

(the IE Directive) is used. The Directive contains standards for emissions from power stations, com-

bustion plants, incineration plants and processing plants. The IE Directive is revised on a regular basis

and the emission limit values were most recently lowered in 2013. In the EU, BATs have been de-

veloped for about 30 industrial sectors, of which several are of major relevance for the mining indus-

try in Greenland.

In connection with electricity generators and incineration plants, it is important to check that the

relevant plant meets the limit values set out in the current IE Directive and that the plant is certified.

For mining operations in Greenland, EU and US emissions standards (adapted to each other) are also

used for trucks and mobile machinery. Emissions standards (limit values) apply to road vehicles and

non-road mobile machinery. Just like for plants, it is important to check that the relevant trucks and

mobile machinery meet the current EU/US norms.

The short-horn sculpin is used as monitoring organism at old mining sites. Photo: Lis Bach.

DEC report no. 203 on risk assessment of process chemicals used in the mining industry (Link) rec-

ommends that environmental risk assessments and approvals of chemicals be based on the method

used in the EU and recommended by the OSPAR commission. An environmental risk assessment

must be based on the biodegradability of the chemicals, their risk of accumulating in organisms and

their toxicity. Based on data for these properties, environmental quality criteria and limit values can

56

be calculated on the basis of the EU guidelines. Limit values for substances in process water dis-

charged to e.g. the marine environment should be expressed as a concentration and a total volume

e.g. per week.

The regulation of emissions and discharges from offshore activities in Greenland is based on rules,

guidelines and indicative limit values from a number of countries and international forums, all of

which have high norms and standards. This means that the oil activities are based on a number of

Norwegian standards (NORSOK), and generally the provisions laid down by the OSPAR Commis-

sion on the environment in all Greenland waters are used even though the scope of the agreement

only covers the sea areas east of Cape Farewell. The provisions of the OSPAR Commission have

been very effective in bringing down pollution from the oil industry in the North Sea.

The OSPAR Commission covers largely all environmental aspects in relation to releases and the im-

pacts on the environment of offshore oil activities, including limit values for oil in process water,

approval of process and drilling chemicals, disposal of drilling chemicals and cuttings, release of

radioactive substances, emissions to the air from machinery and burning of gas, underwater noise,

etc. In Greenland, releases from ships operating in connection with oil activities are regulated by the

IMO rules (see below) which may, however, be tightened because of the high Arctic environment

and in line with the regulation at Svalbard.

To strengthen the regulation of release of pollutants from mineral resource activities in Greenland,

the general level of knowledge should be strengthened, including with baseline studies of the (natural)

chemical conditions in the seabed so that the occurrence of pollutants is known before a company

starts the activities. Methods for environmental monitoring and detection of pollution should be fur-

ther developed and adapted to the Arctic conditions. Instructions for companies and internal use

should be updated regularly.

5.5.2 Shipping

Shipping in connection with oil and mining activities is regulated by the International Maritime Or-

ganization (IMO). The IMO Ballast Water Convention sets out rules for discharge/transfer of ballast

water in relation to the spreading of invasive organisms and pathogenic bacteria. In this connection,

DCE and GINR are currently looking into species that could potentially be invasive for Greenland

and will make a subsequent risk assessment and proposal for supplementary regulation. The IMO's

MARPOL rules concern the release of pollutants to the water and air, and the IMO's Polar Code deals

with the safety of ships. The IMO has regularly tightened the requirements for release of pollutants

from ship engines, including requirements for the quality and type of fuel to be used in different

waters. In relation to release to air, it is important to check that emissions of NOx, SOx and soot from

ships meet the IMO's requirements. In this connection, fuel type and quality as well as flue gas clean-

ing are important factors to consider.

57

5.5.3 Recommendations in connection with release of pollutants

In order to improve the basis for preparing EIA statements for mining and oil activities, it is recom-

mended to prepare a catalogue compiling and describing all environmental standards, environmental

requirements, BAT technologies, etc. required to be met in Greenland. Such catalogue will strengthen

and specify the requirements and terms laid down by the authorities in connection with the approval

of projects and activities. The catalogue will be based on information from the OSPAR Commission,

EU Environmental Standards BAT from the EU, North America and Australia, IMO Marpol, IMO

Ballast Water, IMO Polar Code, the Danish Marine Environment Act, the Greenland Marine Envi-

ronment Protection Act and information from existing instructions for mineral resource activities.

Hairy stonecrop Sedum villosum is common on moist ground in southern and central Greenland.

Photo: David Boertmann.

