Assessment: limited impact of gas pipeline on Baltic Sea

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The construction of the planned Baltic Sea natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany would stir sediment on the sea bottom and harm fishing in the Gulf of Finland. However, a fresh assessment on the impact of the pipeline concludes that most of the the harmful effects would be local and of short duration.
      The pipeline, planned by the company Nord Stream, would supply Germany with Russian natural gas. The system, involving two parallel pipes, would be 1,220 kilometres in length, 275 kilometres of which would be in the Finnish economic zone, 20 - 30 kilometres from the coast.
      According to the environmental impact assessment for Finland, which was made public on Monday, most of the negative impact would be limited to the actual time of construction. However, the pipeline would also cause long-term problems for trawler fishing in the Gulf of Finland.
     
The sea bottom in the Gulf of Finland would undergo considerable interference. Laying the pipeline and the dragging of the anchors of the installation vessel along the bottom would stir up bottom sentiment. Wartime munitions sunk in the sea could also detonate.
      In addition, there is a plan to build stone barriers to protect the pipeline, which would form artificial ridges on the sea bed.
      The action would cloud the water and kick up nutrients. At the same time, chemicals and other harmful compounds on the bottom would spread into the surrounding water. However, the impact is expected to be minor and short-lived.
     
The environmental impact of the pipeline can be examined in 33 coastal municipalities through May 5th. There are to be events to brief the public on the project in Helsinki, Turku, Hanko, Mariehamn, and Kotka. The Helsinki event is at the Wanha Satama exhibition centre in Katajanokka today, Tuesday, at 6:00 PM.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Environmental assessment of proposed undersea gas pipeline to be assessed by adjacent countries (27.1.2009)
  Coastal states in Baltic Sea region reject tight schedule of planned gas pipeline (6.6.2008)
  Gas pipeline route survey reveals effects of pollution on Baltic Sea bottom (23.4.2008)
  Russian journalist: gas pipeline´s damaging environmental effects underestimated (15.4.2008)

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