Report No. 22 (2008–2009) to the Storting Report No. Report No. 22 (2008–2009) to the Storting Published by: Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police Svalbard Internet address: www.government.no Cover illustration: Norwegian Polar Institute 2009 Printed by: 07 Aurskog AS – 03/2010 Svalbard ER JØM KE IL T M 2 4 9 1 7 3 Trykksak Report No. 22 (2008–2009) to the Storting Svalbard Translation from the Norwegian. For information only. Table of contents 1 Summary . 7 3.1.5 Treaty limitations on the exercise 1.1 Svalbard policy entering a new era. 7 of authority . 21 1.2 Instruments in Svalbard policy . 8 3.1.6 Research and other matters . 23 1.3 Challenges in particular sectors . 8 3.2 International agreements of 1.3.1 Visible presence in Svalbard – coal particular importance to Svalbard. 23 mining and other industrial activity 8 3.2.1 The EEA Agreement and the 1.3.2 Svalbard is to be one of the world’s agreement with the EU . 23 best managed wilderness areas – 3.2.2 The WTO Agreement, including tourism and other traffic . 9 GATT and GATS. 24 1.3.3 Svalbard’s role as a platform for 3.2.3 The Schengen Agreement. 24 Norwegian and international research, knowledge and education 10 4 Main objectives and 1.4 Environmental protection . 10 instruments. 25 1.5 Research, knowledge and higher 4.1 Objectives of Norwegian policy education . 11 towards Svalbard . 25 1.6 Industrial, mining and commercial 4.1.1 The overriding objectives remain activity . 11 unchanged. 25 1.7 Longyearbyen and the other local 4.2 Review and discussion of the communities . 12 objectives. 25 1.8 Sea and air – transport, safety, 4.2.1 Effective exercise of sovereignty . 25 search and rescue and emergency 4.2.2 Preservation of the area’s unique preparedness. 12 natural wilderness – environmental protection . 25 2 Background – purpose of 4.2.3 A robust settlement in the report. 13 Longyearbyen – a viable local 2.1 The objectives of Norwegian policy community . 26 towards Svalbard . 14 4.2.4 Svalbard as a research platform . 28 2.2 Svalbard and the High North . 14 4.3 Instruments in Norway’s policy 2.3 Developments in Svalbard towards Svalbard . 29 since 2000 . 15 4.3.1 Introduction . 29 2.4 Climate change – challenges and 4.3.2 Acts and regulations. 29 opportunities . 17 4.3.3 Central administration . 30 2.4.1 Svalbard in a global context. 17 4.3.4 The Governor of Svalbard . 30 2.4.2 Local impacts in Svalbard . 18 4.3.5 Public finances . 31 2.4.3 A new era – challenges and 4.3.6 State ownership . 31 opportunities . 18 4.3.7 Local administration by the 2.5 The Office of the Auditor General’s Longyearbyen Community performance audit of Svalbard . 19 Council. 32 3 Framework under international 5 Legislation . 34 law . 20 5.1 Introduction . 34 3.1 Basis for Norwegian sovereignty . 20 5.2 Principles governing the 3.1.1 The Svalbard Treaty. 20 application of legislation in Svalbard 34 3.1.2 The outcome of negotiations 5.2.1 Introduction . 34 and the significance of Norwegian 5.2.2 Section 2 of the Svalbard Act. 35 sovereignty . 20 5.2.3 Should the principle in Section 2 3.1.3 Principles of interpretation . 21 of the Svalbard be inverted? . 35 3.1.4 Geographic scope of application . 21 5.2.4 Section 4 of the Svalbard Act – the authorisation provision . 37 5.2.5 Scope of application . 38 8.3.5 The International Polar Year 5.3 Commercial and company 2007–2008 (IPY) . 75 legislation. 38 8.4 Challenges, opportunities and 5.4 Working environment legislation . 39 principles . 75 5.4.1 Enforcing the Working 8.4.1 Environmental constraints . 75 Environment Act in Svalbard . 40 8.4.2 Worth promoting . 76 5.5 Social welfare legislation . 40 8.4.3 Quality, division of labour and 5.5.1 General health legislation . 40 cooperation . 78 5.5.2 The National Insurance Act . 41 8.5 Special policy instruments and 5.5.3 The Child Benefit Act and the Cash measures . 79 Benefit Act . 42 8.5.1 Further development of Svalbard 5.5.4 The Education Act. 42 as an international research 5.6 Immigration and other aliens platform – SIOS . 80 legislation. 42 8.5.2 Transfer of data . 80 8.5.3 Time series for monitoring and 6 Administration . 44 research – East Svalbard . 81 6.1 Introduction . 44 8.5.4 Polar recruitment . 81 6.2 Central administration . 44 8.5.5 Bilateral and multilateral 6.2.1 The Interministerial Committee cooperation . 81 on Polar Affairs . 44 8.5.6 Earmarked for Svalbard . 82 6.2.2 The Svalbard budget. 44 8.5.7 Coordinating the diversity . 82 6.3 Local administration . 