Chapter 3: Impact Assessment Methodology

Transcription

1 Chapter 3: Impact Assessment Methdlgy URS-EIA-REP

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3 Table f Cntents 3 Impact Assessment Methdlgy Intrductin ESIA Prcess Screening ESIA Scping Envirnmental Issues Identificatin (ENVIID) Register Desk-Based Studies Review f Existing Baseline Infrmatin Identifying Receptrs Analysis f Alternatives Additinal Baseline Field Surveys and Studies Impact Assessment Framewrk Activities and Impacts Impacts Nature and Type Impact Magnitude Receptr Sensitivity (Resilience and Value) Impact Significance Waste Unplanned Events Cumulative Impacts Transbundary Impacts Impact Mitigatin Residual Impact Assessment Envirnmental and Scial Management Plans Stakehlder Engagement Data Limitatins URS-EIA-REP i

4 Chapter 3 Impact Assessment Methdlgy Tables Table 3.1 Envirnmental and Scial Screening Matrix Table 3.2 Impact Assessment Terminlgy Table 3.3 Impacts Significance Matrix Table 3.4 Impact Significance Definitins Table 3.5 Assessment f Ptential Impacts: Example Table Figures Figure 3.1 Overall ESIA Prcess Figure 3.2 Impact Identificatin and Assessment Prcess Figure 3.3 Example f Prject Activity - Impact Pathways Figure 3.4 Mitigatin Hierarchy ii URS-EIA-REP

5 3 Impact Assessment Methdlgy 3.1 Intrductin The impact assessment methdlgy used in this Envirnmental and Scial Impact Assessment (ESIA) Reprt prvides a basis t characterise the ptential envirnmental and scial impacts f the Prject. The methdlgy is based n mdels cmmnly emplyed in impact assessment, and takes int cnsideratin the Internatinal Finance Crpratin (IFC) Perfrmance Standards (PS). Ptential impacts arising frm planned activities and unplanned events are assessed. Planned activities include rutine and nn-rutine Prject Activities r events required fr the Cnstructin and Pre-Cmmissining, Operatinal, r Decmmissining Phases f the Prject. Unplanned events are thse nt anticipated t ccur during the nrmal curse f Prject Activities; fr example, the unlikely event f a vessel cllisin that may lead t a spill f fuel. The impact assessment methdlgy fr planned activities takes int cnsideratin impact magnitude and receptr sensitivity. A matrix is als used t derive impact significance, fr preand pst-mitigatin cnditins. The cncept f likelihd is included in the methdlgy fr unplanned events. The likelihd f the event ccurring, and the likelihd f impacts arising, is cnsidered. The assessment f discipline-specific impacts is presented in Chapters 7 t 12. Unplanned Events are addressed in Chapter 13, and Cumulative and Transbundary impacts are assessed in Chapters 14 and 15, respectively. 3.2 ESIA Prcess The ESIA prcess is a systematic apprach t identifying the envirnmental and scial impacts f a prject, and describing the mitigatin, management and mnitring measures that will be implemented t address these impacts. Ultimately, it allws relevant rganisatins t make infrmed decisins abut develpment prpsals, and allws ptentially affected stakehlders t participate in the prcess. In rder t ensure a rbust and detailed impact assessment, the ESIA prcess has been structured ver a series f prgressive and iterative stages (Figure 3.1). Stakehlders, the Prject team, and the assessment team prvided input t these stages during the ESIA prcess. As part f the Prject design, measures t avid r minimise impacts were identified and incrprated int the design. These are referred t as design cntrls and include physical design features and management measures. These design cntrls cnsidered the IFC mitigatin hierarchy as discussed in PS1. Sectin f this reprt discusses this hierarchy and hw it was applied t the Prject s impact assessment in mre detail. They are based n Gd Internatinal Industry Practice (GIIP) and are intended t assist in the avidance and cntrl f unacceptable impacts. Specific design cntrls are described in greater detail in Chapter 5 Prject Descriptin. Where the utcme f the ESIA indicates that design URS-EIA-REP

