Nord Stream White Book Provides Initial Responses to Comments Received in International Consultations
Aug. 11, 2008 | Zug | Nord Stream’s so called “White Book” – published on its website today – provides a comprehensive record of the company’s extensive consultations with national authorities and the public in all Baltic Sea countries. Based on the project’s status as of June 2008, the White Book responds to more than 200 written comments and questions submitted by national authorities and individual stakeholders. These issues were submitted from all nine Baltic Sea countries following formal notification of the project in November 2006 and publication of a status document in October 2007. In line with the company’s policy of transparency and open dialogue, the document complements the information process required under the Espoo Convention which regulates Nord Stream’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in a transboundary context. As part of this international consultation process, the company has also participated in more than 20 public hearings and taken part in numerous public discussions and expert seminars.
The White Book is both a record and a part of the on-going dialogue between Nord Stream, as project developer of a natural gas pipeline across the Baltic Sea, and the public in all states bordering the Baltic. It demonstrates how Nord Stream has taken into account all comments submitted with regard to the project. It is intended to cover the general approach, principles and major findings in the various fields involved in a way that is transparent and accessible to non-experts. These fields include natural science, engineering as well as national and international legal aspects.
Dirk von Ameln, Permitting Director at Nord Stream AG, notes: "Nord Stream is engaged in the most comprehensive transboundary environmental assessment ever undertaken of the Baltic Sea, involving nine countries and many stakeholders. The White Book is another element of the on-going dialogue that we are conducting with the public and governments in all Baltic Sea states.”
White Book designed for transparency and clarity
Consultation over and preparation of the EIA and national application documents on Nord Stream’s pipeline is on-going. The White Book contains Nord Stream’s responses to issues raised, reflecting current developments, knowledge and research. For questions that have not been fully answered yet, the comprehensive EIA report will provide responses and the White Book directs readers to the relevant chapters therein. The results of the most recent scientific research and surveys as well as any modification to the currently preferred route will be included in a draft report to be submitted to national authorities in October 2008. The final report will be published after further consultation.
Given the complexity of the subjects covered and the wealth of material it contains, Nord Stream has structured the White Book to identify and clarify the more than 1,600 issues raised. These range from a wide variety of potential types of impact to issues of alternatives and safety precautions. Grouped into 89 different sub-headings covering seven main areas of interest, the White Book contains systematic responses to the issues raised.
The 530 page document contains two sections. The first groups issues raised by stakeholders with Nord Stream responses. The second section is divided into country chapters, each of which presents the issues raised in each respective country with references to the corresponding chapters containing Nord Stream’s responses.
