Environmental Assessment
Volume C-5.2
Slurry Pipeline
Cultural Property
Ambatovy Project
183
January 2006
5.2.4
Issue Scoping
The main potential issues relating to cultural resources are:
•
destruction of cultural sites during pipeline construction (primary
impacts); and
•
disturbance of nearby cultural sites during and after pipeline operation
(secondary and tertiary impacts).
Cultural resources are non-renewable resources that may be located at or near
ground level, or may be buried. Primary impacts to these comprise disturbances
created by the construction of the project, where the landscape and its contents
are disturbed.
Secondary impacts are indirect impacts that occur after construction and
reclamation is complete. Erosion of sloping terrain due to alterations in the
vegetation, for example, may affect sites. Secondary impacts are of particular
concern in situations where cultural resources lie adjacent to development zones.
Tertiary impacts are the results of project-induced changes in demography and
land-use patterns. Increased rates of intentional and unintentional impacts can be
expected as a result of increased visitation to the region if the project is large
enough to affect regional population bases. For this project, tertiary impacts may
be possible from non-local workers unfamiliar with local customs.
The key questions for cultural resources are:
Key Question AR-1
What Effect Will the Project Have on
Archaeological Sites?
Key Question SE-8
Will the Project Lead to Cultural or Social
Conflicts Between Local Residents and
Outsiders?
Key Question SE-10 What Effect Will Resettlement From the Project
Within the Area of Direct Impact Have on
Inhabitants?