58

6 Appendices

6.1 Appendix 1. List of acronyms used in this memo. AACA = Adaptive Actions for a Changing Arctic https://www.amap.no/adaptation-actions-for-a-

changing-arctic-part-c AMAP = Arctic Monitoring and Assessment, a working group under the Arctic Council, https://www.amap.no/ BAT = Best Available Technology, see https://www.ospar.org/work-areas/rsc/bat-bep BEP = Best Environmental Practice, see https://www.ospar.org/work-areas/rsc/bat-bep BREF = BAT Reference documents, an EU concept, see http://eippcb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/reference/ CAFF = Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna, a working group under the Arctic Council,

https://www.caff.is/ CBMP = Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program, under CAFF, https://www.caff.is/monitor-

ing DCE = Danish Centre for Environment and Energy under Aarhus University, http://dce.au.dk/ EMA = Environmental Mitigation Assessment, a reduced environmental impact assessment used

in connection with seismic surveys in Greenland

EU = The European Union GES = Good Ecological Status, a concept in the EU Water Framework Directive GN = Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, http://www.natur.gl/ HFO = Heavy Fuel Oil, https://pame.is/index.php/projects/arctic-marine-shipping/heavy-fuel-in-the-

arctic-phase-i IAEA = International Atomic Energy Agency under the UN, https://www.iaea.org/ IE = Industrial Emissions, an EU directive IMO = International Maritime Organization under the UN, http://www.imo.org/en/About/Pages/De-

fault.aspx MARPOL = International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships under the IMO,

http://www.imo.org/en/About/Pages/Default.aspx NEBA = Net Environmental Benefit Analysis, an oil spill response and preparedness analysis of

environmental impact. NORSOK = Norwegian standards for oil activities at sea, http://www.standard.no/en/sectors/en-

ergi-og-klima/petroleum/norsok-standards/#.WmiAkvnytyw OSPAR = Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic,

https://www.ospar.org/ PAME = Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment, a working group under the Arctic Council PLONOR = Pose Little Or No Risk to the environment List of environmentally friendly offshore

chemicals published by the OSPAR Commission, https://www.ospar.org/work-ar-eas/oic/chemicals

POP = Persistent Organic Pollutants SEIA = Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment US = United States of America (USA) VME = Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, under the FAO/UN, http://www.fao.org/in-action/vulnera-

ble-marine-ecosystems/en/ EIA = Environmental Impact Assessment

DCE Aarhus Universitet Frederiksborgvej 399 Postboks 358 4000 Roskilde

PINNGORTITALERIFFIK GRØNLANDS NATURINSTITUT Kivioq 2 Postboks 570 3900 NUUK

Susse Wegeberg David Boertmann Kim Gustavson

Dato: 11. december 2017

Side 1/5

DCE - NATIONALT CENTER FOR MILJØ OG ENERGI AARHUS UNIVERSITET

PINNGORTITALERIFFIK GRØNLANDS NATURINSTITUT

Re: HFO in Greenland

Definition of HFO (based on Fritt-Rasmussen et al., in preparation) Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) is one of several terms used to cover a rather broad range of different residual fuels and some distillate fuels. Other often used terms are bunker oil, bunker fuel oil, residual fuel, heavy diesel oil etc. HFOs are produced from a mixture of residual (residual fuel) and cutter stock (distillate diluent, e.g. marine diesel oil or marine gas oil) blended to the desired combination, e.g. the appropriate viscosity at a specific tem-perature. No standard exists for the blend of residue and distillates to pro-duce HFOs. The properties, both physical and chemical, of the HFO, will thus vary depending on the origin of feed oil (crude oil), the quality or properties of the feed oil, the variation of distillate added to give the re-quired viscosity and the differences in refinery processes. HFOs are often classified according to the “Intermediate Fuel Oil (IFO) Grade system”, where the viscosity (cSt, centiStoke) are specified at 50° C as an indicator for the oils ability to be pumped.

IF-grade ISO-grade

Density [kg/L]

Destillate (“flux”) [Vol%]

Heavy resi-due [Vol%]

IF30 RM10 0.93 35-40 60-65

IF80 RM15 0.93-0.96 18-30 70-80

IF180 RM25 0.94-0.97 5-20 80-92

IF240 0.96-0.98 3-12 90-95

IF380 RM35 0.97-0.99 0-10 90-100

IF460-650 RM55→

1.0-1.05 0-10 90-100

Environmental concerns regarding air pollution from use of HFO Engines using HFO as fuel emits high levels of air pollutants, for example, sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM includ-

6.2 Appendix 2. Memo on the use of heavy fuel oil in Greenland.

Side 2/5 ing black carbon (BC)) and greenhouse gasses, including carbon dioxide (CO2). Air pollutants may contribute to the phenomenon Arctic Haze, which is a visible reddish-brown haze due high concentrations of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). Deposi-tion of black carbon on snow and ice surface may increase the absorption of sun radiation and thereby increase melting of snow and ice.

