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Integrated Management of Risks and environmental f.. (IMAPS)
Integrated Management of Risks and environmental factors for a sustainable development of peripheral ports areas
(IMAPS)
Start date: Jun 30, 2005,
End date: Dec 30, 2007
PROJECT
FINISHED
IMAPS aims at creating a networking space for decision makers to globally highlight their urban development planning problems, taking into account European regulations (SEVESO, ICZM) on the one hand, economic and urban development constraints on the other hand. The goal is to provide them with a clear and an in-depth understanding of all challenges and parameters that will govern future development steps: industrial and shipping risks, preservation of the coastal environment, European and national regulations, and competition between industry, tourism, shipping and traditional fisheries or aquaculture. Achievements: Achievements so far IMAPS adresses the management of industrial risks and coastal environment in port cities where the balance between economic development and risks reduction is a complex issue. The project started in August 2005 within a network of 5 port cities: Brest, Cadiz, Taranto, Constanza, Matosinhos and Portsmouth represented by the isle of Wight. Gijon joined in June 2006, through its port authority with enhanced visions of european projects. The state of the art, established in each parner city, for each of the two components: 'industrial risks' and 'environment', brought the basis of the study with concrete and precise visions of commonalties and differencies between policies, legislations, methods, means developed by the cities and countries. These results constituted a quite comprehensive and instrumented information for studying harmonised approaches and best practices.They have been exploited, in the light of the European consulation for a 'new european maritime policy'. The group met 7 times in Brest (KOM), Matosinhos (1st PM), Gijon (2nd PM), Brest (working meeting on training and education), the Isle of Wight (3rd PM),Constanza (4th PM) and Taranto (FM). These meetings and networking activities enabled converging progressively towards common visions of best approaches and techniques. The conclusions have been submitted as recommandations, illustrated by 'best practices', to the European Commission and local authorities. A Final event was organised during the international conference SAFER SEAS in October 2007 in Brest. It welcomed 136 participants and was the occasion to present and discuss the results with the European Commission, the European technology platform for risks management, local and national authorities and experts. The main recommendations, submitted also as a contribution to the European consultation for a new maritime policy, cover: a) An integration of industrial, maritime, environmental risks in one recommendation, named ICZM-II, an evolution of the current recommendation, providing in partciular practical guidelines for its application. b) the use of a digital information system to trace and compare the translation processes of European regulations down to local action plans. c)The use of integrated digital information systems, to favour data sharing and cooperation between all concerned corporations. d) A clear definition of governance, responsibilities and costs sharing rules to favour an harmonised application. e) Adapted education and training programs covering 'risks and coastal zone management', regulations, techniques and practical implementation cases. Based on the success of the project, several following actions will be undertaken through the permanent conference of port cities and through the ETP for risks management and through European projects.