6 Chapter 3 Impact Assessment Methdlgy cntrls are insufficient t manage an impact t an acceptable level, further measures have been identified. These measures have been termed mitigatin measures and are described in respective chapters and detailed in Envirnmental and Scial Management Plans (Chapter 16 Envirnmental and Scial Management). As shwn in Figure 3.1, the ESIA prcess cmprised the fllwing stages: Screening: an initial identificatin f ptential interactins between the Prject and physical, eclgical and human receptrs (Sectin 3.2.1) indicating the level f impact assessment required; ESIA Scping: utlines the perceived required scpe f the ESIA t be undertaken, taking int cnsideratin the nature f the Prject, the results f the screening and applicable requirements. This stage included: Envirnmental Issues Identificatin (ENVIID): a prcess f systematic identificatin f ptential interactins between Prject activities r events and knwn receptrs (Sectin ); Desk-based studies: a review f existing envirnmental and scial infrmatin, and gap analysis t identify additinal baseline infrmatin required fr the impact assessment. This included review f previus envirnmental and gephysical/getechnical survey data cllected by Peter Gaz LLC n behalf f Gazprm between 2008 and 2012 (Sectin ); Identificatin f ptential physical, eclgical, and human receptrs that may be affected by the Prject (Sectin ); Alternatives: assessment f Prject technical alternatives at the Scping Stage, including alternative rutes and methds (Sectin ); and Stakehlder engagement: in July 2013, the Suth Stream Offshre Pipeline Turkish Sectr: Scping Reprt (Ref. 3.1) was published by Suth Stream Transprt n the cmpany website. Cpies were als made available in Sinp, and prvided directly t sme stakehlders. Interested and affected parties were invited by direct invitatin t participate in scping meetings, held in Istanbul, Ankara and Trabzn during the week f 29 July t 2 August (See Chapter 6 Stakehlder Engagement fr further details). Feedback frm the scping meetings was taken int cnsideratin in the ESIA prcess. Baseline Surveys and Studies: fllwing a gap analysis undertaken as part f the ESIA Scping Stage, baseline surveys and studies were undertaken t cmplement existing infrmatin. The baseline envirnmental and scial cnditins against which the impact assessment was t be undertaken (Sectin 3.2.3) were described; Impact Assessment: this stage included: Building n the ENVIID cnducted during the Scping Stage t describe activities and ptential impacts (Sectin 3.2.2); Determining the nature f impact (Sectin 3.3.2), the expected magnitude f impact (Sectin 3.3.3) and the sensitivity f receptrs (Sectin 3.3.4); Assessing the significance f ptential impacts (Sectin 3.3.5) prir t planned mitigatin; 3-2 URS-EIA-REP

7 Cnsidering unplanned events, i.e. thse events which are nt expected t happen during the Prject but fr which the risk f the event ccurrence needs t be assessed (Sectin 3.3.7); Cnsidering the ptential fr Prject impacts t cmbine with ther impacts assciated with existing r planned develpments (cumulative impacts, Sectin 3.3.8) and the ptential fr Prject impacts t extend acrss natinal bundaries (transbundary impacts, Sectin 3.3.9); and Assessing the significance f residual impacts (Sectin 3.3.5) taking int cnsideratin prpsed mitigatin measures (Sectin ). Envirnmental and Scial Management Plan: this stage included the develpment f management plans and prcedures as part f Suth Stream Transprt s Health, Safety, Security and Envirnmental Integrated Management System (HSSE-IMS), which captures all f the mitigatin measures identified s that they can be practically applied as part f Prject develpment (Sectin ); Stakehlder Engagement: cnsultatin with regulatrs and ther stakehlders regarding the scpe and cntent f the ESIA Reprt as well as aiding in the identificatin f ptential Prject impacts. Stakehlder engagement has and cntinues t run acrss the entire ESIA prcess (Sectin 3.4); and ESIA Reprt Disclsure: release f the ESIA Reprt t the public s that they can prvide pinin and cmment n the reprt r the planned envirnmental and scial management f the Prject. The prcess is summarised in Figure 3.1, and is described in further detail in the fllwing subsectins Screening Screening 1 was the first stage undertaken during the ESIA prcess t identify ptential interactins between the Prject and existing physical, eclgical, and human receptrs. Undertaking screening early in the ESIA prcess facilitated the incrpratin f envirnmental and scial cnsideratins int the develpment f the Prject design. The Screening Stage included the fllwing key steps: Identificatin f Prject cmpnents and activities; Identificatin f likely physical, eclgical and human receptrs based n existing knwledge f the envirnmental and scial baseline cnditins and prfessinal expertise; Examinatin f relevant natinal and internatinal legislative requirements; and Develpment f a screening matrix t illustrate the ptential interactins f Prject Activities with the physical, eclgical and human receptrs. 1 Screening in the cntext f this sectin refers t early stage f scping prir t the preparatin f the Scping Reprt (Ref 3.1). URS-EIA-REP

