Phase 4 – Stakeholder Engagement for Main ESIA in
Greece West
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
This Report
In the course of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process for the Trans
Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) Project, a phased stakeholder consultation programme is performed, as
set out in TAP AG’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP).
This report presents the outcomes of the stakeholder engagement activities undertaken during
the main preparation phase of ESIA. This phase of engagement represents the fourth phase of
stakeholder engagement for the TAP Project, following Pre-Scoping, Route Refinement and ESIA
Scoping Disclosure Engagement activities (see Table 0-1).
Table 0-1
Phases of Stakeholder Engagement in Greece and Progress to Date
Phase
Completed/ Planned
Phase 1: Pre-scoping
Completed
Phase 2: Route Refinement
Completed
Phase 3: ESIA Scoping
Completed
Phase 4: Main ESIA Phase
Completed (Subject of this Report)
Phase 5: ESIA Disclosure and Consultation
Planned
Phase 6: Ongoing Engagement during Project Implementation
Planned
The objective of this fourth phase of stakeholder engagement, conducted during September and
October 2011, was to complement the scoping engagement held in June and July 2011 in order
to ensure that stakeholders at the local level had an opportunity to learn about the Project, to ask
questions and raise concerns. Municipality representatives, heads of communities and the public
in potentially affected settlements were the primary focus.
The engagement was also used by the Project team to gain information on local particularities of
importance for consideration in the assessment of impacts and development of mitigation
measures. During
consultations, the Project
team
also
informed
stakeholders
about
the
grievance mechanism as well as the next phases of the Project.
In addition to local level consultation, supplementary engagement was undertaken during traffic
and cultural heritage surveys carried out in April 2012 and May 2012 respectively. These surveys
were carried out in order to re-confirm issues that were raised during the ESIA process
concerning these areas of interest.
The municipalities and settlements consulted during the main ESIA phase are presented in Table 1-1
below.
Table 1-1
Administrative Entities and Settlements crossed by the Pipeline Route
Municipality
Settlement
Region of Central Macedonia
Chalkidona Municipality:
Aghialos, Mikron Monastirion, Valtochorion, Nea Mesimvria, Parthenion, Gefira
Pella Municipality:
Agios Loukas, Liparon
Skydra Municipality:
Naousa Municipality:
Kalivia, Aspron, Rizon, Loutrochorion
Plevroma, Petrea
Polla Nera
Edessa Municipality:
Agia Fotini, Ano Grammatiko, Kato Grammatiko
Region of West Macedonia
Eordea Municipality:
Purgoi, Pentavrussos, Perdikkas, Galateia, Droseron, Foufas
Amyntaio Municipality:
Maniaki, Antigonos, Variko
Kastoria Muncipality:
Kleisoura, Lithia, Verga Agia Paraskevi (monastery), Krepeni, Dispilio, Korissos,
Chiliodentro, Poreia, Tsakoni, Mesopotamia , Agia Kuriaki, Oinoi
Militsa, Ampelokipi
Orestida Municipality:
1.2
Background and Steps Leading to the ESIA Process
The Route Refinement phase evaluated
socioeconomic and cultural
feasible
pipeline
heritage
potential
criteria
with
routes
the
aim
using
of
technical,
identifying
environmental,
the
technically
route alternative with the least environmental, socioeconomic and cultural
heritage impacts. Once the preferred alternative had been identified, TAP AG produced a
Scoping Report which was disclosed in the meetings that followed.
The process of Scoping allows key issues to be identified and addressed in the ESIA. It should
be noted that in accordance with the regulations pertinent in Greece at the time when the ESIA
process was started, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Greece for the Project
section between Nea Messimvria to the Greek-Albanian border is carried out in the following two
phases:
•
Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (PEIA); and
•
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
A Special Environmental Authority within the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate
Change (EYPE/YPEKA) is in charge of both phases of the EIA process. The PEIA Study is
submitted to the Special Environmental Authority (EYPE/YPEKA) for consideration and the PEIA
phase consultation is limited to national public authorities. During the EIA phase, when the ESIA
report is completed, but prior to its approval, the study is submitted to the regional authorities
involved and is subject to public disclosure. One public disclosure meeting is mandatory to be
organised in each region.
