An overall Canal Emergency Action Plan provides:

- periodic training of employees, schedules for drills;
- spill recordkeeping requirements;
- procedures for conducting annual “area threat analyses”;
- description of the Emergency Response Organization;
- documentation and reporting requirements for each transit vessel;
- emergency equipment inventory;
- a response agency directory; and
- internal and external emergency communications plans (http://www.pancanal.com/eng/projects/ctan.html).

An incident command center is equipped and maintained by ACP to handle all emergencies and there are in place protocols to include key stakeholders and participants from GOP agencies, regional authorities and US security forces. The ACP links very closely to the National Police and Panama Maritime Authority and several other organizations to form the National Response Team so that emergency events outside the Canal Area that affect transit vessels and adjacent population centers can be contained.

Other innovative measures include a Fire Extinguishing Foam System at Gatun, Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks that provides an automatic response for spill and fire emergencies originated by inflammable substances. The Panama Canal Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (PCSOPEP) details response measures for accidental spills and containment and meets international standards. The ACP issued Advisory No. 30-2003 for all vessels transiting the Canal requiring this plan:
www.pancanal.com/esp/maritime/advisories/a-30-2003.html

Pesticide Use and Management -

The successful, uninterrupted, operation of the Project will require the continued use of an integrated pest management (IPM) program to address the spread of invasive aquatic vegetation with interferes mainly with the operation of small water craft (refer to section below in PS6 on invasive alien species). ACP has been implementing the IPM program since 1998, maximizing the use of mechanical means for aquatic vegetation removal and reducing the amount of chemicals used in aquatic vegetation controls by one half by the year 2000. Principal problem areas include the mouth of the Chagres River ands channels leading to the lighthouses of Gatun Lake.

- Performance Standard 4 – Community Health and Safety:

The ACP maintains close control of the Canal area and extends its administration and coordination for the Canal watershed in coordination with other national organizations. Overall, the ACP adheres to a number of important port and harbor operating practices including addressing potential risks and impacts to the affected adjacent communities from project activities. All project components have specific contract clauses that ensure the health, safety and security of communities adjacent to the Canal and within the Canal watershed. The ACP has maintained an extensive communication program that reaches out to all citizens and targets communities living within the Canal watershed. The expansion project will not impact the security of the local populations since all the construction is in the boundaries of the Canal area and there will not be any influx of a large construction workforce that would need to be housed in local communities or construction worker camps.

Infrastructure and Equipment Safety -

All project structures have been designed in accordance with internationally accepted engineering standards for structural integrity that account for the geomorphologic conditions of the canal. During construction, measures are defined to confine use of heavy equipment, drilling machines, explosives and dredging barges to restricted areas that are guarded and secure from civilian traffic. All construction is monitored and will be supervised by both ACP and contract management staff. Contract clauses identify safety provisions for use of all heavy equipment and vehicles and require proper signage and traffic.

Navigation Safety -

ACP operates a highly efficient and state of the art ship transit system, SIMAT, or EVTMS (English acronym) for Enhanced Vessel Traffic Management System. This provides for instant location via satellite tracking and GPS of all ships approaching, anchored and passing through the Canal. Combined with CTAN, the communication, traffic and navigation system of the canal, all ship traffic has instant and real time access to location, speed, direction and various modalities of communications for regular and emergency needs. A CTAN system covering all locations at and adjacent to the canal keeps surveillance of all canal operations, all traffic along the canal as well as the berthing and tie up facilities in and around the canal area. The ACP is responsible for both approaches to the canal on the Atlantic and Pacific sides and coordinates with the Panama Maritime Authority to ensure safe transit in near coastal international waters.

The third lock system will use tugs to move the ships into position, instead of the locomotive track system now in use. These tugs are all under operation today with licensed captains and highly trained crew.

Security Personnel Requirements -

The ACP has made major investments to improve security and reduce the risk and vulnerability of its facilities. These investments include expanding the Canal''s electronic monitoring and tracking systems and improvements in computerized systems and collecting data from all ships that arrive in Canal waters. The ACP implemented an Automatic Identification System (AIS) to identify and tracks all vessels before they enter Canal waters and during their transit. An additional 24-hour Security Control Center has been established for incident and emergency management, which allows for internal Canal security personnel to work jointly with the national police and civil protection entities. Enhanced postings and patrols along the Canal and its reservoirs have increased security. Also, the ACP has expanded equipment such as launches and specialized vehicles for patrolling, alarm systems and additional closed-circuit television for existing Canal areas. Expert security consultants regularly review and evaluate potential risks and the ACP continuously upgrades its security provisions. Following guidelines of the ISPS, the ACP security forces regularly undertake joint strategic planning and emergency drills with key national agencies such as the national police, army, fire brigades and hospital emergency staff. There is also a multi regional security response drill that includes military assistance by the US, which is conducted annually.

