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1 INTRODUCTION

 * 1) This short paper discusses the Scope of ISO35102, with particular reference to the inclusion of both offshore and onshore environments. It also addresses the absence of an overarching standard on Environmental Monitoring, and whether ISO35102 needs to cover all general environmental monitoring issues.

The intention of the NWIP (New Work Item Proposal ISO/TC/67/SC8 N020) appears to restrict the scope of ISO35102 to offshore “offshore” (“specifications of environmental monitoring of offshore oil and gas production in the Arctic region, ensure the environmental protection, biodiversity and traditional living”). However, this restriction means an opportunity is lost to provide a comprehensive coverage of all Arctic environments where oil and gas operations take place, particularly onshore exploration and production.



The purpose of this paper is to help the Editing Committee make a decision on the Scope, identify any boundaries to the Scope, and to ensure the Scope is properly reflected in the Title of ISO35102.



=='''2 SCOPE '''== A suggested Scope statement for ISO35102 might be as follows.

For the purposes of this standard,

Arctic shall include the environment north of the Arctic Circle  (Lat N 66° 33' 46")

Offshore and onshore operations shall be included.

The offshore environment shall include marine environment seabed, water column and air.

The onshore environment shall include land, air and aquatic (freshwater) environments.

However, the Editing Committee might wish to exclude “onshore” to reflect the intent of the NWIP, or it may wish to extend the definition of offshore to include related onshore developments, or it may wish to include all onshore exploration and production to reflect the term “Arctic Operations”.  

'''3 ARCTIC ENVIRONMENTS '''

To help define the Scope, the table below shows some further categories of Arctic environment. <p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">SCOPE DECISION TABLE – The Editing Committee should consider whether we want to include all of the operations and environments in the Scope of ISO35102 <p class="MsoNormal">

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<p class="MsoNormal">'''DISCUSSION '''

<p class="MsoNormal">'''Arctic conditions '''

<p class="MsoNormal">The Development of an international standard on Arctic Operations Environmental Monitoring is hindered by the absence of an overarching standard on Environmental Monitoring, which would allow us then to consider only those monitoring issues that are related to the special polar conditions of the Arctic (north of Arctic Circle).

<p class="MsoNormal">These polar conditions include remoteness, light/dark cycle, low temperatures, ice environments (sea ice, icebergs, permafrost), indigenous species and the inhabitants. These conditions may require substantial modification of monitoring strategy and method compared with generalised monitoring.

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<p class="MsoNormal">'''Overarching Environmental Monitoring Standard '''

<p class="MsoNormal">As there is no overarching Environmental Monitoring Standard, the Editing Committee needs to consider what general elements need to be included to enable the Arctic-specific elements to be explained.

<p class="MsoNormal">The general elements that might be included in an overarching standard might include:-

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Recognise the general application of ISO9000 Quality Management and ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Definition of monitoring

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Spatial scale; near-field, far-field, transboundary

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Temporal scale

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Environments and components, habitats: Land (soil, landscape), sea (benthic, pelagic etc), air

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Environmental aspects (ISO14001): emissions, discharges, sound, light etc. Normal, abnormal and emergency conditions. Ability to control each aspect in response to monitoring.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Parameters: biological, physical, chemical; associated measurements (eg wind/current speed/direction)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Background levels; baseline conditions; detection limits. (Accuracy ISO5725)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Identification of species; reference collections; competence and expertise.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Natural fluctuations (diurnal, seasonal, long term)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Cause and effect.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Biological effects; acute and chronic; lethal and sub-lethal; bioaccumulation; biodegradation, chemical/physical degradation, redistribution; residues; target species; food chain/web; critical paths.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Modelling

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Sampling strategies, precautions (physical, chemical, biological)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Sub-sampling.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Specified analytical methods

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Statistical methods

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Laboratory standards; Intercalibration (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories ISO17025)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Laboratory testing: toxicity tests

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Costs of monitoring

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Requirements for monitoring: Authority (licence, planning conditions, consents, authorisations), company, agreements, local inhabitants, EIA.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo2"> ·         Requirement to report findings; format for reporting; units and other specifications.

<p class="MsoNormal">The above list is not comprehensive. Some of these topics may already be covered by international standards (eg requirements for laboratories) and we need to establish all of the supporting standards.

<p class="MsoNormal">It also raises the question of whether ISO35102 should cover all of these issues, many of which are common to all environmental monitoring. Or, can we separate out the purely Arctic issues into ISO35102?

<p class="MsoNormal">'''CONCLUSION '''

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1level1lfo1">1. The Editing Committee needs to decide whether both Offshore and Onshore E&P operations are to be included in ISO35102 (see Scope Decision Table). Consider the following:-

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1level2lfo1">a. If we restrict the Scope, we should reflect this in the title eg “Arctic Operations. Offshore Environmental Monitoring”

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1level2lfo1">b. If we restrict the Scope, do we foresee a future standard on “Onshore Environmental Monitoring”?

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1level1lfo1">2. The Editing Committee needs to

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1level2lfo1">a. identify all standards that support Environmental Monitoring

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1level2lfo1">b. in absence of an overarching Standard on Environmental Monitoring, decide on the inclusion of subject matter which is not specifically Arctic.

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