ESIA Integrations Annex 13 Preliminary Feasibility Study SNAM RETE DEPT: TYPE REPORT GAS REINV UNIT: REINV/PROFAM/01042014 PROFAMB CUSTOMER: Page 1 of 82 Rev

ESIA Integrations Annex 13 Preliminary Feasibility Study SNAM RETE DEPT: TYPE REPORT GAS REINV UNIT: REINV/PROFAM/01042014 PROFAMB CUSTOMER: Page 1 of 82 Rev. TAP 0

TAP Connection to the Snam Rete Gas National Gas Pipeline Network

DN 1200 (48’’) DP 75 bars

PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY

Bonadeo 0 First edition Swich Bonadeo Caffarelli 04/2014 Rev. Description Written by Checked by Approved by Date

Data file: tap_progettopreliminare This document is the property of Snam Rete Gas. The Company will defend its rights in civil and criminal proceedings in accordance with the law. SNAM RETE DEPT: TYPE REPORT GAS REINV UNIT: REINV/PROFAM/01042014 PROFAMB CUSTOMER: Page 2 of 82 Rev. TAP 0

C O N T E N T S

1. FOREWORD 5

2. SCOPE OF THE WORK 6

3. DESIGN SELECTION CRITERIA AND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES 7 2.1 General 7 2.2 Basic Design Criteria 7 2.3 Definition of the Base Case Route 8 2.4 Alternative Routes 8

4. REFERENCE LEGISLATION 11

5. DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORK 17 4.1 Line 17 4.2 Line Plants and Points 19 4.3 Constructions (Complementary Works) 21

6. WORK CONSTRUCTION PHASES 22 5.1 Construction of Provisional Infrastructure 22 5.2 Opening of the Working Strip 22 5.3 Opening of Temporary Roads for Access to the Working Strip 25 5.4 Placement of the Pipes on the Working Strip 25 5.5 Welding of the Line 26 5.6 Non-Destructive Tests on the Welds 26 5.7 Digging of the Trench 27 5.8 Covering of the Welding Joints 27 5.9 Laying of the Pipeline 27 5.10 Backfilling and Laying of the Telecommunications Cable 28 5.11 Constructions of Crossings 30 5.12 Hydraulic Test, Connection and Inspection of the Pipeline 33 5.13 Execution of the Restoration Work 34 5.14 Work Site Equipment and Vehicles 34 5.15 Work Schedule 34

5.16 Excavated Earth and Rock Management 35

7. OPERATION OF THE WORK 36 6.1 Management of the Gas Transmission System 36

8. SAFETY OF THE WORK 41 7.1 General Considerations 41 7.2 Accident Prevention 42 7.3 Operation and Control of the Gas Pipeline 47 7.4 Conclusions 52

9. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS INFLUENCED BY THE WORK 53 8.1 Climate 53 8.2 Geological Features 54 8.3 Geomorphological Features 54 8.4 Hydrological Features 54 8.5 Pedological Features 55 8.6 Vegetation and Land Use 55 8.7 Land Use 56 8.8 Landscape 56 8.9 Fauna and Ecosystems 57 8.10 Sites of Community Importance 58 8.11 Nature Reserves 64

10. ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION AND RESTORATION OPERATIONS 67 9.1 Mitigation Measures 67 9.2 Morphological and Hydraulic Restoration Works 67 9.3 Final Settlement of Roads and Access Areas 68 9.4 Restoration of Low Dry Stone Walls 69 9.5 Restoration of the Vegetation 69

11. WORK-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION 76 10.1 Identification of Project Actions and their Impact Factors 77 10.2 Interaction between Project Actions and Environmental Components 78 10.3 Impact of the Work Once Completed 79

12. CONCLUSIONS 81 13. ANNEXES 82

1. FOREWORD

This study concerns the project entitled “TAP Connection to the Snam Rete Gas National Gas Pipeline Network - DN 1200 (48”) DP 75 bars” with a total length of about 56 km and to be laid in the provinces of Lecce and Brindisi in the southern part of the region of Puglia.

The purpose of this study is to identify a corridor for connecting the TAP (Trans Adriatic Pipeline) natural gas pipeline from the Pipeline Receiving Terminal, situated in the municipality of Melendugno (LE), to the National Gas Pipeline Network owned by Snam Rete Gas, in the municipality of Brindisi.

Considering the location of the delivery point selected by TAP and the position of the existing Gas Pipeline Network, this study has identified as a possible inlet point to the National Network an existing plant on the “Reinforcement Pipeline for the Industrial Centre of Brindisi DN 1050 (42”)” gas pipeline, situated at “Masseria Matagiola” in the municipality of Brindisi, (see fig.1).

National Network inlet point

TAP delivery point

LEGEND

National network

Regional network

Fig. 1 – Existing gas pipeline network

The analysis of the corridor identified and the considerations on the compatibility of the work with the environmental protection and town planning instruments are currently based on preliminary assessments that take account principally of the national legislation and the degree of urbanization/anthropization actually present in the area concerned.

More specific, investigations into the regional/provincial/municipal protection instruments and local town planning are currently being studied.

2. SCOPE OF THE WORK

The proposed route (Base Case) of the “TAP connection to the Snam Rete Gas National Gas Pipeline Network – DN 1200 (48”), DP 75 bar” pipeline, with its total length of about 56 km, develops on the Tableland of Salento in Puglia, in a principally N-NW direction, to the East of Lecce.

LEGEND

National network

Regional network

Base case

Fig. 2 – Geographical scope of the work

The Base Case crosses the provinces of Lecce (62.2%) and Brindisi (37,8%), through the municipal districts of Melendugno, Vernole, Castri di Lecce, Lizzanello and Lecce in the province of Lecce and the municipal districts of Torchiarolo, San Pietro Vernotico and Brindisi in the province of Brindisi.

The following works are associated with the route described above:

 “Metering system and pig launching station” at km 0+000 in the municipality of Melendugno to be located entirely within the TAP plant area;

 2 “P.I.L.” line interception points for blocking the flow;

 4 “P.I.D.I.” important interception/offtake points for blocking the flow and branching off with any secondary lines;

 “P.I.D.I.” important interception/offtake point with interconnection and “Pig launching and receiving station” at km 56 in Masseria Matagiola (Brindisi) extending an existing system.

3. DESIGN SELECTION CRITERIA AND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

2.1 General

The proposed route of the gas pipeline is shown on the map on a 1:100.000 scale (Annexe 1 – Base Case and Alternative Routes) and has a total length of about 56 km. The route is situated entirely in the Region of Puglia, passing through the Provinces of Lecce and Brindisi and the following 8 municipalities:  Melendugno  Vernole  Castri di Lecce  Lizzanello  Lecce  Torchiarolo  San Pietro Vernotico  Brindisi

2.2 Basic Design Criteria

The entire Base Case route was defined in respect of the provisions laid down in M.D. of 17/04/2008 “Technical regulations for the design, construction, testing, operation and supervision of the works and systems for the transportation of natural gas with a density of no more than 0.8”, the legislation in force, the technical regulations on the design of these works and the health and safety regulations to be respected on work sites (Italian legislative decree no. 81/2008).

The route was defined in compliance with the aforesaid legislation, applying the following criteria of good design practice:

 Identify sustainable routes with a view to mitigating the environmental impact of the work, by favouring the restoration of the areas crossed and full recovery of their morphological features, vegetation and land use;  Limit the length of the route and the amount of land used as far as possible;  Avoid villages and areas of urban development as far as possible;  Pass through agricultural areas where possible and avoid crossing areas included in town- planning and/or industrial development plans;  Avoid areas prone to earthquakes;

 Avoid, where possible, the buffer zones around springs and wells used for drinking water;  keep the number of points where watercourse are crossed to a minimum, limiting them to areas in which the stability of the pipeline is ensured and carrying out the necessary restoration and drainage works;  avoid wooded areas as far as possible;  reduce private property constraints determined by the gas pipeline easement to a minimum, using, where possible, the corridors already used by other existing infrastructure;  ensure the staff responsible for operating and maintaining the system can access and work on the systems under safe conditions;  avoid polluted sites altogether or, if this is not possible, limit their use to a minimum.

The route was also analysed on the basis of the environmental and geographical characteristics of the area, the economic aspects of setting up the work site, and the actual transmission capacity of the National Network, with a view, as far as possible, to avoid imposing new easements in the area.

2.3 Definition of the Base Case Route

The route starts at the “Metering system and pig launching station of Melendugno” to be built entirely within the TAP plant area and ends in the municipality of Brindisi close to the Snam Rete Gas plant in “Masseria Matagiola” where a “Pig launching and receiving station” will be built together with an interconnection with the existing “Reinforcement Pipeline for the Industrial Centre of Brindisi DN 1050 (42”) P 75 bar” pipeline. The terminal system will be built as an extension of the existing one.

The route develops in a mainly N-NW direction across flat land, characterized mainly by farmland and situated east of the city of Lecce.

The route crosses 2 municipal roads, 18 provincial roads, 2 national roads, 1 railway line, 1 main water supply line, and 6 minor watercourses.

2.4 Alternative Routes

During the Base Case selection phase, two alternative routes were analysed (see Annexe 1 – Base case with alternative routes), the first situated west of Lecce and the second further inland and connecting to the National Gas Pipeline Network at “Masseria Manampola” in the municipality of Martina Franca (TA), on the existing “Palagiano - Brindisi DN 1050 (42”) P 75 bar” gas pipeline.

Alternative no. 1

The first alternative route studied starts and ends at the same points as those of the base case and develops for about 64 km further inland from the Adriatic coast, parallel for a large part of the route with the existing Snam Rete Gas pipelines belonging to the Regional Network.

The route passes through 18 municipalities in the province of Lecce (Melendugno, Vernole, Castri di Lecce, Lizzanello, Cavallino, S.Donato di Lecce, Lequile, S.Pietro in Lama, Copertino, Monteroni di Lecce, Arnesano, Lecce, Novoli, Trepuzzi, Campi Salentina, Squinzano, S.Pietro Vernotico and Cellino S.Marco) and the province and municipality of Brindisi.

A large part of the route develops across flat farmland.

This alternative was discarded as the first half of the route passes close to expanding urban areas. The inspections made in the field revealed highly critical construction problems in the areas where the Copertino-Monteroni, Magliano-Monteroni, Magliano-Arnesano and Riesci-Novoli main roads were to be crossed. Furthermore, the final part of the route passed through the Regional Nature Reserve of the “Woods of S. Teresa and Lucci” for about 4.3 km.

LEGEND

National network

Regional network

Alternative no. 1

Fig. 3 - Alternative no.1

Alternative no. 2

The second alternative studied starts at the same point but ends at a different point from the base case. In fact, the route develops for about 97 km in the central to southern part of Puglia in a W-NW direction, and enters the National Network via an existing Snam Rete Gas plant situated at “Masseria

Manampola” on the “Palagiano – Brindisi DN 1050 (42”)” pipeline in the municipality of Martina Franca (TA).

The route of the gas pipeline develops, in the province of Lecce, through the municipal districts of Melendugno, Vernole, Castri di Lecce, Caprarica di Lecce, Martignano, Sternatia, Soleto, Galatina, Copertino, Nardò, Leverano, Veglie and Salice Salentino, in the province of Brindisi, through the municipalities of Erchie, Oria, Francavilla Fontana and Villa Castelli and, in the province of Taranto, through the municipalities of Avetrana, Manduria, Grottaglie, Taranto and Martina Franca.

A large part of the route develops across flat farmland except for the last section which is hilly. It does not pass through any SCI/SPAs or Nature Reserves. In addition, the route studied runs largely parallel to the branch of the water supply system of Puglia.

This alternative is feasible but, considering its greater length with respect to the base case, which would entail using more land (an increase of 31 km), the shorter route was chosen.

LEGEND

National network

Regional network

Alternative no. 2

Fig. 3 - Alternative no. 2

4. REFERENCE LEGISLATION The design, construction and operation of the gas pipeline are regulated essentially by the following legislation:

M.D. 17.04.08 of the Ministry of Economic Development – Technical regulations for the design, construction, testing, operation and supervision of works and systems for transporting natural gas with a density of no more than 0.8.

Presidential decree 327/01 – Consolidated law of legislative and regulatory provisions on expropriation for public utilities.

M.D. 23.02.71 no. 2445 of the Ministry of Transport – Technical regulations for pipelines and canals carrying liquids and gases crossing and running parallel to railway tracks and other transport lines.

M.D. 10.08.04 of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport – Amendments to the “Technical regulations for crossing and pipelines and canals conveying liquids and gases running parallel with railway tracks and other transport lines”.

M.D. 02/11/87 of the Ministry of Transport – Additions to art. 1 par. 2.5.1 of M.D. no. 2445 of 23/02/1971.

Circular letter 216/173 of 09.05.72 of the Italian Railway Company – Technical regulations for pipelines and canals carrying liquids and gases crossing and running parallel to railway tracks.

Presidential decree 753/80 – New regulations on railway policing, safety and operational reliability.

M.D. 03.08.81 of the Ministry of Transport – Minimum distance to be observed between buildings and other constructions and the Italian railway workshops and plants.

Circular letter 1282 of 04.07.90 of the Italian Railway Company. – General technical/administrative conditions regulating relations between the Italian Railways and SNAM concerning pipelines and other similar lines crossing and running parallel to railway tracks and appurtenances.

R.D. 1775/33 – Consolidated law of legal provisions on water and electrical systems.

R.D. 1740/33 – Road and traffic protection.

L. 729/61 New road and motorway construction plan.

Italian legislative decrees 285/92 and 360/93 – New Highway Code.

Presidential decree 495/92 – Regulations for the elaboration and application of the new Highway Code.

R.D. 368/1904 – Regulations on the drainage of swamps and marshes.

R.D. 523/1904 – Consolidated law of legal provisions on various categories of hydraulic works.

L. 64/74 – Provisions for constructions with special requirements for earthquake zones. Data file: tap_progettopreliminare This document is the property of Snam Rete Gas. The Company will defend its rights in civil and criminal proceedings in accordance with the law. SNAM RETE DEPT: TYPE REPORT GAS REINV UNIT: REINV/PROFAM/01042014 PROFAMB CUSTOMER: Page 13 of 82 Rev. TAP 0

Primer Minister’s order 3274/03 – Initial elements on general criteria for the earthquake classification of Italy and technical regulations for building in earthquake-prone areas.

Italian legislative decree. 152/06 and Italian legislative decree. 4/08 Part IV – Decontamination of contaminated sites.

L. 198/58 and Presidential decree 128/59 – Mines and quarries.

Presidential decree 447 of 06/12/1991 – Regulations implementing Law no. 46 of 5th March 1990 on plant safety.

L. 898/76 – Military zones.

Presidential decree 720/79 – Regulations for implementing L. 898/76.

L. 123/07 – Occupational health and safety measures and delegation to the government to restructure and reform the applicable legislation.

Italian legislative decree. 81/08 – Implementation of art. 1 of L. 123 of 3rd August 2007 on occupational health and safety.

L. 186/68 – Provisions on the production of materials, equipment, machinery, electrical and electronic installations and systems.

L. 1341/64 – Regulations for the control of constructions and the operation of outdoor overhead power lines.

Presidential decree 1062/68 Regulations implementing L. 1341 of 13th December 1964, containing technical regulations for the control of constructions and the operation of outdoor overhead power lines.

M.D. 05/08/1998 – Update of the technical regulations on the design, construction and operation of outdoor overhead power lines.