ACP has a separate department to deal with Security and Emergency Response which is in turn divided into five specialized units. Two of the specialized units are dedicated to security work (protection of canal property, external liaison with outside security and other entities (such as Panamanian police, etc) as well as inspecting ships for hazards that may be transported through the canal. Three other specialized units deal with emergency response for a) spills, b) fires- a dedicated fire department, and c) hazmat. The force is 100% Panamanian and receives extensive training, including how to relate to the public in a sensitive manner. Security personnel are employed by the ACP and undergo complete security clearance and background checks. Those personnel carrying firearms receive annual training and briefings on public and personal safety and participate in periodic security drills replicating potential threats and attacks on the facilities. Written protocols are provided to security staff as part of their annual training including instructions and guidance on stages of readiness and engagement with public and unlawful actors. Clear instruction are provided and reinforced regarding when and how to coordinate with local law enforcement authorities (National Police).

- Performance Standard 5 – Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement:

Although the expansion project does not involve the flooding of natural areas or significant physical displacement of local populations, going forward ACP intends to operate the system at its technical maximum water level, which is 45 centimeters above its current operating level, to take full advantage of the original 1914 design. And even though signs exist marking this maximum water level, over the years a few individuals have constructed buildings, sheds, and piers that extended beyond the demarcated high water mark and thus may be affected by this operational change. These potential impacts were identified during the EIA process.

In 2006 and 2007, physical baseline surveys were carried out, and the EIAs prepared for Canal expansion specifically identified those areas where buildings and docks might be affected by the rising water levels. The descriptions and photos in the EIA already indicate that the impacts will generally be minor in nature, with water covering part of a wooden dock or reaching the edge of a porch. Only nine structures are expected to be affected by the water level increase of 45 centimeters. Neither livelihoods nor crops should be affected. The main economic activities in the area include sport fishing and lake tourism. As part of the environmental assessment process, the EIA included an Social – Environmental Management plan with a brief section addressing potentially affected properties in the shores of Lake Gatun.

ACP will conclude any process of compensation or impact avoidance well in advance of the lake level rising by 45 centimeters, which is expected to happen by 2011. ACP will complement the existing management plan with a more detailed Social – Environmental Management plan that will include an updated baseline survey of potentially affected properties. ACP has prepared a Terms of Reference (ToR) for contracting of a highly qualified consultant to conduct the detailed baseline survey and develop a compensation matrix that will comply with IFC Performance Standards. The bid will be announced during August 2008 on the ACP services procurement website at: http://www.pancanal.com/esp/ampliacion/licitaciones/index.html. Following the baseline survey, the detailed Social – Environmental Management plan will be completed by the end of 2008. This plan will include principles and objectives of the compensation, summary of census survey information describing those affected, descriptions of the proposed compensation options and methods for evaluating affected assets, a schedule of consultations with the affected owners, description of the specific grievance process, monitoring of implementation, a completion audit, timetable, and a proposed budget. The updated plan and implementation guidelines will be published upon completion on the ACP website (http://www.pancanal.com/esp/ampliacion/esia/index.html).

Additionally, ACP is nearing completion of negotiated settlements with 8 families who occupied 4 duplex houses that need to be removed for construction of the third set of locks in the Atlantic side of the Project. The houses were originally built over 10 years ago, under the PCC administration, by a contractor for its employees. The houses, which were abandoned rather than decommissioned at the completion of the contract (as was originally planned by PCC), were subsequently informally re-occupied by former staff and, over time, their relatives and friends who continued to reside there at no cost. Legal efforts by PCC (and then ACP) to vacate and decommission the structures were repeatedly ignored by its occupants. ACP conducted a survey of the 8 families in 2007 to ascertain their socioeconomic status. The survey concluded that all families consisted of professionals and skilled workers and that none could be considered poor landless squatters, that they had not made any improvement on the structures or land, and that their livelihoods would not be adversely affected by their resettlement. ACP and the families are currently in the final stages of implementation of a mutually acceptable settlement to vacate the properties and about half of the residents have already complied. The negotiation process concluded on February 28, 2008 with a mutually acceptable settlement which included the residents’ acceptance to leave the houses by the end of May, 2008. The settlement consists of a one-time, lump sum, payment to cover the cost of moving to a new location and taking into consideration the number of years each family lived in the area. An ACP Completion Audit will be conducted by an independent auditing firm approximately six months after completion and the results of this audit will be included in a bi-annual report as part of the independent report on the efficiency of the mitigation measures identified in the Category III EsIA EMP, as required by ANAM.

- Performance Standard 6 – Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resource Management:

More than half of the Canal watershed is covered in forest, much in large contiguous blocks, and there remains a nearly unbroken band of forest connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The forest is mostly in two large blocks, one east of Lake Alhajuela and one along the Canal. The area between the two is a patchwork of forest fragments. Two-thirds of the forest, 108,000 ha, is protected within the three national parks and one natural monument. Most of the remaining forest is along the west side of the canal, on land that was used by the US military until the year-2000 and which is also protected. The forests protect the water supply, support fisheries and conserve the high species diversity of the region.

