Checklist for contingency planning for accidents …...planning for accidents affecting...
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Information ServiceUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des NationsCH - 1211 Geneva 10, SwitzerlandTelephone: +41(0)22 917 44 44Fax: +41(0)22 917 05 05E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.unece.org
UNITED NATIONS
UNECE
Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters,
with introductory guidance
The checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters was prepared by the Joint Ad Hoc Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents, following a decision by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (Industrial Accidents Convention) at its sixth meeting (The Hague, 8–10 November 2010) and the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) at its sixth meeting (Rome, 28–30 November 2012).
The checklist is intended to contribute to mitigating the severity of the consequences of industrial accidents affecting transboundary watercourses for human health and the environment.
The Conference of the Parties to the Industrial Accidents Convention at its eighth meeting (Geneva, 3–5 December 2014) took note of the checklist and recommended its application as a tool for harmonized contingency planning between neighbouring States. The Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention at its seventh meeting (Budapest, 17-19 November 2015) followed the same approach.
The current document has been updated, following the testing of the checklist’s application during the Hazard and Crisis Management Week (Chisinau, 23–26 March 2015) within the Project on Hazard and Crisis Management in the Danube Delta.Ch
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The checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters was prepared by the Joint Ad Hoc Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents, following a decision by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (Industrial Accidents Convention) at its sixth meeting (The Hague, 8–10 November 2010) and the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) at its sixth meeting (Rome, 28–30 November 2012).
The checklist is intended to contribute to mitigating the severity of the consequences of industrial accidents affecting transboundary watercourses for human health and the environment.
The Conference of the Parties to the Industrial Accidents Convention at its eighth meeting (Geneva, 3–5 December 2014) took note of the checklist and recommended its application as a tool for harmonized contingency planning between neighbouring States. The Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention at its seventh meeting (Budapest, 17–19 November 2015) followed the same approach.
The current document has been updated, following the testing of the checklist’s application during the Hazard and Crisis Management Week (Chisinau, 23–26 March 2015) within the Project on Hazard and Crisis Management in the Danube Delta.
Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters,
with introductory guidance
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Information ServiceUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des NationsCH – 1211 Geneva 10, SwitzerlandTelephone: +41 (0)22 917 44 44Fax: +41 (0)22 917 05 05E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.unece.org
New York and Geneva, 2016
Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters,with introductory guidance
UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
Information ServiceUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des NationsCH - 1211 Geneva 10, SwitzerlandTelephone: +41(0)22 917 44 44Fax: +41(0)22 917 05 05E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.unece.org
UNITED NATIONS
UNECE
Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters,
with introductory guidance
The checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters was prepared by the Joint Ad Hoc Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents, following a decision by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (Industrial Accidents Convention) at its sixth meeting (The Hague, 8–10 November 2010) and the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) at its sixth meeting (Rome, 28–30 November 2012).
The checklist is intended to contribute to mitigating the severity of the consequences of industrial accidents affecting transboundary watercourses for human health and the environment.
The Conference of the Parties to the Industrial Accidents Convention at its eighth meeting (Geneva, 3–5 December 2014) took note of the checklist and recommended its application as a tool for harmonized contingency planning between neighbouring States. The Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention at its seventh meeting (Budapest, 17-19 November 2015) followed the same approach.
The current document has been updated, following the testing of the checklist’s application during the Hazard and Crisis Management Week (Chisinau, 23–26 March 2015) within the Project on Hazard and Crisis Management in the Danube Delta.Ch
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ECE/TEIA.CP/34
Copyright © 2016 United Nations.
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Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters i
Foreword
Industrial accidents causing water pollution, including those with large-scale and transboundary effects, can occur anytime and in any country, no matter how stringent the safety standards. The devastating effects of such accidents on humans and the environment, both within and across countries, have been demonstrated by past major accidents in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region. These accidents were tragic reminders that it is often impossible for the country where an accident happens to respond alone. Therefore, effective cooperation at the international level and, more importantly, between neighbouring states is of utmost importance, not only to respond to industrial accidents affecting transboundary waters but also to prevent and prepare for them.
Since the early 1990s UNECE has committed itself to the prevention of, preparedness for and response to industrial accidents, especially those with transboundary effects. The 1992 UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (Industrial Accidents Convention) helps protect human beings and the environment against such accidents by preventing them as far as possible, by reducing their frequency and severity and by mitigating their effects. Issues related to the prevention of accidental water pollution are addressed in close cooperation with the 1992 UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention).
Transboundary contingency planning between countries is key to prepare for and respond to industrial accidents affecting transboundary waters. Such planning is complex as it involves the coordination of many actors at the national and cross-border levels. To support countries in these efforts, a checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters was developed by the two Conventions’ Joint Ad Hoc Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents in 2015. Its application will support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, notably the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 6 on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030.
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I encourage countries from the UNECE region and beyond to make use of the checklist to improve transboundary contingency planning, so as to limit the number of accidents affecting transboundary waters and the severity of their consequences for human health and the environment.
Christian Friis BachExecutive SecretaryUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe
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Contents
Foreword ......................................................................................................................... i
Background and acknowledgements ...................................................................1
I. Introduction .............................................................................................................3
A. The need for harmonized transboundary contingency planning .............................................................................4
B. Methodological contingency planning through the use of the checklist ..........................................................6
C. Defining contingency planning and the scope of this document .........................................................6
D. Definitions ....................................................................................................8
II. Transboundary contingency planning .......................................................11
A. Emergency preparedness ................................................................... 12
B. Response planning ................................................................................ 14
C. International mutual assistance ........................................................ 15
III. Guiding principles for countries to allow for effective contingency planning for transboundary waters ...................................19
IV. Checklist for competent authorities to allow for effective contingency planning for transboundary waters ...................................25
A. Introduction to the checklist and its objectives .......................... 26
B. Application of the checklist ................................................................ 26
C. Assessment of the checklist ............................................................... 27
Annex – Checklist for contingency planning for transboundary waters (for competent authorities) ......................................28
References ....................................................................................................................50
1Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
Background and acknowledgements
In 2010, the Bureaux of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) and the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (Industrial Accidents Convention) endorsed a proposal to develop a checklist or methodology for contingency planning in a transboundary context by the Joint Ad Hoc Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents (Joint Expert Group). The proposal was subsequently endorsed by the Conference of the Parties to the Industrial Accidents Convention at its sixth meeting (The Hague, 8–10 November 2010) and confirmed by the Bureau of the Water Convention.
The aim of the checklist or methodology to be elaborated was, in particular, to take into account transboundary issues in contingency planning and to allow for the harmonization of approaches in the prevention of accidents affecting transboundary watercourses. The Joint Expert Group was also requested to base the checklist or methodology on existing methodologies and good practices, so as to avoid duplication and address common challenges in the region of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE).
The present document contains the checklist for contingency planning for competent authorities developed by the Joint Expert Group, in cooperation with a consultant (Mr. Sandor Kisgyörgy (Hungary)) funded by Germany and with the support of the ECE secretariat. In the period during which the checklist was elaborated, the Joint Expert Group was co-chaired by Mr. Peter Kovacs (Hungary) for the Water Convention and Mr. Francisc Senzaconi (Romania, 2010–2014) and Mr. Gerhard Winkelmann-Oei (Germany, from 2015) for the Industrial Accidents Convention. In addition to the Chairs, the following members of the Joint Expert Group supported the elaboration of the checklist by providing expert input: Mr. Serik Akhmetov (Kazakhstan); Mr. Claes-Hakan Carlsson (Sweden); Mr. Pavel Danielka (Czechia); Mr. Pavel Dobes (Czechia); Ms. Valentina Iurcu (Republic of Moldova); Mr. František Kraus (Czechia); Ms. Helena Nasslander (Sweden); and Ms. Natalia Zgircu (Republic of Moldova).
The checklist is intended to contribute to mitigating the severity of the consequences of industrial accidents affecting transboundary watercourses for human health and the environment. The Conference of the Parties to the Industrial Accidents Convention at its eighth meeting (Geneva, 3–5 December 2014) took note of the checklist and recommended its application as a tool for harmonized contingency planning between neighbouring States. It further requested the secretariat to publish the checklist in the three official languages following the testing of its application in the framework of the Project on Hazard
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and Crisis Management in the Danube Delta and its review by the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention at its seventh session (Budapest, 17–19 November 2015). Following the testing of the checklist’s application during the Hazard and Crisis Management Week (23–26 March 2015) within the Project on Hazard and Crisis Management in the Danube Delta, the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention at its seventh session took note of the updated checklist and recommended its application by countries and competent authorities.
The present document contains the checklist and introductory guidance endorsed by the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention in 2015, with editorial updates. Competent authorities are encouraged to apply the checklist, which is intended to contribute to limiting the number of accidents causing water pollution and the severity of their consequences for human health and the environment.
I. Introduction
This chapter provides an introduction to the need for contingency planning, in the light of past major industrial accidents, and the use of a checklist as a methodological tool for contingency planning before an industrial accident with possible transboundary effects occurs. It also defines contingency planning, outlines the scope of this document and provides an overview of the definitions used herein.
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A. The need for harmonized transboundary contingency planning
1. Potential emergency situations, including industrial accidents with large-scale impacts, can occur during all stages of the life cycle of a complex industrial facility. Use of the best available and least hazardous technologies and equipment, the application of risk assessment during the design and planning stage of a facility, a sound safety culture and a systems approach to process safety management — together — can reduce the potential for a major accident, but do not exclude it completely.