M.D. 3722.01.08 of the Ministry of Economic Development – Regulations on the implementation of art. 11-quaterdecies, subsection 13, letter a), of Law no. 248 of 02/12/2005, containing the reorganization of the provisions on the installation of systems inside buildings.

Presidential decree 380 of 06.06.01 – Consolidated law of the legislative and regulatory provisions for the building industry.

M.D. 14.01.08 of the Ministry of Infrastructure – Approval of the new technical regulations for the building industry.

The work was therefore designed and will be constructed in compliance with the aforesaid laws and the internal Snam Rete Gas regulations, which transpose the contents of the following national and international technical specifications: Data file: tap_progettopreliminare This document is the property of Snam Rete Gas. The Company will defend its rights in civil and criminal proceedings in accordance with the law. SNAM RETE DEPT: TYPE REPORT GAS REINV UNIT: REINV/PROFAM/01042014 PROFAMB CUSTOMER: Page 14 of 82 Rev. TAP 0

Materials UNI - DIN - ASTM Characteristics of building materials

Instruments and control systems API RP-520 Part. 1/1993 Sizing of safety valves API RP-520 Part. 2/1988 Sizing of safety valves l Electrical systems CEI 64-8 User electrical systems with a voltage rating of no more than 1,000 V CEI 0-2 Guide for elaborating the electrical system design documentation EN 60079 (CEI 31-33) Electrical constructions in explosive atmospheres due to the presence of gas - Part 14: Electrical systems in places at a risk of explosion due to the presence of gas (other than mines)" CEI 81-10 Anti-lightning protection

Plants and Pipes EN 1594 Gas Supply Systems UNI EN 14870-2 Induction bends ASME B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems (only for special applications, e.g. supply of bidirectional traps) ASME B1.1/1989 Unified inch Screw Threads ASME B1.20.1/1992 Pipe threads, general purpose (inch) ASME B16.5/1988+ADD.92 Pipe flanges and flanged fittings ASME B16.9/1993 Factory-made Wrought Steel Buttwelding Fittings ASME B16.10/1986 Face-to-face and end-to-end dimensions valves ASME B16.21/1992 Non metallic flat gaskets for pipe flanges ASME B16.25/1968 Buttwelding ends ASME B16.34/1988 Valves-flanged, and welding end.. ASME B16.47/1990+Add.91 Large Diameters Steel Flanges ASME B18.21/1991+Add.91 Square and Hex Bolts and screws inch Series ASME B18.22/1987 Square and Hex Nuts MSS SP44/1990 Steel Pipeline Flanges MSS SP75/1988 Specification for High Test Wrought Buttwelding Fittings

MSS SP6/1990 Standard finishes contact faces of pipe flanges API Spc. 1104 Welding of pipeline and related facilities API 5L/1992 Specification for line pipe EN 10208-2/1996 Steel pipes for pipelines for combustible fluids API 6D/1994 Specification for pipeline valves, and closures, connectors and swivels ASTM A 193 Alloy steel and stainless steel-bolting materials ASTM A 194 Carbon and alloy steel nuts for bolts for high pressure ASTM A 105 Standard specification for “forging, carbon steel for piping components” ASTM A 216 Standard specification for “carbon steel casting suitable for fusion welding for high temperature service” ASTM A 234 Piping fitting of wrought carbon steel and alloy steel for moderate and elevate temperatures ASTM A 370 Standard methods and definitions for "mechanical testing of steel products" ASTM A 694 Standard specification for "forging, carbon and alloy steel, for pipe flanges, fitting, valves, and parts for high pressure transmission service" ASTM E 3 Preparation of metallographic specimens ASTM E 23 Standard methods for notched bar impact testing of metallic materials ASTM E 92 Standard test method for vickers hardness of metallic materials ASTM E 94 Standards practice for radiographic testing ASTM E 112 Determining average grain size ASTM E 138 Standards test method for Wet Magnetic Particle ASTM E 384 Standards test method for microhardness of materials ISO 898/1 Mechanical properties for fasteners - part 1 - bolts, screws and studs ISO 2632/2 Roughness comparison specimens - part 2: sparkeroded, shot blasted and grit blasted, polished

ISO 6892 Metallic materials - tensile testing ASME Sect. V Non-destructive examination ASME Sect. VIII Boiler and pressure vessel code ASME Sect. IX Boiler construction code-welding and brazing qualification CEI 15-10 Regulations for "Sheets of stratified insulating materials based on thermosetting resins " ASTM D 624 Standard method of tests for tear resistance of vulcanized rubber ASTM E 165 Standard practice for liquid penetrant inspection method ASTM E 446 Standard reference radiographs for steel castings up to 2" in thickness ASTM E 709 Standard recommended practice for magnetic particle examination l Anticorrosion system ISO 8501-1/1988 Preparation of steel surfaces before applying paint or similar products Visual assessment of the degree of cleanliness of the surface - part 1: degrees of rusting and degrees of preparation of untreated steel surfaces and steel surfaces from which a previous coating has been removed

UNI 5744-66/1986 Protective metal coatings applied hot (zinc coatings obtained by immersion on miscellaneous objects made of a ferrous material) UNI 9782/1990 Cathodic protection of underground metal structures – general measurement, design and implementation criteria UNI 9783/1990 Cathodic protection of underground metal structures – electrical interference between underground metal structures UNI 10166/1993 Cathodic protection of underground metal structures – measuring points UNI 10167/1993 Cathodic protection of underground metal structures – measuring devices and points

UNI CEI 5/1992 Cathodic protection of underground metal structures – current measurements UNI CEI 6/1992 Cathodic protection of underground metal structures - potential measurements UNI CEI 7/1992 Cathodic protection of underground metal structures - electrical resistance measurements

5. DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORK The gas pipeline in question, designed for the transmission of natural gas, will consist of an underground pipeline made up of butt-welded steel pipes and a series of line interception systems/points that not only ensure the operation of the structure but also shut off the pipeline in accordance with the legislation in force. The line represents the principal element of the project transmission system.

4.1 Line Characteristics of the fluid transported:  natural gas with a density of about 0.72 kg/m3;  maximum design pressure DP = 75 bars.

Line The natural gas pipeline in question has a total length of about 56 km and will be laid underground along its entire length.

Pipes The DN 1200 line will be made up of pipes with a unit load at the total elongation limit of 450 N/mm2, which corresponds to the characteristics of class EN L450 MB. The pipes used will conform to the provisions laid down in paragraph 3 of M.D. 17/04/2008. The bends will be obtained from pipes bent under cold conditions with a radius of curvature equivalent to 40 nominal diameters, or prefabricated with a radius of curvature equivalent to 7 nominal diameters. Where the pipeline is to cross major roads or railway tracks and anywhere else appropriate for technical reasons, it will be laid inside a casing pipe with the following characteristics:  Nominal diameter DN 1400 (56")  Thickness 17.5 mm  Grade L415 grade steel

Materials In order to calculate the thickness of the pipes, on the basis of MD of 17th April 2008, use is made of the following factors (degree of use):  f = 0.72 for the line  f = 0.57 for sections that require greater thickness and in the plants

In order to calculate the thickness at the railway crossing, the following safety coefficient is considered as laid down in MD no. 2445 of 23-02-71, as amended:  K = 2.5 for railway crossings

Anticorrosive protection The pipe will be equipped with:  Passive outer protection consisting of a high-density extruded polyethylene coating, applied at the factory, with a thickness of 3 mm, and an epoxy paint inner coating. The welding joints will be covered on the line with heatshrinking bands;  Active impressed current protection (cathodic) that makes the pipe metal electrically more negative than the surrounding electrolyte (ground, water, etc.).

Remote control The gas pipeline will have a remote control cable inside a cable duct consisting of a multi-opening structure made up of a series of six PEAD DN 50 pipes. At the crossings, the multi-opening structure is laid in a steel casing pipe with the following characteristics:  Nominal diameter DN 100 (4”)  Thickness 4 mm

Right of way The construction and maintenance of a gas pipeline on private land is legitimated by an easement the exercising of which, leaving the possibility of farming and cultivating this land unchanged, limits construction to a right of way stride the pipeline (non-construction easement).

The breadth of this zone varies according to the diameter, the operating pressure of the gas pipeline, the laying conditions and the degree of use adopted to calculate the thickness of the pipes in accordance with the applicable legislation. The pipeline in question will have a right of way for the free pipe in permeable land of 20.00 m on either side of the pipeline (Fig.4 and Fig.5).

Excavate Topsoil material

Project gas pipeline

Average centre-to-centre distance Reduced-width working strip = 30 m

Right of way coinciding with the previously established expropriation constraint = 40 m (20 + 20 m)

Fig. 4 – Right of way and normal working strip for the natural gas pipeline (DN 1200 (48”), DP 75 bars)

Excavate Topsoil material

Project gas pipeline

Average centre-to-centre distance

Reduced-width working strip = 22 m

Right of way coinciding with the previously established expropriation constraint = 40 m (20 + 20 m)

Fig. 5 – Right of way and reduced-width working strip for the natural gas pipeline (DN 1200 (48”), DP 75 bars)

4.2 Line Plants and Points For the project gas pipeline DN 1200 (48”), DP 75 bars, the following line plants and points will be constructed:  Metering system and pig launching station;

 2 line interception points (P.I.L.);  4 important interception and offtake points (P.I.D.I.);  1 important interception and offtake point (P.I.D.I.) with interconnection and pig launching and receiving station.

Line interception points According to the legislation in force (M.D. 17.04.2008), it must be possible to divide the pipeline up into sections using block valves called Line interception points (P.I.L. and P.I.D.I.).

These interception points are made up of underground pipes except for the exhaust pipe that emits gas into the atmosphere (activated, under exceptional circumstances, for extraordinary maintenance operations and the first time the pipeline is put into operation) and its supporting work. The line points also comprise underground block valves, equipment for the electrical protection of the pipe and a building to protect the equipment and any control instruments installed.

The block valves of this gas pipeline will be motorized by actuators above ground and controlled via a remote control cable laid underground beside the pipeline, activated remotely to ensure a rapid closure. The block valves will be controlled remotely from the Snam Rete Gas operations centre in San Donato Milanese.

In compliance with the provisions laid down in MD of 17.04.2008 for type 1 pipes, the maximum distance between the interception points will be 15 km (maximum 2 km for railway crossings, between the interception point upstream and the interception point downstream of the crossing).

Pig launching and receiving station

Pigs, which are used to inspect and clean the inside of the pipeline, enable it to be explored directly and periodically to check the geometrical and mechanical characteristics of the pipeline, in order to ensure the safe operation of the gas pipeline.

The pig launching and receiving station consists essentially of a cylindrical body, called the “trap”, having a larger diameter than that of the line to make it easier to recover the pig.

The “trap”, the accessories for loading and unloading the pig and the pipe for emptying the line are installed above ground, while the pipes connecting to and bypassing the existing system run underground, as do the reinforced concrete supporting bases.

Metering system

The metering system is required for tax purposes to measure the amount of gas entering Italy and consists essentially of pipes, testing equipment and underground block valves. The only elements above ground are substantially the system of horizontal filters for filtering the gas, the lines for metering the gas, the two instrument buildings about 4 metres high and the exhaust pipe emitting gas into the atmosphere, which is about 8 metres high.

The aforesaid works are fenced in with galvanized iron grating panels, painted green (RAL 6014), 2 m above the plant level and fixed by means of a steel pole to the reinforced concrete kerb with a height of about 30 cm above ground level.

Table 1 contains the approximate surfaces areas planned for the line plants/points to be constructed:

Line plant/point Surface area (m2) Notes Metering system and pig launching station 10,500 Entirely contained within the planned TAP plant area 2 P.I.L. points (350 m2/each) 700 - 4 P.I.D.I. points (400 m2/each) 1,600 - 1 P.I.D.I. point with interconnection and pig 5,100 As an extension of the launching and receiving station existing plant

Table 1 – Characteristics of the Line plants/points

4.3 Constructions (Complementary Works)

Along the route of a gas pipeline, where required by the conditions, measures can be taken to ensure the safety of the pipeline by increasing the stability of the land or the beds of the watercourses crossed. These operations normally consist in constructing embankment supporting works, river bank protecting works and hydraulic works across or along them to regulate their flow. The works are designed taking account of the needs of the authorities responsible for safeguarding the area and the pipeline.

6. WORK CONSTRUCTION PHASES

5.1 Construction of Provisional Infrastructure The term “provisional infrastructure” is intended to mean the storage yards for stacking the pipes (Fig. 6), fittings, etc.. The yards will be constructed near roads that can be used by the vehicles that transport the pipes and beside the working strip. Having heaped and conserved the fertile topsoil, their construction consists in levelling the surface of the ground. In general, where not already present, provisional access roads from the ordinary roads will be created to allow the trucks to get to the yards and the working strip.

In the case at hand, the latter operation is not necessary as existing roads will be used for each yard.

Fig. 6 – Pipe stacking yard

5.2 Opening of the Working Strip The various operation and work site phases involved in the construction of the natural gas pipeline, such as the digging of the trench and the laying of the pipeline, entail opening a working strip. This strip must be as continuous as possible and be sufficiently broad to ensure perfect execution of the works under conditions of maximum safety and allow the transit of service and rescue vehicles.

The working strip will have a width of 30 m (Fig. 7), normally divided into two functional strips:

 a continuous lateral strip with a width of about 12 m for depositing soil and rocks from the digging of the trench (A);

 a strip with a width of about 18 m for assembling the pipeline together, for the transit of vehicles for assembling, lifting and laying the pipeline, the transit of vehicles carrying staff, supplies and materials and rescue vehicles (B).

In the areas occupied by trees, the opening of the working strip will entail cutting the trees and removing the stumps.

In sections characterized by specific morphological, environmental and vegetational conditions, the breadth of the working strip may be reduced for short sections to a minimum of 22 m (reduced-width working strip), giving up the possibility of overtaking work vehicles. The reduced-width work area (Fig. 8) has the following characteristics:

 a continuous lateral strip about 9 m wide for depositing the material excavated in digging the trench (A);

 a strip about 13 m wide for assembling the pipeline, the transit of the pipeline assembling, lifting and laying vehicles, the transit of the vehicles carrying staff, supplies and materials, and rescue vehicles (B).

DURING WORK

Working strip – L

B B U EXCAVATED MATERIAL U F F F F E E TOP SOIL R R Z Z O O N N E E

TRENCH TOP SOIL TO BE REMOVED (AS REQUIRED) PIPELINE

Fig. 7 – Working strip

DURING WORK

Working strip – L

B B U U F F F F E E R R Z Z O O N N E E

TOP SOIL EXCAVATED MATERIAL

EXCAVATED MATERIAL TOP SOIL TO BE REMOVED

TRENCH PIPELINE \ Fig. 8 – Reduced-width working strip

The vehicles used to open the working strip will be mainly tracked vehicles such as bulldozers, diggers and power loaders, etc.

Before the working strip is opened, where necessary, the fertile topsoil (active layer) will be put to one side and adequately protected along the edge of the working strip and reused during the restoration phase. During this phase the provisional works such as drains or anything else required to allow the water to drain naturally.

In the agricultural areas, the functional continuity of any irrigation and drainage works affected will be guaranteed and, in the presence of tree plantations, they will be provisionally anchored, where necessary.

During this phase, any poles carrying power and/or telephone lines present in the working strip will be moved.

At points where the pipeline crosses infrastructure (roads, motorways, gas pipelines in operation, etc.), watercourses and specific areas (line points), the width of the working strip may be greater than those indicated previously for executive and operational needs.

