Managing the Environment at Every Stage of the Project
Nord Stream meets the highest international environmental standards in implementing the pipeline project and observes national and international environmental, maritime and legal requirements during construction, testing and operation of the pipeline. It conforms to internationally recognised operational practices and the rigorous standards of the company and its shareholders.
Nord Stream conducted the most comprehensive environmental studies of the Baltic Sea to date, investing more than 100 million euros on detailed environmental studies and project planning to assess and subsequently minimise environmental impact. More than 40,000 kilometres of geophysical surveys were conducted, with thousands of objects on the seabed inspected.
Safeguarding the Environment during Construction
In order to safeguard the environment during and after construction, Nord Stream also developed Environmental and Social Monitoring Programmes (ESMPs), which run through 2016. The data gathered provide important information to future research projects studying the Baltic Sea environment.
Nord Stream is committed, through national and international agreements, to carrying out all work safely and in an environmentally responsible manner. In order to obtain the permits necessary to begin construction of the twin pipeline system, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was carried out for each country through whose waters the pipelines cross: Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. In the EIAs, Nord Stream stated that the construction and operation of the pipelines will have only minor impacts on the environment, and ESMPs are in place to determine just how, and if, the Baltic Sea's flora and fauna have been impacted in any way by the construction.
High Standards Upheld at Every Stage
Nord Stream's safety standards and ESMPs ensure that everyone engaged in all the major stages of the project, including construction, pipeline testing (pre-commissioning), putting the pipeline into service (commissioning), and full operation has a consistent approach towards the environment.
The Nord Stream Pipeline will be operated with the same regard for the ecosystem as is applied during its construction. The company intends it to be the safest pipeline possible.