2. No matter how stringent the safety standards are, accidents will occur and countries must be prepared to deal with their consequences, especially if the effects could become transboundary. The severe consequences of major industrial accidents on humans and the environment in neighbouring countries were demonstrated, not least, by the 1986 Sandoz accident in Basel, Switzerland, and the dam break of a tailings pond at a mining facility in Baia Mare, Romania, in 2000, which both threatened drinking water supplies and devastated fish stocks in downstream countries.1 Therefore transboundary contingency planning, based on effective emergency preparedness and response planning, as well as on the provision of mutual assistance, is of the utmost importance to reduce the severity of such accidents and to mitigate their effects to the extent possible.
3. Two ECE treaties — the Industrial Accidents and Water Conventions — together provide a legal framework for addressing the risk of transboundary water pollution arising from industrial accidents. The Industrial Accidents Convention helps protect human beings and the environment against industrial accidents, especially those with transboundary effects, by preventing such accidents as far as possible, reducing their frequency and severity and mitigating their effects. Issues related to the prevention of accidental water pollution are addressed in close cooperation with the Water Convention.
1 One of the worst environmental disasters with transboundary effects in the ECE region was the 1986 Sandoz accident in Basel, Switzerland, where a large volume of firefighting water drained into the Rhine River and created a toxic plume 70 kilometres long flowing through Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands. The devastating effects of industrial accidents on humans and the environment have also been demonstrated by the dam break of a tailings pond at a mining facility in Baia Mare, Romania, in 2000 that resulted in a spill of about 100,000 cubic metres of liquid and suspended waste, containing also 50 to 100 tons of cyanide, which contaminated the Sasar, Lapus, Somes, Tisza and Danube Rivers before reaching the Black Sea.
5Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
4. Parties to the Industrial Accidents Convention have committed to establishing and maintaining adequate emergency preparedness to enable them to respond to industrial accidents (art. 8 and annex VII).2 This includes the preparation and implementation of internal contingency plans as well aswhere appropriate, joint external contingency plans to facilitate the adoption of adequate response measures. Parties to the Water Convention are obliged to take all appropriate measures to prevent, control and reduce pollution of waters causing or likely to cause transboundary impact (art. 2, paras. 1 and 2).3 To this end, Parties to the Water Convention have to develop, adopt, implement and, as far as possible, render compatible relevant legal, administrative, economic, financial and technical measures, in order to ensure, among others, that contingency planning is developed (art. 3, para. 1 (j)).
5. In the context of preparing for accidental water pollution, the general objective of a contingency plan is to organize an effective response in case of emergency situations affecting water quality, the water regime or water-related aquatic ecosystems and to facilitate cooperation, where relevant at the transboundary level, throughout all phases of such emergency situations, including prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
6. There are different options for developing a transboundary contingency plan. A transboundary contingency plan can be:
(a) Adopted jointly by countries sharing the same river basin. This could be within the framework of an existing transboundary cooperation mechanism (e.g., a joint body), where one exists;
(b) Developed individually by countries sharing the same river basin and be mutually harmonized through a possible separate agreement;
(c) The subject of a stand-alone agreement specifically dedicated to contingency planning and adopted by riparian countries.
2 The reference is to provisions of the Industrial Accidents Convention (United Nations, 2013).
3 The reference is to provisions of the Water Convention (United Nations, 2014).
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B. Methodological contingency planning through the use of the checklist
7. Contingency planning is complex and involves the coordination of many actors at the national level and in a transboundary context. To facilitate this process, it is useful to have tools that can help countries coordinate this process.
8. One tool commonly used in this process, to verify that standards (e.g., of industrial safety) are being adhered to, is the application of a checklist that allows competent authorities to check the applied safety standards and procedures against national legislation and international good practices. A checklist methodology, similar to the one presented here, was originally developed by the German Federal Environmental Agency following the failure of the dam at a tailings pond for a mining facility in Baia Mare, Romania, in 2000, with the aim of improving the level of protection of waters from industrial accidents. Since then, a number of checklists on different topics have been developed.4
9. The present checklist on contingency planning for transboundary waters provides for a systematic and unified approach to investigate and assess the risk of transboundary pollution. This risk needs to be managed, both by the operator and the competent authority. The operator has the responsibility for emergency preparedness and response inside the jurisdiction of the hazardous facility. The competent authority has to ensure that external and internal emergency plans are compatible, also in a transboundary context, and that mutual assistance is requested or provided respectively. The checklist was formulated based on the main principles of the Industrial Accidents and Water Conventions, as well as on other relevant international sources (see reference list at the end of this document), including the examples of other checklists or methodologies, with the aim of addressing the needs of Parties to both the Water and Industrial Accidents Conventions.
C. Defining contingency planning and the scope of this document
10. According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) (UNISDR, 2009), contingency planning means a management process that analyzes specific potential events or emerging situations that might threaten
4 E.g., (a) a checklist for surveying and assessing industrial plant handling materials and substances that are hazardous to water; (b) a sectoral checklist for the preparation and inspection of a safety report; and (c) a checklist on the safety of tailings management facilities. (See more information in the reference list at the end of this document.)
7Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
society or the environment, and establishes arrangements in advance to enable timely, effective and appropriate responses to such events and situations. In this regard, contingency planning for the purposes of the checklist can be understood as consisting of three pillars: (a) emergency planning (on-site, off-site and in a transboundary context); (b) response planning; and (c) mutual assistance (see figure below). In each of the pillars competent authorities have crucial responsibilities relating to contingency planning. The checklist is thus designed to help competent authorities ensure effective and efficient contingency planning, in particular in a transboundary context. Other actors, such as countries and operators, also have responsibilities in contingency planning: countries, for instance, have to put in place certain conditions, for example, relevant legislation, for the competent authorities to be able to act accordingly (see guiding principles for countries in chapter III). As regards operators, their main task in contingency planning is to provide relevant information to competent authorities for them to prepare off-site (external) emergency plans. Due to their limited involvement in this process, a separate section with recommendations has not been created.
Pillars of contingency planning
CONTINGENCY PLANNING
TRANSBOUNDARY WATERS CONTAMINATION
ON-SITE(INTERNAL)
EMERGENCY PLANS
OFF-SITE(EXTERNAL)EMERGENCY
PLANS
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
MUTUALASSISSTANCE
FACILITYOPERATORS
COMPETENTAUTHORITIES
EMERGENCY
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11. The purpose of this document and the attached checklist is to allow an adequate response to (major) industrial accidents in transboundary waters, to prevent potential harm to people and the environment from such accidents and to minimize and mitigate any effects.
12. The checklist applies to accidental pollution events where the sources of pollution are hazardous activities in which one or more hazardous substances are present or may be present in quantities at or in excess of the threshold quantities listed in annex I to the Industrial Accidents Convention. The checklist refers also to possible important pollution sources that originate from activities in the scope of the Water Convention.
13. The checklist recognizes that different safety standards already exist worldwide and that different approaches to safety exist with regard to cargo, modes of transport and transport interfaces. However, a comparable level of emergency and response planning should be achieved. This checklist is intended to support existing requirements and to recommend enhancement of practices wherever appropriate.
14. The methodology described below has been prepared based on the obligations from the Industrial Accidents and Water Conventions as well as from materials developed under the Conventions, such as the benchmarks for the implementation of the Industrial Accidents Convention (ECE/CP.TEIA/2010/6).5 The Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 2003) as well as operational industry experience and experience from international joint river bodies were also taken into account.
D. Definitions
15. For the purpose of the present document:
(a) “Industrial accident” means an event resulting from an uncontrolled development in the course of any activity involving hazardous substances either:
(i) In an installation, for example during manufacture, use, storage, handling, or disposal, or
(ii) During transportation insofar as it is covered by paragraph 2 (d) of article 2 of the Industrial Accidents Convention;
5 Both text and reader-friendly electronic versions available from www.unece.org/env/teia/ap/tools.html.
9Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
(b) “Hazardous activity” means any activity in which one or more hazardous substances are present or may be present in quantities at or in excess of the threshold quantities listed in annex I to the Industrial Accidents Convention and that is capable of causing transboundary effects;
(c) “Effects” means any direct or indirect, immediate or delayed adverse consequences caused by an industrial accident on, inter alia:
(i) Human beings, flora and fauna,(ii) Soil, water, air and landscape,(iii) The interaction between the factors in (i) and (ii),(iv) Material assets and cultural heritage, including historical
monuments;
(d) “Transboundary effects” means serious effects within the jurisdiction of a State as a result of an industrial accident occurring within the jurisdiction of another State;
(e) “Transboundary impact” means any significant adverse effect on the environment resulting from a change in the conditions of transboundary waters caused by a human activity, the physical origin of which is situated wholly or in part within an area under the jurisdiction of a State, within an area under the jurisdiction of another State. Such effects on the environment include effects on human health and safety, flora, fauna, soil, air, water, climate, landscape and historical monuments or other physical structures or the interaction among these factors; they also include effects on the cultural heritage or socioeconomic conditions resulting from alterations to those factors;
(f ) “Transboundary waters” means any surface waters or groundwater that mark, cross or are located on boundaries between two or more States; wherever transboundary waters flow directly into the sea, these transboundary waters end at a straight line across their respective mouths between points on the low-water line of their banks;
(g) “Party” means, unless the text otherwise indicates, a Contracting Party to the Industrial Accidents and Water Conventions;
(h) “Party of origin” means any Party or Parties under whose jurisdiction an industrial accident occurs or is capable of occurring, whereas “country of origin” means any country or countries under whose jurisdiction an industrial accident occurs or is capable of occurring;
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(i) “Affected Party” means any Party or Parties affected or capable of being affected by transboundary effects of an industrial accident, whereas “affected country” means any country or countries affected or capable of being affected by transboundary effects of an industrial accident;
(j) “Parties concerned” means any Party of origin and any affected Party;
(k) “Riparian Parties” mean the Parties bordering the same transboundary waters, whereas “riparian countries” means the countries bordering the same transboundary waters;
(l) “Joint body” means any bilateral or multilateral commission or other appropriate institutional arrangements for cooperation between the Riparian Parties;
(m) “Operator” means any natural or legal person, including public authorities, in charge of an activity, for example, supervising, planning to carry out or carrying out an activity.
