standardization of environmental data and information - International ...

Environmental baseline studies
One participant cited the difficulties involved in using baseline
studies to ascertain the impacts of exploration and mining. How was it
possible to fix a baseline at a certain point in time, given all the
uncertainties involved in parameters such as oceanography, sediment
properties, biological communities and bioturbation, and the lack of
knowledge about those parameters?
Adaptability of recommendations
Lenoble stressed that the recommendations were not meant to be
binding and in any case should be reviewed every five years. The annual
reporting system would present opportunities to discuss matters with
contractors, whose own environmental monitoring programmes were
subject to review and modification in a five-year cycle. The LTC viewed the
recommendations as rules emanating from the scientific community that
were proposed to the contractors as guidance for their work. As such, they
could be adjusted in the light of new knowledge that could affect such
matters as measurement systems and techniques.
Role of scientific community
A question was asked as to what kind of review would take place
when a contractor submitted a proposal to meet the environmental
guidelines in a particular way. Lenoble replied that the Authority would
review the proposal with the help of the LTC, which would normally be able
to take a decision. However, if something was not clear, the Authority might
consult scientific experts or convene a workshop, in which the scientific
community could voice its feelings about what the contractors were doing.
While it was the task of the Authority rather than the scientific community to
establish regulations, neither the Authority nor contractors, on their own,
should determine what should be observed or what kind of information
should be collected.
In this regard, a suggestion was advanced that, for continuity and
for perception of fairness to the contractors, a small scientific commission
might be set up to review contractors’ proposals in parallel with or after a
review by LTC.
49 INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY