the environmental impacts of the nord stream gas pipeline ...€¦ · the nord stream gas pipeline...
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The Environmental Impacts of the pNord Stream Gas Pipeline in the Baltic Sea
Juha-Markku LeppänenppSYKE Marine Research Centre
ContentContent
Nord Stream is a natural gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea linking Russian gas fields to the central Europe
The Nord Stream gas pipeline projectg p p p j Environmental concerns Environmental Impact Assessmentsp Permitting process ConstructionConstruction First results of the environmental monitoring
The Nord Stream gas pipeline projectThe Nord Stream gas pipeline project
Most extensive single construction in the Baltic SeaSea Total length of 1124 km 2 parallel pipelines 2 parallel pipelines 55 billion m3 gas per year Total investment of 7 4 Total investment of 7,4
billion €
Construction MonitorConstruction Monitor
First pipeline completed Second pipeline to be ready in 2012Second pipeline to be ready in 2012
Main environmental concerns before the construction Physical damage to the seabed
• Increase in water turbidity• Release of nutrients and hazardous substances• Impacts on bottom currentsImpacts on bottom currents
Dumped munitions and barrels• leakage, poisoning
M iti l Munitions clearance• sediment disturbance• fish, seals, birds..., ,
Ship wrecks and other cultural heritage Scientific heritage Nature reserves Fisheries, maritime transport, safety
Permitting process before commencement of the construction
Th i li th t it i l t EEZ The pipeline passes the territorial waters or EEZ of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and GermanyGermany Espoo Convention: Convention on Environmental
Impact Assessment in a Transboundary ContextImpact Assessment in a Transboundary Context requires • Contracting Parties to notify and consult each other on
all major projects that might have adverse environmental impact across borders
• Individual Parties to integrate environmentalIndividual Parties to integrate environmental assessment into the plans and programmes at the earliest stages
• R i t C t ti P t t E C ti• Russia not a Contracting Party to Espoo Concention
Permitting process before commencement of the construction
T b d t ti d t b d Transboundary construction and transboundary impacts require both national and international permitting processespermitting processes Permission to use the sea area and to construct
the pipeline concerns five countries (Russia, Finland,the pipeline concerns five countries (Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany)
International consultation to be carried out with four countries (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia)
Legislation in EEZ and Territorial Water in Finland
EIA according to: The Finnish EIA Act (468/1994)• The Finnish EIA Act (468/1994)
Government’s approval for the activity and to the delineation of the course for the pipe lay (thedelineation of the course for the pipe lay (the exploitation right) according to:• The Finnish Act on the EEZ (Act 1058/2004)
Permit for construction according to: • The Water Act (Act 264/1961)
Permit for munitions clearance according to:• The Water Act (Act 264/1961)
Environmental Impact assessmentEnvironmental Impact assessment
Fulfil the requirements of legislation and environmental standards Identify, mitigate and avoid potential harmful
i t th i t d h ti itiimpacts on the environment and human activities and health Assure that the environmental issues are taken Assure that the environmental issues are taken
into account in the decision process Develop best possible planning and Develop best possible planning and
environmentally friendly construction and management procedures as well as g penvironmental monitoring programmes Provide information to authorities and public
Nord Stream Project phasesNord Stream Project phases
1997-1999: Feasibility studies 2006 P itti t t 2006: Permitting process starts 2007: Detailed technical planning and studies for
the Environmental Impact Assessmentthe Environmental Impact Assessment 2009: International EIA and first permits 2010 Finalising the permitting process and start 2010: Finalising the permitting process and start
of the pipeline construction
Actions with expected impactsConstruction Seabed preparations / interventions Munitions handlingConstruction Seabed preparations / interventions
(prior to and after the pipe laying)Munitions handling
Rock placements
Removal of major boulders
Removal of ship wrecksp
Dreging of the pipeline
Dredging
Supporting constructionspp g
Pipe laying Delivery of the pipes
Pipe laying
Anchoring
Pre-commissioning and Commissioning Phase
Pipeline flooding, cleaning, gauging and pressure testingPressure-test water discharge
Operational Phase Use of the pipelineOperational Phase Use of the pipeline
Monitoring
Restriction areas
Maintenance (eg. Rock ( gplacements)
Decommissioning phase No decision
Not relevant in the Finnish EEZNot relevant in the Finnish EEZ
The pipeline in the Gulf of FinlandThe pipeline in the Gulf of Finland
Marine Protected AreasMarine Protected Areas
Crossing cablesCrossing cables
Potential areas for dumping of munitions
Rock placement sitesRock placement sites
Studies carried out by Nord StreamStudies carried out by Nord Stream
Most extensive EIA carried out ever in the Baltic SeaSea The company has invested >100 million € on
environmental impact studies and environmentalenvironmental impact studies and environmental planning • to ensure that the design and routing of the pipeline g g p p
through the Baltic Sea will be environmentally sound and safe
Field and desktop studiesField and desktop studies
Hydrography and bottom conditions Marine flora and fauna Fish and fisheries BirdsBirds Mammals Protected areas Tourism and recreational areas Marine archaeology Dumping sites for chemical and conventional munitionsDumping sites for chemical and conventional munitions Existing cables and pipelines Raw material resources and extraction
Shi ffi d f i Ship traffic, routes and fairways
Field studiesField studies
>1,000 water and sediment samples in 96 monitoring stationsmonitoring stations 77 monitoring stations for observation of the
behaviour of fish marine mammals and birdsbehaviour of fish, marine mammals and birds Geological engineering survey covered >40,000
km, with 6,000 km of gradiometer surveyingkm, with 6,000 km of gradiometer surveying Nord Stream has established a Data and
Information Fund designed to increase the gexisting knowledge regarding the state of the Baltic Sea and its preservation
Dumped munitionsDumped munitions
Dumped barrelsDumped barrels
Cultural heritageCultural heritage
Hazardous substances in sedimentsHazardous substances in sediments
Modelling excercisesModelling excercises
The EIA processThe EIA process
S d d lli d kt l ti Surveys and modelling, desktop evaluations National and international consultations
• Di l ith th iti• Dialogue with authorities• Public consultations
Lobbyingy g
Changes in • pipeline route• pre-construction practices• Pipe laying practices• C ti• Compensations • Monitoring programmes
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Helsinki
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Porkkala
Laybarge Solitaire
Tallinna
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Environmmnetal MonitoringEnvironmmnetal Monitoring
Main results of the first monitoring studies
Monitoring and assessments carried out by independent companies (Luode Consulting and Ramboll)Ramboll)
ResultsMi d h t t i t• Minor and short-term impacts
• Increase in water turbidly close to the rock placement sites only
• Natural level in turbidity in 1 2 days• Natural level in turbidity in 1-2 days• Concentrations of hazardous substances in water close to
natural levels (e.g. mercury below detection limits)• Dredging in Russia did neither affect the water quality inDredging in Russia did neither affect the water quality in
Finland territory nor EEZ
Merellisen aluesuunnittelun haasteetMerellisen aluesuunnittelun haasteet