8 Chapter 3 Impact Assessment Methdlgy Figure 3.1 Overall ESIA Prcess 3-4 URS-EIA-REP

9 Decmmissining activities were nt cnsidered in detail during the Screening Stage due t limited infrmatin available at that time. The resultant screening matrix is presented in Table 3.1. Table 3.1 Envirnmental and Scial Screening Matrix Impact Receptrs Prject Activities Cnstructin Activities Operatinal Activities Physical Water Sediments Climate and Air Quality Eclgical Planktn Marine Mammals Seabirds Fish Human Cultural Heritage Marine Users ESIA Scping Fllwing the Screening Stage, scping was undertaken t prvide further detail f ptential envirnmental and scial effects f the Prject using additinal engineering and baseline data. The Scping Stage intended t facilitate impact identificatin in a cnsistent and rbust manner Envirnmental Issues Identificatin (ENVIID) Register Scping included a systematic cnsideratin f Prject Activities and their ptential impact n physical, eclgical and human receptrs. An ENVIID was cnducted t determine activities, receptrs and impacts f all phases f the Prject. This prcess, supprted by interdisciplinary wrkshps (attended by Prject engineers and envirnmental and scial scientists), enabled a cmprehensive identificatin f the Prject s ptential interactins (beneficial and adverse) with URS-EIA-REP

10 Chapter 3 Impact Assessment Methdlgy physical, eclgical and human receptrs. This infrmatin was recrded in an ENVIID Register that prvided a reference fr ptential impacts requiring further investigatin during the ESIA prcess Desk-Based Studies Review f Existing Baseline Infrmatin An imprtant cmpnent f the Scping Stage is the definitin f existing baseline cnditins (i.e. the prevailing envirnmental and scial characteristics against which the ptential impacts f the Prject can be assessed). Baseline cnditins were utlined during the Scping Stage thrugh a review f existing envirnmental and scial infrmatin. Infrmatin was available in envirnmental and gephysical and getechnical survey data and reprts prepared fr the Prject between 2009 and 2012 (Ref. 3.2 and Ref. 3.3). This infrmatin included the results f marine eclgy, water quality, sediment and gelgy surveys undertaken within the Survey Areas as well as a thrugh literature review. In additin t Prject-specific infrmatin, scientific jurnals, reprts by gvernment agencies and by ther grups, were reviewed fr relevant baseline infrmatin. Existing baseline infrmatin used fr the Scping Stage als frmed the cre f baseline infrmatin in the impact assessment (Sectin 3.3). Where gaps were identified between baseline infrmatin available at the Scping Stage and that required fr the ESIA Reprt (e.g. ut f date, t narrw in scpe, etc.), additinal surveys r studies were carried ut t cllect the required infrmatin Identifying Receptrs Receptrs are envirnmental cmpnents, peple and cultural heritage assets that may be affected, adversely r beneficially, by the Prject. Ptential receptrs were identified thrugh bth desk- and field-based studies, taking int cnsideratin likely Prject impacts. Based n the review f existing infrmatin, three high-level categries f Prject receptrs were identified: Physical (i.e. nn-living envirnmental cmpnents, including air quality and marine sediments and gelgy); Eclgical (i.e. fauna); and Human (i.e. marine users and cultural heritage). Individual receptrs within these grups were assessed as part f the impact assessment (Chapters 7 t 12) fr their sensitivity t the ptential impacts f the Prject. Human receptrs identified frmed the basis f the stakehlder engagement activities undertaken (Sectin 3.4) Analysis f Alternatives An analysis was undertaken f technically and financially feasible alternatives that wuld allw the develpment f a new supply rute that prvides a safe and reliable means t exprt Russian gas t the cuntries f Central and Suth-Eastern Eurpe via the Black Sea. 3-6 URS-EIA-REP

11 The presentatin f the Analysis f Alternatives fllws a narrwing apprach invlving a series f lgical steps, starting with the high-level alternatives and prgressively narrwing-in n mre detailed alternatives. Using this cmmnly adpted apprach the Analysis f Alternatives cnsiders each f the fllwing in series: The Zer r N Prject alternative; Suth Stream Offshre Pipeline alternatives: Alternative means f gas transprtatin; and Offshre (macr) ruting. Prject Alternatives: Rute ptimisatin. Further infrmatin is prvided in Chapter 4 Analysis f Alternatives. Alternative mitigatin and mnitring measures were als cnsidered in the curse f the assessment Additinal Baseline Field Surveys and Studies Field studies and desk-based research required t address identified gaps in baseline data were carried ut during 2012 and 2013, and included: Gephysical and Getechnical Surveys: identificatin f gelgical anmalies in the Survey Area (Ref. 3.2 and Ref. 3.3); Abyssal Plain Study: analysis f gephysical data was als undertaken alng with a review f published literature t assess the presence f benthic habitats in the Prject Area (Ref. 3.4); and Fisheries Study: thrugh a review f published data and cnsultatin with fisheries rganisatins (Ref. 3.5). The details f the surveys undertaken (timing, lcatin, methds and results), tgether with infrmatin gathered thrugh the desk-based studies, are presented in the relevant chapters f this ESIA Reprt. 3.3 Impact Assessment Framewrk The prcess fr assessing ptential Prject impacts is illustrated in Figure 3.2 and invlved: Predictin: What will happen t the envirnment as a cnsequence f this Prject (i.e. defining Prject activities and impacts)? Evaluatin: Will it have a beneficial r adverse effect? Hw big is the change expected t be? Hw imprtant will it be t the affected receptrs? Mitigatin: If the impact is f cncern, can anything be dne t avid, minimise, r ffset the impact? Or t enhance ptential benefits? Residual Impact: After mitigatin, is the impact still f cncern? URS-EIA-REP