Environmental concerns regarding HFO spills in the sea Environmental impacts of oil spills in the sea are closely related to the physical properties and chemical composition of the oil, as well as the changes caused by the weathering of the oil and the weather conditions at the spill site. Overall, the fate and weathering data on HFO indicate that the major environmental concerns of HFO spills are related to the effects of the oil on the water surface. As HFO has a relatively low natural disper-sion into the water column below the oil, organisms there risk a relatively low exposure to oil components. On the other hand, there is a high risk of smothering of seabirds and other surface living species as well as organ-isms on the coastline. relate to surface living species and to organisms in the upper part of the water column. This was also the conclusion reached from the post spill monitoring of four Norwegian HFO spill accidents. HFO spilled in the marine environment is difficult to combat. Due to the high viscosity of HFO, mechanical collection or chemical dispersion have little efficiency. In addition, HFO is difficult to remove by in situ burning. These methods are otherwise considered suitable for oil spill combat in Arctic areas.

Environmental concerns regarding oil spills of HFO on land (based on Wegeberg & Boertmann 2016) In contrast to marine oil spills, which have the potential to impact exten-sive coastlines, terrestrial oil spill usually will be confined to a limited area close to the source. However, oil spilt on soil and snow can spread hori-zontally depending of the viscosity of the oil and the roughness on the ground (e.g. vegetation, soil type). Moreover, the air/ground temperature and slope steepness defines the rate of the oil movement. Infiltration to subsurface layers are much more complex and unpredictable than oil spilled on water, but is expected to be less likely for HFO than with lighter oil types.

Regulation of HFO International regulation of HFO In an international shipping context, HFO is regulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), according to the MARPOL convention:

Side 3/5 Annex I, regulation 43 directly bans HFO in the Antarctic, both the car-riage in bulk as cargo and the carriage and use as fuel. HFO is here defined as:

- crude oils having a density higher than 900 kg/m3 at 15° C;

- oils other than crude oils, having a density, higher than 900 kg/m3

at 15° C or a kinematic viscosity, higher than 180 mm2/s at 50° C;

- or bitumen, tar and their emulsions.Antarctic is defined as “the sea area south of latitude 60° S

The MARPOL annex VI indirectly also add to the regulation the use of HFO. This annex seeks to minimize airborne emissions from ships (SOx, NOx, ODS, VOC shipboard incineration) and their contribution to local and global air pollution. This is relevant in an HFO context, as most HFO’s have a high sulphur content and the use give rise to high emissions of particles. The annex moreover designates Emission Control Areas (ECA), where emission of sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter is more stringent controlled than elsewhere. The North Sea, the Baltic and the east coast of USA and Canada are ex-amples of ECAs.

Polar Code The IMO Polar Code (related to shipping and entered into force 1st January 2017) have no stipulations regarding regulation of HFO, although a stop for the use is encouraged. However, a new initiative in the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (in 2017/18) – supported by PAME and the EU parliament – works on a ban in the Arctic. DCE and GN recommended to Ministry of Nature and Environment in 2016 that the use of HFO in general should be banned in the Arctic. This was in relation to a discussion of a potential future ban on the use of HFO in ships in the Arctic.

On Land The use of HFO in land based operation is not directly regulated on a global scale like the MARPOL stipulations. However, the EU have strict regulation of emission from large combustion plants and other industrial activites through the Industrial Emission Directive (IED) and the BREFs (Best Available Techniques (BAT) reference documents), which indirectly contribute to reduce the use of HFOs. The IED aims to achieve a high level of protection of human health and the environment by reducing harmful industrial emissions in particular

Side 4/5 through better application of Best Available Techniques (BAT). The di-rective has established limit values for SOx, NOx and PM for installations of different size and type.

HFO in the Greenland mineral and petroleum regulation In relation to the petroleum exploration activities carried out in Greenland in recent years, the use of HFO was not allowed. This is stated in the BMP Guidelines – for preparing an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) re-port for activities related to hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation off shore Greenland (appendix 4) (2011): “Heavy fuel oil and oil with a sul-phur content >1.5 % will not be allowed”. In the Offshore Seismic Surveys in Greenland - Guidelines to Best Envi-ronmental Pratices, Environmental Impact Assessments and Environmen-tal Mitigation Assessment (2015), this is phrased like: “Vessels engaged and machinery used in the exploration activities shall only use diesel and gasoil and with sulphur content less than 1.5 % (weight). This is planned to be reduced due to MARPOL regulation to 0.5 % by Jan. 1, 2020”. The stipulation related to the use of HFO in land based mining operation are not as strict as for the offshore activities. For example is HFO not spe-cifically mentioned in the Guidelines for preparing an Environmental Im-pact Assessment (EIA) report for mineral exploitation in Greenland. In a memo related to the Kvanefjeld, DCE and GN in January 2014, could not recommend the use of HFO when discussing the energy sources of a future mine. DCE and GN recommended that Ironbark (Citronen Fjord) should not use HFO neither at the mine on land or by the associated shipping. This was adopted by Ironbark (cf. the White paper 2016). In the revised EIA of the Isukasia Iron mine (annex 6), it is stated that HFO will not be used in the mine operation, but expected to be used by the ships transporting the products.

Mitigating measures A shift from HFO to lighter marine fuels and/or fuels with low sulphur content will increase the costs for the ship owners in particular in the emis-sion control areas. To meet this, MARPOL allows the use of exhaust gas cleaning systems (e.g. scrubbers) or other technologies to limit emissions of SOx to levels that are comparable to the emissions from low sulphur fuel. Therefore, an alternative to comply with the regulations related to SOx and NOx-emmission both for ships and land based industry, is cleaning of the exhaust gases using wet or dry scrubbers. A positive, additional effect is that particulate matter is trapped in the exhaust reducing airside emissions

Side 5/5 of heavy metals and BC. However, waste and wastewater from the clean-ing processes need to be handled in a safe way afterward.

Recommendation for no use of HFO in Greenland DCE recommends that HFO is not used in Greenland as ship fuel or as fuel for energy production. The background for this recommendation is: 1) that spills of HFO in the environment in connection with transportation /pumping / unloading and accidents can have significant and long-term en-vironmental effects. HFO is difficult to contain and collect, and persistentin the environment. As HFO does not likely disperse, it will float and pos-sess a high risk for sea surface organisms, such as seabirds and marinemammals.2) that the air emissions of SOx, NOx, black carbon (BC) from the use ofHFO is very high. Emissions of SOx, NOx and BC can have a number ofenvironmental effects including acidification of the environment. Emis-sions of SOx, NOx and BC stimulate the formation of Arctic haze whichcan cause health problems, and the deposition of BC on snow and ice willincrease the melting rate.3) that compliance with emission limit values in the Industrial EmissionsDirective (EU) will require the smoke to be cleaned by scrubbing. Thiswill result in wastewater, which need to be collected and cleaned or dis-posed of in an environmentally safe manner.4) that IMO's regulation of HFO is justified in the protection of health andthe environment, which also must apply to land based use of HFO.

References Fritt-Rasmussen et al. in prep. Report on HFO.

Wegeberg, S. & Boertmann, D. (eds) 2016. Disko Island and Nuussuaq Peninsula, West Greenland. A strategic environmental impact assessment of petroleum exploration and exploitation. ‒ Scientific report from DCE, Aarhus University 199.

DCE Aarhus Universitet Frederiksborgvej 399 Postboks 358 4000 Roskilde

PINNGORTITALERIFFIK GRØNLANDS NATURINSTITUT Kivioq 2 Postboks 570 3900 NUUK

David Boertmann Daniel S. Clausen Anders Mosbech

Dato: 23. marts 2018

Side 1/3

DCE - NATIONALT CENTER FOR MILJØ OG ENERGI AARHUS UNIVERSITET

PINNGORTITALERIFFIK GRØNLANDS NATURINSTITUT

Najaaraq Demant-Poort Miljøstyrelsen for Råstofområdet

NOTAT

Forespørgsel om nogle emner i DCE/GNs bidrag til den kommende råstofstrategi

I mail af 15. marts 2018 forespørger Råstofdepartementet Miljøstyrelsen

for Råstofområdet om en uddybning af nogle afsnit i udkastet til DCE/GNs

bidrag til den kommende råstofstrategi. Råstofdepartementet ønsker at:

1. få en kopi af en database vedr. de såkaldte ’feltregler’,

2. få shp-filer af tre særligt vigtige biologiske områder nævnt i udka-

stet,

3. få nærmere defineret, hvad der menes med udtrykket ’kystlinjen’.