II. Transboundary contingency planning
Effective transboundary contingency planning is based on adequate emergency preparedness and response planning, as well as on the provision of mutual assistance. This chapter sets out the main obligations for Parties to the Industrial Accidents and Water Conventions, obligations for competent authorities and operators of hazardous industrial facilities and information that needs to be taken into account with respect to emergency preparedness, emergency response planning and mutual assistance.
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A. Emergency preparedness
16. Competent authorities and operators of industrial facilities need to be aware that even a minor leakage of hazardous substances into receiving waters can cause far-reaching and often transboundary damage. Therefore, emergency preparedness has to be in place, and suitable response equipment must be installed, for countries to be able to take effective steps to minimize the effects of industrial accidents on waters both on-site and off-site, including those of a transboundary nature.
17. In accordance with the Industrial Accidents Convention (art. 8, para. 2), operators have to prepare on-site emergency plans for hazardous facilities, which need to be established prior to the acceptance by the authorities of the construction, operation or closure of a facility. Hence, they should be drawn up within the periods set by national legislation.
On-site (or internal) emergency plans
18. Operators of hazardous activities are obliged to be prepared to manage the possible accidental pollution sources within their jurisdiction, and have to prove to the competent authority their mitigation capacity through their on-site emergency plans.
19. On-site emergency plans should consider all kinds of natural hazards, including the flood risk hazard and sources of ignition. Relevant additional information relating to natural hazards should preferably be provided in an annex (e.g., inundation maps in case of flooding hazards).
20. On-site emergency plans are specific for each site and situation. They should be developed and continuously tested, reviewed and revised by operators and be communicated to the competent authorities. Plans for notification of key personnel and alerting the public should be an integral part of the emergency plan and should be prepared for slow and rapid aggravating developments and for instantaneous failure conditions.
21. Operators should ensure appropriate capacity for response, including equipment and staff. They should assist, when requested, in responding to emergency situations at other neighbouring activities and should have an insurance against liability for damage resulting from an accident.6
6 According to the ECE Protocol on Civil Liability and Compensation for Damage Caused by the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters (United Nations, 2004), operators shall be liable for the damage caused by an industrial accident. The joint Protocol to the ECE Water and Industrial Accidents Conventions was adopted and signed by 22 countries at the Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference in Kyiv on 21 May 2003. It has not entered into force.
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Off-site (or external) emergency plans
22. If the effects of the accidental pollution go beyond the confines of a hazardous facility, the competent authority activates its off-site emergency plan.
23. The off-site emergency plans are prepared and implemented by the competent authorities, in accordance with the Industrial Accidents Convention (art. 8, para. 3) based on the information and data provided by the operator in his on-site emergency plan and other relevant data collected by the competent authorities. The public should be given the opportunity to participate in the preparation and revision of the off-site emergency plans (art. 9, para 2).
24. Hazardous facility operators are also obliged to provide the local authorities with all the necessary information concerning the potentially affected area, so as to be able to evaluate the impact on human beings and the environment.
25. Nowadays, response technologies are well developed for accidental pollution of floating materials. The possibility for intervention is much more limited for accidental pollution of soluble materials that comprise toxic substances hazardous to the environment and human health. It is very important to establish proper alarm and notification systems for warning the water users so that they can take the appropriate action in the event of accidental pollution.
Transboundary off-site (or external) emergency plans
26. In the present document, off-site emergency planning in a transboundary context on international watersheds is applied in accordance with the Industrial Accidents and Water Conventions. The cooperation in this case can be extended to the area of mutual assistance and response activity, based on bilateral or multilateral agreements.
27. In accordance with the Industrial Accidents Convention (art. 8, para 3), Parties should ensure that in border areas the off-site emergency plans of two regions of neighbouring countries are compatible with each other and that they contain all relevant information, including contact details of the competent authority in the neighbouring country to allow for proper notification of hazardous activities. The public of the affected Party should be given the same rights as the public of the Party of origin to participate in the preparation and revision of off-site emergency plans.
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28. For emergency preparedness it is essential to have early warning and alert systems in place. Early warning systems imply a double requirement:
(a) A suitable organizational structure allowing for the distribution of measuring devices, involving a network of stations linked to one another;
(b) Suitable technical equipment for event detection and assessment of warning and alert relevance.
29. Early warning systems should be set up by the operator at the hazardous facility and by the competent authorities for the whole river catchment area. These early warning systems are often integrated into international warning and alarm plans established by joint bodies.
30. At hazardous facilities, continuous online monitoring should be set up and adjusted to different alarm levels. These alarm levels have to be agreed with the competent authorities and should be in line with the respective threshold levels of international alarm plans in place for the specific river or river basin.
31. Compatible and efficient industrial accident notification systems at appropriate levels, such as the ECE Industrial Accident Notification (IAN) System,
should be established and operational to inform neighbouring and potentially affected countries about an industrial accident. 7
32. For scenario-calculations regarding a discharge, established flow-time modelling should be used.
B. Response planning
33. Systems should be in place to immediately alert response personnel in the event of an accident involving hazardous substances, or an imminent threat of an accident, that would require their involvement.
34. In the event of an accident involving hazardous substances, stakeholders should take all reasonable measures to minimize the exposure of people and the environment to such substances and to limit adverse effects to health, the environment and property.
7 The Parties to the Industrial Accidents Convention, in accordance with its article 10, have to provide for the establishment and operation of compatible and efficient industrial accident notification systems at appropriate levels to inform neighbouring countries.
15Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
35. In the event of an accident involving hazardous substances, the management of the hazardous installation should immediately activate its on-site emergency plan.
36. Those responsible for emergency response should be involved in the planning process. Based on accident scenarios, response equipment should be in place to fight effectively against any contamination to contain the hazardous substances released and prevent their spread. Following the response, the emergency plan should be reviewed and revised, as appropriate, in the light of the experience gained.
37. In the event of an accident involving hazardous substances that might threaten or have an off-site negative impact on health, the environment or property, or that cannot be handled by on-site response resources, procedures for promptly alerting the local emergency response authorities should be in place at hazardous facilities and activated immediately.
38. Spokespeople designated to provide information to the public after an accident (including those from industry and competent authorities) should have the necessary knowledge, skills, authority and credibility to communicate effectively with the public.
C. International mutual assistance
39. In accordance with the Industrial Accidents Convention (art. 12, para. 1), if an industrial accident occurs and a country cannot deal with its consequences alone, it may ask for assistance from other Parties, indicating the scope and type of assistance required. A Party to whom a request for assistance is directed must promptly decide and inform the requesting Party whether it is in a position to render the assistance required and indicate the scope and terms of the assistance that might be rendered.
40. The Parties concerned are required to cooperate to facilitate the prompt provision of assistance, where appropriate, to minimize the consequences and effects of the accident, and to provide general assistance. Where Parties do not have bilateral or multilateral agreements, which cover their arrangements for providing mutual assistance, the assistance must be rendered in accordance with annex X to the Industrial Accidents Convention, unless the Parties agree otherwise (annex X, para. 2).
41. Each Party is required to designate or establish one point of contact for the purpose of accident notifications, pursuant to article 10 of the Industrial Accidents Convention, and one point of contact for the purpose of mutual
16 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
assistance pursuant to article 12. These points of contact should preferably be the same (art. 17, para. 2).
42. In accordance with the Water Convention (art. 15, para. 2), Riparian Parties are obligated to elaborate and agree upon procedures for mutual assistance addressing, inter alia, the following issues:
(a) The direction, control, coordination and supervision of assistance;
(b) Local facilities and services to be rendered by the Party requesting assistance, including, where necessary, the facilitation of border-crossing formalities;
(c) Arrangements for holding harmless, indemnifying and/or compensating the assisting Party and/or its personnel, as well as for transit through territories of third parties, where necessary;
(d) Methods of reimbursing assistance services.
43. In accordance with the Industrial Accidents Convention (annex X, para. 1), the overall direction, control, coordination and supervision of the assistance are the responsibility of the requesting Party unless otherwise agreed. The personnel involved in the assisting operation are required to act in accordance with the relevant legislation of the requesting Party. The appropriate authorities of the requesting Party are obliged to cooperate with the authority designated by the assisting Party, as being in charge of the immediate operational supervision of the personnel and the equipment provided by the assisting Party.
44. The requesting Party is obliged to use its best efforts to afford to the assisting Party and persons acting on its behalf the privileges, immunities or facilities necessary for the expeditious performance of their assistance functions. The requesting Party must not be required to apply this provision to its own nationals or permanent residents or to afford them the privileges and immunities referred to above (annex X, para. 2).
45. A Party is required, at the request of the requesting or assisting Party, to endeavour to facilitate the transit through its territory of duly notified personnel, equipment and property involved in the assistance to and from the requesting Party. The requesting Party is also required to facilitate the entry into, stay in and departure from its national territory of duly notified personnel and of equipment and property involved in the assistance (annex X, paras. 5 and 6).
