The project to strengthen cooperation in the Danube Delta will focus on oil terminals, as these terminals are an increased hazard potential for the ecosystem and natural heritage of the Danube Delta.

The outstanding environmental value and sensitivity of the Danube Delta requires cooperative efforts for its protection. As industrial accidents can result in catastrophic pollution of the delta, riparian countries need to work together to be able to respond effectively in the event of an accident.

In Kiev on 11 May, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine officially began a project to jointly strengthen cooperation in the Danube Delta to prevent and respond effectively to any emergencies involving hazardous substances. The project, which will run until June 2013, is coordinated by the UNECE under its Convention on Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents.

While the Danube Delta is a unique natural heritage of global importance, it is Moldova, Romania and Ukraine that depend most on its natural and economic value. And together they assume their responsibility to improve environmental protection from industrial accidents in the Danube Delta.

Targeting oil terminals.
The numerous industrial operations in Moldova, Romania and Ukraine along the Danube and its tributaries constitute a risk of severe pollution and damage of the Danube Delta. The project seeks to first reduce these risks by preventing accidents and to improve crisis management in the event an accident does occur. The project will focus on oil terminals as hazard sources located in all three countries near the Delta: Giurgiulesti, Moldova; Galati, Romania and Reni/Izmail, Ukraine. These terminals are an increased hazard potential for the ecosystem and natural heritage of the Danube Delta. The project will improve cooperation between the three countries by enhancing and harmonising the mechanisms for approaches to efficient and effective hazard and crisis management.

Hazard management.
Good understanding of existing hazards is essential for accident prevention and effective emergency response measures. This includes the identification of hazard sources, maintenance of databases, and regular exchange of hazard information between neighbouring countries. Beyond that, partners can strongly benefit from experience sharing, exchange of new technologies and implementing joint projects. Joint improvement or harmonization of safety standards is another effective measure for decreasing risks of emergency situations.

The project aims to enhance the legislative framework for hazard management by harmonising the safety standards at the major hazardous facilities located in the Danube Delta, especially oil terminals; enhancing cooperation between competent authorities and operators of major industrial facilities; and drafting safety guidelines for oil terminals and training inspectors to enforce safety. In addition, countries will draft action plans to improve hazard management, establish bilateral or trilateral sectoral agreements related to hazard and crisis management, and raise public awareness about the importance of hazard management through contact with media.

Crisis management. The main role of crisis management is to ensure there is a fast and effective response if there is an industrial accident. On-site contingency plans, developed and approved by authorities, are created for facilities where accidents might happen. Off-site plans cover wider areas with industrial facilities capable of causing transboundary effects. As part of this project, countries will develop and harmonise off-site contingency plans that are compatible with the existing on-site plans. The harmonisation will include an agreement on the use of alert and warning systems, establishing sectors for response and procedures and schemes for providing each other with mutual assistance.

The project will identify areas for closer cooperation to work together in the event of emergency (i.e. warning, notification, response actions, modelling) and specify areas for coordinated action when requesting and receiving assistance, in particular if there is major oil pollution in the Danube Delta. In addition, countries will review the compatibility of off-site emergency plans and draft action plans for improving crisis management.

Responding together. The project will produce procedures for hazard and crisis notification within the three countries and provide a basis for joint response in case of crisis. Further, it will provide practical recommendations for national authorities to strengthen crisis and hazard management. Moldova, Romania and Ukraine will enhance and harmonise their hazard management as well as their safety standards at the major hazardous facilities located in the Danube Delta region. In addition, they will harmonise their off-site contingency plans and establish a contingency plan for the Danube Delta. To support planning and prioritization, the project will also develop a hazard map for the Danube Delta region.

Svetlana Stirbu is a member of Monitoring and Assessment and APC Expert Groups of the ICPDR, and a member of the Working Group on Implementation of the UNECE Convention on Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents.