Baltic Sea gas pipeline - environmental issues

[PointRadix]

22-02-2008
Environmental requirements on any gas pipeline

"Environmental requirements should be stipulated before any work starts on the planned Baltic Sea gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, Nord Stream," Sinikka Bohlin told a hearing about WWII munitions dumped in the Baltic Sea, which was organised by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in Paris on 22 February.
Sinikka Bohlin is chair of the Swedish Delegation to the Nordic Council and, until its conference in Visby late this summer, of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC). The gas pipeline was debated at the previous conference in Berlin in August 2007.

Bohlin pointed out that even though the munitions were dumped in the sea sixty years ago during WWII, they still represent a real danger to the environment. HELCOM estimates that the Baltic still contains the remains of 40,000 tonnes of chemical weapons, mustard gas in particular. The Danish authorities have registered approximately 450 cases of fishermen catching munitions in their nets between 1985 and 2005 - although there have fortunately been no fatalities. Even though the toxic substances are slowly turning into less hazardous mixtures, care still needs to be taken, especially during projects such as the laying of the planned gas pipeline, Nord Stream.

Bohlin concluded that care will need to be taken before any construction work commences to ensure that the pipeline does not disturb munitions dumps. A far more detailed map of the sea bed will be necessary, as well as regular monitoring of dumps.


Source: Environmental requirements on any gas pipeline