Environmental Assessment
Volume C-4.3
Slurry Pipeline
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Ambatovy Project
131
January 2006
Table 4.3-5 Impact Description Criteria for Fish and Aquatic Resources
Direction
Magnitude
Geographic Extent
Duration
Reversibility
Frequency
positive
,
negative
or
neutral
for the
measurement
endpoints
negligible
: no
measurable effect on
the measurement
endpoint
low
: <10% change in
measurement
endpoint
moderate
: 10 to 20%
change in
measurement
endpoint
high
: >20% change
in measurement
endpoint
local
: effect
restricted to the LSA
regional
: effect
extends beyond the
LSA into the RSA
beyond
regional
:
effect extends beyond
the regional study
area (RSA)
short-term
:
<3 years
medium-
term
: 3 to
30 years
long-term
:
>30 years
reversible
or
irreversible
low
: occurs
once
medium
:
occurs
intermittently
high
: occurs
continuously
4.3.5.4 Mitigation
Mitigations that will moderate the impact of habitat loss or alterations as a result
of riparian clearing, instream construction and changes to water quality on the
slurry pipeline include the following:
Design Features
•
Route alterations have been made to avoid protected areas, parks and
pristine aquatic habitats (i.e., within primary forests). Additional
adjustments will be made, where feasible, to avoid sensitive local
habitats at watercourse crossings.
•
Matching the pipeline installation method with the watercourse type,
habitat condition and critical aquatic life history features to avoid
potential adverse effects.
•
Locating sites away from watercourses and minimizing footprints for
construction camps, effluent discharges, laydown areas, soil disposal
areas, and petroleum storage sites.
Construction and Operations
•
Implementing Environmental Management Plans which implement
protection measures to avoid or reduce environmental disturbance from
construction activities at watercourse crossings. These include measures
such as:
−
Using trenchless or isolation pipeline crossing techniques at pristine,
sensitive or important endemic fish habitat to minimize in-water
work and disturbance of aquatic /riparian habitat and control TSS
levels within specified levels to protect aquatic habitat and biota.