Vedr. 1/: De pågældende data kan downloades herfra:

https://filesender.deic.dk/filesender/?vid=2948914a-aded-ca28-fb9f-

00006a875559

Bemærk at dette link er åbent en måned, hvorefter filerne kan rekvireres

hos DCE.

De kan også ses her på DCE’s Web-gis:

http://gis.au.dk/RDImportantAreas/

Vedr. 2/: Der er her tale om tre områder, som anbefales friholdt for olieef-

terforskning: Nordvandet, Store Hellefiskebanke og mundingen af Scores-

by Sund. Disse områder er beskrevet som særligt vigtige biologi-

ske/økologiske områder, dels i de strategiske miljøvurderinger (Link 1,

Link 2) dels i en særlig rapport om Store Hellefiskebanke (Link). Områ-

6.3 Appendix 3. Memo on some areas proposed to be kept free of hydrocarbon exploration activities (in Danish)

Side 2/3 derne er efterfølgende udpeget som særlige biologiske interesseområder i

forbindelse med beskyttelse af sårbar natur i Vestgrønland og Sydøstgrøn-

land (Link) samt i Nord- og Nordøstgrønland (Link).

Et kort med de pågældende områder ses nedenfor, og shp-filer kan down-

loades fra samme link som ovenfor.

Vedr. 3/: Kystlinjen er i denne sammenhæng synonym med ’basislinjen’,

som er en veldefineret grænse, fra hvilken også tremilezonen og EEZ defi-

neres ud fra. En shp-fil med denne linje findes også i ovenstående link

(kan også findes på NunaGis).

Mht. 65 km og 35 km beskyttelseszoner, så er disse aktuelle i Nordnorge

(Link) omkring biologisk vigtige kyster. DCE og GN foreslår ikke nød-

vendigvis sådanne beskyttelseszoner, men at der fremover skal foretages

en konkret miljøvurdering (i forhold til oliespild) af afgrænsningen af off-

shore udbudsområder, en vurdering som skal inddrage afstanden til nær-

meste kyst.

Eventuelle beskyttelseszoner ud for kysten skal tage udgangspunkt i basis-

linjen.

Side 3/3

DCE Aarhus Universitet Frederiksborgvej 399 Postboks 358 4000 Roskilde

PINNGORTITALERIFFIK GRØNLANDS NATURINSTITUT Kivioq 2 Postboks 570 3900 NUUK

Anders Mosbech David Boertmann Josephine Nymand Flemming Merkel Morten Frederiksen Line Kyhn Susse wegeberg Peter Aastrup

Dato: 15. januar 2018

Side 1/4

DCE - NATIONALT CENTER FOR MILJØ OG ENERGI AARHUS UNIVERSITET

PINNGORTITALERIFFIKGRØNLANDS NATURINSTITUT

Spørgsmål vedr. udførelse af og status for de Strategiske Miljøvurderinger (SMV/SEIA)

Her er besvarelse af spørgsmål fra Råstofstyrelsen vedr. De Strategiske Miljøvurderinger (SEIA) i forbindelse med den nye Råstofstrategi.

Alder på de eksisterende SEIA'er

Se alder og dækning for de eksisterende SEIAer på figur 1.

Bemærk i øvrigt at SEIA-områderne omfatter væsentlig større områder end de områder der er blevet åbnet/udbudt for olieefterforskning. Det skyldes at olieaktiviteter kan have regionale miljøeffekter, og SEIAen er derfor nødt til at dække en betydelig bufferzone.

Et tidsestimat over hvor lang tid det tager at lave en SEIA

Tidsestimatet for udførelse af en SEIA vil afhænge af det konkrete områ-de.

De SEIAer der hidtil er udarbejdet har taget 2 – 4 år efter indgåelse af afta-le. Dertil skal der regnes med ca. et halvt år til at opbygge undersøgelses-programmet forud for indgåelse af aftale. For offshore områder, hvor der skal chartres forskningskibe med op til et års varsel, er det svært at gen-nemføre undersøgelsesprogram, analyse og sammenskrivning af SEIA på mindre end 3 år. De to landbaserede SEIAer der dækker mindre områder er gennemført på ca. 2 år.

Når det drejer sig om præliminære SEIAer, hvor der ikke indgår feltunder-søgelser kan arbejdet gennemføres på kortere tid, typisk 2 år inklusiv hø-ringsprocesser. Davis Strædet SEIA’en er pt. den eneste præliminære SEIA.