12 Chapter 3 Impact Assessment Methdlgy Figure 3.2 Impact Identificatin and Assessment Prcess Predict impacts Evaluate impacts Mitigate / enhance Evaluate residual impacts What culd happen as a cnsequence f ding what is prpsed? Is it imprtant (significance)? What can be dne abut it? Is there still a significant impact? Cnfirm the design cntrls already incrprated Fr sme impacts the sequence may need t be repeated Impact significance was assessed with and withut mitigatin measures in place. The impact significance withut mitigatin measures was assessed with the design cntrls in place (Sectin 3.2). Impacts withut mitigatin measures in place are nt representative f the Prject s actual extent f impact, and are included t facilitate understanding f hw and why mitigatin measures were identified. The residual impact is what remains fllwing the applicatin f mitigatin and management measures, and is thus the final level f impact assciated with the develpment f the Prject. Residual impacts als serve as the fcus f management and mnitring activities during Prject implementatin t verify that actual impacts are the same as thse predicted in this ESIA Reprt. Fr sme types f impact there are empirical, bjective and established criteria fr determining the ptential impact significance (e.g. if a standard is breached r a prtected area is damaged). Hwever, in ther cases assessment criteria are mre subjective and require prfessinal judgement t a greater degree. The criteria against which the significance f planned impacts was evaluated, fr the purpses f this Prject, has been described in terms f tw cmpnents: impact magnitude (Sectin 3.3.3) and receptr sensitivity (Sectin 3.3.4). The assessment f unplanned impacts is described in Sectin Activities and Impacts Building upn the ENVIID prcess cnducted during the Scping Stage, Prject Activities and ptential envirnmental, sci-ecnmic and cultural heritage impacts upn receptrs were 3-8 URS-EIA-REP

13 further defined. Fr this purpse, the definitin f a Prject impact was adapted frm ISO 14001:2004 (Ref. 3.6) 2 as: Any change t the envirnment [r scial receptrs], whether adverse r beneficial, whlly r partially resulting frm an rganizatin's envirnmental [r scial] aspects. Definitins f an activity and a receptr are nt included within ISO 14001:2004, but fr the purpses f this Prject the fllwing definitins are prvided: A Prject Activity is cnsidered t be: A physical actin r presence f infrastructure assciated with the peratin f Prject plant, equipment r vehicles, r the actins f Prject emplyees. A receptr is cnsidered t be: Smene r smething that culd be influenced by the Prject, including water resurces, air quality, eclgical habitats r species, cultural heritage, and the wider envirnment. An impact therefre represents the effect f an interactin f a Prject Activity with the receptr. Tw examples f these relatinships are prvided in Figure 3.3. Figure 3.3 Example f Prject Activity - Impact Pathways 2 Althugh nt designed specifically fr use in impact assessment certain terms and principles f this standard were adpted t assist with the impact identificatin / Scping Stage. URS-EIA-REP

14 Chapter 3 Impact Assessment Methdlgy Prject Activities were identified thrugh a review f the prject descriptin (Chapter 5 Prject Descriptin). Ptential impacts were identified based n the details f Prject activities and their ptential interactins with the surrunding envirnment, and physical, eclgical, and/r human receptrs. This als required an understanding f the ptential surces f impacts and impact pathways, and was supprted by: An understanding f baseline cnditins and ptential receptrs (Chapters 7 t 12); The spatial and tempral extent f the Prject Area f Influence (Chapter 1 Intrductin); Infrmatin frm stakehlders, including authrities, experts, and the public (Chapter 6 Stakehlder Engagement); and Prfessinal knwledge and experience f cmparable prjects r develpments. T sme extent, the identificatin and understanding f Prject Activities and impacts was an iterative prcess cnducted thrughut the ESIA prcess as mre Prject and envirnmental and scial baseline infrmatin became available. The assessment f these envirnmental, sci-ecnmic and cultural heritage impacts has been structured accrding t the fllwing technical disciplines: Physical and Gephysical envirnment (Chapter 7); Bilgical Envirnment (Chapter 8); Sci-ecnmics (Chapter 9); Cultural heritage (Chapter 10); Ecsystem services (Chapter 11); and Waste (Chapter 12) Impacts Nature and Type Whether an impact is cnsidered t be beneficial r adverse, i.e., impact nature, and the way in which it is related t the Prject, i.e., impact type, e.g. direct, indirect, are relevant t the ESIA prcess. In particular, the degree t which an impact may be managed r mdified by the mitigatin measures is dependent upn the impact nature and type; Table 3.2 prvides definitins. Table 3.2 Impact Assessment Terminlgy Term Definitin Impact Nature Adverse Impact Impacts that are cnsidered t represent an adverse change frm the baseline cnditin r intrduces a new undesirable factr. Cntinued 3-10 URS-EIA-REP

