Environmental Impact Assessment Eia in the Arctic: A Study of International Legal Norms

The special characteristics of the Arctic environment make it a highly risky area for industrial activities that exploit its natural resources; the ecosystems of the Arctic are considered to be more vulnerable to man- made pollution than those in more temperate climatic zones. In this doctoral thesis, Koivurova (environmental and minority law, U. of Lapland, Finland) examines the environmental impact assessment norms of international law that apply to the planning stage of large-scale, stationary activities such as hydrocarbon exploitation, mineral extraction and forestry. In particular, the study focuses on plans for environmentally harmful stationary activities in the Arctic, and also analyzes the legal status of the Arctic cooperation process and the norms adopted within it. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)