46. The affected or requesting Party may at any time, after appropriate consultations and by notification, request the termination of assistance received or provided under the Industrial Accidents Convention. Once such a request
17Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
has been made, the Parties concerned must consult one another with a view to making arrangements for the proper termination of the assistance (annex X, para. 10).
47. In accordance with the Industrial Accidents Convention (art. 18, para. 4), Parties are obliged to review existing national, regional and international centres and other bodies and programmes aimed at coordinating information and efforts in the prevention of, preparedness for and response to industrial accidents, with a view to determining what additional international institutions or centres may be needed to carry out the tasks for facilitating the provision of mutual assistance, as outlined in its annex XII.
III. Guiding principles for countries to allow for effective contingency planning for transboundary waters
Competent authorities play a key role in transboundary contingency planning. As a prerequisite for effective transboundary contingency planning, countries have to ensure that all necessary international agreements and national legislation are in place. Based on these provisions, competent authorities would be able to effectively implement a transboundary contingency plan.
20 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
General guiding principles
48. Countries should:
(a) Ensure that appropriate legislation is in place and follow good international practice on contingency planning for transboundary waters;
(b) Establish early warning, alarm and notification systems and mutual data exchange between operators and authorities and between the riparian countries;
(c) Strive to establish a joint body for transboundary rivers based on international agreements;
(d) Strive to establish financial mechanisms for emergency response and remediation.
49. The major transboundary or international issues should be agreed in bilateral or multilateral agreements among the riparian countries.
50. Neighbouring countries should:
(a) Exchange information, and consult each other, with the objective of preventing accidents capable of causing transboundary damage and reducing adverse effects;
(b) Consult one another with the aim of looking for possibilities to prepare joint or harmonized external contingency planning related to accidental pollution capable of causing transboundary damage;
(c) Establish procedures for the rapid and effective transmission of information related to an accident (or imminent threat of an accident) that might cause transboundary effects and set up systems for communication of pertinent information following an accident.
51. In the event of an accident involving accidental pollution capable of causing transboundary effects, competent authorities in the country of origin should ensure that competent authorities in the affected country are notified without delay and are given appropriate information. The information should address, for example:
(a) The accident location and brief description of the circumstances;
(b) The immediate effects of the accident;
(c) The emergency measures planned and actions taken;
21Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
(d) The chemical identity, quantity and physical form of the hazardous substances that may affect the potentially affected countries;
(e) The data available for evaluating the probable impacts of the accident.
52. Representatives of the public of the neighbouring or affected country should have an opportunity to participate in licensing or siting procedures for hazardous facilities that might have transboundary effects in the country of origin.
53. Countries are encouraged to apply the obligations for Parties to the Industrial Accidents and Water Conventions set out below.
Identification, consultation and advice
54. For the purpose of undertaking preventive measures and setting up preparedness measures, the Party of origin is obliged to take measures to identify hazardous activities within its jurisdiction and to ensure that affected Parties are notified of any such proposed or existing activity (Industrial Accidents Convention, art. 4, para.1).
55. Parties concerned are required, at the initiative of any such Party, to enter into consultations on the identification of those hazardous activities that are, reasonably, capable of causing transboundary effects (art. 4, para. 2).
56. The analysis and evaluation of the hazardous activities should be the output of the on-site emergency plans. In doing so, countries should rely on annex V of the Industrial Accidents Convention.
Monitoring and Prevention
57. Parties are required to establish programmes for monitoring the conditions of transboundary waters (Water Convention, art. 4).
58. Parties are obliged to take appropriate measures for the prevention of industrial accidents and other sources with transboundary effects, including measures to induce action by operators to reduce the risk of accidental pollution (Industrial Accidents Convention, art. 6, para.1).
59. With regard to any hazardous activity, the Party of origin must require the operator to demonstrate the safe performance of the hazardous activity by the provision of information such as basic details of the process, including analysis and evaluation (Industrial Accidents Convention, art. 6, para.2).
22 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
Industrial accident notification systems
60. In the event of accidental pollution that can cause transboundary effects, the Party of origin has to ensure that affected Parties are, without delay, notified at appropriate levels through the accidental pollution notification systems, including, where appropriate, through the ECE IAN System (Industrial Accidents Convention, art. 10, para. 2).
61. The Parties concerned are obliged to ensure, in the event of an accidental pollution, that the off-site emergency plans are activated as soon as possible and to the extent appropriate to the circumstances.
Response
62. The Parties are required to ensure that, in the event of an accidental pollution, adequate response measures are taken, as soon as possible and using the most efficient practices, to contain and minimize effects (Industrial Accidents Convention, art. 11, para. 1).
63. In the event of accidental pollution capable of causing transboundary effects the Parties concerned are obliged to ensure that the effects are assessed, where appropriate, jointly for the purpose of taking adequate response measures. The Parties concerned must endeavour to coordinate their response measures (Industrial Accidents Convention, art. 11, para. 2).
64. Awareness building should address high-level officials and the public to ensure that adequate funding is available for preparedness and response including in a transboundary context.
Mutual assistance
65. If any Party needs assistance in the event of an accidental pollution, it may ask for assistance from other Parties, indicating the scope and type of assistance required. A Party to whom a request for assistance is directed must promptly decide and inform the requesting Party whether it is in a position to render the assistance required and indicate the scope and terms of the assistance that might be rendered (Industrial Accidents Convention, art. 12, para. 1).
Exchange of information and technology
66. The Parties are obliged, at the multilateral or bilateral level, to exchange reasonably obtainable information (Industrial Accidents Convention, art. 15).
23Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
67. The Parties are required, consistent with their laws, to facilitate the exchange of technology for the prevention of, preparedness for and response to the effects of accidental pollutions (Industrial Accidents Convention, art. 16, para. 1).
Enforcement
68. The contingency plan of transboundary waters should enter into force after the joint body has adopted it, or after representatives of the Parties concerned have agreed on it. If no joint body has yet been established, the transboundary contingency plan can be adopted in a separate agreement.
69. The riparian countries have to take the necessary legal steps to enforce the adopted contingency plan.
IV. Checklist for competent authorities to allow for effective contingency planning for transboundary waters
This chapter aims at providing competent authorities with the necessary information to apply and assess the results of the checklist (see annex) in practice, so as to be able to improve or maintain a high level of contingency planning in the future.
26 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
A. Introduction to the checklist and its objectives
70. The checklist, annexed to this document, provides a systematic and unified approach for investigating and assessing the main principles for contingency planning, derived from the Water and Industrial Accidents Conventions as well as from other relevant international guidance, such as the ECE Benchmarks for the implementation of the Industrial Accidents Convention and the OECD Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response (OECD, 2003).
71. This checklist is intended to help competent authorities, as key actors in transboundary contingency planning, put in place effective and efficient contingency planning. As such, the checklist contains guiding principles for competent authorities regarding emergency and response planning and the provision of mutual assistance, aiming at the following:
(a) To provide methodological support to competent authorities for the preparation of off-site emergency plans, especially in a transboundary context;
(b) To identify gaps or deficiencies in transboundary contingency planning and to determine specific areas where further actions to strengthen contingency planning need to be taken, including legal and institutional conditions;
(c) To serve as a tool for training stakeholders involved in transboundary contingency planning on international watersheds.
B. Application of the checklist
72. The checklist contains a number of guiding principles for competent authorities that are based on the obligations under the Industrial Accidents and Water Conventions (see chapter III). These documents should be carefully studied before the preparation, review and evaluation of the transboundary contingency plan.
73. Based on those guiding principles, points to be checked by competent authorities have been derived and presented in the attached checklist. Competent authorities are expected to go through the checklist and to tick the boxes that apply (yes, partly, or no). Upon ticking the relevant boxes, competent authorities should assess the results and take the appropriate actions to improve or maintain a high level of a harmonized contingency planning on transboundary watersheds in the future.
27Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
74. Some questions of the checklist are related to on-site emergency plans. They are generally valid regardless of the type of hazardous facility. The checklist provides for the possibility to evaluate the requirements of data supply that the operators should meet in relation to an external emergency plan on a transboundary watershed.
C. Assessment of the checklist
75. The assessment should be based on external joint or harmonized contingency plans on international watersheds. The competent joint bodies of the riparian countries can decide on the method of assessment, i.e. whether it will be done by the competent authority of the country of origin, the neighbouring country or a country that could be affected by an accident, or by a subcommittee of evaluators consisting of experts from the countries concerned.
76. The evaluators assessing the results should go through the questions answered with “Yes”, “Partly” or “No” and subsequently take the necessary actions. It is recommended to take the following actions:
(a) In all cases where the answer is “No”, the relevant issue should be addressed, unless the evaluator or the evaluation committee can prove that the question is not relevant;
(b) In all cases where the answer is “Partly”, the evaluator or the evaluation committee can decide that the issue:
(i) should be addressed (in order to allow for ticking a “Yes” next time the checklist will be applied);
(ii) can be left as it is; or (iii) is not relevant.
28 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
Ann
ex –
Che
cklis
t for
con
ting
ency
pla
nnin
g fo
r tra
nsbo
unda
ry w
ater
s (f
or c
ompe
tent
aut
hori
ties
)
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O1.
Coun
trie
s sh
ould
ens
ure
that
the
defin
ition
s in
the
legi
slat
ion
are
in li
ne
with
thos
e fr
om th
e W
ater
and
Indu
stria
l Ac
cide
nts
Conv
entio
ns.
