Current World Environment

Introduction

Iran has 22 thousand kilometers of gas pipeline and has the longest gas and oil pipelines in the Middle East.it also  has the third largest consumption of natural gas in the world after United States and Russia. At present, Iran is producing only a small share of its gas reserves, about 5.5 trillion cubic feet (160 billion cubic meters) per year. This means that Iran is one of the few countries capable of supplying much larger amounts of natural gas in the future. (Book: Iran Oil Ministry Annual Bulletin, 5th Edition, pages 190-193).  In this regard, in order to prevent wasting some of gas resources in future, construction of gas pipe line transmission is necessary that it’s the most economical and least effective method. An important issue here will occur is environmental impact, safety and health due to the pipeline development.in other words, much of industry development requires, scientifically and predictive target planning based on safety, health and environmental variables.¹ Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are widely accepted as an effective tool for predicting changes in environmental conditions and setting up environmental management programs and its benefits are well accepted.^2,3,4,5,6,7 The aim of the EIA is to determine, to forecast, to assess and to propose measures for mitigation of the environmental impacts associated with the proposals for implementation, the decision making for implementation of the Investment Proposal and with assuming the respective commitments.⁸ Environmental assessments of such projects which are classified as a linear project, in many technical and methodological aspects are different from other projects. Therefore developing an appropriate methodology for such projects seems necessa.¹ Jozi and Iran khahi in 2010,⁹ have studied purpose of environmental risk assessment for gas transportation pipelines, combined the indexing system method and Analytical Hierarchy Process. For the purpose of examining results of this research, environmental risk assessment of gas transportation pipelines 24 inches for Tasuj-Salmas with approximate length about 42 kilometer as a case study was exerted. Salehi moayad and karimi in 2007,¹ have studied environmental impact assessment for gas transportation pipelines of Hamedan-Bijar, by GIS & RS method. Papadopoulou and Antoniou¹⁰ have studied different alternative locations for the construction and operation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal station in Cyprus were evaluated, explicitly considering also their connection to the power generation station of Mari and the country's gateway. Sosa and Alvarez-Ramirez (2009)¹¹ argue that there are temporal correlations in the occurrence of hazardous material pipelines incidents and this might be a useful consideration when creating contingency plans for large-scale pipeline projects, such as the one considered in Cyprus. Kuwari and Kaiser (2011)¹² used satellite images to monitor land use changes at Al Khore, a region in Qatar where a natural gas field was discovered. Their analysis focused on the investigation of rapid urbanization rate and its effects on other land uses at Al Khore city and the impact of Ras Laffan harbor on the coastline. The paper “Quantitative risk analysis of urban natural gas pipeline networks using geographical information systems” presents a novel quantitative risk analysis process for urban natural gas pipeline networks using geographical information systems.¹³ The proposed method in paper “Risk assessment along the gas pipelines and its application in urban planning” has a certain theoretical and practical significance in establishing and improving risk analysis along the gas pipeline and urban land-use planning.¹⁴ The results of paper “QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RISK DUE TO ACCIDENTAL SPILLS FROM ONSHORE PIPELINES” confirmed that the proposed model may be considered an important tool within a comprehensive approach to the management of risk related to onshore pipeline.¹⁵ The results of paper “Developing a new fuzzy inference system for pipeline risk assessment” demonstrate that the proposed model provides more accurate, precise, sure results; so that, it can be taken into account as an intelligent risk assessment tool in different engineering problems.¹⁶ The paper “Fuzzy Risk Modeling of Process Operations in the Oil and Gas Refineries” proposes a model for the risk of the process operations in the oil and gas refineries.¹⁷

In terms of political divisions, this project is located in the city of Ahar, Harris and Bostanabad of East Azarbaijan. The gas transmission pipeline started from Duzduzan. Longitude with 4,203,000 681,000 latitude and it started in Ahar longitude gas satation and ends in the latitude of 4,257,000 679,500.

The study area begins from Duzduzan and passed from the towns and villages such as; Rajol abad, Zaranq, Barough, Kalhor ,Torkayesh and finally ends near Ahar.

The second gas supply line Duzduzan - Ahar approximate length of 60 km and a diameter of 20 inches from the CGS station Duzduzan been split from an existing 30 inch line parallel to the existing 10-inch natural gas transmission pipeline continues to AHAR. The climate of province is cold. Two systems for climate studies are modified. Maarten, two Maarten,  Ambrzhh, and Sylyanynf are considerate to be given a different picture of climate.

