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Far Eastern Regional Hydrometeorological Research Institute (FERHRI) is the major contractor dealing with "Environmental protection and environmental impact assessment (EIA)". In recent years FERHRI carried out works on EIA for different objects, including Sakhalin projects I, II and III. As a contractor general of "Sakhalin Energy" FERHRI prepared EIA projects for the first marine oil-extracting complex in Russia based on the platform Molikpaq installed in 1998 at Piltun-Astokh field and for the program of appraisal drilling at Piltun-Astokh field in 1998. These projects were approved by the State ecological expert examination (orders No 335 and No 435 dated 01.06.98 and 07.07.98 correspondingly).
FERHRI has specialized research vessels that carry out expeditionary works on ecological monitoring and engineering investigations on Sakhalin shelf.
EIA implementation includes the following researches:
- describing actual environmental conditions;
- modelling oil slick transport;
- modelling pollutants transport and sedimentation;
- calculating maximum permissible emissions and maximum permissible discharges;
- carrying out works on environmental monitoring.
All the specialized fishery calculations are made by the specialists of the institutes of fishery and oceanography (Moscow, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Vladivostok). They made such calculations for various oil-gas projects, including the ones implemented in northern seas.
Relevant projects
Results of the relevant projects performed by FERHRI are described in Sections B, C and D of this Statement of Qualification. The main guidelines of FERHRI's ecological monitoring confine to the following:
Implementation of EIA and Natural Environment Protection is based on:
- detailed preliminary investigations and collection of data on the existing natural conditions (background conditions) in a defined area;
- assessment of the technical side of the project from the point of view of the environmental impact;
- consideration of and substantiation for the various alternative project realizations;
- assessment of environmental measures to be taken to minimize the negative impact on the environment;
- and others.
As for the preliminary background analysis, it involves collection and generalization of existing data on the geographical, geological, hydrometeorological, biological, and other natural conditions, as well as on the pollution parameters and social and economic development in the defined area. Environmental components facing the strongest negative impacts are studied more accurately, direct and indirect impacts being differentiated.
Immediate assessment of the possible environmental impacts during the project implementation (accident-free operation) is made for all the background components. Mainly this involves geological, landscape geomorphologic and hydrometeorological conditions, atmospheric air and sea water quality, marine bioresources, birds and mammals, social and economic activities, etc. In addition there is an assessment of the environmental risk (resulting from the project implementation) and potential accident consequences.
EIA and Natural Environment Protection results serve a good basis for developing:
- Actions for minimizing the negative environmental impacts;
- Plan for accident prevention and liquidation;
- Ecological monitoring program;
- Prospective investigations program.
Besides EIA implementation involves development of additional substantiating materials and ecological terms and requirements including proposals for establishing certain MPD and MPE norms, as well as calculating potential damage to biological resources, etc. The final stage of EIA implementation (according to the Federal Law "On Ecological Expertise", 1995) is a presentation of EIA results to the State Ecological Commission of Experts. Such a Commission is responsible for ensuring project decisions conformity to the requirements of the environmental protection, natural resources rational use, and ecological public safety. Commission's approval given according to the established procedure is a binding condition for performing planned activities.
FERHRI's specialization in EIA projects can be best presented as:
- preparation of the existing natural conditions description;
- oil spill transport modeling;
- pollutants transport and sedimentation modeling;
- maximum permissible discharges and emissions calculation;
- comprehensive environmental impact assessment;
- environmental monitoring.
Nonspecialized sections of EIA projects are implemented together with the subcontracting companies and institutions.
Implementation of EIA and Environmental Protection projects is a considerable contribution to FERHRI's experience in getting approvals for designing and construction activities in Russia.
More than that, FERHRI is very successful at applying experience of international organizations in the field of high technologies. It is also taking into account international standards and methods of meeting technical requirements of the projects that conform to the legislation of Russian Federation.
Projects results made a good foundation for publishing FERHRI's three proceedings on the problems of Sakhalin and Primorskiy shelf areas exploration and investigation.
FERHRI's specialists take an active part in Russian and international scientific conferences and international programs for experience exchange.
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