Access to the working strip will normally be gained from the ordinary roads which, during the execution of the works, will undergo an increase in traffic due exclusively to the logistical service vehicles. The work vehicles will exclusively use the working strip provided for the construction of the work.

5.3 Opening of Temporary Roads for Access to the Working Strip

As indicated in the previous paragraphs, the work vehicles will access the working strip and the provisional infrastructure from the existing roads. Of these, the ones closet to the working strip, where necessary, may undergo some modifications (to their edges, width and any overpasses present, etc.) in order to guarantee safe transit. During execution of the work, the existing road network will also have an increase in traffic due exclusively to the logistical service vehicles. There will therefore be no need to open any new temporary roads or perform the works that would have been necessary to restore them to their ante operam condition.

5.4 Placement of the Pipes on the Working Strip

This activity consists in transporting the pipes from the storage yards and positioning them end to end along the working strip ready for the subsequent welding phase (Fig. 9). For these operations, use will be made of pipe laying tractors (sidebooms) and tracked vehicles suitable for transporting pipes.

Fig. 9 – Positioning of the pipes and the working strip

5.5 Welding of the Line

The pipes will be joined by arc welding two pipes end to end and performing this operation repeatedly to form a section of pipeline. (Fig. 10).

The welded sections of pipeline will be laid temporarily parallel to the trench, resting them on special wooden supports to avoid damaging their outer coating. The equipment used in this phase will essentially be pipe-laying tractors, motorized welding machines and air compressors.

Fig. 10 – Welding of the line

5.6 Non-Destructive Tests on the Welds

The welds will all be carefully subjected to non-destructive tests using X-ray or ultrasound techniques.

5.7 Digging of the Trench

The trench in which the pipeline is to be laid will be excavated using diggers (Fig.11) suited to the morphological and lithographical characteristics of the land crossed (diggers in loose ground and sledgehammers in rock). The excavated material will be heaped beside the trench along the working strip and then reused when burying the pipeline. This operation will be performed in such a way as o avoid mixing this material with the fertile topsoil previously set aside when the working strip was opened.

Fig. 11 – Trench digging

5.8 Covering of the Welding Joints

In order to ensure the continuity of the polyethylene covering that constitutes the passive protection of the pipeline, the welding joints will be covered with special heatshrinking bands. The covering of the pipeline will thus be entirely controlled using a special spark-generating device (holiday detector) and, where necessary, gaps will be filled using putty and protective patches. Pipe laying tractors will be used to lift the column.

5.9 Laying of the Pipeline

Having checked that the covering is free of flaws, the welded column will be lifted and laid in the trench using pipe laying tractors (sidebooms) (Fig.12).

If there are any protuberances at the bottom of the trench that could cause a break in the covering, a bed will be laid with inert material (sand, etc.). The columns laid will subsequently be welded to one another.

Fig. 12 – Pipeline laying

5.10 Backfilling and Laying of the Telecommunications Cable Once laid, the pipeline will be covered with the material (Fig.13) put to one side along the working strip when the trench was dug. The operations will be performed in two phases so that, once the trench has been filled in partially, the remote control cables and the warning tape used to signal the presence of gas pipeline can be laid. Once the completely filled with earth, the topsoil set aside previously will be spread again across the surface (Fig.14).

Fig. 13 – Trench backfilling

Fig. 14 – Spreading of the previously removed topsoil back on the surface of the ground

5.11 Construction of Crossings Crossings of watercourses, infrastructure and some specific morphological elements are constructed with small work sites that operate as the work front advances so as to guarantee that they are completed before the pipeline reaches them.

There are several construction methods which, in short, can be summed up as follows:  crossings with no casing pipe;  crossings with a casing pipe;  crossings using “trenchless” techniques.

Crossings with no casing pipe are normally constructed by open excavation. The second type of crossing can be constructed by open excavation or using pipe-ramming equipment (augers). Crossings with “trenchless” techniques are constructed in areas where open excavation is not possible. The method to be chosen depends on various factors such as: laying depth, presence of water or rock, intensity of traffic, any specifications made by the competent authority, etc.. The tools used are chosen in relation to the size of the crossing. The principal work vehicles (pipe-laying tractors and diggers) are always present and sometimes supported by special tools such as pipe ramming devices, augers, etc..

Crossings with no casing pipe These crossings are generally constructed below municipal or other minor roads and watercourses. The crossing of a watercourse by open excavation is normally the most commonly used method for laying pipelines. This method entails digging up the bed with diggers to form the trench in which the pipes are laid after which the trench is filled in and the area is restored to its initial condition. During the construction phase this method temporarily interferes with the environment due to the excavation works necessary to form the strip for the transit of the work vehicles and the deposit of the excavated material. This interference is however temporary and generally related to the duration of the works. For major watercourse crossings, a U-piece is normally prepared outside the trench. This entails bending and then welding the bars in the geometrical configuration indicated in the project. The U- piece is then laid in the specially prepared trench and then buried.

Crossing with a casing pipe The crossings of motorways, main roads, provincial roads and some specific underground structures (sewers, water supply lines, etc.) are laid inside a casing pipe, in accordance with the legislation in force. The casing pipe has a painted inner surface and outer polyethylene coating with a minimum thickness of 3 mm applied hot at the factory.

If the open excavation method is used, the casing pipe is laid in the same way as for normal sections of the line by digging, laying the pipe and backfilling. If an auger is used, laying of the casing pipe entails performing the following operations:

 digging the launch pit;  setting up the machinery and conducting a topographical survey;  drilling through the forward movement of the casing pipe driven by hydraulic jacks inside which the auger with a flighting removes the excavated material.

In both cases, the product pipe is prepared off the site while the casing pipe is laid. This element consists of the line pipe of a greater thickness to which some spacer collars are applied to facilitate insertion and ensure adequate electrical insulation of the pipe in time. The product pipe is then inserted in the casing pipe and connected to the line. Once the insertion operations have been completed, caps will be applied to either ends of the casing pipe with heatshrinking bands. A vent pipe is connected to one or both ends of the casing pipe, according to the length of the crossing and the type of infrastructure crossed (Fig. 15). The vent, which has a socket for checking for gas leaks and a flame trap, consists of a steel pipe DN 80 (3”) with a thickness of 2.90 mm. The socket is applied at a height of about 1.50 m above the ground, the flame trap is positioned at the end of the vent pipe at a height of no less than 2.50 m . Near the vents there are poles at the ends of which are positioned the boxes containing the points for measuring the cathodic protection.

Fig. 15 – Detail of vent pipe

Crossings using “trenchless” technologies These types of crossings can be used to lay pipes and cables in many situations, such as:  crossing of water bodies below the bed (rivers, torrents, canals, lakes, marshes, lagoons, etc.);  crossing of natural obstacles such as sudden differences in level;  crossing of artificial obstacles (motorways and roads, railways, buildings, dykes, airports, urban areas, yards, etc,);  construction of landfalls on the coast;  construction of underpasses in areas of particular environmental and/or archaeological value.

The principal types of “trenchless” crossings are: HDD, microtunnelling and tunnelling. As mentioned previously, these methods bring major advantages in that they cause virtually no interference with the landscape or the environment.

Watercourse crossings Considering the small size of the watercourses affected, the crossings will be constructed by open excavation.

Underground works In constructing the project gas pipeline, the provincial road SP 364 will be crossed using the microtunnelling method.

The microtunnelling technology is based on the forward movement of a cylindrical shield with a pointed or flat section drilling system at the front; the forward drive, supported by the use of bentonite mud, is exerted by hydraulic jacks situated in the launching position that push the pipe lining the tunnel. The jacks are assembled on a mechanical frame that is positioned against a reinforced concrete wall built for this purpose inside the launch pit.

The microtunnelling technique essentially consists of the following three operation phases:  Construction and preparation of the stations Two stations, one launching or departure station and the other receiving or arrival station are constructed at either end of the microtunnel (Fig.16).  Digging the microtunnel The microtunnel boring machine is driven forwards by progressively adding new reinforced concrete tubular elements to the drill string. Digging is guided by a laser system that promptly detects any errors in the trajectory.  Laying the pipeline This phase consists in inserting the product pipeline in the microtunnel. The pipeline can be laid either by pulling or pushing the pipe.

The last operation to be performed is to restore the work areas to their original condition.

Fig. 16 – Construction of a microtunnel. A) Launching station; B) Receiving station: exit of the drill head

5.12 Hydraulic Test, Connection and Inspection of the Pipeline

Once fully laid and connected, the pipeline is subjected to a hydraulic test for at least 48 hours at a minimum pressure of 1.3 the maximum operating pressure (MOP) as laid down in paragraph 4.4 of M.D. of 17/04/2008. The water necessary for the hydraulic test is loaded and removed using suitable devices, commonly called pigs, which are also used for cleaning and commissioning the pipeline. These activities are normally carried out having subdivided the line into test sections. The sections tested will subsequently be connected to one another by welding controlled by non- destructive systems. The Contractor will select the water withdrawal point using natural sources such as surface watercourses, basins and wells, artificial tanks or water systems available in the area, in compliance with the legislation in force. The Contractor will also be responsible for obtaining all the permits necessary to use the water and shall respect any specifications made. Wastewater or water coming from industrial processes shall not be used. The water is to be filtered to avoid foreign bodies entering the section being tested and, where necessary, use shall be made of decanting and filtering devices to prevent sediment accumulating in the line. The water withdrawn will subsequently be released into the same water body with same characteristics as on its withdrawal having subjected it to mechanical filtration to prevent the dispersion of any metal residues into the environment.

It should be pointed out that the pipes will be pretested at the factory and then thoroughly sandblasted and coated internally; the inside of the pipes will therefore be perfectly clean when subjected to the hydraulic test.

(A) (B)

No additives are to be added to the water used for the test. The test water withdrawal and drainage points may be defined during the construction of the work providing the water bodies crossed can be used. The Contractor will however be responsible for applying for the necessary authorizations laid down by the legislation in force to the operators prior to the withdrawal and drainage operations.

5.13 Execution of the Restoration Work During this phase all the operations necessary to restore the environment to its condition prior to the works will be performed. At the end of the testing and connecting phases, when the assembly operations have been completed, the restoration works will be carried out. The restoration works may be divided into the following two main types:

 Geomorphological restoration work

Works and operations aimed at rebuilding steep sections, restoring and protecting the banks of the watercourses crossed and rebuilding any roads and utilities affected by the route.

 Restoration of vegetation

Operations performed to restore the existing vegetation in as short a time as possible in areas with natural vegetation. Agricultural areas will be restored in such a way that reacquires its original fertility.

5.14 Work Site Equipment and Vehicles

The following types of work vehicles will be used during the construction of the gas pipeline:  Side-booms, diggers and bulldozers;  Pipe welders;  Trucks, bascules and flatbeds;  Mixed transport vehicles.

The number of vehicles used and the maximum length of the overall work site may vary according to the contractor’s work tools and the work schedule.

5.15 Work Schedule

The execution and completion of the principal construction work is expected to take about 15 months.

5.16 Excavated Earth and Rock Management

The construction of gas pipelines, like all underground linear works, entails moving earth essentially during the working strip opening and trench digging phases.

The earth movements associated with the construction and removal of pipes are excluded from the application of Title IV of Italian legislative decree no. 152/06, as amended (art. 185, subsection 1, letter c), in that the soil affected by the new works is uncontaminated (exclusively the topsoil of arable farmland is affected) and reused in its natural condition on the same site from which it was removed.

In fact, the works in question entail exclusively putting the soil dug up along the working strip to one side, without any need to transport or move the material along the axis of the work or to alter its condition, and subsequently using all of it on the same site from which it was removed on completion of the pipeline laying operations.

On the contrary, the soil removed when constructing sections using the trenchless method will be handled as waste and delivered to authorized landfill sites in accordance with the legislation in force. The material excavated in order to construct the gas pipeline thus lie outside the scope of application of M.D. no. 161 of 10th August 2012, but exclusively within that of art. 185, subsection 1, letter c) of Italian legislative decree no. 152/06 (“uncontaminated soil and other material in its natural condition excavated during the construction activities, when it is certain that it will be reused for construction in its natural condition and on the same site from which it was removed”).

7. OPERATION OF THE WORK

6.1 Management of the Gas Transmission System

Centralized organization: DISPATCH The Dispatch activity is carried out at the operations centre in San Donato Milanese (MI) and is carried out by specialized staff who work in shifts over 24 hours a day every day of the year. This staff are backed up by technical support staff that develop the simulation, demand forecasting and transmission optimizing programmes, manage the information system (for the acquisition of remote measuring data and the operation of the remote controls), and elaborate short-term transmission and plant maintenance plans. The principal Dispatch control instruments are the operations room, the data processing system and the telecommunications system.

The Dispatch activity Dispatch is the operating unit that manages the natural gas resources, planning on a daily basis the operation of the transmission network and setting the operating conditions of its plants. It promptly assesses the availability of gas from the points of supply, the user requirement forecasts, the situation on the network, the functional characteristics of the plants and the criteria for their use. In fact, the demand for gas undergoes major oscillations during the day and week, as well as varying considerably according to the season. The availability of imported natural gas may also undergo major oscillations so the system has to be continually adapted. Using its forecasting tools, Dispatch ensures constant contact with the peripheral sites and the network’s real time control system that enables it to control the systems from a distance, as required at a specific time, guaranteeing the highest possible degree of safety. The remote control system, an operational tool of Dispatch, performs the remote measuring and control functions. The remote measuring function acquires the functional data: pressures, flow rate, temperature, quality of the gas, valve and compressor statuses. The remote control is used to modify the functioning of the plants to adapt them to operating needs. Particularly important is the remote control of the compressor stations, which are managed directly by the Dispatch unit. At present, there are about 1,410 systems controlled by Dispatch and another 200 are to be installed in the near future. The top-priority function of Dispatch in terms of safety is to guarantee prompt action, at any point of the network, both through the remote control of the systems and the use of the specialized staff present at the operations centres distributed across Italy activated rapidly as they are on call 24 hours a day.

Remote control system The evolution of electromechanical technology in the field of instruments and data transmission has enabled remote control systems and remote activation systems to be installed on industrial plants. The parallel development of control systems capable of remotely transmitting any measured value and control systems capable of activating devices from a distance, enables extremely reliable remote control systems to be built and unattended plants to be operated from a distance. In particular:

 remote control systems have been adopted in order to obtain instantaneous values of the variables of gas pipelines and other related plants and, consequently, to obtain information in real time on any variations in the operating parameters of the entire gas transmission system;  activation systems have been adopted in order to modify controlled variables and to isolate sections of gas pipelines and/or intercept plants entirely or in part.

In order to refine the operation of a complex system in continuous evolution such a gas pipeline network, Snam Rete Gas built a remote control system capable of performing the dual function of ensuring safety and allowing the plants to be operated. In particular, Snam Rete Gas has developed:  safety remote controls that allow gas pipelines to be divided up into sections;  operating remote controls that are used to refine the transmission and distribution of gas according to the amount imported and the amount produced in Italy.

As mentioned previously, the Dispatch unit operates the gas pipeline network directly from S. Donato Milanese. On the basis of the values of the variables received from the plants, it can control and modify the gas transmission and distribution conditions on the network and/or implement safety measures when the values of the variables received are faulty. Control is performed by information systems that:  acquire the values of the variables and the status of the block valves coming from each remotely controlled line point;  signal and print any values that are not in line with the reference values.

