Meeting of Project Steering Group (PSG) in Minsk
and project progress in 2005
In May 2005 the 3 rd meeting of Project Steering Group took place in Minsk ( Belarus ) with by participation of representatives of Belarus , Lithuania , Russia and Germany . Representatives from associated Ukrainian and Armenian projects participated as external experts Beside the officials had been took part experts from associated projects from the Ukraine and Armenia .
In preparation of Preparing the PSG- meeting workshops in February and March were organized working meetings in Kaliningrad , Vilnius and Minsk had been arranged in February or March.
Based on the project´s progress the following topics were discussed: Regarding the actual state of the work were discussed following topics:
1. International Warning and Alarm Plan for the Neman river basin (IWAN)
During PSG-meeting in Minsk (May 2005) were discussed and confirmed by PSG the actual IWAN-version was presented, discussed and confirmed by PSG .
The present design project of IWAN includes an a confirmed by the riparian states alert transmission scheme coordinated by the riparian states , contact data of International Warning and Alarm Centres and other important authorities , have to be involved, proposals for alert criteria (emission- and immission ) criteria ) and forms agreed upon forms for warning procedure s (early warning report, information report, “all-clear”-report, confirmation, notice of receipt and assistance request form).
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2. Exemplary Model registration of industrial plants activities (establishments) severely hazardous to waters ( with high potential of water pollution ( potential of causing hazardous incidents a major accident )
The participating countries ( Lithuania , Russian Federation and Belarus ) conducted an exemplary Model registration of industrial plants establishments with potential of causing hazardous in c idents. Data a major accident. Conducted data sheets list industrial plants consists establishments possessing a potential of causing hazardous incidents. Relevant major accidents and the relevant data for the risk assessment were collected such as , like nature and quantity of hazardous to waters substances hazardous to water , location of industrial plants establishment in relation to the water body or its floodplain flood area and existing safety measures. conditions. Yet gaps exist in relation to the specification registration of quantity of hazardous to waters substances hazardous to water , being obligatory for risk assessment using the “Water Risk Index”- method.
3. Alert criteria (Immission criteria)
During the meeting in Minsk Belarussian colleagues informed of actual state of a bilateral agreement between Lithuania and Belarus and the conducted in frame of these agreement immission criteria compiled within this agreement. The participants supported the proposal to use the criteria Lithuania and Belarus had agreed upon, as basis for the immission criteria to be drafted within IWAN. The . It was to be supported the proposal to formulate the immission criteria of IWAN based on immission criteria, agreed between Lithuania and Belarus. Russian si t e agreed site is going to coordinate clear the alert criteria with the responsible between competent authorities of Kaliningrad Oblast.
4. Coordination of information paths of IWAN
Participants made themselves known with information systems introduced of regulated by law, with national information paths and mechanism of information transmission in case of major accident (expert assessment of situation, decision making, communication/ alert transmission). Possibilities Had to be discussed possibilities of using use national systems in the face of the needs within the scope frame of IWAN were discussed .
5. Proposal to create of foundation a permanent permanent working group “Warning and Alarm System of contamination of water bodies caused by accidents in the Neman/Nemunas basin”.(WG IWAPNeman)
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Participants of the PSG - meeting (May 2005) accepted the proposal to establish of foundation a permanent permanent working group called “Warn- and Alarm System of contamination of water bodies caused by accidents in the Neman/Nemunas basin” and discussed the written draft of project of the mandate for the working group submitted . Main objective of WG IWAPNeman will be the continuation of work upon completion after end of the project.
Country coordinators are going to propose the foundation of WG IWAPNeman to their responsible the competent national bodies, referring, however, to |
necessary internal approvals at various remarking necessity lot of clearances on several levels.
First alarm and communication training
In June took part the first alarm training was carried out . Main task of training was to test testing communication ways according to IWAN. A scenario (script) was compiled and alert was raised and transmitted based upon it. yet. Alert was raised and transmitted based on scenario had to be conducted. The flow of information was recorded, analysed and appropriate conclusions based on this were made .
Future Prospects Next activities
The following project activities are planned: planed:
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- Study tour to several European river River commissions (End of September 2005)
- Tuning of the “ Warning and Alarm Plan for the Neman river basin ”
- Support of project partizipation countries participating in the project to purchase purchasing minimal equipment required for the of International Warning Centres
- Further alarm Alarm and communication training practices
- Preparing activities for the foundation of the to found working group IWAPNeman
- Final workshop in November 2005
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