Section 15 Proposal for a monitoring programme Environmental impact assessment report | Section 15 705| 15 Proposal for a monitoring programme The primary objective of the monitoring programme is to verify the results of the impact assessment (Chapter 8) and to reveal possible uncertainties therein. In addition, monitoring ensures that the planned mitigation measures function as intended. Monitoring is not only important for the Nord Stream project, but it is also important in providing valuable informati- on on the natural and cultural environment of the Finnish project area. The need for and timing of the proposed monitoring programme has been based on the results and the reliability of the impact assessment and the nature of the impact target. OBJECTIVES OF MONITORING Verification of the realization of assessed impacts Indicates whether an impact occurs as anticipated in the impact assessment. Monitoring of water quality, for example, will indicate possible changes in water turbidity in the bot- tom-close water near rock placement sites. The monitoring results will be compared with the predicted changes in turbidity and be used to verify the effects described in the impact assessment. Efficiency of mitigation measures Indicates the rate of efficiency of an implemented mitigation measure. In addition, it indica- tes / ensures that a planned mitigation actually has been implemented and is efficient. For example, it is expected that the chosen rock placement method will result in significantly less turbidity in the bottom-close water than would a dredging operation. Identification of impacts from unplanned events If an impact unexpectedly arises, it may possibly be identified by monitoring. For examp- le, monitoring of the suspension of sediments will indicate if sediment spreading is greater than assessed or modelled. Monitoring of environmental impacts is proposed to be conducted before, during and after the construction phase. 706 | Environmental impact assessment report | Section 15 TIMING OF MONITORING Prior to construction Monitoring prior to construction aims to provide baseline information for the planned impacts during construction and operation. For example, monitoring of the benthic fauna on the proposed pipeline routes. During construction Monitoring during construction focuses on verifying planned impacts and identifying unex- pected impacts that arise during construction works. If unexpected impacts occur, it will be possible to reduce these impacts by implementing mitigation measures. For example, the impacts on water turbidity and release of contaminants will be measured and compa- red with the results of the impact assessment. If the release of contaminants is higher than expected, additional mitigation measures can be considered. During operation (after construction phase) Monitoring during operation focuses on the reversibility of the impacts (recovery of impact targets) to their pre-impact state. In addition, this monitoring verifies assessed impacts during operation, e.g., the pipeline acting as a substrate for hard-bottom fauna. The details (i.e. the frequency and time of monitoring) of the monitoring programme will be developed further after the EIA procedure in cooperation with the appropriate authorities. This programme will form an integral part of the Nord Stream Project’s management system for the monitoring, management and reporting of environmental and social impacts and miti- gation measures. The last section of this chapter includes a table that summarises the proposed monitoring programme. 15.1 Nord Stream’s HSE management system Nord Stream AG has implemented a corporate Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) mana- gement system, which is an integral part of the company’s management systems. It provides the overall framework for Nord Stream AG’s operations in relation to environmental manage- ment. An integrated part of the HSE management system is a “Monitoring and Reporting Module”, which, together with specific Finnish requirements, establishes a platform for the proposed monitoring programme. Environmental impact assessment report | Section 15 707| The monitoring and reporting requirements also cover contractors working for Nord Stream AG, whereby the environmental monitoring programme becomes an integrated procedure throughout the entire pipeline project. 15.2 Monitoring of environmental impacts Based on the impact assessments conducted for both the national Finnish EIA and the Espoo procedure, the following aspects should be given highest priority in the environmental monito- ring programme: • expert observations before and during construction phase • monitoring of maritime traffic during construction phase • monitoring of cultural heritage during and after construction phase • monitoring of bottom sediment before and after construction phase • monitoring of water quality during construction phase • monitoring of benthic and fish fauna before and after construction phase. The monitoring of other environmental or socioeconomic parameters is not proposed, as it has been assessed that these impacts will be insignificant and/or impossible to distinguish as impacts due to the Nord Stream project or due to other, unrelated activities. 15.2.1 Expert observations during construction – birds and mammals It is proposed that experts will be present on some of the vessels responsible for intervention and pipe-laying operations to observe possible direct and/or acute impacts. Preliminary discussions have e.g. been conducted with the fishermen’s associations in Finland. Representatives from these associations recognize the necessity of a protection zone and acknowledge that a ban of all fishing activities in a specific area most likely will last for only a very short period of time (a few days). The fishermen’s associations have expres- sed that their members would appreciate having observers who speak the local language onboard the pipe-laying vessel for shorter periods in specific areas, in order to warn and sup- port fishermen during the pipe-laying period Furthermore, it is suggested that a biologist proposed by the authorities to be stationed onbo- ard vessels to monitor activities, with the aim to ensure that no critical interaction occur with the surrounding biota during the pipelaying activities e.g., avoiding of considerable disturban- ce of seals or birds. 708 | Environmental impact assessment report | Section 15 15.2.2 Monitoring of ship traffic All movements of vessels of 300 GT or more are monitored by the GOFREP (Gulf of Finland Reporting) system /482/ in international waters of the Gulf of Finland. GOFREP is a man- datory ship reporting system and adopted by the IMO. GOFREP was established to imp- rove maritime safety, to protect the maritime environment and to monitor compliance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. The sea areas in the Gulf of Finland are monitored jointly by Finland, Estonia and the Russian Federation. During construction, the pipe-laying vessel will be monitored by GOFREP as well. Thus, all ship traf- fic in international waters in the Gulf of Finland will be observed. 15.2.3 Monitoring of cultural heritage Even if a detailed survey has been carried out prior to construction work, there is always a risk of accidental finds of cultural artefacts during construction works. The exact pipeline cor- ridor has been surveyed very closely and it is therefore unlikely that undetected, unburied wrecks are present in the immediate path of the pipelines. However, wrecks embedded in sediments may have eluded detection. The manner in which accidental finds could be made will vary according to the laying met- hods applied in a specific section of the pipeline route. Accidental finds could be made visual- ly on the seabed (if visual inspection of construction is being performed) or by artefacts beco- ming trapped in equipment and being hauled onboard. If accidental finds are made during construction work, a predefined protocol for safeguarding the archaeological information will be effectuated. However, pipeline construction will not be stopped. By following a predefined protocol, the negative impacts on accidental finds will be redu- ced and turned into positive result by securing the information in a structured and adequa- te manner. The protocol includes guidelines for actions to be taken in case of accidental finds or observations of cultural heritage artefacts or sites. The protocol consist of instructions for documenting observations and dealing with artefacts that may be encountered during construction and inspection work. The protocol also includes a standard form with required and optional fields to be filled in. The protocol is currently being elaborated and the FNBA will be given the opportunity to comment on the protocol prior to its adoption. A post-lay inspection of the pipeline will also take place. Through this inspection, some effects of the pipeline project will be disclosed, including the effects of mitigation procedures related to cultural heritage, i.e., wrecks situated closer than 50 m from the pipeline. Likewise, other monitoring programmes on environmental and socioeconomic aspects may disclose useful information for the general assessment of the development in the area. Environmental impact assessment report | Section 15 709| 15.2.4 Monitoring of bottom sediment Because some route modifications have been proposed since the previous sediment surve- ys were conducted by FIMR in 2007-2008 /45/, there is a need to carry out