1. Access rules + Risk and hazards, Risk maps, Application for access

The National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police Civil Protection and Emergency Management e-mail: info@sst.is

Danger zone and the Restricted area due to seismic activity in Bárðarbunga and volcanic eruption in Holuhraun lava field:

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1b. Other rules    2. Risk assessment information   3. Risk maps 
4. Application for access

Please note that the access to the area now is extremely restricted. Now only 14 parties (individual guests to the area) can be in the restricted area at any given time as well as police and employees of Vatnajökull National Park. Scientists from the University of Iceland and the Icelandic Met Office have priority with regard to operating in the area due to their work for the Civil Protection Authority. ***It is obligatory to read the risk assessment information and risk maps before filing an application for access to the restricted area***

 1. Rules of access:

Only special temporary passes issued due to the seismic activity in Bárðarbunga and the volcanic eruption in Holuhraun lava field grant access to the restricted area depicted in the following map. Passes issued previously by the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police regarding access into the peripheral closures are not valid in this area.

1. Persons entitled to passes are: Employees of the Civil Protection Authorities, scientists and media representatives along with their chauffeurs and guides. Police and Vatnajökull National Park employees do not need a special permit for travel in the area when on duty.

2. Definitions. •••••a. Media is any kind of media which regularly transmits to the general public material that is subject to editorial authority. Media are for instance newspapers and magazines, along with their supplements, net media, audio- and video media and other comparable media (under the Act on media No 38/2011).

3. Media that are granted access to the area are obliged to deliver material to other media as needed according to procedural rules with regard to the pooling of visual material.

4. Scientists issued with permits shall perform research that is of use to the Civil Protection Authority in assessing the situation and the development of the activity. Scientists shall submit their findings to the Scientific Advisory Board of the Civil Protection Authority as quickly as possible. •••••a. The scientific advisory group evaluates applications with regard to this. •••••b. Along with an application to restricted areas an application for a research permit should be submitted to the Vatnajökull National Park cf. Article 18 of Regulation No 608/2008 on Vatnajökull National Park.

5. Applications for permits are processed between 09:00 and 15:00 Monday thru Thursday. Processing time is two work days.

6. Applications should be submitted electronically to the email address info@sst.is •••••a. An application from the media shall contain names and identification numbers, or passport numbers of foreign parties, of those applying for access to the area as well as: ————i. Confirmation from media company according to point a of Article 1, regarding that all applicants are employees of the respective company. ····················a) With regard to chauffeurs and handlers of transport equipment and guides, the employer shall provide the same confirmation. ————ii. Declaration from media company according to point a of Article 1 regarding the respective employees having valid insurance policies regarding bodily injuries or damage to health sustained within the restricted area as well as a declaration regarding the media company in question covering the costs incurred in case the employees need to be rescued. ····················a) With regard to chauffeurs and handlers of transport equipment and guides, the employer shall provide the same confirmation. ————iii. The signed declarations of media employees entering into restricted areas with regard to their acknowledgement of the hazards in the area according to a hazard assessment map, the difficult travelling conditions in the area and the limited rescue options at hand. The declaration also contains a confirmation from the person in question renouncing any claims against the Treasury due to damage to equipment, other possessions, damage to health or bodily harm incurred by travelling within the restricted area. The declaration shall be certified by a superior of the employee in question. ····················a) The handlers of vehicles and guides shall provide an identical declaration. •••••b. An application for scientific research shall contain names and identification numbers, or passport numbers of foreign parties, of all those applying for access to the area as well as: ————i. Confirmation from scientific institute with regard to the respective party performing scientific research on their behalf along with purpose of research. ····················a) With regard to chauffeurs and handlers of transport equipment and guides, the employer shall provide the same confirmation. ————ii. Declaration from scientific institute regarding the respective employee having valid insurance policies with regard to possible damage to health or bodily harm incurred within the restricted area. a) With regard to chauffeurs and handlers of transport equipment and guides, the employer shall provide the same declaration. ————iii. The signed declarations of respective scientists regarding their confirmation of being informed of hazard assessments and that they have the knowledge and training necessary for evaluating the hazards they may encounter within the restricted area. a) Chauffeurs and guides shall provide an identical declaration. •••••c. An application regarding employees of the Civil Protection Authority shall contain the names and identification numbers of those applying for access to the area as well as: ————i. The signed declarations of respective employees regarding their confirmation of having been informed of hazard assessments and that they have the knowledge and training necessary for evaluating the hazards they may encounter within the restricted area. ····················a) The handlers of vehicles and guides shall provide an identical declaration.

7. When an application has been processed, the applicant is notified via email whether application has been approved or rejected. A notification via email regarding approval of application is not equivalent to an issued travel permit, cf. point 8.

8. The travel permit is issued at the Rescue Coordination Centre in Skógarhlíð 14 on workdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Upon agreement the travel passes can be provided in the Húsavík Police Station between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on workdays.

9. The period of validity is printed on the travel permit and for the media it is usually 24 hours. The period of validity for travel permits of scientists is determined by the research programme of the respective scientific institute.

10. If a licensee cannot make use of the permit during its validity, a new application must be submitted.

11. The permit shall be provided along with identity documents at the traffic control-post in Krepputunga. When leaving the area licensees shall also pass through Krepputunga and communicate their departure from the area.

12. Only 14 parties can be in the restricted area at any given time as well as police and employees of Vatnajökull National Park. Scientists from the University of Iceland and the Icelandic Met Office have priority with regard to operating in the area due to their work for the Civil Protection Authority. •••••a. This is based on a hazard assessment and rescue plan for the area. These provide for the possibility that everyone in the area might have to stay in lodges in Drekagil for days and the emergency provisions there are provided accordingly. There is also a plan in place with regard to evacuation and rescue routes where the number of persons that can be evacuated from the area is limited.

13. The vehicles of those permitted to enter the restricted areas must be equipped for driving in the circumstances that may be present. Vehicles must be modified for off-road driving in winter with a minimum tire size of 38″, as well as GPS-navigation equipment and radio communications equipment.

14. Everyone permitted to enter the restricted area shall be equipped with a gas mask providing protection for SO2 and a gas meter for SO2, with an alarm system in case the values exceed the employment protection provisions.

15. All groups permitted to enter restricted areas shall have a chauffeur and/or a guide familiar with the area with experience of driving in snow, winter travelling and Icelandic speaking.

16. An on-site supervisor from the police shall be in command within the restricted area. When entering the restricted area a notification must be provided to the on-site supervisor. The instructions of the on-site supervisor must be adhered to in full. •••••a. The on-site supervisor shall be notified when departing for the eruption site, and when departing from the eruption site. •••••b. When leaving the restricted area one must provide notification thereof.

17. All consumption of alcohol is prohibited within the restricted area.

18. These rules take effect immediately and simultaneously all previously issued permits with older dates cease to apply. Reykjavík, 17th October 2014 The National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police, The Police Commissioner of Húsavík, The Police Commissioner of Seyðisfjörður, The Police Commissioner of Hvolsvöllur.

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