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

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