The Strategic Action Program for Protection of the Russian Arctic Environment (SAP-Arctic) is directed to preserve and protect Arctic environment and to eliminate negative environmental impacts from economic and other activities. SAP-Arctic was developed in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws, and other regulations of the Russian Federation. It conforms with accepted principles and rules of international law, while taking into consideration the domestic and international practice of environmental protection. It defines the principles, goals, objectives and main activities to ensure protection of the environment in the Arctic Region of the Russian Federation (the Russian Arctic), considering its growing importance in the regional and global context. SAP-Arctic is a framework document, the provisions of which are to be taken into account when drafting governmental, federal, regional and corporate programs for the development of industrial and other processes in the Russian Arctic. The scope of SAP-Arctic is the Russian Arctic, including the Republic of Komi, and Khanty-Mansiysky Autonomous District, where pollution sources have a substantial impact on the Arctic environment.
On 19th of June 2009 in the city of Arkhangelsk a regular session of the Maritime Board at the Government of the Russian Federation was held. The Strategic Action Program for Protection of Environment in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation (SAP-Arctic) prepared by the Project Office in cooperation with the Mineconomrazvitiya of Russia was submitted by Mineconomrazvitiya of Russia for consideration by the Maritime Board members. The Maritime Board approved the SAP-Arctic document and recommended federal and regional authorities and other interested parties to be governed by SAP-Arctic provisions when designing program documents applied to development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation.
