concept EIA-rapport - Staatsolie

SRK Consulting: Project No: 439414 Staatsolie Pipeline EIA – Draft EIA Report Page 60
groundwater impacts from the above sources during normal operation of the pipelines is considered
insignificant 28 , as:
• The pipelines are designed to prevent leakage of any product (they will have ample wall
thickness, additional coating and a cathodic protection system to prevent corrosion);
• The pipeline will be embedded in a clay layer with very low permeability, making it unlikely that
any drilling mud will permeate to groundwater; and
• The groundwater in the Zanderij aquifer underlying the pipeline corridor is brackish and not of
good (drinking water) quality.
It must be noted that the above assessment is based on the assumption that the following measures
are implemented in the project design, construction and operation phases:
• Investigation of the proposed pipeline corridor prior to the commencement of drilling to ensure
that the depth of aquifers and ground composition is known along the route;
• The alignment of the drill path will stay within the clay layer where possible and will not lie within
the Zanderij aquifer underlying the pipeline corridor;
• Ensure that the structural integrity of the pipeline is regularly and sufficiently monitored, e.g.
through pigging;
• Maintain the cathodic protection system in working order at all times; and
• Monitor and compare product volumes entering and exiting the pipelines for indications of lost
product.
6.2.2 Visual impacts
The visual quality and sense of place of the proposed pipeline corridor is characterised by the
activities on the Suriname River and its bank. Dense (secondary) vegetation grows along the bank of
the river on unused plots, while various forms of industrial structures and associated jetties are
located on most of the other (cleared) plots along the pipeline route. The river is used by a variety of
large cargo and smaller recreational vessels.
During construction, potential sources of visual impacts include drilling equipment at the pipeline
entry / exit points, activities at the pipeline assembly area, pipeline strings laid out for insertion into
the borehole and construction activities along the trenching and pipe rack sections. The magnitude
of potential visual impacts from the above sources is considered insignificant, as:
• Most activities will take place within areas already used for industrial purposes and characterised
by industrial structures;
• The visual absorption capacity of the landscape is considered to be high:
o Remaining vegetation is high and dense and will effectively shield the construction activities
from many areas; and
o Industrial structures on other plots are congruent with pipeline construction activities and will
effectively absorb visual impacts;
• Pipeline construction activities will mostly take place on the river bank and away from main
public roads or places. As such, there will be relatively few people exposed to the visual impacts
28 The risk of a pipeline rupture is discussed in Section 6.6 below.
REUT/DALC 439414_StaatsoliePipelineEIA_Draft EIA Report_Final June 2012