15 Term Beneficial Impact Definitin Impacts that are cnsidered t represent an imprvement n the baseline cnditin r intrduces a new desirable factr. Impact Type Direct Impact Secndary Impact Cumulative Impact Impacts that result frm a direct interactin between a Prject Activity and the receiving envirnment (e.g. between ccupatin f an area f seabed and the area lst fr ther marine users). Impacts that fllw n frm the primary interactins between the Prject and its envirnment as a result f subsequent interactins within the envirnment (e.g. lss f part f a habitat (e.g. the pen sea) affects the viability f a species ppulatin ver a wider area). Impacts that act tgether with ther impacts, frm ther existing, planned and reasnably predictable future prjects and develpments, t affect the same envirnmental resurce r receptr. Cmplete. In cnsidering impacts related t the Prject, bth adverse and beneficial impacts have been identified. Where apprpriate, the impact assessment chapters further identify impacts as direct, indirect r secndary impacts. Where apprpriate, bth impact nature and type definitins have been applied thrughut the ESIA Reprt t prvide clarity regarding the significance f the impacts. Cumulative impacts are discussed in Sectin and in Chapter 14 Cumulative Impact Assessment Impact Magnitude The magnitude f an impact is a measure f change frm baseline cnditins. This measure f change can be described in terms f its: Extent: spatial extent (e.g. area impacted) r ppulatin extent (e.g. prprtin f the ppulatin / cmmunity affected) f an impact; Duratin: hw lng the impact will interact with the receiving envirnment; Frequency: hw ften the impact will ccur; and Reversibility: hw lng befre impacts n receptrs cease t be evident. Thus, these characteristics cllectively describe the nature, physical extent, and tempral cnditin f the impact. T facilitate a structured descriptin f impact magnitude, a qualitative scale was applied, ranking the magnitude f change as negligible, lw, mderate, r high develped fr each f the magnitude characteristics. The criteria fr each f these impact magnitude categries (i.e. negligible, lw, mderate and high ranking criteria) were develped as apprpriate fr each discipline, and are described in Chapters 7 t 12. URS-EIA-REP

16 Chapter 3 Impact Assessment Methdlgy The determinatin f verall impact magnitude rating was determined n the basis f prfessinal judgement and GIIP, cnsidering all fur characteristics cllectively where relevant Receptr Sensitivity (Resilience and Value) Receptr sensitivity is the degree t which a particular receptr is mre r less susceptible t a given impact. Receptr sensitivity takes int cnsideratin receptr resilience and value. Receptr resilience (r cnversely, vulnerability) describes the ability f the receptr t withstand adverse impacts. It takes int cnsideratin nt nly activity-impact-receptr pathways, but als envirnmental characteristics f the receptr that might make it mre r less resilient t change. As such, a receptr can be cnsidered as existing within a spectrum f vulnerable t resilient, with the frmer mre likely t experience significant impacts as a result f a given change. Receptr value takes int cnsideratin its quality and its imprtance as represented, fr example, by its cnservatin status, its cultural imprtance and / r its ecnmic value. It recgnises that, fr a given magnitude impact, different receptrs (either directly r indirectly) may be deemed t be f greater imprtance and as such the significance f the impact is greater than the impact magnitude alne. Similar t the apprach adpted fr impact magnitude, a structured descriptin f receptr sensitivity emplyed a qualitative categry scale f negligible, lw, mderate, and high fr each f the sensitivity characteristics, resilience and value. Likewise, criteria fr receptr sensitivity (i.e. negligible, lw, mderate and high ranking criteria) were develped as apprpriate fr each discipline, and are described in Chapters 7 t Impact Significance Impact magnitude and receptr sensitivity were used t assess impact significance accrding t the impact assessment matrix in Table 3.3, and the impact assessment definitins in Table 3.4. Fr adverse impacts, this methdlgy was applied t bth pre- and pst-mitigatin scenaris fr all impacts identified. The significance matrix prvides basic guidance fr the determinatin f impact significance; hwever, the resulting significance level was als interpreted based n prfessinal judgement and expertise, and the definitins prvided in Table 3.4, and adjusted if necessary. The reasning behind each evaluatin is explained in the Chapters 7 t 12, depending n the relevant discipline, including a detailed discussin f the issues cntributing t the determinatin f residual significance. The impact assessment in each technical chapter includes an impact summary table fr each phase f the Prject (an example is presented in Table 3.5), including residual impact significance ratings fr all impacts identified URS-EIA-REP

