Before the start of the project, EuRoPol GAZ performed a comprehensive environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the pipeline system under the Spatial Planning Law in force to the end of 1994. The EIA was approved by the then Central Planning Bureau (CUP), which issued a siting directive for the entire gas pipeline in March 1994. In the same year, the project was incorporated into the local zoning plans and provincial governors (voivodes) issued their site permits and local offices gradually began to issue construction permits.

The route marked out for the pipeline is the best available alternative from the environmental standpoint since it bypasses most environmentally sensitive areas (national parks, nature reserves and their "buffer" zones) by at least a dozen or so kilometres.

Only approximately 13 per cent of the route crosses forests and 6 per cent accounts for wetlands. The remaining areas primarily include agricultural land. In fact, the gas pipeline mostly stays away from built-up areas and wherever it does not minimum requirements for distance from development are complied with.

The construction of the gas pipeline on agricultural land does not significantly affect future uses since the soil layer covering the pipe is at least 1.2 m thick and most of the overlying arable land is available for regular cultivation.

[page  up]     [main page]     [e-mail contact]     [print version]

[The Firm]   [Yamal-Europe Gas Pipeline]   [Quality and Safety]   [Archaeology] 
[Natural Environment]   [Financing]   [Conference Centers]   [Picture Gallery]