Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited Operator for the NNPC/Shell/TEPN/AGIP Joint Venture ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF SOKU GAS PLANT-SAN BARTH MANIFOLD PIPELINE PROJECT (FINAL REPORT) SEPTEMBER 2013 EIA of Soku Gas Plant – San Barth Manifold Pipeline Project TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGES Status Page i Table of contents ii List of Tables vii List of Figures ix List of Plates xi List of Abbreviations and Acronyms xiii List of Appendices xv Executive Summary xvi Acknowledgment xxxix List of EIA Preparers xl CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Scope and Objectives of the EIA 2 1.3 Legal and Administrative Framework 2 1.3.1 Regulatory Agencies/Institutions 2 1.3.2 National Legislation 3 1.3.3 State Regulations 4 1.3.4 International Agreements, Protocols and Conventions 4 1.4 Terms of Reference for the EIA 5 1.5 Declaration 6 1.6 Structure of the Report 6 CHAPTER TWO PROJECT JUSTIFICATION 2.1 Project Background 7 2.2 Project Objectives 7 2.3 Need for the Project 7 2.4 Envisaged Benefits 8 2.5 Envisaged Sustainability 8 2.5.1 Economic Sustainability 8 2.5.2 Technical Sustainability 8 2.5.3 Environmental sustainability 8 2.5.4 Social Sustainability 8 2.6 Project Alternatives 9 2.6.1 Overall Project Alternatives 9 2.6.1.1 Option 1: No Project Option 9 2.6.1.2 Option 2: Replacement of Existing Pipeline 9 2.6.1.3 Option 3: Construction of Two Deeply-Buried and Water- Covered Pipelines 9 2.7 Estimated Value of the Project 9 1 EIA of Soku Gas Plant – San Barth Manifold Pipeline Project CHAPTER THREE PROJECT DESCRIPTION 3.1 Nature of the Proposed Project 10 3.2 Existing Facilities in Relation to the Proposed Pipeline 10 3.2.1 Soku FS-Soku GP stretch 10 3.2.2 Soku GP-Soku New San Barth Manifold 12 3.3 Concurrent Development 14 3.4 Proposed Project Activities 15 3.4.1 Application Standards 15 3.4.2 RoW Surveys/Land Acquisition 16 3.4.3 Pipeline Construction 16 3.4.3.1 Pipeline Route Survey / Land Acquisition 17 3.4.3.2 Materials Selection 17 3.4.3.3 Pre-mobilisation Inspection and Mobilisation 20 3.4.3.4 Survey and Staking of Pipeline Routes 20 3.4.3.5 Probing for existing Facilities 20 3.4.3.6 Clearing and Grading 20 3.4.3.7 Excavation, Trenching and Dredging 20 3.4.3.8 Pipeline Coating 21 3.4.3.9 Pipe laying 22 3.4.3.10 Backfilling and Reinstatement (Re-vegetation) 22 3.4.3.11 Special Crossings 23 3.4.3.12 Construction of Pig Launchers/Receivers 24 3.4.3.13 Construction and Installation of Protective Covering 24 3.4.4 Commissioning and Operations 24 3.4.4.1 Pigging and Hydro testing 24 3.4.4.2 Operations/Maintenance 24 3.4.5 Pipeline Safety (Cathodic Protection) 25 3.4.6 Decommissioning and Abandonment 25 3.5 Waste Generation/Handling 26 3.6 Project Schedule 27 CHAPTER FOUR BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 4.1 Biophysical Baseline Data Acquisition 28 4.1.1 Desktop Research 28 4.1.2 Field Sampling and Laboratory Methods 28 4.2 Socio-Economics Baseline Methodology 28 4.2.1 Data Collection 28 4.2.2 Data Analysis 30 4.3 Health Baseline Methodology 30 4.3.1 Secondary Data Acquisition 31 4.3.2 Qualitative Data Collection 31 4.3.2.1 Group Interviews 31 4.3.2.2 Key Informant Interviews 32 2 EIA of Soku Gas Plant – San Barth Manifold Pipeline Project 4.3.2.3 Direct Observation 32 4.4 Biophysical Baseline Environmental Conditions 33 4.4.1 Geomorphology/Topography 33 4.4.2 Climate and Meteorology 33 4.4.2.1 Insolation and Cloud Cover 33 4.4.2.2 Wind 35 4.4.2.3 Temperature 37 4.4.2.4 Rainfall 39 4.4.2.5 Relative Humidity 40 4.4.3 Air Quality and Noise 42 4.4.4 Soil Studies 46 4.4.4.1 Soil Physical Properties: 46 4.4.4.2 Soil Chemical Properties 47 4.4.5 Vegetation and Biological Diversity of the Study Area 55 4.4.6 Wildlife/Invertebrate Fauna 62 4.4.7 Aquatic Studies 66 4.4.7.1 Physio-Chemical Analysis Result of Surface Water in the Study Area 66 4.4.7.2: Aquatic Ecology 73 4.4.8 Fish and Fisheries 88 4.4.9 Hydrogeology 91 4.5 Socio-Economic Baseline 97 4.5.1 Population and Socio-Demographic Characteristics 97 4.5.1.1 Population Size, Growth and Distribution 97 4.5.2 Livelihood Structures and Local Economy 103 4.5.2.1 Occupation, Employment and Income Generating Activities in Project Area 103 4.5.2.2 Household Expenditure and Consumption 108 4.5.3 Natural resource acquisition, ownership and management 108 4.5.3.1 Land Tenure, Use and Management 108 4.5.4 Social Infrastructures and Services 110 4.5.4.1 Educational Facilities 111 4.5.4.2 Electricity and Power Supply 113 4.5.4.3 Transportation and communication Facilities 114 4.5.4.4 Potable Water Supply and Sanitation Facilities 114 3 EIA of Soku Gas Plant – San Barth Manifold Pipeline Project 4.5.4.5 Housing Type, Pattern and Quality 117 4.5.4.6 Healthcare Facilities 119 4.5.4.7 Financial Organisations/Institutions 120 4.5.5 Historical Perspective of the Communities and Cultural Properties 127 4.5.5.1 Settlement/Community, History and ethnicity/Tribe 127 4.5.5.2 Religion, Customs, Belief Systems and Heritage 131 4.5.6 Local Governance, Social and Community Structure 136 4.5.6.1 Traditional Administration /Power Structure 136 4.5.6.2 Conflicts and Conflict Resolution in Project Communities 142 4.5.7 People’s Perception, Fears and Expectations of the Project 142 4.6 Health Status 146 4.6.1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics 146 4.6.2 Morbidity and Mortality Pattern 148 4.6.3 Nutritional Status and Immunization 149 4.6.4 Access to Safe Drinking Water 150 4.6.5 Access to Sanitation Facility 153 4.6.6 Waste Management 154 4.6.7 Housing Characteristics 154 4.6.8 Air Quality 157 4.6.9 Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and Sexual Behaviour 157 4.6.10 Health Care Infrastructure 158 4.6.10.1 Soku Cottage Hospital 158 4.6.10.2 Elem Sangama Comprehensive Health Center 159 4 EIA of Soku Gas Plant – San Barth Manifold Pipeline Project 4.6.10.3 Kula Primary Health Care Centre 160 4.6.10.4 Abonnema General Hospital 162 4.6.10.5 Tertiary Health Care 162 4.6.10.6 Medical Emergency Evacuation System 162 4.6.10.7 Alternative Health Care 162 4.7 Consultation 164 4.7.1 Introduction 164 4.7.2 Objectives 164 4.7.3 Identification and Involvement of Key Stakeholders 165 4.7.3.1 The Primary Stakeholders 165 4.7.3.2 The Regulators 165 4.7.4 Scoping Workshop 165 4.7.5 Community Concerns 166 4.7.6 Future Consultations 167 CHAPTER FIVE ASSOCIATED POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 5.1 Introduction 168 5.2 Impact Identification and