Failure of cross country pipelines have the potential to cause enormous environmental upheaval which in turn can cause delays, extra costs and even the cancellation of projects. Careful environmental planning can mitigate these effects.

Trident Consultants's environmental services fit into an overall framework of an environmental assessment since we provide a range of complementary studies, which encompass a complete environmental service.

CONSTRAINTS MAPPING

Maps are produced to show the many protected and designated areas such as aquifers, mineral resources, wildlife and archaeological sites through which the pipeline may pass. Pipeline routing engineers to establish a pipeline corridor, which minimizes environmental impact and thereby avoids potential delay and cost penalties, use these maps.

KEY ISSUES REPORT

A key issues study undertaken during the preliminary design phase of a pipeline provides early identification of the environmental concerns, which will need addressing as the project progresses. Skilled assessors conduct evaluation of a pipeline route from public rights of way. This achieves confidentiality and avoids compromising negotiations on rights of way or other access. A key issues report provides the basis for scoping and costing further environmental studies such as an Environmental Impact Assessment.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Investigation of all potential environmental impacts identified during previous scoping exercises. An essential part of the assessment is the identification and evaluation of measures designed to mitigate impacts. An assessment culminates in the production of an Environmental Statement, which can be produced in several formats depending on the scale and degree of public concern surrounding the project.

REINSTATEMENT PLANNING

Provision of full reinstatement schedules for the entire route, or comment on and assistance with the drafting of the client's own documentation. Reinstatement schedules are prepared for drainage, hedgerows, agricultural land, watercourses and, where necessary, other features.

CONSTRUCTION PHASE

Full-time or on-call environmental guidance can be provided. This service is advisable to achieve a successful and environmentally acceptable project by checking that policies are implemented, assumptions used during the early project phases are correct and unforeseen problems are quickly and efficiently resolved.