88
S.Eld0Y
national conservation value. Oceanic heather was previously a common landscape type
along the western coast of Norway. However, because of reduced sheep grazing and
reduced burning of the heather, it is now regarded as a threatened landscape type. In
the EIA it was concluded that the landscape would probably be significantly influenced
by the pipelaying, unless mitigating measures could be successfully implemented. Also
other vegetation types of high conservation value are found on Ogn0Y. Such areas would
not be directly affected by the pipeline route for Europipe II, but generally they
strengthen the conservation value of Ogn0Y.
According to Norwegian cultural heritage legislation pre-Reformation (1536), cultural heritage sites are automatically protected. The pipeline route alternative via Vestre
Bokn would as originally planned have a direct impact on a number of such cultural
heritage sites. Ogn0y is particularly rich in cultural heritage sites (Fig. 8.3). The pipeline route considered would cross several sites from the Stone Age (more than
10 000 years old). Along the rest of the route it has been possible to avoid most of the
cultural heritage sites by making smaller adjustments.
Because of the landscape protection values and the high number of cultural heritage
sites at Ogn0Y, Statoil decided to consider another route directly from Karst0 to Austre
Bokn. This route avoids Ogn0y completely, and crosses the sea area east of Ogn0y called
Falkeidflreet. Technical studies and cost estimates concluded that this could be a feasible solution. The costs were concluded to be more or less equal to the solution of crossing Ogn0Y. When the Norwegian parliament (Stortinget) considered the Plan for Installation and Operation (PIO) of Europipe II, it was underlined that a route avoiding
Ogn0y reduced conflicts with nature conservation and cultural heritage interests. Later
on, however, the coastal authorities raised an objection to the route crossing Falkeidflreet,
arguing that this route will cross an area which they consider as suitable for future
establishment of a regional anchoring area. This idea to establish a regional anchoring
area has been questioned by other authorities. However, because of this objection Statoil
initiated additional studies to identify and evaluate alternative solutions both for crossing
Ogn0y and for crossing Falkeidflreet. An additional EIA was prepared for these solutions (Statoil1998). The alternatives considered are shown in Fig. 8.3. No final conclusion has so far been reached. However, the additional studies have clearly documented
that the previously selected route across Falkeidflreet is the preferable alternative from
a technical, environmental and economic point of view. The Ogn0y alternative is still
considered to be the most negative solution from an environmental and cultural heritage point of view, and the additional costs of this alternative compared to the proposed
route crossing Falkeidflreet will be in the order of 280 million NOK. Other routes further east in Falkeidflreet will also be more negative from an environmental point of
view, and the additional costs will be in the order of 110-220 million NOK.
Whatever the final outcome is with respect to routing across Falkeidflreet, the planning of Europipe II has demonstrated that respecting environmental interests does not
necessarily lead to technically complicated and more expensive solutions.
8.5
Conclusions
In planning the Europipe II gas pipeline from Karst0 in Norway to Germany, extensive
contacts with the fishery authorities and fishery organisations, as well as contacts with
S.Eld0Y
national conservation value. Oceanic heather was previously a common landscape type
along the western coast of Norway. However, because of reduced sheep grazing and
reduced burning of the heather, it is now regarded as a threatened landscape type. In
the EIA it was concluded that the landscape would probably be significantly influenced
by the pipelaying, unless mitigating measures could be successfully implemented. Also
other vegetation types of high conservation value are found on Ogn0Y. Such areas would
not be directly affected by the pipeline route for Europipe II, but generally they
strengthen the conservation value of Ogn0Y.
According to Norwegian cultural heritage legislation pre-Reformation (1536), cultural heritage sites are automatically protected. The pipeline route alternative via Vestre
Bokn would as originally planned have a direct impact on a number of such cultural
heritage sites. Ogn0y is particularly rich in cultural heritage sites (Fig. 8.3). The pipeline route considered would cross several sites from the Stone Age (more than
10 000 years old). Along the rest of the route it has been possible to avoid most of the
cultural heritage sites by making smaller adjustments.
Because of the landscape protection values and the high number of cultural heritage
sites at Ogn0Y, Statoil decided to consider another route directly from Karst0 to Austre
Bokn. This route avoids Ogn0y completely, and crosses the sea area east of Ogn0y called
Falkeidflreet. Technical studies and cost estimates concluded that this could be a feasible solution. The costs were concluded to be more or less equal to the solution of crossing Ogn0Y. When the Norwegian parliament (Stortinget) considered the Plan for Installation and Operation (PIO) of Europipe II, it was underlined that a route avoiding
Ogn0y reduced conflicts with nature conservation and cultural heritage interests. Later
on, however, the coastal authorities raised an objection to the route crossing Falkeidflreet,
arguing that this route will cross an area which they consider as suitable for future
establishment of a regional anchoring area. This idea to establish a regional anchoring
area has been questioned by other authorities. However, because of this objection Statoil
initiated additional studies to identify and evaluate alternative solutions both for crossing
Ogn0y and for crossing Falkeidflreet. An additional EIA was prepared for these solutions (Statoil1998). The alternatives considered are shown in Fig. 8.3. No final conclusion has so far been reached. However, the additional studies have clearly documented
that the previously selected route across Falkeidflreet is the preferable alternative from
a technical, environmental and economic point of view. The Ogn0y alternative is still
considered to be the most negative solution from an environmental and cultural heritage point of view, and the additional costs of this alternative compared to the proposed
route crossing Falkeidflreet will be in the order of 280 million NOK. Other routes further east in Falkeidflreet will also be more negative from an environmental point of
view, and the additional costs will be in the order of 110-220 million NOK.
Whatever the final outcome is with respect to routing across Falkeidflreet, the planning of Europipe II has demonstrated that respecting environmental interests does not
necessarily lead to technically complicated and more expensive solutions.
8.5
Conclusions
In planning the Europipe II gas pipeline from Karst0 in Norway to Germany, extensive
contacts with the fishery authorities and fishery organisations, as well as contacts with