17 Table 3.3 Impacts Significance Matrix Receptr Sensitivity (Vulnerability and Value) Negligible Lw Mderate High Impact Magnitude (Extent, Frequency, Reversibility, Duratin) Negligible Nt significant Nt significant Nt significant Lw Nt significant Lw Lw / Mderate Mderate Nt significant Lw / Mderate Mderate Nt significant / Lw* Mderate High High Lw Mderate High High * Allws technical discipline authr t decide if impact significance is Nt significant r Lw Allws technical discipline authr t decide if impact significance is Lw r Mderate Table 3.4 Impact Significance Definitins Adverse Impacts High Mderate Lw Nt significant Significant. Impacts with a High significance are likely t disrupt the functin and value f the resurce/receptr, and may have brader systemic cnsequences (e.g. ecsystem r scial well-being). These impacts are a pririty fr mitigatin in rder t avid r reduce the significance f the impact. Significant. Impacts with a Mderate significance are likely t be nticeable and result in lasting changes t baseline cnditins, which may cause hardship t r degradatin f the resurce r receptr, althugh the verall functin and value f the resurce r receptr is nt disrupted. These impacts are a pririty fr mitigatin in rder t avid r reduce the significance f the impact. Detectable but nt significant. Impacts with a Lw significance are expected t be nticeable changes t baseline cnditins, beynd natural variatin, but are nt expected t cause hardship, degradatin, r impair the functin and value f the resurce r receptr. Hwever, these impacts warrant the attentin f decisin-makers, and shuld be avided r mitigated where practicable. Nt Significant. Any impacts are expected t be indistinguishable frm the baseline r within the natural level f variatin. These impacts d nt require mitigatin and are nt a cncern f the decisin-making prcess. URS-EIA-REP

18 Table 3.5 Assessment f Ptential Impacts: Example Table Activity Ptential Impact Receptr(s) Receptr Sensitivity Impact Magnitude Pre-Mitigatin Impact Significance Summary f Mitigatin Measures Residual Impact Significance Vessel rutine peratins Night time wrks. Birds (particularly thse that migrate at night) may be attracted t lights and suffer damage as a result f cllisins with vessels. Birds Mderate t High Negligible t Lw Mderate Remve unnecessary illuminatin, reduce light intensity and shield light surces during the mst active migratin perid fr birds. Lw, direct, shrt term

19 3.3.6 Waste In cntrast t the ther envirnmental and scial technical disciplines assessed within this ESIA Reprt, n pre-mitigatin assessment f impact was undertaken fr waste prductin, strage, management and dispsal as this is cnsidered part f the Prject design, as described in Chapter 5 Prject Descriptin. Rather, Chapter 12 Waste Management fcuses upn identificatin f apprpriate mitigatin measures given the type and vlume f wastes t be prduced and identificatin f residual impact significance ratings. This methdlgy is described in further detail in Chapter 12 Waste Management Unplanned Events Envirnmental and scial impacts that might result frm unplanned events (e.g. fuel spill) are addressed in Chapter 13 Unplanned Events f this ESIA Reprt. In additin t impact magnitude and receptr sensitivity, the impact assessment methdlgy fr unplanned events als cnsidered the likelihd f ccurrence f the event(s). This methdlgy is described in further detail in Chapter 13 Unplanned Events Cumulative Impacts This ESIA adpts the IFC definitin f cumulative impacts (Ref. 3.7): Cumulative impacts are thse that result frm the incremental impact f the Prject when added t ther existing, planned and reasnably predictable future prjects and develpments. The IFC has released a guidance nte Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management Guidance fr the Private Sectr in Emerging Markets in August 2013 (Ref. 3.8). The guidance nte intrduces a framewrk fr identifying and assessing ptentially significant cumulative impacts. The cumulative impact assessment (CIA) has been prepared taking int accunt the IFC guidance nte. A predminantly qualitative apprach was taken in the identificatin and assessment f cumulative impacts during the cnstructin and peratins phases f the Prject, taking int accunt gegraphic and scheduling verlaps with the Prject. The methdlgy fr the CIA is described in further detail in Chapter 14 Cumulative Impact Assessment Transbundary Impacts Transbundary impacts are defined as: Impacts that extend t multiple cuntries, beynd the hst cuntry f the prject, but are nt glbal in nature. Examples include air pllutin extending t multiple cuntries, use r pllutin f internatinal waterways, and transbundary epidemic disease transmissin (Ref. 3.7). As the Suth Stream Offshre Pipeline spans multiple cuntries and is being cnstructed acrss a dynamic marine envirnment, there is the ptential fr sme Prject Activities t generate transbundary impacts. Such impacts may arise frm Prject Activities which traverse cuntry URS-EIA-REP

