Photographic Documentary Album: Community Monitoring of the Onshore Pipeline Route of the Sakhalin II Project July 2006, Sakhalin Environment Watch _______________________________________________________ This report reflects the conditions of a number of sections along the route of the oil and gas pipelines which are being constructed by Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd. (a company registered on the Bermuda Islands, with stakeholders Royal Dutch Shell, Mitsui and Mitsubishi). This report is based on data collected by members of the nongovernmental organization Sakhalin Environment Watch during inspections of the following pipeline sections (from north to south): 1) From the intersection of the pipeline route with the federal road "Okha – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk" near the former Garomai railway station and former village of Garomai as far as the intersection of the pipeline route with the Kiussi River (along the pipeline route about 3 km to the south from the intersection with the Khanduza River), Nogliksky District (between the 30th and 41st kilometers of the pipeline or KP [0 KP being the start of the pipeline in the north]); 2) From the intersection of the pipeline route with the federal road "Okha – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk" (south of the vehicular bridge across the Imchin River) as far as the intersection of the pipeline route with the Vazi River, Nogliksky District (between 125 – 160 KP); 3) From the intersection of the pipeline route with the Gornaya River as far as its intersection with the headwaters of the Mozhaika River (in the area of Mount Makarova), Makarovsky District (between 341 – 352 KP). Inspected sites are marked approximately on the map in red. Inspections were conducted between June 21and July 03, 2006, during Pacific Salmon spawning season. Photo captions include a description of the location, including the pipeline kilometer (KP) established by Sakhalin Energy. They also include an explanation of the depicted violations of the approved project plans, the company's responsibilities, any requirements on which permits and approvals are conditioned, and the requirements of Russian environmental protection legislation. The photos bear witness to the many problems on the pipeline route, mainly associated with the insufficient measures taken to prevent the washout of riverbanks and erosion. In some places these measures are entirely absent.
Transcript
Photographic Documentary Album:
Community Monitoring of the Onshore Pipeline Route of the Sakhalin II Project
July 2006, Sakhalin Environment Watch
_______________________________________________________ This report reflects the conditions of a number of sections along the route of the oil
and gas pipelines which are being constructed by Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd. (a company registered on the Bermuda Islands, with stakeholders Royal Dutch Shell, Mitsui and Mitsubishi).
This report is based on data collected by members of the nongovernmental
organization Sakhalin Environment Watch during inspections of the following pipeline sections (from north to south):
1) From the intersection of the pipeline route with the federal road "Okha –
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk" near the former Garomai railway station and former village of Garomai as far as the intersection of the pipeline route with the Kiussi River (along the pipeline route about 3 km to the south from the intersection with the Khanduza River), Nogliksky District (between the 30th and 41st kilometers of the pipeline or KP [0 KP being the start of the pipeline in the north]);
2) From the intersection of the pipeline route with the federal road "Okha – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk" (south of the vehicular bridge across the Imchin River) as far as the intersection of the pipeline route with the Vazi River, Nogliksky District (between 125 – 160 KP);
3) From the intersection of the pipeline route with the Gornaya River as far as its intersection with the headwaters of the Mozhaika River (in the area of Mount Makarova), Makarovsky District (between 341 – 352 KP). Inspected sites are marked approximately on the map in red. Inspections were conducted between June 21and July 03, 2006, during Pacific Salmon spawning season. Photo captions include a description of the location, including the
pipeline kilometer (KP) established by Sakhalin Energy. They also include an explanation of the depicted violations of the approved project plans, the company's responsibilities, any requirements on
which permits and approvals are conditioned, and the requirements of Russian environmental protection legislation.
The photos bear witness to the many problems on the
pipeline route, mainly associated with the insufficient measures taken to prevent the washout of riverbanks and erosion. In some places these measures are entirely absent.
Section №1 (30 to 41 KP)
The intersection of the pipelines route with the left tributary of the Garomai River (which flows into the Bolshoi Garomai River). On the left you see a fragment of a bridge which was constructed in winter. It was built in a mound from logs and soil on the surface of the frozen stream. The bridge was not removed prior to the spring thaw; a substantial part of it remains (the rest was washed out into the stream by floods). This bridge, acting like a dam, continues to be washed out by rainfall, polluting the tributary and then the Garomai River with suspended solids.
View along the pipeline route of the stream View of the tributary downstream
2
Same location as in the previous photograph. Besides polluting the tributary, the remains of the bridge create a barrier to free water flow and fish migration (branches and other debris accumulate here).
Downstream from the location in the previous photographs.
