122
B. Schuchardt . H. Grann
tries. During the planning phase of the Europipe project a number of EIAs have been
performed as a result of newly introduced routes or pipelaying methods. Although this
phase of the project was far from being a well-coordinated procedure due to the very
complex situation (Grann and Schuchardt, in press), the Europipe experience shows
clearly that the EIA is a central element in the attempt to enhance environmental protection during all project phases.
Only some aspects of the EIA work will be mentioned in this chapter (see also Storz
and Schuchardt 1995). Using numerical modelling to predict hydrological and morphological effects is essential for a complex project such as Europipe. Having the limitations in mind, it can be a powerful tool to determine and evaluate the effects of different routes and pipelaying methods with respect to hydro- and morpho dynamics
(Bijker 1997).
Due to the lack of data, the EIA had to work partly with worst case assumptions
according to the precautionary principle. This underlines the importance of an environmental data base for a qualified impact assessment. In addition, these data should
serve as baseline studies for a monitoring programme. A main outcome of the EIA was
that on the one hand large-scale impact would occur during construction and on the
other hand long-lasting or permanent effects could not be foreseen, mainly due to the
kind of impact and the highly dynamic environment with a high regeneration potential of many main ecological compartments.
The importance of EIAs should be underlined, as a basis for both selecting alternative solutions in the planning and authority approval phase and identifying and designing mitigating measures. It should be the central instrument for the project's Environmental Protection Plan in the planning as well as the construction phase and must
be linked to an ecological monitoring programme.
11.7
The Environmental Management of Construction Activities
One item of the EPP should be described in some detail: the Environmental Management of Construction Activities. To ensure minimal adverse environmental effects
caused by the physical construction activities, a detailed and systematic approach, a
methodology which enables identification of environmentally critical work operations,
development of effective protection measures and above all development of simple
work instructions which translate the sometimes vague environmental issues into concrete action were required.
This can be illustrated by the "zero dumping concept", the general concept of all
marine operations in the National Park, meaning zero emission or disposal of any solid
waste and liquid effluents in the environment while operating in the area. All sewage
and waste water, including rainwater on deck, had to be collected on board, and transported to approved receiving facilities onshore or be brought out of the area. A waste
shuttle service was established to handle this. In addition, fuel consumption had to be
minimised and only low sulphur fuel was to be used. To meet these (and other) requirements, all vessels (about 90) had to be modified and approved.
For this purpose Statoil used the British Standard BS 7750 "Specification for Environmental Management Systems" as a basis for the development of the required systematic planning approach (though other approaches under EMAS or ISO are also pos-
B. Schuchardt . H. Grann
tries. During the planning phase of the Europipe project a number of EIAs have been
performed as a result of newly introduced routes or pipelaying methods. Although this
phase of the project was far from being a well-coordinated procedure due to the very
complex situation (Grann and Schuchardt, in press), the Europipe experience shows
clearly that the EIA is a central element in the attempt to enhance environmental protection during all project phases.
Only some aspects of the EIA work will be mentioned in this chapter (see also Storz
and Schuchardt 1995). Using numerical modelling to predict hydrological and morphological effects is essential for a complex project such as Europipe. Having the limitations in mind, it can be a powerful tool to determine and evaluate the effects of different routes and pipelaying methods with respect to hydro- and morpho dynamics
(Bijker 1997).
Due to the lack of data, the EIA had to work partly with worst case assumptions
according to the precautionary principle. This underlines the importance of an environmental data base for a qualified impact assessment. In addition, these data should
serve as baseline studies for a monitoring programme. A main outcome of the EIA was
that on the one hand large-scale impact would occur during construction and on the
other hand long-lasting or permanent effects could not be foreseen, mainly due to the
kind of impact and the highly dynamic environment with a high regeneration potential of many main ecological compartments.
The importance of EIAs should be underlined, as a basis for both selecting alternative solutions in the planning and authority approval phase and identifying and designing mitigating measures. It should be the central instrument for the project's Environmental Protection Plan in the planning as well as the construction phase and must
be linked to an ecological monitoring programme.
11.7
The Environmental Management of Construction Activities
One item of the EPP should be described in some detail: the Environmental Management of Construction Activities. To ensure minimal adverse environmental effects
caused by the physical construction activities, a detailed and systematic approach, a
methodology which enables identification of environmentally critical work operations,
development of effective protection measures and above all development of simple
work instructions which translate the sometimes vague environmental issues into concrete action were required.
This can be illustrated by the "zero dumping concept", the general concept of all
marine operations in the National Park, meaning zero emission or disposal of any solid
waste and liquid effluents in the environment while operating in the area. All sewage
and waste water, including rainwater on deck, had to be collected on board, and transported to approved receiving facilities onshore or be brought out of the area. A waste
shuttle service was established to handle this. In addition, fuel consumption had to be
minimised and only low sulphur fuel was to be used. To meet these (and other) requirements, all vessels (about 90) had to be modified and approved.
For this purpose Statoil used the British Standard BS 7750 "Specification for Environmental Management Systems" as a basis for the development of the required systematic planning approach (though other approaches under EMAS or ISO are also pos-