Nord Stream Gas Pipeline - a nature conservation perspective

1
Nord Stream Gas Pipeline - a nature conservation
perspective

• Jochen Lamp
• WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme
• Warsaw, 28.05.2007

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WWF Position

• WWF is not against gas pipelines or natural gas
  in principle
• It is possible to construct gas pipelines in the
  marine environment without major negative impacts
• Environmental Impact Assessments are important
  and necessary
• Transparency and stakeholder participation will
  improve the process and the construction

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What can you expect?

• A brief review of the current procedures
• Major impacts of the pipeline on biodiversity and
  risks
• Information gaps and uncertainties in the current
  Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• EIA process and timelines
• WWF-suggestions

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Major Impacts of the pipeline

• Modified seabed
• Change of currents/sedimentation and erosion (G.
  of Finland, Sweden)
• Sediment dispersion over large areas
• Effects on cultural heritage (shipwrecks)?
• Concerned biodiversity
• Habitats (sandbanks, reefs, gas vents, benthos
  and seabird areas)
• Protected Areas Gotland, offshore banks, Finnish
  Archipelago, Germany landfall, Russia
• New challenges
• How will latest additional routes (Estonia, north
  Bornholm) be assessed?

5
Risks

• Pipeline could break due to limited flexibility
  of steel/concrete pipes in a very divers
  topography
• Pipe-laying techniques at limits in deep water
• Non-homogeneous sediment (crystalline rock to
  mud) is a challenge for safe pipe laying and
  stable positioning
• Water chemistry may cause corrosion of the pipe
• Dumped ammunition and hazardous substances no
  precise handling concept
• Safety Anchorage could conflict with pipeline

6
Lack of Transparency

• Bathymetry and substrate not detected in detail
• No data on harmful substances
• No sediment data
• Out-of-date data (Birds, seals, shipping, fish)
  used
• Handling concepts missing
• Disposed material (dredged ridges and fill-up of
  valleys)
• Ammunition handling in detail
• No information on inspections during operation
• Compensation for damages?

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WWF-Suggestions for EIA procedure

• Agree on a joint research standards for the
  project
• Make research results accessible to concerned
  states and NGOs/public
• Agree on final research programme based on
  results from Espoo-process and implement agreed
  comprehensive EIA
• Revise timeline and secure time for EIA and
  revision of plans according to the EIA results
• No permission before critical questions have been
  solved!

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WWF-Suggestions for EIA content

• Detailed mapping
• Detailed technical concepts
• Alternative routeing
• Handling of ammunitions and dumped hazardous
  substances
• Risk assessments
• Cumulative effects
• Full compensation for losses

New route alternative
Route alternative?
New route alternative
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Timelines

• According to Nord Stream
• Autumn 2007 Presentation of EIA report
• 2008 Start of construction
• 2010 One pipe in operation
• Realistic timeline
• Autumn 2007 Agreement on EIA Research Programme
• 2008 Field research
• 2009 Decision about permit

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Thank you!

More information www.wwf.de, www.bsh.de