Northern Environmental Waste Management

Main objectives:

To develop a distinct Northern Norwegian competence cluster in waste handling in the Arctic oil industry and shipping. Through research and education build new knowledge on how to handle waste from this industry in a more proper manner in the high north region and cold environment.

Subordinate objectives:

To connect existing high competence from research groups and businesses in a centre/network
To further develop and strengthen the industry-directed research competence of expert groups in Northern Norway
To produce research findings, and educate the problem solvers of the future when it comes to overall environmentally adapted solutions for the handling of waste products from the petroleum industry and shipping in the Arctic and the Sub-Arctic
To establish an educational programme and work-experience placement in cooperation with the companies in our network
To establish educational programmes at master and PhD level based on the competence in the network, including surveys of emissions from offshore installations and ships, the technology for the characterization of waste, physical, chemical and biological cleaning methods, as well as the spread/isolation of drill cuttings on the ocean bed. Furthermore, programmes will be offered on risk analysis, risk management, standard development, control tools and the general institutionalization of risk
Provide knowledge and highly qualified candidates to the industries and to public management
Give the centre a status as a reliable and unbiased advisory body for the industries and the authorities
Make Northern Norway more attractive for students in Arctic studies

Background

The idea was proposed to UiT by ENI Norge AS in 2006. A preproject finaced by ENI Norge AS, Troms county and UiT was initiated october 2008, with the purpose to inquire whether the competence and interest for an establishment of a competence unit/network focusing on waste handeling in the petroleum and shipping industry was present. The preproject filed the application to NFR which were rewarded with 46.9 mill. The preproject’s conclusion is that the unit/network is established.

Activities

Research

Deposition of drill cuttings in the Barents Sea
Department of Geology, UiT
The overall goal of the project is to increase knowledge on the spread of drill cuttings in the SW Barents Sea, and on the distribution and accumulation of pollutants in bottom sediments related to these drill cuttings.

The project has assembled a team of researchers from ; the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU) (Trondheim and Tromsø offices), the Department of Geology at the University of Tromsø (IG), Norwegian Polar Institute (NP), Akvaplan-niva (APN) and also StatoilHydro (SH). In addition, Shirshov Institute of Oceanology (SIO) in Russia will participate as our international collaboration partner.

Electrochemical remediation
The Department of Chemistry participate with a research-based project of innovation in electro-chemical cleaning. Cooperation has been established between the international company Rambøll, the branch Storvik in Kirkenes, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and Aalborg University

Risk analysis, risk handling, development of standards and tools for control
Department of Social Studies and Marketing, UiT, will study problems of environmental standards, i.e. how these arise, how they are operationalized, and how they are implemented. This also includes logistics; how polluted material may be brought to shore or deposed and what effects this will have for other parties use of the coastal zone (fisheries, fish farming, the energy sector, maritime transport, outdoor use, interests of protection, etc.).

Education programme

The overall objective of the educational activities is to strengthen opportunities for an education in environmental topics at UiT. To build up knowledge and competence for a multidiciplinary education programme, research and education of PhD’s and Post.docs. are necessary.

UiT (ARCTOS)
The graduate school and research network ARCTOS, which is based at the Faculty of Bioscience, Fisheries and Economics, represents an extensive network which conducts research on marine problems in the Arctic. This expert group has sketched a study programme on problems of pollution, as well as on the characterization and handling of waste. Teaching is given by researchers in the ARCTOS network and affiliated personnel in disciplines not covered by UiT's own faculty. ARCTOS cooperate with Akvaplan niva and Unilab analysis AS.

UNIS
The planned project contribution is closely coordinated between NILU, UNIS and RWTH, whereas NILU is organizing the research and infrastructure and UNIS is co-ordinating the educational part. Experts from both institutions will establish an educational program at UNIS (Longyearbyen), Arctic technology closely linked into the plans for educational program on “waste and pollution handling in the North” at UIT.

NUC
NUC will participate with subjects or parts of subjects in the development of the education programme within (environmental engineering). The education programme will be further developed during spring/autumn 2010, in cooperation with EWMA and the steering group for research and education.

Norut Narvik
As study cases in the education of future environmental engineers, Northern research institute in Narvik will use several ongoing projects These projects involve; Ballast water, oil spill response, waste treatment and bioremediation.