Nord Stream 2 AG has submitted the results of its first quarterly environmental monitoring report for the Q2 of 2018 to the relevant national authorities in Finland.
The report presents the findings of the environmental monitoring carried out between April and June 2018 during preparatory activities for construction, such as munitions clearance and initial rock placement in the Finnish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Based on results, environmental impacts of munitions clearance were observed to be in line or smaller than assessed in Nord Stream 2’s permit applications, the company said.
During the clearance operations, altogether 74 munitions were cleared. A wide range of mitigation measures were in place to reduce potential impacts on marine life: marine mammal observers ensured that marine mammals were not in the clearance area, seal scrammers were in place to scare away any seals that could have been in the area, porpoises were monitored with acoustic monitoring and fish scarers were used to drive the fish away from the area.
In addition, in order to reduce underwater noise from the clearance operations, bubble curtains were used for all munitions in the Eastern part of the Gulf Finland and for munitions with a total charge of over 22 kilograms.
Monitoring activities are performed in line with the Finnish Environmental Monitoring Programme, approved as part of the Water Permit decision granted by the Regional State Administrative Agency Southern Finland in April 2018. It covers monitoring of underwater noise, water quality, cultural heritage and fishery.
The monitoring report was prepared by the environmental consultancy Sitowise Oy. The environmental fieldwork contractor Luode Consulting Oy monitored the underwater noise during munitions clearance.
All findings presented in the quarterly monitoring reports for Q2-Q4/2018 will be compiled into an annual monitoring report for 2018, to be published in Q2/2019.