45 6.3.1 The Governor of Svalbard . 45 9 Industrial, mining and 6.3.2 Longyearbyen Community Council 51 commercial activity . 84 6.3.3 Other central government agencies 51 9.1 Coal mining – Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani AS . 84 7 Environmental protection . 53 9.1.1 Company history. 84 7.1 Introduction . 53 9.1.2 Developments in the company 7.2 Main objectives . 55 since the previous Report to the 7.3 Policy instruments and Storting on Svalbard . 84 achievement of objectives . 55 9.1.3 Coal mining at present . 85 7.3.1 Status and achievement of 9.1.4 Safety and environment . 86 objectives . 55 9.1.5 Store Norske’s plans for future coal 7.3.2 Current policy instruments . 56 mining in Svalbard . 86 7.4 Special challenges and measures . 58 9.2 Tourism . 91 7.4.1 Biodiversity on thin ice. 59 9.2.1 Operators . 92 7.4.2 Traffic in Svalbard’s wilderness. 61 9.2.2 Education and competency 7.4.3 Resource exploitation in our last requirements for guides and wilderness . 65 tour leaders . 93 7.4.4 The environment in the 9.2.3 Legal constraints . 94 settlements and their adjacent 9.2.4 Challenges and objectives . 94 areas . 67 9.2.5 Assessments . 96 7.4.5 Nomination of Svalbard as a World 9.3 Fisheries . 97 Heritage site. 69 9.4 Space-related activities . 98 9.4.1 General background . 98 8 Knowledge, research and 9.4.2 Current activities. 98 higher education . 70 9.4.3 Further developments . 99 8.1 Introduction . 70 9.5 Petroleum operations . 99 8.2 Main objectives . 71 8.3 Status and development trends . 71 10 Longyearbyen and the other 8.3.1 Basic investment . 71 local communities . 100 8.3.2 The scientific presence. 72 10.1 Longyearbyen . 100 8.3.3 A strategic diversity . 73 10.1.1 Development of local democracy . 102 8.3.4 Cooperation without borders . 74 10.1.2 Infrastructure . 103 10.1.3 Energy supply . 104 10.1.4 Longyearbyen port – needs and 11.2.5 Local guide service. 118 opportunities . 105 11.2.6 Fuel quality requirements . 119 10.1.5 Range of services including health 11.2.7 Preparedness against acute and welfare services offered . 106 pollution. 119 10.1.6 Postal services . 107 11.2.8 Handling ballast water . 120 10.1.7 Telecommunications services . 108 11.2.9 Evaluations . 120 10.1.8 Taxes, commuting . 108 11.3 Air transport – background 10.1.9 Formative conditions for children and development . 120 and young people . 109 11.3.1 Regulation of air traffic. 121 10.2 Other local communities . 110 11.3.2 Aviation safety level . 121 10.2.1 Ny-Ålesund . 110 11.3.3 Helicopter traffic. 122 10.2.2 Sveagruva . 111 11.3.4 Evaluations and measures. 122 10.2.3 Bjørnøya and Hopen. 112 11.4 Civil protection, rescue 10.2.4 Barentsburg and Pyramiden . 113 and emergency preparedness. 122 10.2.5 Hornsund. 113 11.4.1 Norwegian rescue service . 123 11.4.2 Organisation of the public 11 Sea and air – transport, safety, rescue service . 124 rescue and emergency 11.4.3 Rescue resources on land . 124 response system . 114 11.4.4 Maritime rescue resources . 124 11.1 Introduction. 114 11.4.5 Rescue resources in the air . 125 11.2 Sea transport and safety at sea . 114 11.4.6 Assessments . 126 11.2.1 Status and risks. 115 11.2.2 Traffic basis . 116 12 Administrative and economic 11.2.3 Relevant legislation . 116 consequences . 127 11.2.4 Monitoring and reporting . 118 2008– 2009 Report No. 22 to the Storting 7 Svalbard Ministry of Justice and the Police Svalbard Report No. 22 (2008–2009) to the Storting Recommendation by the Ministry of Justice and the Police of 17 April 2009, approved in the Council of State on the same date. (Stoltenberg II Government) 1Summary 1.1 Svalbard policy entering a new era will manifest themselves in ongoing administration and management. Svalbard has a unique natural The previous report on Svalbard, Report No. 9 and cultural heritage that the Norwegian authori­ (1999–2000) to the Storting, Svalbard, was submit­ ties have special responsibility to preserve. For ted about ten years ago. Since then there have that reason, protection of the natural environment been substantial changes in Svalbard, where there is one of the key aspects of Norway’s Svalbard pol­ has been growth in many areas just like on the icy, and all industrial activity, resource exploitation mainland. An increase in both the population and and research are to take place within the parame­ activities has helped to transform Longyearbyen ters of preserving Svalbard’s natural environment into a modern family community, with a well-devel­ and cultural monuments.