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PURSUANT TO THE AGREEMENT BOTH COUNTRIES ESTABLISHED A 

 JOINT MARINE POLLUTION CONTINGENCY PLAN TO FACILITATE A 

 COORDINATED RESPONSE TO A POLLUTION INCIDENT THREATENING ONE OR 

 BOTH COUNTRIES, AND TO PROVIDE A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK AND 

 COMMAND STRUCTURE FOR DEALING WITH SUCH INCIDENTS. THE PLAN 

 PROVIDES FOR PRIOR AGREEMENT ON PROCEDURES AND 



RESPONSIBILITIES, INCLUDING CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION CLEARANCES 

 FOR PERSONNEL, TO ENABLE RESPONSE TEAMS TO MOVE MORE QUICKLY 

 AND EFFECTIVELY TO CONTAIN OR CLEAN UP A POLLUTION INCIDENT. 

 THE PLAN ALSO PROVIDES FOR REGULAR COORDINATION MEETINGS AND 

 EXERCISES. THE PLAN IS IMPLEMENTED AND MAINTAINED BY THE U.S. 

 COAST GUARD AND THEIR RUSSIAN COUNTERPARTS IN THE FIELD OF 

 POLLUTION RESPONSE. WHILE ONE MIGHT QUESTION WHAT AN OIL 

 POLLUTION AGREEMENT HAS TO DO WITH NUCLEAR WASTE DUMPING, THE 

 FACT IS THAT THE AQSEEMENT IS A USEFUL PRECEDENT. IT 

 DEMONSTRATES THAT THE U.S. AND RUSSIA CAN REACH AGREEMENT ON AN 

 EFFECTIVE UMBRELLA ARRANGEMENT FOR DEALING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL 

 ISSUES. 



THIS DESCRIBES SOME OP THE EFFORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT TO 

 ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS TO THE ARCTIC. I WOULD BE HAPPY 

 TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. 