Are
the
defin
ition
s se
t out
in a
ccor
danc
e w
ith th
e In
dust
rial A
ccid
ents
and
Wat
er
Conv
entio
ns (s
ee c
hapt
er I.
D)?
DES
CRIP
TIO
N O
F TH
E W
ATER
SHED
2.G
eogr
aphi
c lo
catio
nIs
ther
e a
map
of t
he a
rea
pote
ntia
lly
affec
ted
by a
ccid
enta
l pol
lutio
n?
Is th
ere
an a
gree
men
t on
wha
t the
bas
e de
linea
tion
of th
e aff
ecte
d ar
ea is
?
3.M
ain
char
acte
ristic
s of
the
wat
ersh
edIs
ther
e a
desc
riptio
n of
the
mai
n ch
arac
teris
tics
of th
e w
ater
shed
?
4.To
pogr
aphy
and
oth
er a
spec
tsIs
ther
e a
desc
riptio
n of
the
topo
grap
hy
(relie
f), fl
ora,
hyd
rogr
aphy
, urb
an a
reas
an
d tr
ansp
orta
tion?
29Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O5.
Geo
logy
and
soi
l str
uctu
reIs
ther
e a
desc
riptio
n of
the
geol
ogy
and
soil
stru
ctur
e?
6.Cl
imat
eIs
ther
e a
desc
riptio
n of
the
clim
ate
and,
in
par
ticul
ar, p
reci
pita
tion?
7.G
roun
dwat
er a
nd a
quife
rsIs
ther
e a
desc
riptio
n of
the
grou
ndw
ater
st
atus
and
aqu
ifers
in th
e po
tent
ially
aff
ecte
d ar
ea?
8.Su
rfac
e w
ater
sIs
ther
e a
desc
riptio
n of
the
surf
ace
wat
ers
(riv
ers,
drai
nage
sys
tem
, ab
ando
ned
river
bed
s, ox
bow
s, la
kes,
rese
rvoi
rs)?
9.N
atur
al p
rote
cted
val
ues
and
area
sIs
ther
e a
desc
riptio
n of
the
natu
ral
prot
ecte
d va
lues
and
are
as in
the
affec
ted
area
?
30 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O
POTE
NTI
AL
SOU
RCES
OF
ACC
IDEN
TAL
POLL
UTI
ON
10.
List
of p
oten
tial a
ccid
enta
l wat
er
pollu
tion
sour
ces
Are
faci
litie
s w
ith s
igni
fican
t im
pact
lis
ted?
Pollu
tion
prop
agat
ion
Doe
s th
is li
st in
clud
e th
e fo
llow
ing?
• W
aste
wat
er tr
eatm
ent p
lant
s
• In
dust
rial p
lant
s
• Ag
roch
emic
al e
stab
lishm
ents
• H
ydro
carb
on st
orag
e fa
cilit
ies
• An
imal
farm
s
Are
thes
e po
tent
ial s
ourc
es p
rese
nted
on
a m
ap?
Is th
ere
an a
dequ
ate
mod
el fo
r sim
ulat
ing
the
pollu
tion
prop
agat
ion
in th
e co
ntin
genc
y pl
an?
Are
the
trav
el (s
prea
ding
) tim
es o
f th
e po
llutio
n co
unte
d in
ext
rem
e hy
drol
ogic
al c
ondi
tions
?
31Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O11
.Su
rfac
e an
d gr
ound
wat
er q
ualit
yIs
ther
e a
desc
riptio
n of
the
clas
sific
atio
n re
late
d to
wat
er q
ualit
y?
12.
Surf
ace
wat
er q
ualit
yD
oes
it co
ntai
n th
e ch
arac
teriz
atio
n of
th
e w
ater
qua
lity
cate
gorie
s?
13.
Gro
undw
ater
qua
lity
Is th
ere
a de
scrip
tion
of th
e gr
ound
wat
er
qual
ity in
the
pote
ntia
lly a
ffect
ed a
rea?
14.
Drin
king
wat
er s
uppl
yIs
ther
e a
desc
riptio
n of
the
drin
king
w
ater
sup
ply?
Are
sur
face
wat
ers
used
as
drin
king
w
ater
?
15.
Indu
stria
l wat
er s
uppl
yIs
ther
e a
desc
riptio
n of
the
indu
stria
l w
ater
sup
ply?
16.
Agric
ultu
re u
ses
Is th
ere
a co
mpr
ehen
sive
des
crip
tion
of
agric
ultu
ral w
ater
use
s?
17.
Recr
eatio
nal s
ites
Is th
ere
a de
scrip
tion
of re
crea
tiona
l w
ater
use
s?
18.
Fish
ing
activ
ities
A
re fi
shin
g ac
tiviti
es d
escr
ibed
?
19.
Wat
er in
take
s fo
r fish
-farm
sA
re th
e w
ater
inta
kes
for fi
sh-fa
rms
desc
ribed
?
32 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O
WAT
ER M
AN
AG
EMEN
T O
RGA
NIZ
ATIO
N/C
OM
PETE
NT
AU
THO
RITI
ES
20.
Resp
onsi
bilit
ies
and
activ
ities
of t
he
com
pete
nt a
utho
ritie
sIs
ther
e a
com
preh
ensi
ve d
escr
iptio
n of
how
the
wat
er m
anag
emen
t is
orga
nize
d?
Iden
tifica
tion
of th
e co
mpe
tent
au
thor
ities
Is th
ere
a lis
t of t
he c
ompe
tent
aut
horit
ies
in th
e co
ntin
genc
y pl
an?
Is th
ere
a lis
t of t
he ta
sks
of th
e au
thor
ities
rela
ted
to th
e re
spon
se to
ac
cide
ntal
pol
lutio
n?
Is th
ere
an a
utho
rity
resp
onsi
ble
for
prep
arat
ion
of th
e co
ntin
genc
y pl
an?
If ye
s, is
it n
amed
in th
e co
ntin
genc
y pl
an?
Is th
e au
thor
ity re
spon
sibl
e fo
r th
e ex
ecut
ion
of th
e re
spon
se to
ac
cide
ntal
wat
er p
ollu
tion
nam
ed in
the
cont
inge
ncy
plan
?
33Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O
EMER
GEN
CY
PREP
ARE
DN
ESS
21.
On-
site
em
erge
ncy
plan
s fo
r haz
ardo
us
faci
litie
s ne
ed to
be
esta
blis
hed
prio
r to
the
acce
ptan
ce b
y th
e au
thor
ities
of
con
stru
ctio
n, o
pera
tion
or c
losu
re.
Hen
ce, t
hey
shou
ld b
e dr
awn
up
with
in th
e pe
riods
set
by
natio
nal o
r in
tern
atio
nal l
egis
latio
n.
Doe
s th
e na
tiona
l leg
isla
tion
give
a
prop
er fr
ame
for t
he c
ontr
ibut
ion
of
emer
genc
y pl
anni
ng to
the
perm
ittin
g pr
oced
ure?
22.
Emer
genc
y pl
ans
shou
ld b
e es
tabl
ishe
d an
d te
sted
by
the
haza
rdou
s fa
cilit
y op
erat
or (o
n-si
te e
mer
genc
y pl
ans)
an
d by
aut
horit
ies
(off-
site
em
erge
ncy
plan
s). E
vent
ually
, upo
n re
ques
t of t
he
com
pete
nt a
utho
ritie
s, th
ey s
houl
d be
test
ed to
geth
er, t
o ve
rify
inte
r-re
latio
nshi
ps a
nd in
terd
epen
denc
ies.
Doe
s th
e na
tiona
l leg
isla
tion
cont
ain
the
requ
irem
ent t
hat i
nter
nal a
nd e
xter
nal
emer
genc
y pl
ans
shou
ld b
e te
sted
to
geth
er?
34 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O23
.Em
erge
ncy
plan
s sh
ould
be
revi
ewed
an
d up
date
d w
hen
need
ed a
nd w
here
re
leva
nt b
ut a
t lea
st a
t eve
ry 5
yea
rs.
Are
the
emer
genc
y pl
ans
revi
ewed
and
up
date
d w
hen
need
ed o
r whe
re re
leva
nt
but a
t lea
st e
very
5 y
ears
?
Hav
e th
e em
erge
ncy
plan
s be
en
revi
ewed
and
upd
ated
at l
east
in th
e fo
llow
ing
situ
atio
ns:
• Af
ter o
ccur
renc
e of
acc
iden
ts o
r em
erge
ncy
situ
atio
ns a
t the
site
or
on th
e ba
sis o
f les
sons
lear
ned
from
ac
cide
nts a
t oth
er si
mila
r site
s?
• W
hen
the
emer
genc
y se
rvic
e or
gani
zatio
n ha
s cha
nged
?
• W
hen
new
haz
ards
ass
ocia
ted
with
the
haza
rdou
s fac
ility
are
iden
tified
?
• W
hen
new
tech
nica
l kno
wle
dge
or n
ew
tech
nolo
gy is
bei
ng d
evel
oped
that
is
cons
ider
ed re
leva
nt to
the
oper
atio
n of
th
e ha
zard
ous f
acili
ty?
• W
hen
desi
gn p
aram
eter
s (e.
g.,
tem
pera
ture
, pre
ssur
e) h
ave
appr
oach
ed o
r exc
eede
d th
eir l
imits
as
a re
sult
of c
hang
es, m
ism
anag
emen
t, st
ruct
ural
pro
blem
s, eq
uipm
ent
mod
ifica
tion
or n
atur
al e
vent
s?
35Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O24
.O
n-si
te e
mer
genc
y pl
ans
shou
ld
cons
ider
all
natu
ral h
azar
ds, s
uch
as
flood
ing
haza
rds,
and
acci
dent
s in
the
imm
edia
te v
icin
ity o
f the
haz
ardo
us
faci
lity.
Rel
evan
t add
ition
al in
form
atio
n fr
om n
atur
al h
azar
ds s
houl
d pr
efer
ably
be
pro
vide
d in
an
anne
x (e
.g.,
inun
datio
n m
aps
in c
ase
of fl
oodi
ng h
azar
ds).
Doe
s th
e off
-site
em
erge
ncy
plan
co
nsid
er n
atur
al h
azar
ds, s
uch
as
• Fl
oodi
ng h
azar
ds?
• St
orm
risk
s?
• Fi
res?
• Ac
cide
nts i
n th
e im
med
iate
vic
inity
of
the
haza
rdou
s fac
ility
?
Com
pete
nt a
utho
ritie
s sh
ould
ens
ure
that
ope
rato
rs d
raw
up
on-s
ite
emer
genc
y pl
ans
and
put t
hem
into
eff
ect w
ithou
t del
ay w
hen
an a
ccid
ent
occu
rs; a
nd s
uppl
y th
e au
thor
ities
de
sign
ated
for t
hat p
urpo
se w
ith th
e ne
cess
ary
info
rmat
ion
to e
nabl
e th
em to
dr
aw u
p off
-site
em
erge
ncy
plan
s.
Has
the
oper
ator
dra
wn
up o
n-si
te
emer
genc
y pl
ans?
Did
the
oper
ator
put
the
emer
genc
y pl
an in
to e
ffect
with
out d
elay
whe
n an
ac
cide
nt o
ccur
red?
Did
the
oper
ator
sup
ply
the
auth
oriti
es
with
the
nece
ssar
y in
form
atio
n to
ena
ble
them
to d
raw
up
off-s
ite e
mer
genc
y pl
ans?
36 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O25
.O
n-si
te a
nd o
ff-si
te e
mer
genc
y pl
ans
shou
ld in
clud
e an
d ad
dres
s ge
neric
pa
ram
eter
s.
Do
the
on-a
nd o
ff-si
te e
mer
genc
y pl
ans
incl
ude
the
follo
win
g is
sues
:
• Sc
ope
and
obje
ctiv
e of
the
emer
genc
y pl
an
• D
escr
iptio
n an
d ev
alua
tion
of
emer
genc
y sc
enar
ios,
haza
rds
(incl
udin
g na
tura
l haz
ards
), po
tent
ially
aff
ecte
d ar
eas,
etc.
• N
ames
, pos
ition
s and
con
tact
dat
a of
pe
rson
s aut
horiz
ed to
set e
mer
genc
y pr
oced
ures
in m
otio
n an
d of
the
pers
on
in c
harg
e of
coo
rdin
atin
g th
e in
tern
al
miti
gatio
n ac
tions
• Re
spon
sibi
litie
s of e
ach
mem
ber o
f th
e or
gani
zatio
n be
ing
part
of t
he
emer
genc
y m
anag
emen
t, th
e ch
ain
of
resp
onsi
bilit
y an
d an
y ot
her a
utho
rity
invo
lved
• Co
nduc
t of a
nee
ds id
entifi
catio
n an
d,
base
d on
the
outc
ome,
defi
nitio
n of
th
e re
quire
d eq
uipm
ent a
nd h
uman
re
sour
ces f
or e
ffect
ive
inte
rven
tions
37Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O•
Invo
lvem
ent o
f shi
p cr
ews (
for
com
mun
icat
ion
and
actio
n)
• Pr
oced
ures
for e
mer
genc
y re
spon
se o
r re
med
iatio
n fo
r eac
h of
the
dete
rmin
ed
emer
genc
y sc
enar
ios,
incl
udin
g th
e ne
cess
ary
war
ning
of a
nd in
tera
ctio
n w
ith lo
cal e
mer
genc
y se
rvic
es
• Re
quire
men
ts fo
r ann
ual e
mer
genc
y dr
ills a
nd p
ract
ices
with
ext
erna
l ag
enci
es in
volv
ed (fi
re b
rigad
e, p
olic
e,
ambu
lanc
e, lo
cal h
ospi
tals
)
• In
tera
ctio
ns a
nd in
terf
ace
with
oth
er
inte
rven
tion
plan
s, ei
ther
ext
erna
lly
(e.g
., fro
m n
eigh
bour
ing
plan
ts, a
na
tiona
l cris
is p
lan,
a d
isas
ter p
lan)
or
inte
rnal
ly (e
.g., t
he c
ompa
ny’s
cris
is
plan
, bus
ines
s con
tinui
ty p
lan
or
reco
very
pla
n)
38 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O
RELA
TED
TO
OFF
-SIT
E EM
ERG
ENC
Y PL
AN
S
26.
Off-
site
em
erge
ncy
plan
s sh
ould
be
prep
ared
and
impl
emen
ted
by th
e co
mpe
tent
aut
horit
y. O
pera
tors
of
haza
rdou
s ac
tiviti
es a
re o
blig
ed to
pr
ovid
e th
e lo
cal a
utho
ritie
s w
ith a
ll ne
cess
ary
info
rmat
ion
on th
e po
tent
ially
aff
ecte
d ar
ea to
eva
luat
e th
e im
pact
on
man
and
the
envi
ronm
ent.
Are
ther
e re
gula
tions
on
off-s
ite
emer
genc
y pl
ans
in th
e rip
aria
n co
untr
ies?
If ye
s, is
ther
e in
form
atio
n on
whe
re to
fin
d th
e re
gula
tions
?
If no
, the
revi
sion
of t
he b
i- or
mul
tilat
eral
ag
reem
ent i
s re
com
men
ded.
Hav
e th
e rip
aria
n co
untr
ies
had
the
oppo
rtun
ity to
com
men
t on
the
off-s
ite
emer
genc
y pl
ans?
39Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O27
.In
bor
der a
reas
, the
con
tinge
ncy
plan
s of
two
regi
ons
of n
eigh
bour
ing
coun
trie
s sh
ould
be
com
patib
le w
ith
each
oth
er a
nd in
clud
e co
ntac
t det
ails
to
allo
w fo
r pro
per n
otifi
catio
n in
cas
e of
an
indu
stria
l acc
iden
t. Th
e pu
blic
of
nei
ghbo
urin
g or
affe
cted
cou
ntrie
s sh
ould
be
give
n th
e sa
me
right
s as
th
e pu
blic
of t
he c
ount
ry o
f orig
in to
pa
rtic
ipat
e in
the
prep
arat
ion
and
revi
sion
of e
xter
nal e
mer
genc
y pl
ans.
Has
the
com
patib
ility
of t
he c
ontin
genc
y pl
an b
een
chec
ked
with
that
of t
he
neig
hbou
ring
or p
oten
tially
affe
cted
co
untr
y?
Hav
e th
e ex
pert
s of
the
neig
hbou
ring
or p
oten
tially
affe
cted
cou
ntry
had
the
poss
ibili
ty to
che
ck th
e co
nten
t of t
he
cont
inge
ncy
plan
?
Has
the
publ
ic o
f the
nei
ghbo
urin
g or
pot
entia
l affe
cted
cou
ntry
eno
ugh
poss
ibili
ty to
che
ck th
e co
nten
t of t
he
cont
inge
ncy
plan
?
40 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O28
.O
ff-si
te e
mer
genc
y pl
ans
shou
ld d
etai
l al
l rel
evan
t inf
orm
atio
n to
ens
ure
adeq
uate
em
erge
ncy
resp
onse
.
Doe
s th
e off
-site
em
erge
ncy
plan
incl
ude:
• N
ames
, pos
ition
s and
con
tact
dat
a of
pe
rson
s aut
horiz
ed to
take
cha
rge
of
and
coor
dina
te a
ctio
ns?
• Ar
rang
emen
ts fo
r coo
rdin
atin
g th
e re
sour
ces n
eces
sary
to im
plem
ent t
he
off-s
ite e
mer
genc
y pl
an?
• Li
sts o
r map
s of v
ulne
rabl
e ar
eas a
nd
obje
cts w
ith th
eir s
peci
ficat
ions
?
• Li
st o
f the
age
ncie
s and
org
aniz
atio
ns
that
can
ass
ist w
ith th
e m
anag
emen
t of
the
inci
dent
?
• Ar
rang
emen
ts fo
r pro
vidi
ng th
e pu
blic
w
ith sp
ecifi
c in
form
atio
n on
the
acci
dent
and
the
actio
ns it
shou
ld ta
ke?
• Ar
rang
emen
ts fo
r not
ifyin
g th
e em
erge
ncy
serv
ices
of n
eigh
bour
ing
coun
trie
s in
the
even
t of a
maj
or
acci
dent
with
pos
sible
tran
sbou
ndar
y co
nseq
uenc
es, i
n ac
cord
ance
w
ith in
tern
atio
nally
acc
epte
d an
d es
tabl
ished
war
ning
and
ale
rt sy
stem
s?
41Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O29
.N
atio
nal a
utho
ritie
s sh
ould
ens
ure
the
prep
arat
ion
and
impl
emen
tatio
n of
off
-site
em
erge
ncy
plan
s fo
r haz
ardo
us
activ
ities
, cov
erin
g m
easu
res
to b
e ta
ken
with
in th
eir t
errit
ory
to p
reve
nt a
nd
min
imiz
e tr
ansb
ound
ary
effec
ts.