20 Chapter 3 Impact Assessment Methdlgy bundaries, r impacts that riginate within ne cuntry, but have the ability t extend acrss natinal brders. Fr the purpses f the transbundary impact assessment included within this ESIA Reprt, the bundary f the Turkish EEZ in the Black Sea with its neighburing cuntries defines the transbundary impact bundaries. Any changes in baseline cnditins extending acrss these bundaries wuld be cnsidered t be a transbundary impact. IFC PS1 (Ref. 3.7) recgnises the need t cnsider transbundary impacts. The transbundary impact assessment has cnsidered the ptential fr transbundary impacts t be generated by the Prject as required by IFC PS1. Further details regarding ptential transbundary impacts can be fund in Chapter 15 Transbundary Impact Assessment Impact Mitigatin As part f the ESIA prcess, where the impact assessment identified impacts as ptentially arising, mitigatin measures, which the Prject will cmmit t, were develped (including avidance, management and mnitring actins). Where an adverse impact is identified, the next step is t find a way t avid r minimise the impact. The prcess f identifying design cntrls and mitigatin measures cnsidered the mitigatin hierarchy (Figure 3.4), as specified in IFC PS1, which is widely regarded as a best practice apprach t managing risks. Figure 3.4 Mitigatin Hierarchy 3-16 URS-EIA-REP

21 Fr the Prject, effrts were made t firstly avid r prevent, then minimise r reduce adverse impacts, which were principally achieved thrugh the applicatin f design cntrls (Sectin 3.2). Avidance, minimisatin, repair and/r restratin were cnsidered during the applicatin f mitigatin measures t manage the risks f adverse impacts. Any remaining significant residual impacts wuld then be cnsidered in terms f ffsetting r cmpensatin. Fr bidiversity, the same hierarchy was applied t all stages f the impact assessment prcess. Any significant residual impacts were addressed via ffsetting r cmpensatin in rder t achieve n net lss f bidiversity. The assessment f critical habitat fr bidiversity was identified separately t the abve impact assessment prcess, albeit using the same hierarchy, t achieve net gain f the bidiversity values fr which the critical habitat was designated. The mitigatin hierarchy adpted fr the Prject is shwn in Figure 3.4. This prcess invlved ESIA experts wrking with the Prject team engineers t identify practicable and cst-effective appraches t mitigate impacts. These measures were agreed and integrated int the Envirnmental and Scial Management Plan. Specific mitigatin measures are described in the relevant discipline Chapters (Chapters 7 t 12) Residual Impact Assessment Once feasible mitigatin measures were identified and agreed, the ESIA team reassessed the ptential impacts, assuming the mitigatin measures were effectively implemented as planned. In general, residual adverse impacts assessed as being f Lw significance r Nt Significant were nt cnsidered t be f cncern t the develpment f the Prject 3. Fr adverse impacts f Mderate and High significance, an iterative prcess is undertaken t further investigate pprtunities fr mitigatin, accrding t the hierarchy abve. Where the significance cannt be further reduced, an explanatin is prvided f why further reductin is nt practicable. Mnitring is required t cnfirm the measures used t mitigate adverse impacts are wrking prperly and that the impact is nt wrse than predicted. Mnitring requirements are utlined in the respective assessment chapters Envirnmental and Scial Management Plans Envirnmental and Scial Management Plans (ESMPs) have been develped t capture all mitigatin and management measures, and envirnmental and scial cmmitments made within the ESIA Reprt. Adherence t these plans will be a cnditin f any Prject cnstructin and peratin cntracts awarded. It is nted that, the ESMPs shall als incrprate envirnmental 3 A mre stringent apprach was taken in the assessment f eclgical receptrs f high sensitivity, such as critical habitat, r species classified as having vulnerable r abve cnservatin status. In this case, residual impact significance f Lw and abve was a cncern t the further develpment f the Prject. URS-EIA-REP