6.4 Appendix 4. Memo on strategic environmental impact assessments (in Danish)

Side 2/4

Figur 1. Kort over Grønland med områder for de forskellige udførte SEIA’er indteg-

net med angivelse af år for udgivelse af seneste SEIA. Årstal i parentes angiver udgi-

velsen af tidligere udgaver. Bemærk at Davis Strædet udgør den eneste prælimenære

SEIA. Der mangler SEIA for havområder i Nordgrønland og Sydøstgrønland, samt for

landområder bortset fra Jameson Land og Disko – Nuussuaq.

Der er følgende elementer i en SEIA proces:

Side 3/4 1. Opbygning af undersøgelsesprogram forud for indgåelse af aftale

2. Indgåelse af aftale om udførelse af SEIA og undersøgelsesprogram

3. Start af indsamling af informationer til SEIA (sideløbende med

feltaktiviteter)

4. Planlægning af feltaktiviteter (og chartring af skibe mv.)

5. Udførelse af feltundersøgelser

6. Oparbejdning af data fra feltundersøgelser og udarbejdelse af input

til SEIA

7. Sammenskrivning af SEIA med nye undersøgelsesresultater

8. Udkast til SEIA i offentlig høring

9. Udgivelse af endelig revideret SEIA

I forbindelse med udførelse af kommende SEIAer vil vi foreslå at der ind-bygges yderligere en offentlig proces ved starten af projektet. Således at der kommer et input til hvilke spørgsmål, der skal fokuseres på i SEIAen.

I forbindelse med øget fokus på mineral-projekter og småskala projekter diskuterer vi et koncept for udførelse af præliminære SEIAer for udvalgte landområder, hvor der indgår behandling af eksisterende viden, satellitfo-to/data analyse og en begrænset feltaktivitet, sidstnævnte evt. logistisk kombineret med indsamling af geologisk viden. Sådanne projekter vil kunne gennemføres på under 2 år. Vi vurderer at de faglige, økonomiske og logistiske fordele ved at integrere opdatering og indsamling af ny miljø-mæssig og geologisk viden for landområder vil være store. Geologisk kort-lægning vil være en hjælp til mine- og olieselskabers efterforskning og de præliminære strategiske miljøvurderinger vil muliggøre en langt hurtigere indsamling af fyldestgørende viden som baggrund selskabernes udarbej-delse af VVM’er.

En vurdering af hvilke SEIAer der potentielt bør blive opdateret i forbindelse med udbud af nye olie-licenser

Der er i 2017 udgivet en opdateret SEIA for Baffin Bugten og der udgives en opdateret SEIA for Nordøstgrønland i 2018/19. Disse forventes at ud-gøre et fyldestgørende grundlag for udbudsrunder i op til 5 år. Selvom der ikke er behov for en egentlig opdatering ved udbudsrunder inden for denne periode foreslås det dog, at der ved anvendelse af SEIAen efter et par år,

Side 4/4 udarbejdes en følgeskrivelse med en vurdering SEIAen i forhold til de ud-budte licensblokke og evt. specifikke forbehold i forhold til SEIAen.

De to landbaserede SEIAer, for Jameson Land og Disko – Nuussuaq, er udgivet i 2016 og de forventes også at udgøre et fyldestgørende grundlag for udbudsrunder i op til 5 år. Som ovenfor foreslås det, at der ved anven-delse efter et par år udarbejdes en følgeskrivelse med en vurdering SEIAen i forhold til de udbudte licensblokke og evt. specifikke forbehold i forhold til SEIAen.

SEIA for Disko West er udført i 2007 og opdateret i 2013. Der kan her væ-re behov for en mindre opdatering i forbindelse med et evt. udbud i de kommende år.

SEIA for Sydgrønland er udført i 2012. Der vil her være behov for en op-datering i forbindelse med et evt. udbud i de kommende år.

SEIA for Davis Strædet er udført uden et regionalt undersøgelsesprogram som en præliminær SEIA i 2012. Der er i anden sammenhæng udført en del relevante undersøgelser, og der er behov for en opdatering dels med en betydelig mængde nye data, dels er der behov for supplerende undersøgel-ser til at styrke vidensgrundlaget for regulering af kommende aktiviteter.

For Sydøstgrønland og Nordgrønland er der ikke gennemført en SEIA pro-ces og sådanne bør påbegyndes i god tid inden områderne udbydes. Det anbefales som nævnt at indbygge en offentlig proces i forbindelse med planlægningen af SEIA projekter.