The synoptic panel shows:  the values of the variables (pressure and flow rate);  the signals indicating the status of the valves (open - closed – in motion);  alarms for faulty conditions.

Each operator can use his terminal to:  remotely open and close line valves and gas distribution nodes;  remotely modify the pressure and flow rate of pressure reducing systems.

The Dispatch unit is connected via a radio link transmission network and a cable laid with the pipeline, thus providing a dual transmission route.

Peripheral organizations: CENTRES From the organization point of view, in addition to their other tasks, the peripheral sites perform the following activities:  set-up of the network from the operational point of view;  regular plant maintenance;

 elaboration and updating of the maintenance programs for the control and safety of the plants.

The maintenance centres carry out mainly operational activities in the area and are essentially responsible for supervising and maintaining pipelines that are constantly integrated and updated with the new plants put into operation.

Operation, pipeline supervision and maintenance Once the work has been constructed and tested, the pipeline is put into operation. The function of coordinating and controlling the activities involved in the transmission of natural gas through a pipeline is performed by both centralized units and units distributed across the area. The centralized units are responsible for all technical, planning and control activities involved in operating the line and the plants while the peripheral units are responsible for supervising and maintaining the network. These units are structured on three levels: Districts, Operation and Centres. The supervisory activities are carried out by the Snam Rete Gas “Centres”, on the basis of schedules with different frequencies according to the type of network and whether it is situated in an urban area, extraurban area subject to expansion and areas that are certainly extraurban. “Line control" is performed by car or on foot (in mountainous sections that are not accessible to vehicles). The activity consists in following the route of the pipes or targeting it from suitable positions to check:  the pipe burying conditions;  the functioning and good state of conservation of the constructions, signals, etc.;  any actions of third parties that may affect the pipeline and its buffer zones.

Line control may also be performed from above (by helicopter). This type of control is normally exercised on fundamentally important backbone pipelines, in areas that are certainly extraurban and particularly on pipelines in areas that are difficult to check from the ground. For special needs on all pipelines (e.g. routes in areas affected by significant earth moving operations or special farming works), additional inspections to those planned are performed on the ground. The Centres also perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance operations on the mechanical devices and instruments included in the plants, the accessory works and the infrastructure with particular regard to:  scheduled maintenance of the plants situated along the lines;  scheduled control of crossings below the bed of watercourses or their checking when affected by extraordinary events;  the maintenance of access roads to the Snam Rete Gas plants.

Another task of the peripheral units is to provide technical support and coordination with a view to safeguarding the integrity of the pipeline following the occurrence of particular situations such as third- party works and actions inside or outside the working strip that may represent a hazard for the pipeline (crossings of other utilities, earth removal, laying of lattice structures for power lines, use of explosives, dredging upstream and downstream of crossings below the river bed, deposit of materials, etc.).

Checking of the electrical protection

In order to check the electrical protection of the pipeline in time, its electrical potential with respect to the reference electrode is measured and recorded. The typical parameters (potential and current) of the cathodic protection systems at the significant measuring points on the network will be measured and analysed in accordance with the Snam Rete Gas testing and maintenance plans. The frequency and types of test included in the maintenance plan are established as a function of the complexity of the network to be protected and, above all, the presence or absence of currents dispersed by third- party plants. The principal operations are:  functional testing of all the cathodic protection plants;  instantaneous potential measurements;  potential and current measurements recorded for at least 24 hours.

The analysis and assessment of the measurements made and any necessary adjustments of the plants will be performed by specialized professional figures working at the peripheral units.

Pipe inspection using "pigs" A "pig" is a device that is used to inspect and maintain the pipeline from the inside. According to the function for which they are used, pigs may be divided into two main categories:  conventional pigs, which perform operational functions and/or maintenance operations on the pipeline;  intelligent or smart pigs, which provide information on the condition of the pipeline.

Conventional pigs They generally consist of a metal mandrel and polyurethane components that, under the force of the product carried (liquid and/or gaseous), enable the pig to be pushed through the pipeline. These pigs are used during the filling and emptying of the pipeline with water for the hydraulic test, for cleaning, commissioning and calibrating the cross section of the pipeline through the installation of aluminium disks.

Intelligent or instrumental pigs With a very similar design to the conventional pigs, they are called intelligent or smart because they are equipped with sensors that can pick up a set of localizable information on the characteristics of or flaws in the pipeline. The smart pigs most commonly used at present check the geometrical features of the pipeline and its thickness. Having information on the condition of the pipelines is of crucial importance in operating a transmission network. Supervision of the pipelines both from the ground and the air, methodical maintenance work and a detailed knowledge of the state of cathodic protection and the coating of the pipeline and any points equipped with instruments on the line represent a guarantee of safety, even more so when combined with the inspections made using smart pigs which, as mentioned previously, can detect and locate a complete set of information on the characteristics of or flaws in the pipeline. An initial inspection is generally made to acquire the basic data immediately after the pipeline is put into operation (baseline status); the data obtained may thus be compared with those obtained from subsequent periodic inspections and any flaws detected and controlled and finally eliminated by repair or replacement operations.

Life of the work and possibility of restoration after decommissioning The life of a gas pipeline depends on its ability to meet the technical and strategic requirements behind its construction. The technical parameters are continuously kept under control by performing scheduled and unscheduled maintenance operations that ensure that the gas is carried under conditions of safety. If Snam Rete Gas consider the pipeline and its plants no long suitable for the transmission of natural gas, they are decommissioned, by performing the following operations:  decontaminating the line;  closing the section of piping concerned to separate it from the pipeline in operation;  filling this section with inert gas (nitrogen) at a pressure of 0.5 bars;  maintaining its electrical protection;  maintaining the concessions stipulated when the line was constructed and terminating them at the owner’s request;  continuing to make the normal inspections of the line.

The alternative to decommissioning the pipeline out of order is to remove the existing pipeline, inactivating any sections of pipeline left in the subsoil. The two solutions require completely different operations, which have quite different impacts on the natural and socioeconomic environment of the area concerned. Although the former solution limits considerably the work to be done on the land, thus minimizing the effects on the natural environment, the restrictions on the area due to the presence of the pipeline remain unchanged. On the contrary, the removal of the pipeline entails performing a series of operations that have the same effects on the area as a new construction but free it from the restrictions due to the presence of the pipeline. Putting a line out of operation may, in some case, mean that the line systems / points above ground associated with it (accessory plants) remain unused so, if they do not fit perfectly into their environmental setting, Snam Rete Gas removes them and makes the area occupied by them available for normal use. In this case, the operations consist in restoring the land to its original conditions, guaranteeing the protection of its surface cover against erosion and favouring the regrowth of the surface vegetation.

8. SAFETY OF THE WORK

7.1 General Considerations

The “TAP connection to the Snam Rete Gas National Gas Pipeline Network” natural gas pipeline is a work that has been designed and will be constructed and operated in compliance with the Italian legislation in force, in particular in compliance with Decree of 17th April 2008 “Technical regulations for the design, construction, testing, operation and supervision of works and systems for transporting natural gas with a density of no more than 0.8”, issued by the Ministry of Economic Development in agreement with the Ministry of the Interior. As such, it guarantees respect of the safety provisions laid down by Italian legislation.

In any case, public health and safety, environmental protection and service continuity are objectives of primary and constant importance for Snam Rete Gas, who undertake to improve them continuously, also because they carry out an activity of public interest (Italian legislative decree. No. 164/2000).

As regards health, safety and the environment, Snam Rete Gas adopts two closely-linked strategies:  prevention of incidents that could damage the pipeline by taking appropriate design, construction and operational measures.  management of any anomalous situations that may arise on the transmission system through continuous monitoring of the network and an adequate support structure.

These strategies are subdivided in compliance with the principles of the Snam Rete Gas policy on protecting the environment and the safety of workers and the population in general. This policy entails, among other things:  managing activities in accordance with the laws and administrative provisions, the additional and improvement corporate provisions and national and international best practices;  optimizing the corporate processes so as to achieve the highest possible level of effectiveness and efficiency, in respect of the workers’ health and safety and paying the utmost attention to environmental issues;  designing, constructing, operating and decommissioning plants, constructions and activities, in respect of the legislation on the worker health and safety, the environment, energy saving and conforming to the best and most economically sustainable technologies available;  conducting and managing the activities involved in the prevention of accidents, injuries and occupational diseases;  providing information and training, and increasing staff awareness to promote active and responsible participation in the application of the principles and achievement of the objectives;  implementing the sustainable use of natural resources, preventing pollution and protecting ecosystems and biodiversity;

 taking operational and management measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a climatic change mitigation approach;  managing waste in such a way as to reduce the quantity produced and promote its recovery in its final use;  selecting and promoting the development of suppliers on the basis of the principles of its policy, making them undertake to behave in accordance with it;  elaborating and implementing all the organizational and procedural solutions necessary to prevent accidents and emergency situations arising.

Health, safety and environmental management at Snam Rete Gas is thus structured:  on in-house organizational provisions and service orders that establish the responsibilities and the procedures to be adopted in the design, construction and operation phases for all the company’s activities so as to ensure respect of the laws and the in-house health, safety and environmental regulations;  on the provision of equipment and materials and internal resources and on contracts with external organizations for the management of normal operating conditions or the occurrence of anomalous events on its transmission network.

Within the scope of this organization, Snam Rete Gas also has a centralized system for acquiring, managing and controlling the process parameters for the gas transmission service, which include pressures, temperatures and flow rates at characteristic points of the network. The system is managed by a centralized Dispatch structure situated at the company’s headquarters in San Donato Milanese, which carries out a set of activities aimed at ensuring the operation of the transmission system and coordination during any necessary operations 24 hours a day every day. This system, in particular, is used to continuously monitor the condition of the network, to locate any faults or failures and ensure the necessary coordination both under normal operating conditions and when anomalous events occur. The indications given in general terms are applicable to the specific “TAP connection to the Snam Rete Gas National Gas Pipeline Network” gas pipeline, which, once in operation, will be fully integrated in the network operated by Snam Rete Gas.

As far as this gas pipeline is concerned, the sections that follow contain a more detailed analysis of some issues closely associated with the safety of the work, with particular regard to:  the prevention of incidents  the management and control of the gas pipeline  the management of emergencies.

7.2 Accident Prevention The effectiveness of the safety and work maintenance policies adopted by Snam Rete Gas may be assessed on the basis of an analysis of the possible incidents that could occur and indicating the principal preventive measures taken both during the design and construction phase and the operation phase.

In particular, this assessment may be more complete if supported by statistics on the frequency of incidents and their trend on a historical basis.

This is the approach adopted in this section.

A complete and consolidated tool for making such an assessment is represented by the European incident database of the EGIG (European Gas Incident Data Group - www.egig.nl) Group, which, in 2013, was made up of the following gas transmission companies:  Bord Gais (IRL)  Danish Gas Technology Centre (DK)  Enagas (E)  Fluxys (B)  Gas Connect Austria (A)  Gasum (FIN)  Gasunie (NL)  GRT Gaz (F)  National Grid (UK)  Open Grid Europe (D)  Net4Gas (CKZ)  REN (P)  Snam (I)  Swedegas (S)  Swissgas (CH)

This database is the best known and most widely used reference in Europe for assessing the levels of safety in the transmission of natural gas at a high pressure through historical incident analysis.

Assessment of the possible incidents The assessments used to analyse the accident prevention policies for the TAP Connection to the Snam Rete Gas National Gas Pipeline Network gas pipeline are based on the information contained in the most recent publication of EGIG, which analyses the accident data from 1970 to 2010 (8th EGIG Report “Gas pipeline incidents” – December 2011); the publication is updated every 3 years.

The EGIG collects information on incidents that have taken place in onshore pipelines designed for a pressure of over 15 bars.

The term incident is understood to mean “any accidental leakage of gas” irrespective of the extent of the damage that has taken place. The term “incident” will be used with the same meaning in this section.

Such a broad definition proved necessary in order to collect a sufficient amount of information to conduct a significant statistical analysis, which could not have been conducted, due to a lack of data, if the definition had been limited to the exposure of populations or the environment.

The network of gas pipelines monitored by the EGIG has a total length of 135,000 km (up to the end of 2010) and represents an operating experience of 3.55 106 [km year].

For the period 1970-2010, the overall incident rate was 3.6 10-4 [events/km year] (which corresponds to an incident every 2,778 years per km of pipeline); this value has dropped constantly over the years, indicating an increasingly improved design, construction and operation of the gas pipelines.

As the case at hand concerns a new construction, the reference incident rate to be taken for this study should be the one calculated considering the data for the five-year period 2006-2010, which is the most recent period and is thus the one that corresponds more closely to the design, construction and operation philosophies for the project natural gas pipeline.

For this five-year period it can be seen that the incident rate is about 56% lower than for the period 1970-2010, that is 1.6 10-4 [events/km year], equivalent to one event every 6,250 years per km of pipeline.

The principal causes of faults that have contributed to determine this incident rate are:  External interference due to building or farming works on the land crossed by pipelines;  corrosion;  construction or material defects;  instability of the land.

The following section contains some considerations and assessments taken from the EGIG report on the various incident scenarios, indicating, where possible, the most realistic rates for the pipeline in question and making quality assessments where no specific data is available.

External interference Interference with mechanical means operating in the area crossed by pipelines has represented the most frequent incident scenario for the gas transmission industry and continues to do so even today.

The EGIG report reveals that external interference is the cause of the incident in about 48% of the cases recorded over the entire period (1970-2010).

The refinement and optimization of the methods for preventing these problems have however enabled this frequency to be continually and constantly reduced.

For the five-year period 2006-2010, the EGIG recorded an incident rate due to external interference of less than 0.6 10-4 events /[Km.year] with respect to a value of 1.7 10-4 events/[Km.year] for the entire period (1970-2010).

The characteristics of the project gas pipeline that are most effective for preventing external interference include:  the use of pipes with a thickness and mechanical characteristics that conform to the provisions laid down in MD of 17/04/2008 “Fire safety regulations for the transmission, distribution, accumulation and use of natural gas with a density of no more than 0.8”,  the use of the casing pipe at railway and main road crossings;  the maintenance of a right of way free of buildings on either side of the gas pipeline. In this area, the owners are only allowed to perform normal farming activities, limiting any building works to minimum distances from the pipeline as indicated in the easement contract itself;  the adoption of gas pipeline burial depths conforming to the provisions laid down in MD of 17/04/2008;  the signalling of the presence of the pipeline, by means of special poles erected along its route. The presence of signs is a constant warning always to work with greater caution near the pipeline; these signs always bear a reference telephone number to which reports can be made or information obtained 24 hours a day.

The route was chosen after a close examination of the areas to be crossed, avoiding where possible residential areas and those in which other types of plants are located, that is, areas in which human activities may be frequent and have a considerable impact on the environment.

The line will also be subjected to periodic inspections by the SNAM RETE GAS staff, in order to identify any type of activity carried out near the pipeline. These inspections also guarantee that the conditions of the land on which the pipeline is laid have not undergone substantial changes for any reason, that none of the activities of third parties constitute a hazard and that the signalling of the line is maintained in an effective way.

All these considerations suggest that the risk of an incident due to external interference is negligible.

Corrosion From the “8th EGIG- report 1970-2010 - Gas pipeline incidents - December 2011” it emerges that, for the entire period monitored (1970-2010), corrosion accounts for about 16% of the incidents, and is the third most common cause of incidents.

External corrosion is the cause of 83% of these incidents while only 13% of them is attributable to internal corrosion (for the remaining 4%, the type of corrosion cannot be established).