Evaluation 168 5.2.1 Impact Identification 168 5.2.2 Impact Qualification 171 5.2.3 Impact Rating 171 5.2.3.1 Legal /Regulatory Requirements (L) 171 5.2.3.2 Risk (R) 171 5 EIA of Soku Gas Plant – San Barth Manifold Pipeline Project 5.2.3.3 Frequency of Impact (F) 173 5.2.3.4 Importance of Affected Environmental Component and Impact (I) 173 5.2.3.5 Public Perception (P) 174 5.3 Description of Impacts 186 5.3.1 Pre-Construction Phase 186 5.3.1.1 Land Acquisition 186 5.3.1.2 Mobilization to Site 187 5.3.1.3 Site Preparation (Vegetation Clearing) 188 5.3.2 Construction Phase 192 5.3.2.1 Recruitment of Labour 192 5.3.2.2 Excavation of Pipeline Route 192 5.3.2.3 Pipeline Welding/Filing and Stringing 195 5.3.2.4 NDT of Welds 195 5.3.2.5 Pipeline Laying 195 5.3.2.6 Backfilling 196 5.3.2.7 Hydrotesting 197 5.3.2.8 Piling for Construction of Manifold 197 5.3.2.9 Pipeline Commissioning 197 5.3.3 Demobilization Phase 197 5.3.4 Operations and Maintenance Phase 199 5.3.4.1 Pipeline Operations 199 5.3.4.2 Inspection and Refurbishment of Facilities 199 6 EIA of Soku Gas Plant – San Barth Manifold Pipeline Project 5.3.4.3 Surveillance 200 5.3.5 Decommissioning Phase 200 5.3.5.1 Dismantling and Site Clean Up 200 5.3.5.2 Rehabilitation 202 CHAPTER SIX MITIGATION MEASURES 6.1 Introduction 204 6.2 Selected Control Measures 204 CHAPTER SEVEN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 7.1 Introduction 225 7.2 Objectives of the EMP 225 CHAPTER EIGHT Conclusions 270 REFERENCES 271 APPENDICES 284 7 EIA of Soku Gas Plant – San Barth Manifold Pipeline Project LIST OF TABLES Pages Table 3.1: Summary of existing pipeline facilities along Soku FS-Soku GP stretch 10 Table 3.2: Summary of Existing Pipeline Facilities along Soku GP-San Barth Stretch 11 Table 3.3: Pipeline design standards 14 Table 3.4: Wastes expected from proposed pipeline project 21 Table 4.1: List of Communities within the Project Area 24 Table 4.2: Field Meteorological Data Soku Gas Plant to San Barth Manifold Project 30 Table 4.3: Summary of Rainfall Statistics for Selected Stations in the Niger Delta 34 Table 4.4: Mean Monthly Rainfall and Number of Rainy Days in Port Harcourt (1993-2001) 34 Table 4.5: Air Quality Characteristics for Soku Gas Plant Pipeline Project EIA 38 Table 4.6a: Nigerian Ambient Air Quality Standard 39 Table 4.6b: National Ambient Air Quality Standards of USEPA & WHO 39 Table 4.6c: Noise Exposure Limits for Nigeria 40 Table 4.7a: Wet Season Soil Physico-chemical Properties of Project Area 45 Table 4.7b: Dry Season Soil Physico-chemical Properties of Project Area 46 Table 4.8: Plant Elemental Composition (mg/kg) of Rhizophora spp 52 Table 4.9: Disease Symptoms, Severity Indices and Causative Organisms in the Study Area 53 Table 4.10: Plant Density of Dominant Economic Plant Species in the Study Area 54 Table 4.11: Checklist of Birds Recorded from San Barth – Soku Study Areas 55 Table 4.12: Physico-chemical Characteristics of Surface Waters along Soku Gas Plant-San Barth Manifold Pipeline Route 59 Table 4.13: Some Heavy Metals Content of Surface Waters of the Project Area 64 Table 4.14a: Diversity of Phytoplankton of the Project Area (Wet Season) 66 Table 4.14b: Diversity and Relative of Phytoplankton of the Project Area (Dry Season)* 67