The PEIA was prepared following the compilation of the ESIA Scoping Report, filling a similar role
in the ESIA process but meeting the specific requirements of Greek environmental legislation. An
additional dedicated PEIA consultation phase was thus not considered meaningful as it would
have provided no additional value to stakeholders or to the Project at that stage and could have
created ‘stakeholder fatigue’. The PEIA was submitted to the Ministry in September 2011 for a
completion check and then resubmitted after some design changes in February 2012. The
updated PEIA report was also submitted to 27 national and regional authorities as required by
national legislation.
2
2.1
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS DURING THE MAIN ESIA PHASE
Summary of Engagement Meetings
During ESIA main phase, settlement engagement meetings were held within the 2 km corridor
along the pipeline route to provide information about the Project, to discuss impacts and
mitigation measures, to answer questions and understand concerns of those that will be most
affected by the Project. A few settlement meetings were also held outside the corridor due to
their potential ownership or use of land within the corridor.
Additionally focus group discussions and key informant interviews were held. Although these
were organised primarily to collect information for the social baseline element of the ESIA, they
also served as a forum for these groups to communicate their opinions and concerns regarding
the TAP Project.
In total, 1,052 participants were consulted during 95 consultation events.
Meetings were organised through national and regional authorities and heads of communities.
Additionally, a media campaign was coordinated by TAP AG’s office in Greece which included
the following activities:
•
2 weeks prior to consultation, adverts were placed in 4 northern based newspapers
(published twice – 1 per week): Odos, Ptolemaios, Paratiritis and Makedonia.
•
The same adverts were announced on the regional radio stations: Radio Almopia, Radio
Agapitos, Pella FM, Radio Kastoria and Antennes FM.
•
Consultation posters were sent to heads of the local communities for distribution prior to the
consultation. Posters were also placed in public places by TAP AG representatives 2-3 days
in advance of the meetings. Meetings were only held in the evening following the request of
the local communities, in order to maximise the possibility of public participation.
Meetings were held in a variety of locations such as municipality offices, coffee shops,
community social areas and general stores.
Consultation meetings involved a presentation of the Project followed by a question and answer
session. Focus groups and key informant interviews were guided by a protocol to enable targeted
discussions about specific topic areas for baseline data collection.
Detailed aerial maps of the potential Project route were also used at stakeholder meetings in
order to provide visual orientation and facilitate discussion.
Issues raised during meetings were recorded and are summarized in Section 4 below.
Stakeholders were also invited to submit follow-up questions and comments by post or through
the Project website.
All communication materials included information on the TAP grievance mechanism.
2.2
Traffic and Cultural Heritage Field Surveys and Stakeholder Consultation
Between April and May 2012, traffic and cultural heritage surveys were carried out to collect
additional data for the ESIA and to identify impact and mitigation measures relating to these
areas of concern. This allowed for supplementary consultation to be conducted with stakeholders
not previously consulted during the ESIA preparation phase engagement.
Consultation on Construction Traffic Impacts: In the course of the traffic counts undertaken at
traffic nodes that, based on preliminary construction traffic prognoses from the logistics planning
would be critically affected, consultations were held with key statutory stakeholders in charge of
regional traffic issues. The main objective of the traffic survey was to present the potential
pipeline route and affected roads in order to discuss areas potentially affected by the TAP
Project. Table 2-3 provides a list of meetings held during the traffic survey.
Table 2-1
Traffic Survey Meetings
Date
Stakeholder
23.04.12
Traffic Police – Department of Nea Chalkidona
24.04.12
Traffic Police – Department of Highways
25.04.12
Traffic Police – Department of Pella
26.04.12
Mr.Athanasios Matthaiou, Director of Operation, Maintenance and Commercial issues, Egnatia
Odossea, Thessaloniki
27.04.12
Traffic Police – Department of Kastoria
27.04.12
Traffic Police – Department of Ptolemaida
Consultation on Cultural Heritage: The purpose of cultural heritage field survey, carried out in
May 2012, following a request from the Greek Ephorates of Antiquities, was to provide support to
the agencies in performing field surveys under the framework of their appraisal and interagency
consultation process with the Ministry of Culture (Large Projects Department) and the Ministry of
Environment for the PEIA.
Maps were provided to the Ephorates prior to visiting sections of the pipeline route together with
the PEIA report. The schedule and stakeholders attending the field activities held in relation to
this survey are listed in Table 2-4.