Protection and Conservation of Biodiversity -

The EMP includes a detailed biodiversity protection program addressing such aspects as the protection and control of vegetation cover; forest potential; habitat; wildlife disturbance; wildlife collisions; illegal hunting; wildlife loss; alteration of aquatic ecosystems; and potential impacts to protected areas. The EMP further describes a detailed plan for the rescue and relocation of wildlife in the project affected areas. The removal of trees at all project sites will be offset by reforesting an area double the size of that removed. Neither the long standing protected research habitat of Barro Colorado Island, now a national monument, nor the Soberania National Park which acts as a buffer to the Canal area will be affected by the project.

The construction of the new locks, the dredging, deposits of dredge material and activities on each entrance to the canal will not create significant threats to the marine, aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems and associated fauna and flora of the Canal area and Canal Watershed. Marine dredging and dredge / excavated materials disposal activities will be primarily limited to sites which have already been in use for maintenance dredging disposal over several decades. Studies conducted in support of the EIA have modeled the dredging effects on the Atlantic side and impacts of ocean currents and tides as well as wind effects to determine if there would be any significant impacts under various scenarios of dredged and excavation materials disposal in marine environments. The results of sediment suspension and transport models to evaluate construction and operational phase impacts indicated that there would not be any significant impacts to aquatic environments such as coral reefs and mangroves. The potential for sediment suspension and transport in the marine environment have been carefully studied and considered in the selection of the dredging and materials disposal technologies and techniques as well as the selection of disposal locations as described in the section on Performance Standard 3 – Pollution Prevention and Abatement. Potential impacts to aquatic and coastal ecosystems due to accidental oil or hazardous materials spills during the Projects operational phase are being addressed under the emergency preparedness and response plans described elsewhere in this summary.

Invasive Alien Species -

ACP has a water hyacinth control program that contains this alien species in the navigational channel as it is found along fresh water bodies in adjacent streams, ponds and lakes. This program utilizes physical (boom barriers), mechanical (collecting, shredding burning) and chemical measures for control (pesticide use is described in the relevant section in PS-3). To date this pest has been kept out of the Canal transit areas. Another topic is the introduction via transit vessels of aquatic and marine species that are not endemic to the region that have the potential to cause degradation and/or decline of native species. The regulations prohibiting ballast discharge and close structural surveillance (including underwater imaging) have served to prevent such occurrences to date. Years of research on the status of fish and other species crossing from each of the two oceans into the Canal and colonizing new areas have indicated that there has been no threat to native species. An invasive alien grass of the sugar family, Saccharum spontaneum, has been present in the Canal area for many years. In an effort to cure this matter, ACP mitigates this matter by replanting, in clear areas, other species surrounding completed works. This is also the case for the new locks projects, which in essence replaces large expanses of land currently covered by this grass.

- Performance Standard 8 – Cultural Heritage:

Several limited areas of pre-Colombian and historical archeology and paleontology have been identified where construction activity is planned (http://www.pancanal.com/esp/ampliacion/estudio-ambiental/cap-06.pdf, pages 81-103). Because archeological remains are typically found in surface soil layers and fossils in much deeper layers, ACP has taken two different approaches toward successful implementation of each recovery effort.

Pre-Construction Archeology Rescue Plan -

Since 2004, two archaeological surveys of the Canal expansion area have been undertaken. Based on the results of these surveys, an archeological rescue program led by archeologist, Dr. Julia Mayo was completed in 2007. This effort sought to recover anything of archeological importance prior to construction.

Paleontological Rescue Plan -

The internationally-recognized Smithsonian Tropical Research Institution (STRI) was selected by ACP to manage the Paleontology rescue program. This rescue work represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to better understand the unique geology and fossils of the Isthmus of Panama. The potential fossil-rich layers have been mapped and when they are reached in construction, the STRI team will be mobilized to accompany the work on site and salvage fossils of scientific importance that might be unearthed.

Construction Chance Find Protocol -

A detailed chance find protocol will be included as part of each construction contract. The basic requirements for these accidental discovery procedures are already found in the EMP. A copy of the procedure is available at: http://www.pancanal.com/esp/ampliacion/esia/proc-rec-culturales.pdf. In the case of a chance find, activity will cease and the area will be marked as off-limits for work until designated cultural heritage representatives arrive and appropriate treatment is defined. It is ACP’s policy that no worker may possess or remove archaeological or paleontological remains from the project area. A monitoring protocol will report and record any chance finds. Contractors will not be allowed to undertake works outside the project-defined footprint.

The Cultural Heritage and Paleontological Management agreements have been signed by the National Institute of Culture (INAC). The agreement was signed on 22 March 2007. Several museums (including the Canal Museum and the Canal Visitors Center) are being considered by INAC as final custodians of the finds.