For alle SEIA områderne gælder, at når der er licenser til olieaktiviteter i områderne vil der, som aktiviteterne skrider frem, blive behov for supple-rende undersøgelser til at styrke at vidensgrundlaget for regulering af kommende aktiviteter.

DCE Aarhus Universitet Frederiksborgvej 399 Postboks 358 4000 Roskilde

PINNGORTITALERIFFIK GRØNLANDS NATURINSTITUT Kivioq 2 Postboks 570 3900 NUUK

Anders Mosbech David Boertmann Josephine Nymand Flemming Merkel Morten Frederiksen Fernando Ugarte Kirsten Bang

Dato: 16. februar 2018

Side 1/4

DCE - NATIONALT CENTER FOR MILJØ OG ENERGI AARHUS UNIVERSITET

PINNGORTITALERIFFIK GRØNLANDS NATURINSTITUT

NOTAT

Spørgsmål vedr. omkostninger og prioritering for opdatering og udfø-relse af Strategiske Miljøvurderinger (SMV/SEIA)

DCE og GN har 16. januar fremsendt et notat med vurdering af status for de Strategiske Miljøvurderinger til Miljøstyrelsen for Råstoffer. Miljøsty-relsen har efterfølgende bedt om en vurdering af, hvad budgettet vil være for en opdatering af de SMV’er der bør opdateres, og hvilke SMV-områder der bør prioriteres først til en opdatering.

Omkostninger ved en opdatering

Som det fremgår af vurderingen i notatet fra 16. januar, er det SMV’er æl-dre end 5 år der bør opdateres, samt at der bør udarbejdes en SMV for Sydøstgrønland, hvor der ikke tidligere er udført en SMV.

Disko West En SMV for Disko West blev udført i 2007 og opdateret i 2013. Der er her behov for en opdatering i forbindelse med et evt. udbud i de kommende år. Det vurderes, at en opdatering med nye data fra en række undersøgel-ser, opdaterede kort og en ny vurdering vil kunne gøres for 400.000 kr. Såfremt kort og GIS analyser ikke opdateres, og der blot sker en omtale af nye undersøgelser i teksten vil omkostningerne være 200.000 kr.

Sydgrønland En SMV for Sydgrønland blev udført i 2012. Der vil her være behov for en opdatering i forbindelse med et evt. udbud i de kommende år. Det vurde-res, at en opdatering med nye data fra en række undersøgelser, opdatere-de kort og en ny vurdering vil kunne gøres for 300.000 kr.

Davis Stræde En SMV for Davis Stræde blev udført i 2012 og uden et forudgående regi-onalt undersøgelsesprogram. Den blev derfor betegnet som præliminær. Der er i anden sammenhæng siden 2012 udført en del relevante undersø-gelser i området, hvis resultater skal indgå i en opdatering af SMV’en. Det

6.5 Appendix 5. Memo on prioritation and costs of future updates and new strategic environ-mental impact assessments (in Danish)

Side 2/4 vurderes, at en opdatering med data fra de nyere undersøgelser, opdate-ring af kort og en ny samlet vurdering vil kunne gøres for 600.000 kr.

DCE og GN har desuden, i forbindelse med rådgivning vedr. licens til PanOceanic, anbefalet, at der gennemføres strategiske miljøundersøgelser i fire faser inden en boreaktivitet i dette område. DCE og GN har estimeret et samlet budget på 7.8 mill. kr. for disse undersøgelser.

Sydøstgrønland For Sydøstgrønland er der ikke gennemført en SMV-proces og en sådan bør påbegyndes i god tid inden området udbydes.

Området er vigtigt for både havpattedyr, fugle og fisk, og området har en befolkning, der er afhængig af disse ressourcer. Der er gennemført en række undersøgelser i de senere år, der vil bidrage væsentligt til en SMV, men det er DCE og GNs anbefaling, at der udføres en række supplerende undersøgelser. En del af disse undersøgelser kan med fordel udføres i samarbejde med Island, da det er undersøgelser af fælles biologiske res-sourcer.

I det følgende har vi listet dels en række relevante undersøgelser, der er udført eller er under udførelse, dels en række undersøgelser som DCE og GN anbefaler indgår i et nyt baggrunds-miljøundersøgelsesprogram.

Undersøgelser der er udført eller er under udførelse: - GPS projekt med lokal viden og fangeres arealudnyttelse 2017-18(gennemføres som en del af NØG programmet og skal indgå i Atlas oversærligt oliespildsfølsomme områder).