Table 2-2
Details of Cultural Heritage Field Survey (May 2012)
Date
Stakeholder
14.05.12
•
T. Keramaris, Archaeologist of the 16 EPCA
•
A. Chadjiioannidis, Archaeologist of the 9th EBA
•
Ms. K. Mylona, guard of antiquities of the 17 EBA
•
Mr. Y. Chorozidis and D. Penoglidis, guards of antiquities of the 30th EPCA
•
Mr P.Tsokas, Archaeologist of the 16th EBA
•
Mr. P. Chrissostomou, Archaeologist of the 29th EPCA
•
Ms. A. Skreka and Ch. Sariyiannidou, Archaeologists of the 16 EBA
•
Ms. E. Naoum, Archaeologist of the 29th EPCA
•
Mr. N. Pandazopoulos, guard of antiquities of the 29th EPCA
15.05.12
16.05.12
17.05.12
th
th
th
Notes:
ECPA stands for „Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities“ and is an administrative unit of the Greek Ministry
of Culture responsible for a specific area (usually one or two prefectures).
Field notes of these surveys, anecdotal evidence and detail of any discussions with the Ephorate representatives are
documented in the report ‘ESIA Greece – Supplementary Cultural Heritage Field Visit with Authorities Report (June
2012)’.
3
3.1
OUTCOMES OF ENGAGEMENT
Summary of Outcomes of Phase 4 Engagement during ESIA preparation
During stakeholder engagement in the ESIA preparation stage, issues raised during the previous
phases were reiterated, especially those relating to land acquisition and compensation, economic
development and employment. The impact of the Project on landowners and natural resources
were also stressed as key concerns. The main issues raised during the meetings were the
following:
Impact on Land, Properties and Livelihoods and Compensation: Impacts to land based
livelihoods and the relevant compensation were key areas of concern, especially in Pella, Skydra,
Naousa and Eordea where there is a high level of agricultural productivity such as the cultivation
of peaches on the pipeline route. Annual crops are also of particular importance in Eordea
towards the western part of the route. Additionally, concerns regarding potential depreciation of
land value and restrictions to building were raised.
TAP Project Detail and Pipeline Route: Consultees sought information about the detail of the
Project including depth of the pipeline, construction and the exact route. A diverse range of
questions were raised to gain further clarity on the Project, particularly around the technical
aspects of the pipeline, including construction. Other questions were regarding the pipeline
routing and location of block valve stations. The technical standards that the Project would apply
(Greek/EU/international) were also a common area of interest.
Management of Impacts: Questions were raised with regard to management of a range of
impacts. Examples include: irrigation, in particular boreholes which are no longer allowed to be
constructed or require permits (which in former times was not required); Reinstatement of land
especially in areas of high agricultural productivity and fertile soil; Forest degradation and how
this would impact the natural environment in terms of oxygen levels and scenery; noise and
disturbance,
potential
contamination
of
water
resources;
disruption
to
access
routes;
interaction with local development areas and cultural heritage.
Project Benefits: Many stakeholders asked questions with regard to benefits that they might
receive from the Project, in particular funds gained from the Project which could be distributed to
the local community and investments made by TAP AG. The possibility of access to gas and
employment were seen as benefits the “Project should provide”, and consultees felt that if these
opportunities were not available, there would consequently be no benefits.
Health & Safety: There was some concern with regard to public health and safety implications of
the gas pipeline, especially with regard to the pressure of gas and how the block valve stations
would prevent gas explosions and leaks. Consultees were also concerned about how the pipeline
would be managed in the case of an emergency. Furthermore, some concerns were raised
regarding old machinery, including deep ploughs used for cultivation, which work to a depth of 60
- 70 cm.
Stakeholder Engagement Process and the Role of the Government: Stakeholders were very
keen to remain informed about the Project and be able to provide further views as Project plans
develop. However, there were strong feelings of resentment and scepticism towards both the
government and TAP AG which stems from past experiences with other development projects. The
current economic situation is also having its impact on the general feeling of anxiety and
negativity among local population.
The results of the consultation evaluation process indicate that stakeholders were generally
satisfied with the consultation process and were able to ask all the questions that they wanted to
ask. Nonetheless, stakeholders were keen to be provided with more detail regarding the exact
route and specific land plots that would be affected by the Project in order to establish whether
they would be compensated.
3.2
Outcomes of the Traffic and Cultural Heritage Surveys and Consultations
During the traffic surveys and related consultations, no issues were raised by road agencies or
traffic police highlighting concerns regarding the impact of the TAP Project. However, key areas
of interest are highlighted below in Table 3-1.