The gas transmitted by the project gas pipeline is not corrosive so the risk of internal corrosion can be ruled out.

As regards external corrosion, both active and passive protection measures will be taken for the gas pipeline.

The external passive protection consists of an extruded polyethylene covering applied at the factory and an internal coating of epoxy paint, while the welding joints will be covered on the line with heatshrinking bands.

The active protection (cathodic) is ensured through an impressed current system with equipment set along the line that makes the pipeline more electrically negative than the surrounding electrolyte (soil, water, etc.).

In addition, the integrity of the pipeline against this type of damage is guaranteed through periodic inspection using the smart pig, which enables prompt action to be taken if any severe corrosion is detected.

All the considerations made above suggest that the risk of leaks being caused by corrosion of the pipeline in question is negligible.

Construction and material defects The prevention of incidents caused by construction or material defects is ensured by adopting the very latest technologies:  in terms of quality in the purchase of materials manufactured by qualified suppliers on the basis of strict corporate indications and in line with the latest international standards;  with continuous supervision of the construction works;  with checks carried out on all welds using non-destructive tests;  with a hydraulic test before putting the pipeline into operation.

The statistics of the EGIG database show a considerable reduction in the incident rates of this cause of damage for the construction of gas pipelines over the latest decades, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of the measures taken.

Instability of the land The “TAP connection to the Snam Rete Gas National Gas Pipeline Network” gas pipeline will be built on stable land and so the EGIG incident rates due to landslides are not applicable.

Final assessments On the basis of all the considerations made above, the incident rate of 1.6 10-4 [events/km year], which covers all accidental gas leaks and may be calculated from the EGIG data for the five-year period 2006-2010, though very low, is extremely conservative if applied to the project gas pipeline.

The analysis and considerations made on the technical solutions, in particular, the adoption of high thicknesses and safety factors, the application of a more than adequate covering to the pipeline, the tests carried out during the construction phase, the inspection of the gas pipeline in operation both on the ground and using smart pigs, suggests that the incident rate for the gas pipeline in question is likely to be considerably lower than indicated above.

7.3 Operation and Control of the Gas Pipeline

To complete the considerations made above, it is also pointed out that the “TAP Connection to the Snam Rete Gas National Gas Pipeline Network” gas pipeline, the elements used to manage safety aspects and, in particular, to check for incident scenarios include:  interception equipment that enables the line to be divided up into sections with the length corresponding to that laid down in MD 17/04/2008;  suitable draining devices that enable the section of piping obtained following its subdivision to be emptied rapidly if the need arises;  suitable safety devices that are activated if the maximum working pressure established is exceeded.

The gas pipeline will be operated by the Snam Rete Gas units responsible for the area, currently the Maintenance Centre of Bari, under the responsibility of the Southwestern District of Naples, unless the company’s regional structures are reorganized in the future.

Through teams of operators, the Maintenance centre implements the network supervision, maintenance and operation plans in compliance with the corporate regulations. These activities are planned, supervised and controlled by the manager of the Centre with the support of an adequate number of engineers. Within the scope of the District there is also a staff of engineers supporting, coordinating and supervising the Centre’s activities.

For the staff maintaining or operating the plants, training courses have been organized on the risks of each specific activity, in accordance with Italian legislative decree no. 81/08, as amended and in compliance with the provisions laid down in the Decree of 17th April 2008.

The entire staff is constantly trained in their tasks assigned both under normal working conditions and when unexpected events take place.

Emergency management The high standard of safety that Snam Rete Gas has chosen to adopt during the design, construction and operation phases and the setting up of an effective organizational structure for the management of faults, which has been consolidated over the years, have contributed to make the Italian gas transmission system an extremely safe network.

Snam Rete Gas has in-house procedures that establish the organizational and implementation criteria for handling any unexpected situation that may arise on the gas transmission network. The following sections provide a more detailed description of the following aspects of these procedures:

 activation of the emergency procedures;  responsibilities during the operation;  means of transport and communication, materials and equipment;  general emergency management criteria;  principal measures to be taken in an emergency.

Activation of the emergency procedures The emergency procedures may be activated by:  the receipt of reports over the telephone from third parties concerning problems associated with the transmission activities, which may be communicated to the free phone number of the emergency management service (800.970.911) provided by Snam Rete Gas and published on its web site (www.snamretegas.it). The system, which is operative 24 hours a day, is centralized at the Dispatch unit in San Donato Milanese. For maximum operating safety, the calls made to the public telephone numbers of the regional Maintenance Centres outside normal working hours are automatically switched to the telephones of the Dispatch unit.  Constant and accurate monitoring by the Dispatch unit of process parameters of the transmission system, via a centralized system for acquiring, managing and controlling these parameters (which include pressures, temperatures and flow rates, at characteristic points of the network). In particular, this system can be used to continuously check the condition of the network, detect any faults or failures on the network, provide the necessary coordination under normal operating conditions or, when a fault arises, to work independently both using the remote controls on the plants and the block valves and by activating the staff on call in the area concerned.  Reports made by the company staff responsible for maintaining, inspecting and testing the line and plants during the normal work activities.

Responsibilities during the operation In accordance with the Snam Rete Gas emergency procedures there is a complete, specific organizational structure with staff capable of taking rapid action on their network continuously on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year. The structure includes well-defined work skills and responsibilities and is organized in a hierarchical structure so that complex events can be handled as the necessary decisions can be made promptly.

In particular, for the project gas pipeline:

 The Emergency manager of the Centre responsible for the area conducts an analysis and takes the first steps and measures with a view to restoring the previous safety conditions in the environment and on the plants involved in the event and to restore normal operating conditions;

 on a higher level there is a structured unit (in the case at hand: SOUTHWEST DISTRICT based in Naples, and the Central Southern Area) which provides the necessary technical support and operational coordination to the local manager, in handling complex situations). This structure takes the appropriate measures to handle major issues and manages the decision-making and coordination relations with the competent authorities. The structure also provides the necessary specialist technical support for major problems.

In greater detail: o the support manager of the District provides the technical and operational support to the Centre and Area Manager and coordination of any other peripheral units involved according to the size and nature of the event; o when particularly important events are to be handled, the Area manager manages the operation in coordination with any units concerned by the event, including the management of relations with the Public Safety Authority and any departments involved for events whose management require broader and more complex coordination;  on a centralized level, the Emergency manager at the Dispatch unit in S. Donato Milanese, where necessary, coordinates the operations towards the interconnected networks and ensures the flow of information towards the users and the end customers /distribution companies involved in any reduction or interruption of the gas transportation service.

The means of transport and communication, materials and equipment The operating units have means of transport and communication suitable for handling the operation. Contracts have also been established with external companies for the transportation of the materials and the availability of the specialist staff, vehicles and equipment necessary to provide operational support to the local person responsible for the operation. These contracts may be activated 24 hours a day every day of the year. The local units also have equipment that can be used for emergencies constantly adapted to the engineering modifications made to the network. The spare materials for use in an emergency, kept constantly in efficient working order, are assigned to the central warehouse and those of regional units suitably distributed across the area.

General emergency management criteria The emergency procedures set the following priorities:  to eliminate any hazard to the safety of persons, things and the environment in as short a time as possible;

 to eliminate any element that could increase the size and/or worsen the consequences of the event;  to restore normal operation and correct functioning of the plant, where technically and operationally possible.

Due to the complex activity carried out by SNAM RETE GAS, every situation may have specific, unique characteristics. It is therefore not possible to establish a standardized code of methods to be adopted to handle the operation, choices to be made or conduct to be adopted by the organizational structure on all levels. The procedures therefore leave the aforesaid managers the responsibility for deciding upon the most appropriate action to be taken in detail, without however violating the following principles:  the operation must be performed as quickly as possible and the relevant managers must be promptly involved and informed;  throughout a release of gas from the pipes, the point where the event occurred will be supervised and all the necessary information and elements will be collected. These will include: the location of the point with respect to houses, railway lines, roads, power lines, etc., the causes of the event and the possible consequences of the gas leak for persons, things and the environment and the consequences for the users and the condition of the network.

The principal measures to be taken in an emergency The Emergency manager of the Centre is responsible for taking the initial action in situ: once he has been informed of the event that has occurred, he determines the limits of the intervention and, among other things, performs the following operations as quickly as possible:  acquires all the information necessary to correctly assess and locate the event;  has other on-call staff called by the Dispatch unit, where necessary;  reports to the Dispatch unit the elements in his possession useful to describe the situation, providing any other information useful to follow the development of the situation;  reaches the place where the event took place, where appropriate;  takes the steps necessary to implement measures to ensure the safety of the plants and the area involved in the event;  decides, having made a check in field and on the basis of the information of the condition of the network provided by the Dispatch unit, to have non-critical situations caused by instrument failures solved during the Centre’s normal activities but, in any case, as quickly as possible;  handles relations with the Public Safety authorities and departments if they are to be directly and immediately involved;

 involves the Area manager, via the Dispatch Unit, if operational coordination is necessary, according to the complexity of the event, providing him with the necessary information;  where appropriate, requests technical and operational assistance from the District Support Manager and agrees with him any further measures to be taken (such as the use of the staff, vehicles and equipment of third parties with whom an agreement has been stipulated, the dispatch of any emergency handling material not present at the Centre in question and the involvement of on-call workers from other Units).

On the basis of the tasks assigned to them, the higher-level managers, at the request of and in agreement with the local manager, take a set of measures, such as:  ensure and coordinate the procurement and dispatch of emergency handling materials and equipment;  request support from other operating units of Snam Rete Gas and, if necessary, activate third- party companies that have the staff, vehicles and equipment necessary to meet the specific needs;  ensure information and coordination with the Dispatch unit;  ensure specialist technical support and coordination for the local manager during the operation.

At the Dispatch unit, the shift operator:  by analysing the instrument values read on remote control systems, assesses any serious faults and makes the necessary manoeuvres or takes the necessary measures where necessary;  in relation to the current situation, sets the best network conditions and performs the relevant manoeuvres either by remote control from the Operations Room or through direct action taken by the local units concerned;  monitors the progress of the situation and provides coordination and operational support to the emergency management structure in the various phases of the operation.

The person responsible for the operation at the Dispatch unit:  coordinates the operations towards the connected networks (overseas networks, other national networks, national suppliers, third-party storages and services for the Snam Rete Gas network, etc. …);  assumes responsibility for the measures necessary to restore the distribution conditions of the entire gas transmission system after the event;  ensures the necessary information connections with the users and end customers / distribution companies affected by the interruption or reduction of the gas supply service.

7.4 Conclusions Due to its design and construction characteristics and the management policies described in this Study, the “TAP Connection to the Snam Rete Gas National Gas Pipeline Network” gas pipeline may be considered fully in line with the gas pipelines built and operated by the European natural gas transmission industry with regard to the level of safety for the local populations and the environment.

9. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS INFLUENCED BY THE WORK

This section analyses the environmental components most greatly affected by the implementation of the project.

Considering the particular features of the work described previously, it can be observed that the design operations with the largest environmental impacts are the opening of the working strip and the excavation of the trench in which the pipeline is to be laid.

For a limited period of time corresponding to the construction of the work, these operations have a direct effect on the soil and the most superficial part of the subsoil, the surface vegetation and the use of the soil, animals and their ecosystems and the landscape, along a strip of land whose width corresponds to the width of the working strip for the entire length of the pipeline.

Consequently, these operations affect the water, soil and subsoil, vegetation, land use, animals and their ecosystems and landscape components.

The other environmental components influenced marginally by the construction of the work are: the atmosphere, noise and the socioeconomic environment.

In particular, the atmosphere is affected by the exhaust gas emitted by the work vehicles and the raising of dust when the work is carried out during a dry period; this problem is however limited to the construction phase and so, once completed, the project has no effect whatsoever on this component.

With regard to noise and vibrations, the interference is due to the noise emitted by the tools and vehicles involved in constructing the work so, as indicated previously for the raising of dust, this problem is related to the presence of the work site and is thus limited to the construction phase.

Finally, as far as the socioeconomic environment is concerned, the operation does not permanently remove any productive goods or cultural heritage or entail any social modifications so the construction of the work does not significantly interfere with this component.

8.1 Climate

The area concerned by the project is generally characterized by a typically Mediterranean climate with mild winters and long, hot and, in a large part of the region, dry summers.

The temperatures vary in a linear fashion, both upwards (from January to August) and downwards (from September to December). The monthly average temperatures during the course of the year never drop below 5°C. The maximum temperatures are recorded in the months of July and August with an average of over 22°, while the minimum temperatures are recorded in January with values that range from 5.1° to 7.0°.

Due to the mitigating effect of the sea, the coastal areas have a more typical maritime climate with less marked seasonal temperature excursions.

Rainfall is scarce in the whole of the region, is concentrated during the winter months and is characterized by high variability across the entire area.

8.2 Geological Features

In the area examined there are numerous rock outcrops of terraced marine deposits (from the middle and late Pleistocene). The terraced marine deposits correspond to the sandy and calcarenitic facies of the Formation of Gallipoli and the post-pleistocenic deposits described on Sheet no. 203 of the Geological Map of Italy.

On the beds of the canals and ditches lie thin layers of alluvial deposits carried and accumulated by the surface waters. The type of rock of which the alluvium is made up depends on that of the land crossed by the surface waters: clayey or sandy according to whether the deposits concerned are sandy-clayey and/or calcarenitic.

8.3 Geomorphological Features

As far as the geomorphological features are concerned, the area of interest is characterized by flat and rolling plains, generally situated at progressively low levels towards the coast. This morphology reflects the tabular structure that characterizes the Plio-quaternary deposits and secondarily the Mesozoic formations, outcropping in the area examined.

The Base case route extends largely on the broad plain south of Brindisi, which forms what is known as the Tableland of Lecce. This area is characterized by its flatness broken up locally by low hills, slight morphological depressions and short slopes and breaks-in-slopes that delimit terraced surfaces of various sizes.

8.4 Hydrological Features

The surface hydrological features are strongly conditioned by the lithological and hydrogeological features of the land. In general, the high permeability of a large part of the rock outcrops has not allowed channel nets to form, however, in the area in the province of Brindisi where the outcrops consist of rocks with a lower degree of permeability, the channel net is larger than in the areas in the Salento district.

In the area concerned by the project work, the channel net is located on the broad plan that extends south of Brindisi as far as San Pietro Vernotico. It is characterized by slight incisions, often with long sections corrected by man, which concern both the lithoid formations and the virtually loose sediments; in addition, there are canals and ditches dug to drain the farmland that have locally modified the natural surface water drainage pattern.

In the area of interest, the watersheds of the various watercourses are poorly marked due to the flat morphology of the region.

The principal watercourses crossed by the proposed route in the province of Brindisi are the Fiume Grande and the Canale Foggia di Rau. They and their tributaries are crossed by the Base Case in their upstream sections where their beds are only slightly incised.

8.5 Pedological Features The area under examination, which is made up mainly of carbonate formations, is characterized by widespread Mediterranean red soils whose characteristics vary according to whether they are situated on the shallow valley floors where, due to the accumulation of colluvium, they are deeper and have little or no skeleton, or at the top of the slopes where they are present with lithosol and are often rocky and shallow. Under these conditions, quite large rock outcrops are fairly often present.

From the agronomical point of view, it is loose soil on a calcareous matrix whose structure and depth depend on the pedogenetic conditions, with a generally reduced or low water capacity, suitable for cereal crops and Mediterranean trees in particular for olive groves and vineyards. The agronomical operations performed over the years have increased the fertility and pedological quality of the active topsoil.