The tributary is littered with the remains of the mound bridge and other construction trash. This causes sediment to flow into the spawning grounds, and creates physical obstacles for the spawning fish. _______________________________________________________
The intersection of the pipeline route with the right tributary of the headwaters of the Garomai River (to the south of where the pipeline route crosses through this river): 36 KP. Erosion has washed out the right-of-way where a culvert was installed for a shallow stream. Washouts like these happen because of the installation of a culvert of insufficient length (less than the width of the right-of-way where construction work is being carried out). In this way culverts are being blocked very quickly with washed-out soil from the right-of-way. Culvert
3
Same location as in the previous photograph, a view downstream from the culvert. A substantial amount of sand and clay soil has already washed into the tributary and then into the Garomai
River. Soil will continue to wash into the water in the future/ _______________________________________________________
4
The intersection of the pipelines route with the left tributary of the Garomai River (to the north of where the pipeline route crosses through this river): 34 KP. Garbage from construction and the workers' activity is piled within the water-protection zone (less than 50 m from the tributary). ___________________________________________
5
Intersection of the pipeline route with one
of the small left tributaries of the Garomai River: 32 KP.
The right-of-way and the road built on it have been washed out by the tributary’s current. There are almost no measures to prevent erosion here. An inevitable and significant increase of suspended solids being washed into the Garomai River watershed has taken place as a result of the pipeline being constructed through its tributaries without measures to stabilize easily-eroded topsoil and prevent erosion, or to replant the right- of-way’s groundcover in a timely manner.
________________________________________________
South of the crossing through the Garomai River: 36 KP. This shows a general washout of land at a site where the oil and gas pipelines are already buried. Gullies
created by water erosion appeared less than a year after the pipelines were buried.
Country between two rivers Khanduza and Siggour: at the border of 39-40 KP.
This photograph shows a significant washout
from erosion. It is very likely that the underground pipelines will break here (they are buried an average of 1 m deep). This gully is less than one year old. It is obvious that Sakhalin Energy’s anti-erosion measures (a few torn sand-bags placed here and there) are weak and insufficient. In the picture on the left you can see soil being washed beyond the limits of the right-of-way.
East of the headwaters of the Khanduza River (all three pictures on this page): 37.5 KP. The picture above shows a site where the pipeline route has been washed out over an area of more than 50 m. The two lower pictures show the "effectiveness" of the silt fences.
7
8
Same location as in the previous photographs: 37.5 KP. Gullies the length of this slope formed less than one year after the oil and gas pipelines were buried here. The gullies run as deep as 50 cm. Taking into account that the pipes were buried at a depth of about 2 m, it is very likely that within a 2 to3 year period erosion on that slope will uncover the pipes and they will begin to sag.
This picture shows the widespread sedimentation of the tributary because of soil washing out from the pipeline route (it is very visible in the lower right of the picture above). A few sparse silt fences do not make any difference. Mud flows down into the tributary, filling it in and passing sediment into the Imchin River. .
A minor stream flowing into one of the left tributaries of the Imchin River: 129 KP. In the upper part of the picture it is very visible how the mud flows beyond the limits of the right-of-way (marked by a yellow line) and spreads down into the tributary. This is a very good illustration of the ineffectiveness of the silt fences that have been installed: far beyond those fences sediments are flowing into the tributary on a massive scale.
________________________________________________
11
A minor stream along the left bank of the Imchin River: 129 KP.
Aggressive erosion is present at a site where the pipes have already been buried. A deep gully, very visible in the lower part of the picture, is forming directly above the buried gas pipeline. It is very likely that after one year the gully will have eroded down to the level of the pipes. At the same time, a significant amount of sand and clay soil is entering the tributary and flowing downstream into the Imchin River. .
____________________________________________
12
Headwaters of a left tributary of the Imchin River: 129.5 KP. Silt fences can not handle a heavy mud flow.
Section №3 (341 – 352 KP) The Krinka-2 River Valley (right channel of the Krinka): 349 KP.
This is a waste soil deposit site, located far outside the right-of-way. This waste soil deposit site is illegal: separate plans for this and other waste soil deposit sites in this area were not approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (Rosprirodnadzor), and were recently rejected in the State Environmental Impact Review (expertiza) process. Besides this one, four more similar sites were established between the Krinka-1 River and the Pulka River. The waste soil deposits are overwhelming a section of Sakhalin's forest, and the dumps themselves create a danger of man-made landslides.
______________________________________________
14
The first waterway to the south of the intersection of the pipeline route with the Gornaya River: 342 KP. On this site, you can see the aggressive advancement of erosion in the form of gullies. There are absolutely no anti-erosion measures in place here.