Table 3-1
Location
Key Issues Raised During the Traffic Survey
Issue Description
Thermi
Thessaloniki
•
•
•
Nea
Chalkidona,
Central
Macedonia
•
•
•
Nea Malgara,
Central
Macedonia
•
•
Kastoria,
Central
Macedonia
•
•
•
•
Pella
•
•
•
•
•
Ptolemaida
•
•
•
•
Segments of the road from Thessaloniki to the
West will serve many of the transportation needs of
the TAP Project. Capacity of the road is more than
adequate for the current traffic volumes.
No planned developments.
During winter in some segments there may be
problems in case of heavy snowfall or adverse
weather conditions, but there are emergency crews
that keep the road always open.
In a series of tunnels (in sections from Grevena
towards Igoumenitsa) there is not still a permit for
entering vehicles carrying hazardous materials (they
have to use alternative roads).
Main
Proposed Follow-up
Stakeholder(s)
Action
Who Raised The
Issue
Egnatia Odossa An official application
requesting statistical
data regarding traffic
accidents is required.
TAP AG to follow-up.
TAP AG to obtain risk
assessment studies for
large transportations in
the area.
Capacity of roads is adequate for the current traffic
volumes.
Planned road (vertical to Egnatia Motorway) to
bypass Chalkidona and reach Gianitsa to be
connected to the new road to Edessa.
East-West traffic volumes on main road are high.
Junction only serves as entrance/exit to Valtochori
village, which is a small village with very limited traffic
throughout the year.
National Road Highway (e.g. Patra – Athina
Thessaloniki National Highway, from Thessaloniki
to Kleidi segment) is of adequate capacity to receive
all current traffic load without any problem.
No planned developments.
Traffic Police –
Department of
Nea Chalkidona
Traffic Police –
Department of
Highways,
An official application
requesting statistical
data regarding traffic
accidents is required.
TAP AG to folllow-up.
Capacity of roads is adequate for the current traffic
volumes.
No planned developments.
Some problems could be encountered during
summer period at National Road Kastoria –Nestorio
axis due to increased traffic by tourists.
There has been a decrease in traffic volumes the last
2 years due to the economic crisis (e.g. gasoline rate
reached nowadays almost 2 euros/litre) giving a relief
to traffic conditions at major Highways.
Capacity of the road is adequate for the current traffic
volumes.
No planned developments.
Faults in some sections of the asphalt layer as a
result of heavy loads traffic (e.g. fruits production
transport) increasing the risk for accidents in those
section.
Major problems created due to the fact that (although
it is a National Road network) traffic has to pass
through Rizon which is a residential area.
During summer period traffic volume is relatively high
due to transport activities of the fruits producers,
especially the segment of the road the south of
Loutrochori village.
Capacity of roads in the survey area are adequate for
the current traffic volumes.
No planned developments.
No specific traffic problems, with the exception of the
Ptolemaida South junction which is the main
entrance/exit for city of Ptolemaida and therefore
experiences increased traffic levels.
Traffic Police –
Department of
Kastoria
An official application
requesting statistical
data regarding traffic
accidents is required.
TAP AG to folllow-up.
Traffic Police –
Department of
Pella
An official application
requesting statistical
data regarding traffic
accidents is required.
TAP AG to folllow-up.
An official application
requesting statistical
data regarding traffic
accidents is required.
TAP AG to follow-up.
TAP AG to obtain plan
for the new road to be
built in Chalkidona.
Traffic Police –
Department of
Ptolemaida
Information required
regarding bulk
loads/traffic movement
to the PPC Power
Generation Facility.
The issues raised by the Ephorates are summarized in Table 3-2.
Table 3-2
Key Issues Raised During the Cultural Heritage Survey
Location
Issue Description
Main Stakeholder(s) Proposed FollowWho Raised The
up Action
Issue
Ptolemaida
•
Contemporary Church (Church of Assumption)
within the centreline of the pipeline route in the
area of Ptolemaida.
Ephorates
Representatives
•
Opposite the church, approx. 300 metres to the
south-west of the centreline, there is a wooded
hill named Kouri, where a Neolithic site has
been excavated.
TAP AG to refine
route to avoid
structure and
maintain safe
stand-off distance
•
Church of the Assumption in Foufas.
•
Site of a byzantine aqueduct. The site lies
outside the 500 m. buffer zone.
