YNYS MON CONSULT SWAOCO YNYS MON CONSULT SCOPING REPORT FOR 2D SEISMIC SURVEY PROJECT IN THE KETA DELTA BLOCK OF THE VOLTAIAN BASIN Prepared for Swiss African Oil Company (SWAOCO) Report No. SA-KDB-SR Report by: Ynys Mon Consult Unity Building P.O. Box WY 1761 Kwabenya – Accra Phone: Tel: Report Date: November 2017 Environmental Scoping Report- 2D Seismic Survey in the Keta Delta Block Page i November 2017. YNYS MON CONSULT SWAOCO Table of Content 1.0. BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION .......................................................................................................................... 6 1.2. OBJECTIVES OF THE SCOPING STUDY ...................................................................................................... 6 1.3. APPROACH /METHODOLOGY FOR THE SCOPING STUDY .......................................................................... 6 1.3.1 Field Visits ......................................................................................................................................... 7 1.3.2. Consultation of Stakeholders ......................................................................................................... 7 1.3.3 Literature Review ............................................................................................................................... 7 1.3.4. Data Analysis and Reporting ......................................................................................................... 8 2.0. LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ............................................................... 9 2.1. POLICY FRAMEWORK .............................................................................................................................. 9 2.1.1 Relevant National Policies ................................................................................................................. 9 2.1.2. Relevant International Policies ................................................................................................... 10 2.1.3. Relevant National Legislations .................................................................................................... 14 2.2. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES ........................................................................................... 18 2.2.1. National Effluent Quality Discharge Guidelines ........................................................................ 18 2.2.2. National Ambient Air Quality Guidelines (NAAQG) .................................................................. 19 2.2.3. National Ambient Noise Level Guideline (NANLG) .................................................................... 20 2.3. RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ......................................................................................... 21 2.3.1. The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code ................................................. 21 2.3.2. International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78) ......................................................................... 21 2.3.3. International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 ....................................... 22 2.3.4. UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ...................................................................... 22 2.3.5. Basel Convention on Shipment of Trans Boundary Waste .......................................................... 22 2.3.6. Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC) ................................................. 23 2.3.7. Convention for Co-Operation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region .................................................................................. 23 2.4. LEGAL BOUNDARIES OF THE OCEAN ..................................................................................................... 23 2.5. OTHER INTERNATIONAL LAW PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................ 25 2.6. ENSURING SAFE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT .......................................................... 25 3.0. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ............................................................................ 26 3.1. PROJECT LOCATION .............................................................................................................................. 26 3.2. OVERVIEW OF A 2D SEISMIC SURVEY ................................................................................................... 27 3.2.1. Principles of Seismic Survey ....................................................................................................... 27 3.3. THE PROPOSED 2D SEISMIC SURVEY .................................................................................................... 28 3.3.1. Seismic Survey Objectives ........................................................................................................... 28 3.3.2. Seismic Survey Scale and Extent (Area of Influence) .................................................................. 28 3.3.3. Seismic Survey Design ................................................................................................................. 29 3.3.4. Seismic Survey Acquisition Method and Equipment ................................................................... 29 3.3.5. Seismic Schedule ......................................................................................................................... 32 4.0 ANALYSIS OF PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................... 33 Environmental Scoping Report- 2D Seismic Survey in the Keta Delta Block Page i November 2017. YNYS MON CONSULT SWAOCO 4.1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 33 4.2. THE NO-GO ALTERNATIVE ................................................................................................................... 33 4.3. PROJECT SITE ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................... 33 4.4. TECHNOLOGY ALTERNATIVES .............................................................................................................. 33 5.0. ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE CONDITIONS .............................................................................. 35 5.1. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................................... 35 5.1.1. Location and Size ........................................................................................................................ 35 5.1.2. Topography .................................................................................................................................. 36 5.1.3. Geology and Hydrogeology ......................................................................................................... 37 5.1.4. Geology and Soils ........................................................................................................................ 37 5.1.5. Drainage ...................................................................................................................................... 37 5.1.6. Climate ........................................................................................................................................ 39 5.2. BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT (RAMSAR SITE) ........................................................................................ 42 5.2.1 Aquatic Flora and Fauna ................................................................................................................. 43 5.2.2 Bird Life ........................................................................................................................................... 43 5.2.3 Freshwater Fisheries ....................................................................................................................... 43 5.2.4 Terrestrials Flora and Fauna .......................................................................................................... 43 5.3 THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................................ 45 5.3.1 Coastal Processes ............................................................................................................................ 45 5.3.2 Sediment Type and Transport .......................................................................................................... 47 5.3.3 Marine Fisheries .............................................................................................................................. 47 5.4 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................................................ 48 5.4.1. Socioeconomic Setting of Keta Municipality ............................................................................... 48 5.4.2. Socioeconomic Setting of Ketu South Municipality ..................................................................... 50 5.4.3. Socioeconomic Setting of South