8.6 Vegetation and Land Use The survey concerned an area delimited by a strip of about 1,000 metres astride the axis of Base Case. The area studied lies between the provinces of Lecce and Brindisi; the land is nearly entirely flat.

The natural vegetation in this phytoclimatic region is represented by the holm oak (Quercus Ilex) and related brushwood, which constitute the climax vegetation. Some relict formations present in the study area witness the presence of cork oak (Quercus suber) and Valonia oak (Quercus ithaburensis macrolepis).

The other natural formations in the biogeographical area are: mixed maquis shrubs, Mediterranean maquis with the wild olive (Olea europaea oleaster), strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), Myrtle (Mirtus communis), Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), Phillyrea (Phillyrea latifolia), Brooms (Calicotome spinosa, Spartium junceum), Cistus (Cistus spp.), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Mediterranean steppe (Thero-Brachypodietea) on dry surface soils originating from calcarenitic substrates and garrigue, a low-lying shrubby formation that develops into grassland through colonization of pioneer shrubby species such as Thyme (Thymus capitatus), wild Cistus (Cistus spp.) and wild mint (Satureja cuneifolia).

A field inspection along the route of the pipeline revealed the presence of anthropic vegetation cultivated for productive purposes. The area is, in fact, characterized by farming activities, with a consequent marked reduction in natural areas such as woods, shrubs, natural grassland and flood bed areas.

In order to block this general impoverishment of the biodiversity in the study area, the remaining limited natural or seminatural areas have been protected, by creating Nature Reserves and Natura 2000 network sites.

These areas serve, in particular, to protect grassy habitats of the sub-steppe type on dry soils, woody habitats (holm oak forests) and Mediterranean maquis. The Base Case was intentionally kept away from these environmentally protected areas.

8.7 Land Use

The working strip for the construction of the gas pipeline concerns an area in which the land is characterized above all by the widespread and exclusive presence of seed crops, grazing meadows and woody plants.

As far as the seed crops are concerned, the traditional cultivation of winter cereals and, in particular, durum wheat (Triticum durum) used to produce pasta prevails.

The grazing meadows are areas that continue to be used for animal farming and therefore generally have a low degree of naturality to the extent that they are grouped with the seed crops to identify a single land use macrotype.

As far as the woody cultivations are concerned, cultivation of the olive (Olea europaea) in the varieties chosen for the production and yield of oil clearly prevails.

Along the route there will be no interference with woody areas or strips of riparian vegetation. The border lines between the lots of land with different owners consists mainly of dry walls while there are few hedges and rows, which are made up of common plants, of little vegetational significance.

The route concerns mainly olive groves with a regular planting layout and in the full production phase. The distance between the rows facilitates the opening of the working strip by reducing topsoil cutting needs.

With regard to the subdivision of the route according to land use category, the project pipeline crosses land with olive groves (49%), uncultivated (3%), vineyards (10%), seed crops and grazing meadows (33%) and orchards (1%).

Land use Distance covered (km) Olive groves 27.440 Seed crops – grazing meadows 18.480 Vineyards 5.6 Uncultivated 1.680 Orchards 0.560

8.8 Landscape

The area concerned by the project pipeline is characterized by flat or slightly undulating land and predominantly agricultural use of the land. The new route concerns homogeneous areas characterized by a rural setting with continuous, broad stretches of trees (olive groves) and arable and grazing land.

While the olive groves are the same colour all year round (evergreen plants), the colours of the seed crops and grazing meadows change according to the season. In particular, the main cereal crop, in the winter-spring period is characterized by the green colour of the wheat plants while in the late spring-summer period by a yellow colour due its coming into ear and the stubble in the fields after harvesting. The grazing meadows undergo a similar change of colour.

Nearly all the areas used for farming are delimited by dry walls made of white/pink calcareous stones typical of Puglia.

In quantitative terms, the principal landscape component of the area crossed by the pipeline is that of the olive groves on flat or slighting undulating land with the presence of a few minor residential settlements.

The characteristic rural landscape of the countryside crossed is characterized not only by the widespread farming activities but also by several and, in some cases, ancient country residences, quite large in size (farmhouses) witnessing the marked farming nature and considerable use of resident labour also in the recent past.

8.9 Fauna and Ecosystems This section lists the principal ecosystems present in the area, identified in relation to their vegetational nature, and briefly describes the fauna that lives in them. As mentioned previously, the base case interferes exclusively with farming and rural areas.

Tilled land and grazing meadows The area that the proposed route interferes with consists almost exclusively of these “ecosystems”. Durum wheat is widespread while, in the most suitable areas, there are tree plantations such as olive groves and a few vineyards. These ecosystems were created by man in different periods and are strongly conditioned in their evolution by the practice of farming activities. Most of the phytocenosis is anthropogenic and even the spontaneous plants (vegetation of the meadows and fields) are made up of very common and widespread species.

The fauna living in these ecosystems is not particularly interesting or varied. Apart from the grass-fed animal species, there is a complex of species that in time have adapted to exploit the trophic resources inadvertently made available by man; they are generally however widespread, common species with a high degree of tolerance towards the interference caused by human activities.

The agricultural areas, particularly the arable land and tree cultivations, despite being highly productive, for a large part of the year do not offer particularly significant trophic resources; only when the cultivated species mature is there a “peak” in the offer of food, which is in any case taken away from the fauna by harvesting. With regard to the receptiveness of the environment, that is, the ability to offer shelter for the reproduction/nesting of the various animal species, the more fertile meadows and tilled land do not play a major role in that the structure of the ecosystem is trivial due to farming needs.

Residential settlements

The residential settlements in the area examined are represented essentially by a number of isolated houses and farm buildings, farmhouse complexes, in particular. The fauna in the anthropic areas is rich in that a certain number of animal species have adapted to exploit the resources inadvertently made available by man. They are generally easily adaptable species of considerable ecological value but not particularly valuable from the naturalistic point of view.

Within the villages, the surrounding countryside, above all where extensively cultivated, can provide plenty of plant-derived food (seeds, fruit, grass), for both birds and mammals. There is a wide range of food for the fauna: corn stores, scraps of food, feed for stable animals or poultry.

The resources available in the anthropic areas are not however limited to the trophic aspect: several bird species nest in the buildings (e.g. swallows, sparrows), the gardens and the trees in the courtyards; even some mammals may use the buildings to build their dens (e.g. dormouse, beech marten and rodents).

8.10 Sites of Community Importance

An analysis of the vast area around the base case revealed the presence of some Rete Natura 2000 sites, analysed also on the basis of the last update made.

The proposed route of the pipeline does not interfere directly with any SCIs or SPAs and remains at a considerable distance from them, except for two SCIs situated less than 300 m from the route.

The table below shows the minimum distances measured, as the crow flies, between the axis of the project pipeline and the boundaries of the Natura 2000 network sites present for a significant surrounding area.

The sites are listed in ascending order of their distance from the project gas pipeline.

Type Code Name Distance from project gas pipeline (km) SCI IT9150030 Bosco La Lizza e Macchia del Paraglione 0.200 SCI IT9150033 Specchia dall’Alto 0.240

SCI IT9140006 Bosco di S. Teresa 0.700 SCI IT9140004 Bosco del Lucci 0.950 SCI IT9150029 Bosco di Cervalora 1.100 SCI IT9150006 Bosco e Paludi del Rauccio 1.300 SCI IT9140001 Bosco Tramazzone 1.850 SCI IT9150025 Torre Veneri 3.100 SCI IT9150003 Aquatina di Frigole 3.900

These Sites protect some important elements of Mediterranean biodiversity related to the natural conditions of the vegetation and the habitats, in an area that, over the years, has been used above all for farming and grazing, hunting, the draining and exploitation of water resources, forest fires, overgrazing and building development.

They are quite small areas of land that have had to take account of the breaks in the landscape represented in particular by the broad stretches of cultivated farmland.

The working strip of the project gas pipeline will lie on this farmland and will thus not interfere directly with the areas of the Sites, habitats or protected plant species, or have any significant indirect effect on the animal species present on the sites.

With reference to the sites located near the route, some potential noise interference may be caused, as indicated below, only for those situated less than 350 metres from the route, that is: SCI IT9150033 “Specchia dall’Alto” (0.240 km from the route) and SCI IT9150030 “Bosco La Lizza and Macchia del Paraglione” (0.200 km from the route).

IT9150033 “Specchia dall’Alto”

The “Specchia dall’Alto” SCI is entirely situated in the province of Lecce, in a flat area at an altitude of between 14 and 40 m asl, near the coastal strip. It has a surface area of 485 ha, in a Mediterranean biogeographical area. It is characterized by pseudo-steppe grassy vegetation with the presence of scrub with Stipa capensis, Brachypodium ramosum and stretches of Tuberaria guttata. All these types of vegetation belong to the class Thero-Brachypodietea and are thus classified as priority habitats. The pseudo-steppe is colonized in parts by a low garrigue made up of Satureja cuneifolia and Thymus capitatus with broad grassy meadows.

The only habitat protected in accordance with directive 92/43/EEC present on the site is: - 6220* - Substeppe paths of graminaceous and annual plants of the class Thero-Brachypodietea (priority habitat). This type of habitat is dominated by annual grassy vegetation and characterized by vegetational aspects that represent several dynamic phases. The most frequent graminaceous plants comprise Brachypodium ramosum, Brachypodium dystachium, Stipa sp. pl. and Vulpia sp. pl.; also frequent are the leguminous plants (Scorpiurus muricatus, Coronilla scorpioides, Trifolium campestre, Medicago sp.pl.) and other species, such as Reichardia picroides, Hypochoeris achyrophorus, Linum strictum, etc. They are related to the presence of rock, mainly carbonate, outcrops distributed principally along the coasts but also inland and there is Mediterranean therophytic grassy vegetation consisting of Thero- Brachypodietea but also Lygeo-Stipetea and Tuberarietea guttatae (Brachypodietalia distachi); these phytocenoses are often present in contact with ampelodesmeta and chamaephytic cenoses consisting of Rosmarine.

The fauna protected in accordance with the EU directives and other legislation in force is limited to two reptiles belonging to the family Colubridae, snakes that live in dry and sunny environments such as dry walls, parks and gardens, stony ground, areas with Mediterranean maquis, field borders and watercourses.

Common name Scientific name EU directives Red list Bern convention Four-lined snake Elaphe Annexe II LR Annexe II quatuorlineata Leopard snake Elaphe situla Annexe II Annexe II

- Four-line snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata) It is widespread in Southeastern Europe and Western Asia; in Italy it occupies the peninsula, south of the River Arno. It lives in woods and scrub, evergreen, deciduous and mixed; it prefers clearings and marginal areas. It likes aqueous environments, often frequenting riparian zones on the edge of woods. The four-lined snake is becoming extinct due to the alteration of its habitat and, in particular, due to the destruction of the trees and shrubs in open areas.

Environmental preferences: Its habitat is Mediterranean maquis, normally on the edge of clearings, meadows, garrigue, scrub, tilled land and more rarely marshy areas and broad-leaved woodland, from sea level to 1100 m but normally no higher than 800 m; it can be found in Sicily and the Italian peninsula up to the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines although, on the Po valley side it is extremely rare if present at all. It is a snake with mainly terriculous habits, moves slowly on the ground but is a good swimmer and sometimes climbs trees.

Conservation: The species is not at a risk of extinction although the changing environment and their capture for terrorist and scientific purposes are leading to a progressive decline of the species.

- Leopard snake (Elaphe stipula)

It is present in the southern areas of Italy, above all in Sicily. It lives in open habitats such as meadows, clearings, tilled land and above all alluvial areas. It is considered the most beautiful of all European snakes and is intensely hunted for marketing purposes. This, together with the alteration of the environments in which it lives, have made it become very rare all over the site.

Environmental preferences: It is a diurnal, terriculous species, which, in Italy rarely reaches an altitude of 600 m. It is frequently found in woody areas with sparse free and shrub vegetation in areas of maquis and garrigue, on meadows and tilled land, dry wall or ruins and also near streams or swamps.

Conservation: It is a rare species in decline due to the progressive disappearance of its habitats, above all those on the coast and, secondly, due to their capture for collection or killing by man.

SCI IT9150030 “Bosco La Lizza e Macchia del Paraglione The SCI “Bosco La Lizza e Macchia del Paraglione” is entirely situated in the province of Lecce, in a flat area at an altitude of between 13 and 23 m asl, near the coastal strip. It has a surface area of 60 ha, in a Mediterranean biogeographical area. The site protects in particular a remaining woody area: a holm oak wood (Quercus ilex) is in good vegetative conditions. Of great vegetational interest is also the maquis where the dominant species is the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo). In the clearings of the maquis there is grassy vegetation consisting of Cimbopogon hirtus. In the area there is a large dry stone building known locally as the "Pagliarone", in an excellent state of conservation, once used as a shelter for herds of sheep and goats, which represents a fine example of rural architecture.

The habitats protected in accordance with directive 92/43/CEE present on the site are: - 6220* - Substeppe paths of graminaceous and annual plants consisting of Thero-Brachypodietea. For a description, see the previous SCI section.

- 9340 - Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia forests This type of habitat comprises two principal types of woods, related to dynamically associated vegetational phases, so, in addition to the forest formations, there are also therophytic meadows and Mediterranean maquis; in most cases, they are dominated by holm oak trees (Quercus ilex), belonging to the order Quercetalia ilicis. Most of the environments in this group are distributed along the Tyrrhenian and Ionian coasts and on the main islands, there are also, however, numerous preapennine and appenine stations associated with xerophilous edaphon conditions, within a temperate bioclimatic environment.

The fauna protected in accordance with the EU directives (79/409/EEC, 92/43/EEC) is limited to two reptiles belonging to the Colubridae family (see previous SCI section): - Four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata) - Leopard snake (Elaphe stipula).

Direct interference There will be no direct interference, in terms of neither habitat nor species consumption as the working strip will not be present within the Sites of Community importance.

On the basis of the criteria for a screening assessment of the environmental impact on the project work, the possible impacts on the following matrix of environmental indicators were assessed: - Loss of habitat surface area - Disturbance to species - Fragmentation of habitats and species - Reduction of the species density - Variation in key indicators - Microclimatic changes

The precise environmental assessment based on each of these indicators allows us to state that the work will cause no losses, variations, changes or fragmentations and the risk of the work having direct effects on the conservational value of the site can be ruled out altogether

Indirect interference In relation to the type of project work, indirect interference would consist of noise emissions and the emission of dust and pollutant particles caused by the temporary work site activities for the construction of the pipeline. Both the atmospheric and the noise emissions are associated with the temporary use of work vehicles on the site. There will be no emissions during the operation of the work.

It is pointed out that these machines are all equipped with systems for reducing the noise and exhaust gas emissions laid down in the law and that, in any case, the vehicles will only work during the day and not all at the same time.

An exception to this rule is represented by the activities involved in laying sections of piping using trenchless technology such as microtunnels, which eliminate the need for opening working strips, cutting the topsoil, earth moving and open excavation. In this case, the emission of noise will be limited to the stations used for launching and receiving the portion of piping laid underground: these areas are therefore positioned at two different points set at a distance from one another.

As far as the raising of dust during dry periods is concerned, above all during digging and backfilling activities, the area on which the work vehicles pass within the working strip will constantly be dampened so as to limit the amount of dust raised to a minimum.

As it is mobile work site, the aforesaid temporary interference due to the emission of noise, exhaust gas and dust is limited, within the scope of the specific section taken into consideration, to a few days for each work phase.

