ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT BARDOLINO DEVELOPMENT

Bardolino Development Environmental Statement
Activity / Source of
Potential Impact
Possible Environmental Effects Prevention, Control & Mitigation Measures Significance Rating (refer Table 5.3 for key)
2. Installation and Commissioning of Pipelines, Umbilical, Manifold and Valve Skid
2.1 Installation of
pipelines and umbilical
2.2 Physical presence
of pipelines, umbilical,
manifold and valve skid
2.3 Physical presence
of mattress protection
around the manifold,
tree and valve skid
• Laying the pipelines and umbilical on the
seabed would physically disturb the
seabed sediments and cover part of the
benthic community.
• Trenching both trenches will result in a
temporary deterioration in water quality
during and after the use of the trenching
plough.
• Laying the pipelines and umbilical on the
seabed would physically disturb the
seabed sediments and cover part of the
benthic community.
• Until the pipeline becomes buried, it could
present a snagging risk for bottom-towed
fishing gear.
• Placement of mattresses on the seabed
would physically disturb the seabed
sediments and cover part of the benthic
community.
• Approximately 130 mattresses would be
required to stabilize the two transition
zones at either end of the pipeline. These
would cover at total seabed area of
approximately 2,340 m 2
• The area of seabed affected by the trenching
and burial of the pipelines and the umbilical
would be limited to one trench of width 6.2 m
and a second trench of approximately 2 m
width, resulting in a total affected area of 0.016
km 2 .
• Other users of the sea, including commercial
fishermen, would be consulted about the
proposed pipeline and umbilical routes during
the detailed planning stage.
• The area of seabed affected by the trenching
and burial of the pipelines and the umbilical
would be limited to one trench of width 6.2 m
and a second trench of approximately 2 m
width, resulting in a total affected area of 0.016
km 2 .
• Other users of the sea, including commercial
fishermen, would be consulted about the
proposed pipeline route during the detailed
planning stage.
• Covering the pipelines by backfilling and/or
rock dumping will reduce any potential
snagging risk for bottom-towed fishing gear.
• The area of seabed affected would be
approximately 2,340 m 2
• Mattresses would be designed to minimise the
risk of snagging from bottom-towed fishing
gear.
Moderate – see Section 6
• Disturbance to benthic communities would be localised to
a very small area of approximately 0.016 km 2 along the
pipeline and umbilical routes.
• The benthic communities found along the pipeline and
umbilical routes are widely distributed over large areas of
central North Sea; there are no unique or protected
species along the routes.
• Suspended sediments from trenching and ploughing
would settle rapidly and be dispersed, the deterioration in
water quality would be temporary and localised.
Moderate – see Section 6
• Disturbance to benthic communities would be localised to
a very small area, of approximately 0.016 km 2 along the
pipeline and umbilical routes.
• Clean sediments which are disturbed will be quickly recolonised
by natural fauna, from adjacent, undisturbed
sites.
• Inconvenience to other users of the sea would be
localised and temporary. Fishing effort in the area is low.
Shipping activity in the area is moderate.
• No potentially sensitive habitats protected under Annex I
of the EU Habitats Directive, have been identified at the
Bardolino location or along the pipeline route corridor.
Page 5-10 April 2008
Minor
• The mattresses would have a footprint of approximately
2,340 m 2 on the seabed.
• Clean sediments which are disturbed will be quickly
recolonised by natural fauna, from adjacent, undisturbed
sites.
• The benthic community is typical of that found over large
areas of this part of the central North Sea; no unique or
protected species are present.