Nord Stream presents overall environmental and social monitoring programme

Nord Stream has presented its ‘overall environmental and social monitoring programme’ to all of the nine Baltic Sea countries: Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. It has been compiled on Nord Stream’s own initiative and the purpose is to demonstrate Nord Stream’s comprehensive environmental monitoring activities along the pipeline route in the Baltic Sea.

As required in the national permits granted by Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany, Nord Stream has prepared five national environmental monitoring programmes, each aiming at documenting the environmental impacts from the construction and operations of the pipelines in the respective jurisdictions. The national monitoring programmes are tailored to meet the requirements of each country.

The actual monitoring surveys, and the subsequent reporting of results to the national environmental authorities, have already begun. Nord Stream also intends to provide an overview of the results of the monitoring. The results will be compiled in an annual report and will – just as the ‘overall environmental and social monitoring programme’ – be distributed to the relevant authorities as well as being publicly available. The monitoring data will further be made available for research to the benefit of the Baltic Sea environment.

Monitoring activities include surveys of the physical and chemical environment, such as water quality and seabed sediments. The biological environment, such as bird, fish and marine mammal populations are also monitored. In addition, the socio-economic environment, such as commercial fisheries and potential effects on cultural heritage are monitored. Baseline studies were conducted prior to construction and monitoring will continue for one year after the completion of the pipelines, thereafter the monitoring focus will be changed from the construction to the operation of the pipelines.

More than 20 different survey companies are contracted to conduct the surveys and measurements. The findings are analysed in internationally recognised laboratories and Nord Stream reports the results to the national environmental authorities in each country.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/29102010/nord_stream_presents_overall_environmental_and_social_monitoring_programme/