An analysis of the results of recent modelling simulations enabled us to define the extension of the areas of interference which, due to the fact that the area crossed by the pipeline is uniformly flat, are similar for every source along the route.

On the basis of the analysis of the areas of acoustic influence, assuming that the noise emission level of 50 dB(A) represents the reference limit for causing disturbance, it can be deduced that, under worst-case conditions, a receiver positioned near the route will suffer the noise emitted during work site activities for as long as the distance between the source and the receiver is less than about 350 metres.

Knowing that the digging/backfilling speed is about 300 m a day, it can be considered that a receiver will undergo a variation in its acoustic conditions for a maximum period of about 2 days, for each movement of the work front.

Finally, it is pointed out that in the areas neighbouring the Sites of Community Importance described, normal farming activities are carried out using work vehicles with similar noise and atmospheric emissions.

Like the direct interference, the indirect interference will not result in losses, variation, changes or fragmentations and the risk of any effects on the conservational value of the Site can be therefore be ruled out altogether.

Assessment of the size of the impact On the basis of the technical design and construction characteristics of the project work and the environmental characteristics of the Natura 2000 network sites situated in the vicinity of the route in a surrounding area of 5 km, taken into consideration to assess the possible environmental interference, the screening assessment matrix for the SCIs situated at a distance of less than 350 m was applied, in accordance with a precautionary principle. No direct or indirect interference is contemplated for the other Sites. The table below summarizes the overall environmental impact assessment for the Sites considered

Type of impact Size of the impact Direct effects Indirect effects Loss of habitat surface area No effect No effect Disturbance to species Not significant1 Not significant 2 Fragmentation of habitats and species No effect No effect Reduction of species density No effect Not significant2 Variation in key indicators No effect No effect Microclimatic changes No effect No effect Overall assessment of environmental impact Not significant

1 On the basis of the precautionary principle, a potential temporary direct disturbance to protected animal species (reptiles) is considered in case of interception of animals outside the Site area during the opening of the working strip. Once the works have begun, the noise emitted will keep the reptiles away. 2 On the basis of the precautionary principle, a potential temporary disturbance to and reduction in the density of animal species (in particular, migratory birds) in the part of the Site closest to the route is considered, due to the temporary noise and exhaust gas emissions during the work period which, as mentioned previously, will last for a few days for each work phase and for single sections with a length of about 300 m. This disturbance will be temporary and is, in any case, comparable to the disturbance caused by the farming activities.

In addition, it is pointed out that the noise will be emitted almost exclusively during the daytime: an exception to this rule is represented by the activities related to the laying of sections of piping using trenchless technologies such as microtunnelling, which, on the other hand, eliminate the need for working strip opening, topsoil cutting, earth moving and open excavation. In this case, the emission of noise will be limited to the stations for launching and receiving the section of piping laid underground: these areas are thus situated at different points distant from one another.

8.11 Nature Reserves

The base case does not interfere directly with any Nature Reserve, but passes close to the following areas: - EUAP0683 “Bosco e Paludi del Rauccio” regional park (distance 0.120 km) - EUAP0579 “Bosco di Cerano” regional nature reserve (distance 0.670 km) - EUAP0543 “Boschi di S. Teresa e Lucci” regional nature reserve (distance 0.180 km)

“Bosco e Paludi del Rauccio” Regional Park

The Rauccio Park, which has a total surface area of 625 ha, presents a wide variety of environmental features. It comprises 18 hectares of land occupied by holm oaks (Quercus ilex), the remains of the "Forest of Lecce", a woody area that, in the Middle Ages, stretched across an area between Lecce, the Adriatic coast, Otranto and Brindisi . Bordering the holm oak wood there is a marshy area called “Specchia della Milogna”, which covers a surface area of about 90 ha; there are also two coastal basins, Idume and Fetida, with a surface area of about 4 ha, and small areas of Mediterranean maquis, garrigue and, finally, a section of coast about 4 km long.

The censuses conducted by the Department of Biology of the University of Lecce in collaboration with the local WWF office reveal the presence of 584 species subdivided into 338 genera and 81 families. in particular, the thick undergrowth of the holm oak wood comprises Mastic, mock privet, Mediterranean buckthorn, myrtle, sarsaparille (Smilax aspera) and the Mediterranean honeysuckle (Lonicera implexa). The rare species present in the park also include the marsh orchid (Orchis palustris) and, above all, the silk vine (Periploca graeca), a species at risk of extinction.

The fauna present is equally varied. The swamps that form on the clearings in the wood house amphibians such as the Italian newt (Triturus italicus), the green toad (Bufo viridis), and the European tree frog (Hyla intermedia); there is also the badger (Meles meles), from which the place name Specchia della Milogna originates..

The park is also a stopping place for migratory birds. In the springtime hoopoes and turtle doves, while sometimes during the winter, mute swans (Cignus olor) have been observed in the Idume basin. Some huts built as observation points may be used to admire the fauna present.

The Park area also houses some architectural remains of historical and artistic value. Along the coast there are two of the watchtowers that were built in the Middle Ages for defence against the Turks. They are Torre Rinalda and Torre Chianca.

The inland area also comprises the Barone Vecchio farm, which dates back to the middle of the 16th century and the 17th century farm complex of Rauccio, consisting of the farm, the Dovecote Tower and the Chapel, of which only a few traces remain. The farmhouse, which has recently been restored, houses the acquaterrarium and is the WWF base for carrying out its park protection and improvement activities.

“Bosco di Cerano” Regional Nature Reserve

This regional nature reserve, created through regional law no. 26 of 23-12-2002, develops along the Li Siedi canal, in the municipalities of Brindisi and San Pietro Vernotico; it occupies an area of 1,158 hectares.

The Wood of Cerano (also called "Tramazzone") is an extensive formation made up of a wide selection of tree species. The protected area comprises the remaining part of a coastal wood characterized by the presence of Mediterranean maquis and holm oak formations. Its particular microclimatic conditions allow the growth of hygrophilic plants such as the wych elm and the European hop hornbeam, with a thick undergrowth. The trees once covered the whole area as far as the sea. Over the centuries, the anthropization process reduced the wood in favour of farming, which, in turn, has been replaced by industrial plants.

The animals present include many small rodents and the badger. The Reserve has rich bird-life made up of more than sixty species, including 28 nesting species, above all birds of the order Passeriformes (Sardinian warbler, goldfinch, chaffinch, blackcap and nightingale). Birds of prey, both diurnal and nocturnal, are present in number. In the spring, the area is frequented by the golden oriole and the white swan.

“Boschi di S. Teresa e Lucci” Regional Nature Reserve

This regional nature reserve was created through regional law no. 23 of 23-12-2002 in order to conserve and recover the biocenosis, with particular regard to the habitats and animal and plant species listed in the EU directives on the conservation of natural and seminatural habitats of the wild flora and fauna, the landscape, the ecological balance and the hydraulic and hydrogeological balances.

The reserve comprises some important areas of naturalistic value such as relict woods, damp areas and areas of Mediterranean maquis in a mainly agricultural environment.

The woods of Santa Teresa and Lucci are precious woody remains of the easternmost European and Mediterranean site of the Cork oak, with an undergrowth of Mediterranean maquis characterized by the presence of the tree heath and the strawberry tree alongside more common botanical species such as the Mastic, Myrtle, Honeysuckle and Cistus. The presence of rare specimens of Quercia Vallonea (wood of Santa Teresa), southwestern species present in Italy only in the Salento area, Holm oak and Downy oak, makes this area richer and more diversified.

The fauna component consists mainly of passerine birds, in particular, the Sardinian warbler. The area is also frequented by nocturnal birds of prey (Barn owl, Long-eared owl and the Little owl) and, during migration, the Montagu’s harrier, the Black kite and the Lesser kestrel are observed.

In the areas where the undergrowth is thicker, the presence of the badger has been observed, together with numerous foxes. The predominant micromammal is the Long-tailed field mouse, while the reptiles observed include the Three-toed skink, the Four-lined snake and the rare Leopard snake.

Impact of the work on the Nature Reserves

Like in the assessment of the environmental impact of the work on the Natura 2000 network sites in the area investigated, it can be stated that, on the basis of the characteristics of the project work and the natural areas present, no direct effects on the environmental elements making up the area are to be expected. In accordance with the maximum precautionary principle, temporary and insignificant indirect effects may be expected as a result of the temporary noise and exhaust gas emissions that take place in the work period which, as mentioned previously, will only last for a few days for each work phase and for single sections with a length of about 300 m.

In addition, it is pointed out that the noise will be emitted almost exclusively during the daytime: an exception to this rule are the activities related to the laying of the pipeline using trenchless technology such as microtunnelling, which, on the other hand, eliminates the need for working strip opening, topsoil cutting, earth moving and open excavation. In this case, the noise emissions will be limited to the stations for launching and receiving the section of piping laid underground: these areas are situated at two different points distant from one another.

On completion of the works, all the areas will be restored and returned to farming activities.

10. ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION AND RESTORATION OPERATIONS

The environmental impact of the implementation of the project is limited by adopting a differentiated approach, according to the characteristics of the area concerned, both by making appropriate decisions during the design phase, capable of reducing the environmental impact a priori and by carrying out adequate restoration works of various kinds.

9.1 Mitigation Measures

In the case at hand, the following mitigation measures will be adopted: 1. location of the route as far as possible from areas of naturalistic value; 2. burial of the entire pipeline; 3. tidy cutting of the vegetation, and only where strictly indispensable, and putting to one side of the top layer of the soil, which contains humus; 4. putting to one side of excavated material separately from the aforesaid fertile soil and its redistribution along the working strip; 5. use of the working strip or industrial areas for storing the pipes; 6. use, where possible, of the existing roads for access to the working strip; 7. adoption of naturalistic engineering techniques in the execution of restoration works; 8. planning of the works, where permitted by the needs of the work site, in the best periods for minimizing the effects of the construction of the work on the natural environment. 9. Adoption of reduced-width working strips where the route crosses particular environments (woods, valuable olive groves, vineyards) where compatible with work site needs.

Where permitted by work site needs, when the working strip is opened in some sections of olive groves, particularly valuable olive trees will be removed, conserved during the works and finally transplanted.

Some of the aforesaid solutions actually reduce the impact of the work on all the environmental components, leading to a minimization of the area involved in the project, while others interact more specifically on single aspects and help ensure the success of the future environmental restoration operations.

9.2 Morphological and Hydraulic Restoration Works

Surface water control works The surface water control works are carried out to keep the runoff water away so as to prevent superficial soil erosion. These works therefore serve to regulate the surface runoff.

The quantity and location of the surface control works are established on the basis of the gradient and nature of the land.

In the case at hand, considering the morphological features of the area, there will be little need for these works.

Supporting works Supporting works are intended to mean works carried out in order to ensure the static support of natural and artificial slopes and escarpments. These works may perform static supporting, covering or restraining functions.

With reference to the work under examination, these operations are performed to restrain natural and slopes and escarpments created by man, especially where associated with the presence of infrastructure.

Stone retaining walls and bag diaphragms are to be built.

Hydraulic defence works

To prevent bank erosion and restrain the land behind, the river banks will be reinforced normally with rocks.

Along watercourses with a limited runoff cross section, the works will be carried out using naturalistic engineering techniques and cuttings of autochthonous plants will be planted so as to minimize the visual impact and make the works themselves fit better into the surrounding environment.

Hydrogeological restoration works According to the depth of excavation, generally within the first 3 metres below ground level, only rarely and locally will the works interfere, temporarily, with the water table and the underground water circulating system, as in the case of particular sections such as the crossings below the bed of watercourses or those characterized by conditions typical of the area close to the water table.

The measures to be adopted to restore the hydrogeological balance are established case by case by choosing between the following types of operation: - backfilling of the excavated trench with a granular material so as to preserve the horizontal continuity of the water table; - backfilling of the trench, respecting the original sequence of soils (if types of rock with different degrees of permeability are alternated) so as to restore the original hydrogeological conditions.

9.3 Final Settlement of Roads and Access Areas

All public and private roads affected by the works and all areas of access to the work site will be restored to their original conditions ante operam once the work has been completed.

9.4 Restoration of Low Dry Stone Walls

In view of the particular landscape and cultural heritage value of the low dry stone walls present in the rural area crossed, all sections of these walls affected by the work site activities will be carefully restored at the end of the works.

To this aim, the walls affected by the opening of the working strip will be established before the start of the works and, at the end of the works, will be rebuilt using the same methods and stones of the same nature and size.

9.5 Restoration of the Vegetation

The restoration of the agricultural and forest topsoil comprises all the works necessary to restore the original conditions of use.

In the agricultural areas, the purpose of the restoration will be to return the soil to the same suitability for use and agronomic fertility as before the works were carried out, while in the areas with natural and seminatural vegetation, the restoration work will be aimed at triggering the dynamic processes that lead to the original structure and composition of the phytocenosis as quickly as possible, following the natural phases of evolution.

Restoration of the vegetation is always preceded by a series of operations aimed at recovering the original conditions of the soil and can be divided into the following phases: topsoil removal and setting aside, turfing and planting of trees and shrubs, and cultivation.

Topsoil removal and setting aside In order to ensure optimum restoration of the soil, it is important to open the working strip properly by removing and setting aside the topsoil to a depth that corresponds approximately to the level of the grass roots. This is important to maintain the potential and the vegetational characteristics of a given environment, above all where the layer of soil is relatively thin.

Safeguarding of shrubs In any sections that pass through garrigue and Mediterranean maquis, if permitted by work site needs, some specific specimens of shrubby species present in the working strip can be safeguarded by removing them during the working strip opening phase, conserving them during the works and planting them again once trimmed.

Safeguarding of dry soil For more superficial soils on a calcarenitic substrate with rock outcrops, where the topsoil is difficult to remove, the soil can be safeguarded by screening the excavated material and subsequently restoring the soil in layers that are increasingly thin from the bottom up to ground level.

Restoration of farming areas In addition to the removal and restoration of the topsoil, the land improvement works, such as fixed irrigation systems, draining ditches provisionally damaged during the laying of the gas pipeline, will be completely restored once the pipe laying works have been completed.

Turfing Turfing will be performed on all the sections crossed by the pipeline and where the natural or seminatural vegetation is to be restored. These sections are represented by short sections of woods, areas with riparian vegetation, maquis and shrubs, uncultivated grassy and shrubby land and grazing meadows.

The choice of the mixtures to be used conciliates the need to conserve the natural features of the grassy cenosis crossed with the ease with which the propagation material can be found on the national market and on the basis of the fact that previous experiences in similar environments have demonstrated that the autochthonous species integrate immediately with the mixture of species available on the market and then replace it and become gradually dominant in time, through normal vegetational dynamics.

The seeds will preferably be distributed using hydroseeding machines so a mixture of seeds, water and, where appropriate, fertilizer and a protective cover will be distributed.

The table below shows an indicative composition of grassy species capable of forming a good mixture to favour the recolonization of the areas affected, in particular, the uncultivated grassy land and grazing meadows on dry soil.

Mixture of herbaceous plants % Orchard grass (Dactylys glomerta) 20 Crested dog’s-tail (Cynosurus cristatus) 15 Rough bluegrass (Poa trivialis) 10 Upright brome (Bromus erectus) 15 Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) 15 Sweet vernal grass (Anthoxantum odoratum) 10 Red clover (Trifolium pratense) 5 Kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) 5 White clover (Trifolium repens) 2.5 Black medic (Medicago lupulina) 2.5 TOTAL 100

In order to favour the natural dynamics, the quantity of seeds per unit surface area can be diversified: on more fertile land and on well-developed soils, larger quantities of 30-40 g/m2 can be distributed. On dry meadows or in soils with rock outcrops, where the natural vegetation has a lower density and a more seasonal nature, lower quantities of 20 g/m2 will be distributed and, where appropriate, integrated with local hayseed.