Precipitation Rainfall data for all selected network stations in a 26-year period (1966-67 to 1991-92) shows the coefficient of variation of rainfall changing from 9/19 in Julfa to 1/44 of the Vanyar. Structural classification of precipitation, the area of the northern and central zones of Azerbaijan and part of the sedimentary basin also includes the Magi. From the perspective of regional tectonic earthquake central Iranian province covering the Precambrian organic phases, Middle Triassic, Late Cretaceous, Eocene-Late Miocene and Pliocene phase is fundamental. Pliocene and Quaternary tectonics of the region between Central Iran and Zagros continental collision tectonic implications of the Quaternary faulting, and seismicity of the volcano Sahand and Shilan results continue to reflect the current pressures of organic zone. The route also crosses with no regions with any protective value. Relatively far from the only geological value of the project is located.

The main fauna are, fox, jackal, wolf, hedgeohog , porcupine, hare, otter, wild boar, bear, bat, altitude sheep and goats, and birds such as kill, Common Crane, green cassock, geese, ducks, swallows, sparrow hawk, slab, eagles and barbary falcon, and ….

The most important plant species are, acanthophyllum, wild almond, juniper, poplar, Stipa, and....

Materials and Methods

The main methods to perform EIA in the world are the matrix of explanatory checklist on the synthesis and analysis system (Canter, 1996).¹⁸

This method has been used to explain the effects and consequences of environmental projects. Alongside this method is evaluated using, due to its advantages in Holistic together as well as providing the overall vision of the environmental consequences of a project be very useful... For this reason, in this study the evaluation matrix for the analysis of the environmental impacts of the project will be used. In this context, we first complete a checklist of important environmental consequences Duzduzan _ Ahar pipeline physical environment, biological, socio - economic and land use study area is presented.

Figure 1: Project location map  Click here to View figure

 

Table 1: Matrix effects of project activities on the environment of the construction phase  Click here to View table

 

Table 2: Matrix effects of project activities on the environment in the operation phase  Click here to View table

 
Results and Discussion

Summary and Analysis of the Design Matrix

In The construction phase 19 micro activities have evaluated in front of about 12 environmental factors (in the various environments). As the table shows, activities such as; excavation, embankment and excavation show the greatest negative impact on the whole environment of area. And the most important activity with positive effects on the aforementioned factors is manpower recruitment.The effect of different micro-environmental factors is presented in the tables, why should refrain from further elaboration.

In the operation phase 15 micro activities have evaluated in front of about 15 environmental factors (in the various environments). As Shown in Table 2 operation phase activities such as; grazing, vehicle traffic and waste production can have negative effects. The effect of different micro- environmental factors are presented in the tables, why should refrain from further elaboration.

In any case, it must be said that the most important activities with negative impacts in the construction phase of the project on environmental factors considered, including drilling and blasting, Digging route, and the most important activities of the positive effects of phase on the factors, manpower recruitment.

In the process of implementation and operation of the Project or any component part of the highly negative environmental impact of this project will not be under pressure, negative pressure design elements of environmental impact is almost is environment Range capacity tolerable. Most positive impact on environmental factors Income and welfare, employment levels, activities, services and commerce, immigration control and air quality. Operation phase of public works was positive that most of them involve the exploitation of gas or natural gas transportation and gas pipeline monitoring requirements.

According to the developed methodology it is necessary to use RS and GIS tools in the study current environment situation, routing  environmental alternatives and make land use maps of transmission path. With regard to all issues presented in explanatory checklist of this project and also previous clauses from the standpoint of environmental compliance provisions there isn’t any problem for implementation.

In general we can say that most negative effects of land use change within the immediate project plan. The most positive effects and consequences of the operation phase of the project will be divided into three levels, local, regional and national attributes.

Locally Duzduzan city, Harris, Ahar and all subsidiaries villages in the direction of a blessing gas pipeline benefit. In the construction industry in the years to come will enjoy the blessings of gas. On the other hand cleaner and cheaper fuel alternative fuels used by the inhabitants of the towns and villages will increase the positive impact of welfare, health and services in the area.

Income, welfare and health facilities Consequences ore the positive aspects of the national plan cheap and clean fuel to replace fossil fuels such as natural gas, fuel oil and gas oil and returns. By replacing the fuel -saving large amounts on imports of derivatives are taken and instead use this valuable petrochemical derivatives and new products are added. All of these are consequences of the policy change is based on Ministry of Petroleum Exporting further develop and achieve self-sufficiency and economic profit is greater. Another positive outcome of the project at the regional level as well as the prevention and control of air pollution in cities due to the replacement of fossil fuels with clean fuel gas path will be will see .

One of the objectives of the national land policy and fair distribution of wealth, industry and the general development of facilities to suit the whole country. This project is one of the efficient and effective means to achieve this is important.