-Kortlægning af fuglekolonier fra båd (Boertmann & Rosing-Asvid 2014,2017)

- Flytælling af fugle i kystområder i juni måned (Merkel et al. 2010)

-Der forventes gennemført et flysurvey af ismågekolonier i 2018 (Dan-cea-ansøgning)

-Undersøgelser af kystnære algeforekomster er gennemført i 2017 (gen-nemføres som en del af NØG programmet).

-Satellitsporing af isbjørne i fjordene I Sydøstgrønland i 20015 – 17. (GN)

-Satellitsporing af sæler fra Sermilik fjorden, ved Tasiilaq siden 2012.(GN)

Side 3/4 -Satellitsporing af sæler ved Kap Farvel, hvoraf flere opholdt sig mere iSØ-Grønland end i SV-Grønland (Rosing et al. 2013)

- Passiv Akustisk Monitering af lyde fra havpattedyr, kombineret medsporing af pukkelhvaler og finhvaler og fødevalgundersøgelser af våge-hval, og småhvaler (delfiner, grindehval, spækhuggere). Undersøgelserstartet i 2013 (GN).

-Hvaltælling fra fly i 2015 (GN).

-Der er desuden gennemført fiskeribiologiske undersøgelser i området(GN m.fl.).

Supplerende undersøgelser der anbefales gennemført: Et baggrunds-undersøgelsesprogram bør inkludere supplerende studier af antal og udbredelse af isbjørne, sæler, hvaler og havfugle samt et multidisciplinært skibssurvey.

-For isbjørne er det aktuelt med mærkning og flyvning om foråret, menshvaler bør studeres om sommeren.

-Hvaltælling anbefales koordineret med tælling i Vestgrønland, da derkan være sammenhæng mellem fluktuationer i begge områder. Næstetælling i Vestgrønland er planlagt til mellem 2021 og 2023.

-Flysurvey efter fugle (fældeområder for ederfugl, havlit og lomvie) børgennemføres sensommer/efterår og geolocator-sporinger (fra Island)bør gennemføres for at fastslå bestandstilhørsforhold og supplere fly-survey for ederfugl og havlit.

-Multidisciplinært skibssurvey i området (potentiale for olienedbrydningi sediment, benthos, pelagisk fauna, akustisk survey) bør gennemføresfor at opnå et bedre kendskab til særligt vigtige områder (hotspots).

Estimeret Budget for et undersøgelsesprogram med supplerende miljø-studier: ca. 15-20 mill. kr.

Nordgrønland (polhavet) DCE og GN anbefaler at offshore områder nord for Grønland ikke udbydes på nuværende tidspunkt, da de miljømæssige udfordringer og risici er eks-traordinært store.

Hvilke SEIA’er er det mest nødvendigt at opdatere DCE og GN anbefaler, at indlede en SMV-proces for Sydøstgrønland som førsteprioritet, da der ikke foreligger en SMV for området. Dernæst har vi

Side 4/4 vurderet behovet for en opdatering af de øvrige SMV områder ud fra, hvor meget relevant ny viden der er til rådighed siden udgivelsen af SMV’en. Den prioriterede rækkefølge for opdateringer bliver herefter: Davis Stræ-det, Disko West og Sydgrønland.

Referencer Boertmann, D. & Rosing-Asvid, A. 2014. Seabirds and seals in Southeast Green-land. Results from a survey in July 2014. – Scientific Report from DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy No. 117, 42 pp.

Boertmann, D. & Rosing-Asvid, A. 2017. Seabirds and marine mammals in South-east Greenland. Results from a survey between Scoresby Sound and Tasiilaq in July and August 2016. – Scientific Report from DCE – Danish Centre for Envi-ronment and Energy No. 215, 40 pp.

Merkel, F.R., Rasmussen, L.M. & Rosing-Asvid, A. 2010. Seabirds and marine mammals in South and Southeast Greenland, June 2008. – Technical Report No. 81, Pinngortitaleriffik, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources.

Rosing-Asvid, A., Dietz, R., Teilmann, J., Olsen, M.T. & Andersen, S.M. 2013. Preliminary report about seals and their sensitivity to oil-exploration in South Greenland. – Report to the Ministry of Industry and Minerals.

Map showing the areas that DCE and GINR recommend not to open for petroleum exploration. 1/ Framed areas which are the biological and ecological important areas. 2/ The areas to the north of 75° and 80° N latitude (red lines) in West and East Greenland respectively. The hatched line show the border of the Greenland Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the dotted line the Greenland baseline.

6.6 Supplementary map

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