Coun
trie
s of o
rigin
and
cou
ntrie
s po
tent
ially
affe
cted
by
an in
dust
rial
acci
dent
shou
ld e
ndea
vour
to m
ake
such
pl
ans c
ompa
tible
. Whe
re a
ppro
pria
te,
join
t ext
erna
l em
erge
ncy
plan
s sho
uld
be d
raw
n up
in o
rder
to fa
cilit
ate
the
adop
tion
of a
dequ
ate
resp
onse
mea
sure
s.
Is a
join
t off-
site
em
erge
ncy
plan
av
aila
ble
and
is it
har
mon
ized
?
Are
the
obst
acle
s to
the
prep
arat
ion
of th
e jo
int o
ff-si
te e
mer
genc
y pl
an
desc
ribed
in th
e co
ntin
genc
y pl
an?
If th
ere
is n
o jo
int o
ff-si
te e
mer
genc
y pl
an, i
s it
plan
ned
in th
e fu
ture
?
If ye
s, w
hen?
42 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O30
.Co
untr
ies
of o
rigin
are
requ
ired
to
ensu
re th
at a
dequ
ate
info
rmat
ion
is
give
n to
the
publ
ic c
apab
le o
f bei
ng
affec
ted
by a
ccid
enta
l pol
lutio
n ar
isin
g ou
t of a
haz
ardo
us a
ctiv
ity.
Is in
form
atio
n av
aila
ble
to th
e pu
blic
ab
out a
ccid
enta
l pol
lutio
n th
at h
as
occu
rred
in th
e pa
st?
Is th
e lin
k to
the
abov
e in
form
atio
n gi
ven
in th
e off
-site
em
erge
ncy
plan
?
Are
the
acci
dent
al p
ollu
tion
even
ts th
at
occu
rred
pre
viou
sly
desc
ribed
in th
e co
ntin
genc
y pl
an?
If ye
s, ha
ve th
e co
nseq
uenc
es b
een
eval
uate
d?
Hav
e th
e op
erat
ors
resp
onsi
ble
for
acci
dent
al p
ollu
tion
even
ts b
een
iden
tified
?
Wer
e th
ere
any
lega
l con
sequ
ence
s of
the
even
ts?
Has
the
oper
ator
take
n pa
rt in
miti
gatio
n of
the
adve
rse
cons
eque
nces
?
43Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
OIs
ther
e a
regu
late
d pr
oced
ure
for
info
rmin
g th
e pu
blic
in th
e pr
oced
ure
of
perm
ittin
g an
d op
erat
ion
cont
rol o
f the
ha
zard
ous
tech
nolo
gy?
Is th
e in
volv
emen
t of t
he re
pres
enta
tives
of
the
publ
ic fr
om ri
paria
n co
untr
ies
regu
late
d?
If ye
s, is
dire
ct re
fere
nce
give
n in
the
cont
inge
ncy
plan
?
If no
, has
a re
visi
on o
f the
bi-
or
mul
tilat
eral
agr
eem
ent b
een
com
men
ced
or c
ondu
cted
?
44 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O31
.O
ff-si
te e
mer
genc
y pl
ans
shou
ld in
clud
e th
e m
easu
res
for t
reat
men
t, co
llect
ion,
cl
ean-
up, s
tora
ge, r
emov
al a
nd s
afe
disp
osal
of h
azar
dous
sub
stan
ces
and
cont
amin
ated
mat
eria
l and
rest
orat
ion.
Are
the
follo
win
g m
easu
res
disc
usse
d in
th
e co
ntin
genc
y pl
an?
• Tr
eatm
ent o
f haz
ardo
us su
bsta
nces
• Co
llect
ion
of h
azar
dous
subs
tanc
es
• Cl
ean-
up o
f haz
ardo
us su
bsta
nces
• St
orag
e of
haz
ardo
us su
bsta
nces
• Re
mov
al o
f haz
ardo
us su
bsta
nces
• Sa
fe d
ispo
sal o
f haz
ardo
us su
bsta
nces
• Re
stor
atio
n
32.
Off-
site
em
erge
ncy
plan
s sh
ould
iden
tify
the
appr
opria
te s
pots
and
inte
rven
tion
site
s fo
r pro
tect
ion
alon
g re
cipi
ent w
ater
bo
dies
.
Are
the
appr
opria
te in
terv
entio
n or
re
spon
se s
ites
for r
espo
nse
activ
ities
an
d th
eir f
acili
ties
alon
g th
e w
ater
bod
y in
trod
uced
in th
e off
-site
em
erge
ncy
plan
?
45Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O33
.Co
mpe
tent
aut
horit
ies
are
resp
onsi
ble
for e
stab
lishi
ng, m
aint
aini
ng a
nd
test
ing
exte
rnal
em
erge
ncy
plan
s an
d fo
r ens
urin
g th
eir c
apac
ity to
resp
ond
to e
mer
genc
ies
in a
ccor
danc
e w
ith th
e pr
ovis
ions
of t
hose
pla
ns.
Is th
ere
a cl
ear d
istr
ibut
ion
of th
e re
spon
se a
ctiv
ities
am
ong
the
oper
ator
s an
d co
mpe
tent
aut
horit
ies
in th
e co
ntin
genc
y pl
an?
Is th
ere
a st
atem
ent i
n th
e co
ntin
genc
y pl
an th
at th
e au
thor
ities
are
resp
onsi
ble
for e
stab
lishi
ng, m
aint
aini
ng a
nd te
stin
g ex
tern
al e
mer
genc
y pl
ans?
34.
Off-
site
em
erge
ncy
plan
s sh
ould
be
revi
ewed
regu
larly
, or w
hen
circ
umst
ance
s so
requ
ire, t
akin
g in
to
acco
unt t
he e
xper
ienc
e ga
ined
in
deal
ing
with
act
ual e
mer
genc
ies.
Is re
view
of t
he jo
int o
r har
mon
ized
off-
site
em
erge
ncy
plan
regu
late
d in
bi-
or
mul
tilat
eral
agr
eem
ent(
s)?
Is th
ere
info
rmat
ion
rela
ted
to th
e pe
riodi
city
or t
he o
ccas
ions
whe
n th
e re
view
is n
eces
sary
in th
e co
ntin
genc
y pl
an?
46 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O
WA
RNIN
G A
ND
ALE
RT S
YSTE
M
35.
For e
mer
genc
y pr
epar
edne
ss it
is
esse
ntia
l to
have
ear
ly w
arni
ng a
nd a
lert
sy
stem
s in
pla
ce.
Early
war
ning
sys
tem
s im
ply
a do
uble
re
quire
men
t: a
suita
ble
orga
niza
tion
(dis
trib
utio
n of
the
mea
surin
g de
vice
s, in
volv
ing
a ne
twor
k of
sta
tions
link
ed
one
anot
her,
etc.
), an
d su
itabl
e te
chni
cal
equi
pmen
t for
eve
nt d
etec
tion
and
asse
ssm
ent o
f war
ning
and
ale
rt
rele
vanc
e.
Is th
ere
a cl
ear d
escr
iptio
n of
the
early
w
arni
ng a
nd a
lert
sys
tem
s?
Is th
e di
strib
utio
n of
the
mea
surin
g de
vice
s ex
plai
ned?
Is th
e co
mm
unic
atio
n w
ith th
e m
easu
ring
stat
ions
des
crib
ed?
Are
the
elem
ents
of t
echn
ical
equ
ipm
ent
harm
oniz
ed, w
ith a
spe
cial
focu
s on
:
• Ev
ent d
etec
tion?
• A
sses
smen
t of w
arni
ng?
• A
lert
rele
vanc
e?
36.
Early
war
ning
sys
tem
s sh
ould
be
set u
p by
the
oper
ator
at t
he h
azar
dous
faci
lity
and
the
com
pete
nt a
utho
ritie
s fo
r the
w
hole
rive
r cat
chm
ent.
Thes
e ea
rly w
arni
ng s
yste
ms
are
ofte
n in
tegr
ated
in in
tern
atio
nal w
arni
ng a
nd
alar
m p
lans
est
ablis
hed
by jo
int b
odie
s.
Doe
s ea
ch o
pera
tor a
t the
resp
ectiv
e ha
zard
ous
faci
lity
have
one
war
ning
st
atio
n co
nnec
ted
to th
e na
tiona
l w
arni
ng s
yste
ms?
Is th
ere
an in
tern
atio
nal w
arni
ng a
nd
alar
m p
lan
in o
pera
tion?
If ye
s, is
it in
trod
uced
in th
e co
ntin
genc
y pl
an?
47Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O37
.A
t haz
ardo
us fa
cilit
ies,
cont
inuo
us
onlin
e m
onito
ring
shou
ld b
e se
t up
and
adju
sted
to d
iffer
ent a
larm
leve
ls. T
hese
al
arm
leve
ls h
ave
to b
e ag
reed
with
the
com
pete
nt a
utho
ritie
s an
d sh
ould
be
in
line
with
the
resp
ectiv
e th
resh
old
leve
ls
of in
tern
atio
nal a
larm
pla
ns (e
.g.,
for
Rhin
e, M
aas
and
Dan
ube
Rive
rs).
For s
cena
rio c
alcu
latio
ns re
gard
ing
a di
scha
rge,
est
ablis
hed
flow
-tim
e m
odel
ling
shou
ld b
e us
ed.
Is th
ere
cont
inuo
us o
nlin
e m
onito
ring
oper
ated
by
the
oper
ator
of t
he
haza
rdou
s fa
cilit
y?