22 Chapter 3 Impact Assessment Methdlgy and scial management cmmitments relevant t the Bulgarian and Russian sectrs. Hw the ESMPs fit int this brader Suth Stream Transprt HSSE-IMS is described in Chapter 16 Envirnmental and Scial Management. 3.4 Stakehlder Engagement As part f the ESIA prcess, stakehlder engagement was and cntinues t be undertaken thrughut the develpment f the Prject t ensure that all interested parties are aware and infrmed f the Prject and have an pprtunity t prvide feedback regarding ptential Prject impacts and mitigatin measures. T date, cnsultatins have been undertaken with: Natinal authrities; Reginal authrities; Black Sea castal cmmunities; Marine area users; Nn-gvernmental rganisatins (NGOs); and Academic and scientific rganisatins. Suth Stream Transprt has develped a Stakehlder Engagement Plan which identifies stakehlders and their interests, describes the cnsultatin undertaken and that planned as part f the Prject s ESIA prcess, and establishes a framewrk fr stakehlder engagement activities t be undertaken as the Prject prgresses beynd the ESIA phase. The stakehlder cnsultatin prcess has helped the ESIA Reprt t scpe ptential impacts and cncerns identified by the public. As indicated in Figure 3.1, stakehlder cnsultatin has been a part f the ESIA prcess frm the initial screening phase, and will cntinue with the submissin f this ESIA Reprt, and during Prject implementatin t ensure the management f impacts takes stakehlder s cncerns int accunt. Details f the stakehlder engagement prcess fr the ESIA are discussed further in Chapter 6 Stakehlder Engagement. This ESIA Reprt has been released t the public fr review and cmment. The purpse f this disclsure is: T help stakehlders understand the ptential impacts, fllwing the applicatin f mitigatin measures, that may arise as a result f the Prject; T prvide an pprtunity fr stakehlders t raise cmments r cncerns abut the Prject, and request any additinal mitigatin measures deemed apprpriate; and T cnfirm t stakehlders that their pinins btained thrugh the stakehlder engagement prcess have been cnsidered in bth Prject design and ESIA evaluatin. Further details abut this disclsure are prvided in Chapter 6 Stakehlder Engagement URS-EIA-REP

23 3.5 Data Limitatins This ESIA Reprt has been based n design infrmatin available at the time f its preparatin. Where necessary assumptins have been made and discussed in the relevant chapters. Cnsequently the ESIA Reprt has been undertaken n Prject engineering design infrmatin at a Frnt End Engineering Design (FEED) level. During the detailed design, Cnstructin and Pre-cmmissining and Operatinal Phases f the Prject, there may be a requirement t amend design elements r prcesses which results in a deviatin frm that presented in this Prject descriptin. The Prject has a management f change prcess t manage and track any such amendments, and t: Assess their ptential cnsequences with respect t envirnmental and scial impact; and In cases where a significant impact is likely t arise as a cnsequence f the amendment r change, t infrm and cnsult with relevant parties n the nature f the impact and n prpsed mitigatin measures, where practical and apprpriate. All design changes will be added t a register f changes, which will summarise the change, the assessment, and the justificatin fr Suth Stream Transprt s actins. The management f change prcess will be incrprated int the HSSE management f change prcedure, which is described in further detail in Chapter 16 Envirnmental and Scial Management. Cmprehensive data have been used t infrm this ESIA Reprt t enable sufficient cnfidence in the assessment cnclusins. Ntwithstanding the data set used, sme gaps in baseline data necessitated sme cnservative assumptins as described in the relevant chapters and a precautinary apprach t the mitigatin measures adpted. In this ESIA Reprt, predictins are made using accepted ESIA methds ranging frm qualitative assessment and expert judgement t quantitative mdelling. Each technical discipline impact assessments, in Chapters 7 t 12, detail specific relevant data and assumptins made. URS-EIA-REP

24 Chapter 3 Impact Assessment Methdlgy References Number Reference Ref. 3.1 Suth Stream Transprt B.V. Turkish Sectr Scping Reprt (July 2013), Accessed n 15 Octber Ref. 3.2 Ref. 3.3 Ref. 3.4 Ref. 3.5 Ref. 3.6 Peter Gaz (2011). Cmplex engineering surveys at the phase design dcumentatin within the framewrk f the Suth Stream gas pipeline marine sectr prject implementatin. Technical dcumentatin Vlume 5: Envirnmental survey. Part 3 Envirnmental survey, The Turkish sectr. Bk 3: Technical reprt, and Bk 4 Technical Appendices. Peter Gaz (2012) Cmplex Engineering Surveys at Design Dcumentatin Phase as Part f Suth Stream Gas Pipeline marine Sectin. Vlume 18: Integrated Reprt n First Phase. Part 2: Integrated Reprt. Bk 7: Appendix 6 Catalgue f Side-Scan Snar Targets (Ref. N (1)). Seascape Cnsultants Ltd Interpretatin f Seabed Survey Data fr the Suth Stream Offshre Pipeline Prject, Reprt N 2013/07. MRAG (2013). Suth Stream Offshre Pipeline Fishing Study. Reprt Ref. BG1732. ISO Eurpean Standard EN ISO 14001: Envirnmental management systems Requirements with guidance fr use. Accessed n 17 May Ref. 3.7 IFC IFC Perfrmance Standards n Envirnmental and Scial Sustainability - Effective January 1, 2012 Perfrmance Standards. rmance_standards.pdf?mod=ajperes. Accessed n 17 May Ref. 3.8 IFC (2013) Gd Practice Nte: Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management Guidance fr the Private Sectr in Emerging Markets (August 2013). ExternalReview.pdf?MOD=AJPERES. Accessed n 20 September URS-EIA-REP