The problems of the environment protection take important place in the processes of the natural resources researching and management in the Arctic. The planning development of oil and gas resources on the shelf of the Russian Arctic can cause great impact on ecosystems. It's important to estimate possible consequences of anthropogenous influence and protect nature from dangerous activity. Carrying out of proper environment monitoring and resources development regulation are becoming of great significance. International and national legal bases and norms play a key role in supporting of safety of the life and resources development in the Arctic. The authors present the basic documents on environmental safety for offshore operations. Regulations for emissions in atmosphere, emissions in the marine environment, wastes are presented. Guidelines for environment control, safety and monitoring are studied. Oil spills response measures and international co-operation are presented. Legal support of new technologies development is given. National particularities of existing Russian norms on environment protection are also investigated. The results of the study can be used for the management of perspective projects on the territory of the Russian Arctic shelf and for farther development of normative and legal support of future safe activity in the Arctic Ocean.
Perspective development of oil and gas fields in the Arctic Ocean causes not only great scientific and commercial interest. It also excites world public opinion about the possible changes of a state of environment and consequences of these processes for northern hemisphere. The ecological investigations have growing value for operators of oil and gas projects and companies developing Arctic oil and gas resources. They need the initial information about the background state of the marine environment in the areas of possible environmental impact where the objects of oil and gas extraction infrastructure are planning to be constructed.