Ephorates
Representatives
No specific followup action by TAP
AG required at this
stage
•
The mountain edge to the north-east of the
Ephorates
village, in which the contemporary monastery of Representatives
Gregorios Palamas and the Church of Ayios
Rafail are located, is regarded an
archaeologically sensitive area.
No specific followup action by TAP
AG required at this
stage.
•
A coin hoard was reported In Mesagros.
•
There have been a number of excavations of a
byzantine cemetery in the Ampelia area to the
south of Filotas. This site was included in the
baseline study of the route refinement
excercise.
•
In the Variko area, on Profitis Elias hill, possibly
within 1 km from the pipeline, there are
indications of a fortification wall. Variko has
been relocated to the current site; therefore the
older settlement should be sought in the vicinity.
Foufas
Antigonos (Florina
prefecture)
•
Remains of stone bridge possibly from the
Roman period reported in Verga, Vassiliada
area.
Ephorates
Representatives
•
Remains of ancient Via Egnatia located on the
right of Giole stream. Mesolithic chance finds
are also located along this stream.
No specific followup action by TAP
AG required at this
stage
Korissos
•
Land redistribution has taken place in this area, Ephorates
Representatives
therefore it is possible that it is the old field
boundaries and road systems that show on the
satellite images.
No specific followup action by TAP
AG required at this
stage
Krepeni
•
Along the valley just below Aghios Nikolaos
Kremastos pottery scatters have been traced.
Ephorates
Representatives
•
Remains of ancient Via Egnatia are believed to
be located on the right of the Giole stream.
Mesolithic chance findings are also reported
along this stream.
No specific followup action by TAP
AG required at this
stage
Verga
Militsa
•
Indications of pottery kilns. The whole area
Ephorates
between Aghios Dimitrios and Aghia Paraskevi in
Representatives
Militsa is of high archaeological potential.
Poria to Paravella
area
•
The whole area considered archaeologically
sensitive
Ephorates
Representatives
No specific followup action by TAP
AG required at this
stage
No specific followup action by TAP
AG required at this
stage
For the time being, no specific follow-up activities for TAP AG were flagged by the Ephorates.
They will provide their appraisal results in the course of their interagency consultation for the PEIA
appraisal to the Ministry of Culture/Large Projects Department and the Ministry of Environment
being in charge of the PEIA decision. The PEIA appraisal will inform TAP AG on any required
activities.
4
EVALUATION OF ENGAGEMENT
An evaluation of engagement was carried out at the end of each local level meeting which was
designed to be;
•
free of manipulation, interference, coercion, and intimidation, and
•
conducted on the basis of timely, relevant, understandable and accessible information in a
culturally appropriate format.
During ESIA engagement, there were three ways in which consultation was evaluated:
1. Orally in which consultees were asked their opinion about the quality of the meetings.
2. A written questionnaire survey which required consultees to rate the quality of the meetings.
3. A participatory approach which required consultees to rate the quality of consultation by
placing stickers on a poster containing 3 questions as shown in Box 4-1.
Box 4-1
Poster Evaluation Questions
1.
Has the meeting been organised in a way to facilitate your
attendance?
2.
Were you able to ask the questions that you wanted?
3.
Were you satisfied with the answers provided? /was the
information provided clear and sufficient?
The options to respond to each question were ‘Yes’, ‘No’ and
‘Partially’.
(Note: Consultees were informed that ‘Partially’ referred to an
aspect of the meeting that they were not 100% satisfied with. For
example, the meeting was well organised and presentation well
articulated, but responses to questions were not complete, such as
value of compensation or exact plots of land affected.)
Picture: Evaluation of consultation in Korissos (Kastoria municipality, Western Macedonia)
The results of the oral and poster evaluation suggest that overall people were satisfied with the
way in which meetings were organised to accommodate attendance. However in some cases
where attendance was low, it was mentioned that members of the community were still in field
and that a different time should have been arranged to maximise attendance.
Since ESIA engagement was carried out prior to the ESIA assessment, the level of detail that
was provided to stakeholders
regarding the TAP Project was limited. However, further
information will be disclosed during the next phase of engagement, Phase 5 - ESIA Finalisation
and Disclosure, which will provide communities with more clarity about the Project, particularly
in relation to the pipeline route, loss of land and impacts and mitigation measures and
opportunities.
TAP AG will continue to monitor and evaluate engagement activities throughout the Project to
maximise effectiveness.