On the Issue of Localization and Elimination of Consequences of the Fuel Oil Spill in the Kerch Strait: Ecological and Legal Aspect

The article discusses the issues of fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait. The legislative framework regulating the sphere of oil and petroleum product spills has been studied. The issues of pollution of the coastal zone of the Krasnodar Territory by a water-oil mixture are investigated. It is noted that in the winter season, oil spills have their own characteristics, in which, under the influence of cold water, part of the fuel oil coagulates and sinks to the bottom, the undisturbed mass, under the influence of wind, is thrown by waves onto the coastal zone. It is revealed that the material damage caused to the resort industry of the Krasnodar Territory cannot be assessed unilaterally, losses in such cases are formed from the loss of vacationers for many years to come. It has been revealed that in the warm season, a liquid water-oil emulsion is released from the marine environment, which is formed under the influence of elevated temperatures, therefore the coastal zone remains unsuitable for swimming and recreation for a long time, until the complete lifting of restrictive measures by sanitary services. It is shown that the existing system for forecasting, localizing and eliminating oil and petroleum product spills has significant drawbacks, the main of which are the non-compliance of emergency services with regulatory requirements. Taking into account the fact that the fragmentation of areas of responsibility by different federal executive authorities does not contribute to the development of the security sector at the proper level. It is recommended that issues related to the protection of territories and populations from oil spills be taken to a new level based on the principles of state interests and expediency, using mandatory liability insurance mechanisms or the complete transfer of security issues to state structures by creating an appropriate unified rescue service.