The hayseed can be purchased locally from livestock farms or taken directly from the field by mowing and conserving the product harvested and then spreading it along the working strip. The hayseed mowing and harvesting operations (whole plants or threshed product) are to be performed in late spring when the grassy species present (in particular, the graminaceous plants) have come into ear.

On the contrary, the best season for sowing and spreading the hayseed is autumn and winter when the roots of the plants have developed well and the rainfall of the period allow the plants to cope better with the scarcity of water the following summer.

Planting of trees and shrubs The base case does not interfere with woody areas or specific areas of Mediterranean maquis. It will affect short and limited sections of riparian vegetation, some hedges and rows and uncultivated shrubby areas somewhat degraded from the floristic and vegetational viewpoints, with a low degree of naturality and, in any case, physically detached from other more valuable environments situated at a distance from the route (SCI, Nature reserves, etc.).

The vegetational restoration of these small surface areas will, however, represent an opportunity to increase biodiversity by reintroducing autochthonous species and favouring the spontaneous recolonization of small elements of a possible ecological network.

Tree and shrubby species will therefore be planted not to replace the plants removed when the working strip was opened but to start and favour a spontaneous process of reforming the most natural ecological and landscape environment.

In order to ensure the plants take root, use is generally made of material grown in a container and coming from plant nurseries close to the work area. In particular, use will be made of seedlings 1-2 years old with a height of 0.60 – 0.80 m or larger plants cultivated even through successive transplants into larger pots or supplied with turf, with a height of about 1.50 – 1.75 m.

Along the banks of ditches and rivers, use can be made of cuttings and whips of willows and poplars, preferably taken in situ during periods of dormancy.

On the basis of the results of the study conducted on the vegetation actually and potentially present in the project area, the types of operation were identified according to the type of formations found. For example, the specific composition and the degree of mixture required to restore these types are indicated below.

- Restoration of riparian vegetation This restoration work will be carried out along the banks of river crossings where the riparian tree vegetation is quite thick. The operations will be limited to the area of the crossings and will consist in planting cuttings, preferably taken in situ, and nursery plants so as to form patches of trees and shrubs set in a layout (theoretical in that they will be arranged irregularly) of 2x2 metres, for a total number of about 2,500 plants per hectare.

Tree species % Shrub species % Salix alba 20 Salix eleagnos 5 Alnus glutinosa 25 Salix triandra 15 Salix viminalis 5 Rosa canina 5 Phragmites communis 10 Sambucus nigra 10 Tamarix africana 5 Total 45 55

- Restoration of thickets and shrubs The restoration work proposed to recreate this type of vegetation consists in planting the shrub species indicated in the table in order to recreate an intermediate pioneer phase, with a layout (theoretical in that they will be arranged irregularly) of 2x2 metres, for a total number of about 2,500 plants per hectare. If hedges and rows are reconstituted, the linear pattern of the shrub and/or tree formation will be maintained.

Shrub species % Arbutus unedo 20 Pistacia lentiscus 15 Pistacia terebinthus 15 Phillyrea latifolia 15 Crataegus monogyna 10 Olea europea var. oleaster 10 Phillyrea angustifolia 5 Myrtus communis 5 Coronilla emerus 5 Total 100

- Restoration of woods and holm oak forests This type of wood is not affected by the project work.

Methods of reforestation The methods adopted to restore reforested areas through to completion of the remediation process, that is, until the plants are capable of growing without any support. This type of operation is performed in two periods of the year; indicatively spring and late summer, except in the case of unusual seasonal trends.

The reforestation methods consist in performing the following operations:

- preliminary identification of the cuttings planted by erecting signalling poles or canes of a suitable height and diameter;

- mowing of the infesting vegetation;

- hoeing of the area around the stem of the plant;

- complete filling of any holes that are enclosed for any reason, including the formation of the counterslope yard on steep sections;

- opening of a drain in holes with stagnant water;

- weeding by hand, where necessary;

- removal of dead branches;

- any other operation necessary to reforest the area successfully including the restoration of accessory reforestation works (restoration of verticality of stakes, warning tables, functionality of fences, verticality of protective plastic and wire netting, repositioning of mulch, etc).

Before proceeding with reforestation, the mulching disks (where present) will be momentarily removed and repositioned once the operations have been completed.

While performing the reforestation operations, any misses will be detected. The repair of the misses, to be performed in the most appropriate period, will consist in ensuring that the seedlings planted have fully taken root.

Interference with olive groves Olive groves will be affected along a significant part, over 40%, of the route. As they are cultivations on privately-owned land, all the costs deriving from the loss of the topsoil and any hanging fruits will be recognized and paid in compensation to the parties entitled.

Before the start of the working strip opening works, all the olive trees that are to be cut down and whose stumps are to be removed will be registered and described on specific data sheets, according to the methods laid down in the law so as to produce the relevant applications.

If the work interferes with particularly valuable olive trees, they will be removed and conserved for the entire work period and then replanted (olive tree transplantation).

The transplantation of olive trees will consist of the following phases: - careful trimming of the foliage in advance to balance the aerial system with the size of the root system, which will be resized by clod crushing, safeguarding the branches with a diameter of over 30 cm;

- clod crushing of the plant to be performed using a digger with a small, sharp bucket, so as to cleanly sever the roots of the trees, which will thus be removed from the ground without the risk of tearing damage;

- until it can be transplanted, wrapping of the root ball in burlap, to be removed immediately before planting;

- lifting of the burlapped tree using tensioning bands so as to avoid damaging the root system, the trunk and foliage of the tree;

- planting of the tree in an area close to the working strip (or other area selected and made available) in holes large enough to allow the burlapped root system to be positioned perfectly;

- covering of the base of the plant with hay, which will perform a mulching function.

- watering with a mechanical or manual irrigating system, fertilization with organic and chemical fertilizer to maintain the tree well and covering with a canopy;

- return of the tree to its original position or another suitable position once the pipeline works have been completed.

Measures for minimizing disturbance to the fauna On the basis of the environmental analysis conducted up to now, with reference also to the indications given concerning indirect interference with SCIs and Nature reserves to which no disturbance is caused but situated in the immediate vicinity, the following measures will have to be taken to mitigate the indirect disturbance to the fauna, paying particular attention to the sections of the route closest to the sites in question:

- use of mechanical tools and work vehicles conforming to the legal provisions on noise and exhaust gas emissions,

- wetting of the areas of transit of the vehicles along the working strip during dry periods,

- maintenance of the heaps of topsoil and excavated soil, duly separate from one another, during the work period, beside the working strip so as to reduce the noise emitted outside the work site and to prevent animals approaching the excavation areas,

- wetting of the heaps of soil in dry and windy periods, so as to reduce the amount of dust raised and the impoverishment of the material stocked.

- In sections of piping laid underground near the nature reserves and SCIs closest to the pipeline, an assessment will be made of the noise temporarily emitted during the operating activities at the microtunnel launching and receiving stations. A specific acoustic study will be conducted to establish whether the noise exceeds the limits at any sensitive receivers to be positioned in the protected areas, so as to decide upon the positioning and better use of adequate noise barriers capable of keeping the noise level on the Sites below the limits set and to allow the operations at the microtunnel launching and receiving stations to be carried out both during the day and at night.

11. WORK-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION

The interference between the construction of the work and the natural and anthropic environment in which it is set is determined by analysing the project in order to identify the activities that the construction of the work entails (actions) subdividing them into phases (construction and operation).

The size of the impacts is determined and assessed by identifying the impact factors for each project action and classifying the effects on the basis of their significance and the quality and sensitivity of the resources involved.

With reference to the current status, for each environmental component, the impact is assessed taking into consideration:

- the scarcity of the resource (rare-common)

- its ability to reform within a reasonably long period of time (renewable-not renewable)

- the extent and spatial spread of the influence it has on other factors of the system considered (strategic-non-strategic)

- the “receptiveness” of the environment

For the assessment of the impact of installing the new pipes, the following steps were taken:

- identification of the actions taken by man (project actions) associated with the construction and operation of the work, intended to mean project elements that represent the source of interference with the surrounding environment and are a cause of disturbance;

- definition of the disturbance factors potentially generated by the project actions;

- identification of the significant environmental components in relation to the project actions;

- elaboration of a warning table aimed at indicating the possible interactions between project actions/disturbance factors and environmental components during both the construction phase and the operation phase.

In order to estimate the predicted impacts an assessment was then made of the possible effects of the interaction on the quality of the various specific components by establishing quality assessments expressed in terms of their degrees of sensitivity.

All the steps described are supported by summary tables that enable the connections to be identified and a more objective estimate to be made.

10.1 Identification of Project Actions and their Impact Factors

Project actions

Considering the construction of the project pipeline, the removal of the existing piping and the operating phases, the construction of the work in question can be broken down into a series of project actions potentially capable of having both negative and positive effects on the surrounding environment.

In general, it can be stated that, during the construction of a gas pipeline, the disturbance to the environment is almost exclusively concentrated in the period of construction and related above all to work site activities. The disturbance caused is therefore largely temporary and mitigable, both by construction measures and by restoration works (morphological and vegetational).

In fact, during operation, the only interference is represented by the works above ground and the maintenance activities. The works above ground are small constructions with a low visual impact, while the maintenance activities have a negligible impact because they simply consist of periodic inspections and tests carried out to ascertain the safety of the pipeline.

Once the mitigation and restoration measures described in the previous section have been taken, the residual impacts are drastically reduced and become negligible for most of the environmental components.

Impact factors

The interference between each individual project action and the environment takes place through specific parameters commonly called impact factors. The table below indicates the main impact factors and their project actions.

Impact factor Project actions Notes Noise emission All actions associated with the construction phase Atmospheric emissions All actions associated with construction and decommissioning phases Raising of dust Opening of the working strip, digging and backfilling of trench Suspended solid emissions Opening of the working strip, During excavation in the presence digging of the trench at river of water, limited quantities of crossings suspended particles will be emitted Liquid effluents Hydraulic test on the pipeline The pipeline laid will be subjected to a hydraulic test, with water taken from surface watercourses. Interference with water table Digging of the trench

Modifications of the surface water Digging of the trench at system watercourse crossings Modifications of the soil and subsoil Opening of the working strip, digging of the trench and construction of line systems above ground Modifications of the topsoil Opening of the working strip, construction of line systems above ground Modifications of the land use Construction of line systems above ground Aesthetic and colour changes Opening of the working strip, construction of works above ground, morphological and vegetational restoration works Physical presence All actions related to the Due to the presence of work construction phase vehicles on the line and workers Related traffic and movements of All actions related to the work vehicles construction phase Restrictions of use Imposition of easements without buildings and the presence of line systems above ground

10.2 Interaction between Project Actions and Environmental Components

Each project action identified previously interacts potentially with one or more environmental components.

From the assessment of this interaction it emerges that the environmental components most influenced by the construction of the work are the surface and ground water, the soil and subsoil, the vegetation and land use, the ecosystems, the fauna and the landscape.

Only for a short period of time limited to the construction of the work, these actions directly influence the soil and the upper part of the subsoil, the plant cover and land use, the fauna, the ecosystems and the landscape, for a strip of land with a width equivalent to that of the working strip along the entire length of the gas pipeline.

These actions therefore have effects on the components related to the aquatic environment, the soil and subsoil, the vegetation and land use, the fauna, the ecosystems and the landscape.

The other environmental components involved marginally in the construction of the work are: the atmosphere, noise and the socioeconomic environment.

The atmosphere is affected by the exhaust gases emitted by the work vehicles and the raising of dust during the dry season; this disturbance is temporary, limited exclusively to the construction phase and so, once completed, the work will not modify this component in any way.

The interference caused by noise is due to the noise emitted by the vehicles involved in constructing the work so, as explained previously for the raising of dust, this disturbance is related to the presence of the work site and is thus limited to the construction phase only.

Like the atmospheric emissions, the noise emissions are caused by the work vehicles during the construction of the pipeline. These vehicles are equipped with special systems for reducing their noise emissions, which will remain within the legal limits; in any case, the vehicles will only operate during the daytime and not all at the same time.

As it is a mobile work site, the aforesaid temporary disturbance caused by the emission of noise and raising of dust is limited, within a single specific section taken into consideration, to a few days for each work phase. In fact, the speed of the digging/backfilling work front is about 300 linear metres of pipeline per day.

Finally, as far as the socioeconomic environment is concerned, the operation does not cause the permanent loss of any productive goods except for the surfaces occupied by the line systems and points (in all about 2,300 m2 in all), the trap area (5,100 m2) and the metering system (10,500 m2). These systems will all occupy farming areas except for the metering system, which will be installed entirely within the TAP terminal system area. The trap area will be purchased by Snam Rete Gas. The work will cause no interference with any works of cultural heritage value or entail any social changes, so the construction of the work will not have any significant effect on this component.

On the basis of the considerations made above, the impact is therefore estimated taking into consideration the principal environmental components mentioned: the aquatic environment, the soil and subsoil, the vegetation, fauna and ecosystems and the landscape, that is, those most deeply involved in the construction of the work.

As illustrated previously, the project has no significant impact on the environment during its operation.

10.3 Impact of the Work Once Completed

No impacts will remain once the restoration work and mitigation measures have been implemented. The line systems and points will be duly mitigated through the construction of dry stone walls, hedges and trees. The farming areas will be restored to their full productive capacity.

On the basis of the considerations made above, the impact levels for each individual environmental component have been divided into the following two impact classes:

- Negligible impact: on all agricultural areas and for all environmental components

- Low impact: on the natural areas covered by woods, on the watercourses at the line points and systems and for all environmental components. In the area where the metering system is to be installed (10,500 m2), the impact on the landscape may be considered low, in any case, considering the lack of observation points in the surrounding area.

12. CONCLUSIONS

As it is an underground work, the project gas pipeline has no environmental impact during the operation phase (noise or atmospheric emissions) whose effects can accumulate with other sources of environmental pressure in the area.

As far as the landscape is concerned, the impact of the work, once completed, can only accumulate with the launching station due to the presence of the TAP connecting infrastructure.

13. ANNEXES Annexe 1 – Base case with alternative routes - - Map on a scale of 1:100.000

Data file: tap_progettopreliminare This document is the property of Snam Rete Gas. The Company will defend its rights in civil and criminal proceedings in accordance with the law. LEGEND

Design Route km 56

Alternative n.1 km 64

Alternative n.2 km 97

Snam Rete Gas National Network

Snam Rete Gas Regional Network

0 26/03/2014 Emission PROFAM PROFAM PROFAM

REV. DATE DESCRIPTION ELABORATE VERIFIED APPROVED

Dis. PG-AT-001 TAP CONNECTION TO THE SNAM RETE GAS NATIONAL GAS PIPELINE NETWORK

BASE CASE AND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG Italia, Branch Via IV Novembre, 149, 00187 Rome, Italy Tel.: +39 06 45 46 941 Fax: +39 06 45 46 94 444 [email protected] [email protected] www.tap-ag.com | www.conoscitap.it

Date 04/2014

Copyright Reserved: This document may not be copied, shown to or placed at the disposal of third parties without prior consent of TAP AG. The latest version of the document is registered in the TAP Project's Database.