Are
the
alar
m le
vels
agr
eed
with
the
com
pete
nt a
utho
ritie
s of
the
ripar
ian
coun
trie
s?
Is a
n in
tern
atio
nal a
larm
pla
n av
aila
ble?
Are
the
resp
ectiv
e th
resh
old
leve
ls in
ac
cord
ance
with
the
inte
rnat
iona
l ala
rm
plan
?
Is fl
ow-t
ime
mod
ellin
g av
aila
ble
for
scen
ario
cal
cula
tions
?
Is it
intr
oduc
ed in
the
cont
inge
ncy
plan
?
48 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O
MU
TUA
L A
SSIS
TAN
CE
38.
To th
e ex
tent
pra
ctic
able
, com
pete
nt
auth
oriti
es s
houl
d at
tem
pt to
pro
vide
as
sist
ance
to o
ther
cou
ntrie
s th
at
have
requ
este
d he
lp re
late
d to
the
prep
ared
ness
for,
or re
spon
se to
, ac
cide
ntal
pol
lutio
n.
Is th
ere
an a
gree
men
t bet
wee
n co
mpe
tent
aut
horit
ies
on m
utua
l as
sist
ance
?
Is th
is a
gree
men
t con
sist
ent w
ith
the
mut
ual a
ssis
tanc
e pr
ovis
ions
of
the
Indu
stria
l Acc
iden
ts a
nd W
ater
Co
nven
tions
?
39.
Com
pete
nt a
utho
ritie
s sh
ould
dev
elop
pr
oced
ures
to fa
cilit
ate
the
tran
sit
thro
ugh
thei
r ter
ritor
y of
per
sonn
el a
nd
equi
pmen
t to
be u
sed
for m
utua
l aid
in
the
even
t of a
ccid
enta
l pol
lutio
n.
Hav
e th
e co
mpe
tent
aut
horit
ies
proc
edur
es in
pla
ce to
faci
litat
e th
e tr
ansi
t thr
ough
thei
r ter
ritor
y of
pe
rson
nel a
nd e
quip
men
t?
49Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
ISSU
ES T
HAT
SH
OU
LD B
E
INCL
UD
ED A
ND
DES
CRIB
ED
IN T
HE
CON
TIN
GEN
CY
PLA
NPO
INTS
TO
BE
CHEC
KED
YES
PART
LYN
O40
.Co
mpe
tent
aut
horit
ies
shou
ld fa
cilit
ate
the
exch
ange
of t
echn
olog
y re
late
d to
th
e pr
even
tion
of, p
repa
redn
ess
for,
and
resp
onse
to tr
ansb
ound
ary
acci
dent
al
pollu
tion.
Is th
e ex
chan
ge o
f tec
hnol
ogy
regu
late
d be
twee
n co
mpe
tent
aut
horit
ies
in th
e tr
ansb
ound
ary
coop
erat
ion?
Doe
s it
cove
r the
fiel
ds o
f:
• Ex
chan
ge o
f ava
ilabl
e te
chno
logy
?
• Ex
chan
ge o
f inf
orm
atio
n an
d ex
perie
nce?
• Pr
ovis
ion
of te
chni
cal a
ssis
tanc
e? N
ote:
The
gui
ding
prin
cipl
es i
n th
is c
heck
list
are
deriv
ed f
rom
the
199
2 EC
E Co
nven
tion
on t
he T
rans
boun
dary
Effe
cts
of I
ndus
tria
l Ac
cide
nts
(Indu
stria
l Ac
cide
nts
Conv
entio
n) a
nd t
he 1
992
ECE
Conv
entio
n on
the
Pro
tect
ion
and
Use
of
Tran
sbou
ndar
y W
ater
cour
ses
and
Inte
rnat
iona
l Lak
es (W
ater
Con
vent
ion)
.
a Co
untr
ies
belo
ngin
g to
the
Euro
pean
Uni
on (E
U) c
an re
fer t
o th
e EU
Wat
er F
ram
ewor
k D
irect
ive
(EU
,
2000
) and
can
cha
ract
eriz
e th
e w
ater
bod
ies
acco
rdin
gly.
50 UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
References
77. Frank Candreva and others (2014). Safety Guidelines and Good Industry Practices for Oil Terminals, draft 11 November 2014. Available from www.unece.org/mc/env/teia/guidelines.html.
78. Economic Commission for Europe (2014a). Benchmarks in the implementation of the UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, electronic document. Available from www.unece.org/index.php?id=40233.
79. __________ (2014b). Safety Guidelines and Good Practices for Tailings Management Facilities (ECE/CP.TEIA/26). Available from www.unece.org/index.php?id=36132.
80. European Commission (2012). “EU Host Nation Support Guidelines”, Commission Staff Working Document (SWD(2012) 169 final, Brussels, 1.6.2012). Available from http://ec.europa.eu/echo/who/about-echo/legal-framework_en.
81. European Union (2000). Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. 2000 O.J. (L 327), pp. 1–73. Available from http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32000L0060.
82. Germany, Federal Environmental Agency (2006). “Checklists for surveying and assessing industrial plant handling materials and substances which are hazardous to water: No. 12 Basic structure of Safety Report concerning hazards to water”, Rev.4. Berlin, November 2006. Available from www.platkowski.de/dock/Check12_SafetyReport3.pdf.
83. __________, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (2015). Checklist on the Safety of Tailings Management Facilities. Available from www.tmf-ukraine.org.
84. __________, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, and Economic Commission for Europe (2012). Sectoral Checklist for the Preparation and Inspection of a Safety Report, ECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents & the EU Directive 96/82/EC (SEVESO ll) by a consistent Checklist system. Online publication (February 2012). Available from www.unece.org/env/teia/pubs/safetycheck.html.
85. KSzI Környezetvédelmi Szakértői Iroda Kft. (2007). Transboundary River Basin Management of the Körös/Crisuri River, a Tisza/Tisa sub-basin.
51Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters
86. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (2003). Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response, 2nd ed., OECD Health, Environment and Safety Publications Series on Chemical Accidents, No. 10. Paris. Available from www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/chemical-accidents/.
87. United Nations (2013). Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents. ECE/CP.TEIA/25. Available from www.unece.org/index.php?id=32831.
88. __________ (2014). Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. ECE/MP.WAT/41. Available from www.unece.org/index.php?id=35072.
89. __________ (2004). Protocol on Civil Liability and Compensation for Damage Caused by the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters. ECE/MP.WAT/11–ECE/CP.TEIA/9 (not in force). Available from www.unece.org/index.php?id=32056.
90. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (2009). 2009 UNISDR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction. Geneva. Available from www.unisdr.org/we/inform/publications/7817.
91. Vituki Consult Rt. and KSzI Környezetvédelmi Szakértői Iroda Kft. – Hungary; Water Authority of Crisuri (RWAC) – Romania (2003). Joint accidental pollution prevention and response plan for the Barcau/Berettyó river basin.
Information ServiceUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des NationsCH - 1211 Geneva 10, SwitzerlandTelephone: +41(0)22 917 44 44Fax: +41(0)22 917 05 05E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.unece.org
UNITED NATIONS
UNECE
Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters,
with introductory guidance
The checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters was prepared by the Joint Ad Hoc Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents, following a decision by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (Industrial Accidents Convention) at its sixth meeting (The Hague, 8–10 November 2010) and the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) at its sixth meeting (Rome, 28–30 November 2012).
The checklist is intended to contribute to mitigating the severity of the consequences of industrial accidents affecting transboundary watercourses for human health and the environment.
The Conference of the Parties to the Industrial Accidents Convention at its eighth meeting (Geneva, 3–5 December 2014) took note of the checklist and recommended its application as a tool for harmonized contingency planning between neighbouring States. The Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention at its seventh meeting (Budapest, 17-19 November 2015) followed the same approach.
The current document has been updated, following the testing of the checklist’s application during the Hazard and Crisis Management Week (Chisinau, 23–26 March 2015) within the Project on Hazard and Crisis Management in the Danube Delta.Ch
eckl
ist f
or c
ontin
genc
y pl
anni
ng fo
r ac
cide
nts
affe
ctin
g tr
ansb
ound
ary
wat
ers,
w
ith
intr
oduc
tory
gui
danc
e
The checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters was prepared by the Joint Ad Hoc Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents, following a decision by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (Industrial Accidents Convention) at its sixth meeting (The Hague, 8–10 November 2010) and the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) at its sixth meeting (Rome, 28–30 November 2012).
The checklist is intended to contribute to mitigating the severity of the consequences of industrial accidents affecting transboundary watercourses for human health and the environment.
The Conference of the Parties to the Industrial Accidents Convention at its eighth meeting (Geneva, 3–5 December 2014) took note of the checklist and recommended its application as a tool for harmonized contingency planning between neighbouring States. The Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention at its seventh meeting (Budapest, 17–19 November 2015) followed the same approach.
The current document has been updated, following the testing of the checklist’s application during the Hazard and Crisis Management Week (Chisinau, 23–26 March 2015) within the Project on Hazard and Crisis Management in the Danube Delta.
Checklist for contingency planning for accidents affecting transboundary waters,
with introductory guidance
Chec
klis
t for
con
ting
ency
pla
nnin
g fo
r ac
cide
nts
affec
ting
tran
sbou
ndar
y w
ater
s,w
ith
intr
oduc
tory
gui
danc
e
Information ServiceUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des NationsCH – 1211 Geneva 10, SwitzerlandTelephone: +41 (0)22 917 44 44Fax: +41 (0)22 917 05 05E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.unece.org