Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) 2D Seismic Survey Activities in Margand Block (2866-4), Balochistan Final Report July, 2020 Ref: IEE/04/05/20 EMC PAKISTAN PVT. LTD. 503, Anum Estate, Opp. Duty Free Shop, Main Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi. Phones: 9221-34311466, 34324680, Fax: 9221-34311467. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.emc.com.pk Disclaimer: This report has Attorney – Client Privilege. EMC Pakistan Private Limited has prepared this report in accordance with the instructions of Project Owners “Pakistan Petroleum Limited” for their sole and specific use. Any other persons who use any information contained herein do so at their own risk. This report cannot be used in the court of law for any negotiation or standardization. © EMC Pakistan Pvt. Limited 2020 Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) 2D Seismic Survey Activities in Margand Block (2866-4), Balochistan ACRONYMS BRSP Balochistan Rural Support Program CAA Civil Aviation Authority CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CC Construction Contractor EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Management Plan E&P Exploration and Production EPA Environmental Protection Agency GOP Government of Pakistan HSE Health, Safety and Environment IEE Initial Environmental Examination IFC International Financial Corporation IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature LAA Land Acquisition Act NCS National Conservation Strategy NEAP National Environmental Action Plan NEQS National Environmental Quality Standards NGOs Non-Governmental Organizations NRSP National Rural Support Program PEPA Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency PPL Pakistan Petroleum Limited PLGO Province Local Government Ordinance 2D Two Dimensional 3D Three Dimensional RSPN Rural Support Program Network TSS Total Suspended Solids UNESCO United Nations Educational Scientific & Cultural Organization WHO World Health Organization EMC Pakistan Private Limited ACRONYMS Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) 2D Seismic Survey Activities in Margand Block (2866-4), Balochistan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This document presents the findings of an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) carried out by EMC Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited for the project “2D Seismic Survey Activities in Margand Block (2866-4), Balochistan” proposed by Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), with an objective to explore the hydrocarbon reservoirs underlying the project area. The Block is located in district Kalat and district Khuzdar of Balochistan province having a total area of about 2482 square kilometers. Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) is the pioneer of the natural gas industry Pakistan. It has been a frontline player in the energy sector since the mid-1950s. As a major supplier of natural gas, PPL today contributes over 20 percent of the country’s total natural gas supplies besides producing crude oil, Liquid Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas. It has been granted Margand Block by the Government of Pakistan for exploration of oil and gas reserves. PPL plans to conduct 2D seismic activities over an area of about 448 Line-km (coordinates of the seismic lines are given in the table below). Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) of the project has been carried out in compliance with the mandatory requirement of Section 15 (1) Initial Environmental Examination and Environmental Impact Assessment of Balochistan Environmental Protection Act, 2012 which states that; “No proponent of a project of public and private sector shall commence construction or operation unless he has filed an Initial Environmental Examination with the Government Agency designated by Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency, as the case may be, or, where the project is likely to cause an adverse environmental effects an environmental impact assessment, and has obtained from the Government Agency approval in respect thereof.” Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Review of IEE and EIA) Regulations, 2000, accordingly categorizes the proposed project in Schedule 1, requiring an Initial Environmental Examination. Table ES 1: 2D Seismic Lines Coordinates, Margand Block (2866-4) Start End Line Km Latitude Longitude Latitude Longitude 1 29°04'27.73"N 66°51'25.84"E 29°12'33.18"N 66°33'43.31"E 32 2 29°06'40.47"N 66°51'39.92"E 29°13'35.85"N 66°36'39.36"E 27 3 29°08'21.14"N 66°52'31.52"E 29°15'29.65"N 66°36'35.49"E 29 4 29°10'10.41"N 66°52'41.85"E 29°18'15.35"N 66°35'08.75"E 32 5 29°16'37.04"N 66°45'13.69"E 29°01'48.41"N 66°35'42.46"E 31 6 29°18'09.42"N 66°42'01.77"E 29°02'16.68"N 66°33'44.62"E 32 7 29°01'26.52"N 67°00'35.22"E 28°58'35.03"N 67°14'18.25"E 23 8 28°58'31.91"N 67°00'29.81"E 28°55'43.94"N 67°13'31.99"E 22 9 28°55'44.48"N 66°59'27.95"E 28°52'50.86"N 67°13'13.05"E 23 10 28°52'19.79"N 66°58'52.55"E 28°50'55.38"N 67°13'03.87"E 23 11 28°49'16.06"N 66°58'43.19"E 28°48'20.59"N 67°13'18.46"E 24 12 28°46'39.86"N 66°57'52.38"E 28°45'37.18"N 67°13'03.83"E 25 13 28°37'50.51"N 67°06'28.33"E 29°05'09.32"N 67°09'05.85"E 51 14 28°38'50.27"N 67°01'11.63"E 29°02'29.49"N 67°04'00.82"E 44 15 28°42'33.37"N 67°12'09.72"E 28°44'29.35"N 66°53'59.43"E 30 TOTAL 448 EMC Pakistan Private Limited Page | i Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) 2D Seismic Survey Activities in Margand Block (2866-4), Balochistan Figure ES-1: Location of Margand Block and Seismic Lines (2866-4) The schedule of seismic activities will be approximately of about four and a half months. The tentative duration of key activities is provided in a table below: Table ES-2: Expected Schedule of Seismic Activities Activities Duration Mobilization 15 days Seismic Survey 04 months The potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts related to the proposed project have been identified through literature review, scrutinizing baseline data (both primary and secondary), professional opinions, experience, understanding of the proposed project activities, field observations and site surveys. EMC Pakistan Private Limited Page | ii Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) 2D Seismic Survey Activities in Margand Block (2866-4), Balochistan The risks identified have been addressed by recommendations of various mitigation measures to reduce the severity of each impact. Assessment of the identified impacts was validated using the information obtained through site surveys. The experts engaged for the IEE study visited the project area to gather information on the environmental and social characteristics of the project area. The proponent shall oversee the entire activities with an objective to ensure environmental safeguard. The mitigation matrix for the 2D seismic activities is included in the section 6 of this report. The EMP has been prepared in accordance to national and provincial guidelines and standards that will be used as a contract document for the contractor(s) and their personnel during the project activities. Several measures have been proposed in the EMP to prevent or mitigate environmental impacts of proposed 2D Seismic Survey Activities in Margand Block (2866-4), Balochistan. The IEE concludes that the proposed activities will not lead to significant adverse environmental impacts and implementation of EMP will ensure that potential impacts are minimized and the project proponents meet all statutory requirements. EMC Pakistan Private Limited Page | iii Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) 2D Seismic Survey Activities in Margand Block (2866-4), Balochistan TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 1 1.1 Brief Description of the project .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Proponent – Contact details .................................................................................................. 1 1.3 IEE Consultant – Contact details ....................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Need of Environmental Assessment ................................................................................................... 1 1.5 Pakistan Petroleum Limited – The Proponent .................................................................................. 2 1.6 Project Location ................................................................................................................................... 6 1.7 Scope of IEE Study .............................................................................................................................. 7 1.8 Categorization of the project .............................................................................................................. 7 1.9 Methodology for Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) study ................................................. 7 1.9.1 Understanding the Proposed Project ............................................................................................... 7 1.9.2 Review of Legislation and Guidelines ............................................................................................ 8 1.9.3 Secondary Data Collection ............................................................................................................. 8 1.9.4 Field Data Collection ...................................................................................................................... 8 1.9.5 Baseline Studies ............................................................................................................................. 8 1.9.6 Impact Identification and Assessment ...........................................................................................