Table 3: Summary of Major Proposed measures to reduce or mitigate environmental effects and consequences project

Summary of the most important proposed measures	Summary of main effects and negative consequences of project	Tiny design activities	Resources
As far as possible away from steep slopes- - Avoid long trench construction - Trench walls constructed in compliance with appropriate Slope   Design of steep Bankt and Gabion based on need-	Potential to exacerbate the erosion-	- Trenching in areas with moderate to high potential erodible	Physical – Soil
- Choose the path with the least need for excavation and embankment - Using tailings to pipeline infrastructure construction services - Distribution thin layer of tailings volumes over specific privacy pipeline construction (symmetric distribution along the slope and low volumes of waste) - Avoid any tailing depo on track floodways and natural waterways in the region	- Waste production in excess of 1 million cubic meters of excavation and Weir - Degradation of landscape - Creating a physical barrier in the way of wildlife in non-normative Depo -Increasing the potential for water and wind erosion	-Soil operations (including trenching, excavation and weir)
- Sprinkling sand on streets with design - Accelerate the completion of soil and route of intubation - At least for leveling and hitting the road bed construction for pipeline	Rise up dust and influencing land use peripheral	- Ground operations (excavation + Weir) - The movement of the transport vehicle and machinery Road Construction -	Physical- Air
- Demolition design and planning, with an emphasis on using the delayed explosion - Announced prior notice to the villagers Bang - Blasting operations in the middle of the day	- The maximum noise emission of 80 dB	Explosion
- The application of cathodic protection system - Retrofitting tube walls using concrete layer at the junction of route plan public spaces	- The risk of gas leaks	corrosion Or any possible perforation wall Pipelines during operation of the pipeline
Feasibility of steel bridge across the pipeline (at the intersection of route plan Talwar River), instead passing a pipeline from the river bed - Avoid changing river immediately before and after Manders of the river - Avoid changing river in flood season and dehydration - Transmission Line pipe coating concrete far below the river bed and put it by the river - Given the cross-sectional area of the river discharge and the design of new course - Do not miss the river during spawning season - To avoid being thrown in the river and not leaving soil volumes in the riverine soil volume before fixation	- Reduction of dissolved oxygen in water and its effects on aquatic River - Changes in land status within the context of the old and new - Flood risk - The likelihood of erosion of river wall - Changes in natural systems  - Endangers the life of the river macrobenthic	- The possibility of a temporary change in river stage Project - Drilling and river tubing and passing Pipeline - Doing Earthworks River	Physical- Water
- No direct discharge to the river	- Very slight contamination with increased turbidity Small amounts of iron oxide	Disposal of water used for hydrostatic testing Pipe
- Whatever may accelerate welding and induction paths alongside rivers - Use of waste projects in the pipeline and the steeply specific road infrastructure and waste accumulation level than the adjacent land	- Creating a physical barrier in the path of wild Relationship with River	- Captures welded steel pipes in parallel River - Practical depo excess tailings volumes over the edge Privacy proprietary pipeline	Biological- Wildlife
- Prioritize the use of local manpower - Use delay blasting technique and timely notice to the residents of the surrounding villages during blasting operations. - Comprehensive implementation of provincial - Comprehensive city plan - Implementation of rural	- Noise on residential communities	- Recruitment and manpower requirements Plan - Where possible in the course of explosion plot	Social – Economic environment

Conclusions

Gas pipeline uses a complex system to transport natural gas.importance of direct pipelines are different from indirect pipelines. To assess the effects of pipeline in two-stage of construction and operation we used a simple matrix method. Building effects in Environmental factors are short and temporal and with applying corrective solutions they can be minimized.

The results of a simple matrix show that:

In the construction phase the most important activities with negative effects are considered in 19 environmental factors, including; excavation, embankment and excavation, and the most important activity with positive effect on the aforementioned factors, is manpower recruitment. Most positive impacts on environmental factors are revenue and welfare, employment levels, commerce and manning activities, immigration control and air quality.

In the Operation phase activities such as; grazing, vehicle traffic and wastewater production have negative effects. Most of this phase effects are positive which involve; exploitation of gas or natural gas transportation and gas pipeline monitoring.

During both project construction and operation phases, each micro activity in 19 environmental factors even won’t have 30% of negative effects. Therefore, none of the micro activities of this project (either in the construction phase or operation phase) doesn’t have negative effects on the environment.

Another important result of this study is obtaining reliable quantitative result from GIS and remote sensing. Land use maps derived from satellite images which are modified by field visit shows a double effects of using these systems.in these projects such as Gas pipeline projects, land use change in the area is inevitable. Accurate extraction of land use change extent is as an important part of the report, whiles the legal obligation of the Iran’s Environmental Protection Agency is applied.

At the end risk assessment is recommended in this project which it’s better to done with Kent Molbayer method. This project results shows that firstly; the precision of such studies is largely depends on the accuracy of the RS and GIS results. Secondly, it is impossible to do most parts of the EIA study without employing these systems. Therefore using RS and GIS in EIA linear studies as a basic, reliable and trustworthy can be suggested.

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