Phase 3: Stakeholder Engagement for Scoping
in Italy
1
Methodology
The Scoping is a process by which stakeholders are consulted to contribute to the identification
of key issues to be investigated as part of the ESIA itself. The primary output of the scoping
process was the final scope and contents of the full ESIA, taking into account the input from
relevant stakeholders, and the specific requirements of Italian Authorities and other stakeholders.
The scoping process is not mandatory in Italy, but it is foreseen as a formal procedure of the EIA
permitting process that the proponent can voluntarily initiate. This procedure is outlined in the
legislative framework at art. 21 of D.Lgs. 152/2006. The scoping process is led by the Italian
Ministry of Environment (MoE), which designates a project-specific Commission composed of
members of “Commissione VIA” (the EIA Commission).
In addition to the formal procedure and in order to facilitate the disclosure of the scoping
documentation, TAP included in this phase of stakeholder engagement a series of meetings at
local level to explain the contents of the scoping document and directly collect comments and
concerns.
The scoping document was prepared as part of the formal process of Scoping.
The publication of the Scoping Document was announced on national and local newspapers and
copies of the Scoping Document were made available on the internet and at each municipality’s
seat along with posters and leaflets about the project. Stakeholders were encouraged through the
media and the communication material to comment on the scoping document and were provided
the contacts of the TAP Italian office as well as internet site and e-mail address to direct feedback
to.
A final version of the Scoping Report was compiled at completion of the scoping disclosure
process and included all the comments made by the different consulted parties. This will
determine the final scope and contents of the full ESIA itself, taking into account the input
from all stakeholders, and the specific requirements of the Italian Authorities.
2
Stakeholders Engaged
The following table summarizes the Scoping consultation at the different levels that was
undertaken between June-September 2011 in Lecce.
Table E.1
Overview of ESIA Scoping Consultations
Stakeholders
National Level
Type of meeting
Location
Ministry of Environment and of Land and Sea Protection
Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Activities
ISPRA - National Institute for Environmental Protection
and Research
Regional Local Level
Face-to-Face
Face-to-Face
Face-to-Face
Rome
Rome
Rome
President of the Region
Regional Departments of EIA, fishery, forestry, etc.
Ministry of Cultural Heritage – Regional Office for
Landscape and Cultural Heritage
Ministry of Cultural Heritage – Regional Office for
Archaeology
Provincial, Municipal Local Level
Face-to-Face
Face-to-Face
Face-to-Face
Bari
Bari
Bari
Face-to-Face
Taranto
President of the Province
Province - Planning, environment departments
Fire Brigades
Municipalities interested in the Project
Environment and Cultural Heritage Protection NGO
Economic Associations
Face-to-Face
Face-to-Face
Face-to-Face
Plenary meeting
Plenary meeting
Plenary meeting
Lecce
Lecce
Lecce
Lecce/Melendugno
Lecce
Lecce
The following stakeholders have participated to scoping meetings:
Public Authorities
•
•
•
Province of Lecce;
Provincial Office of the Fire Brigades Lecce;
Municipalities of Melendugno, Lizanello, Castri di Lecce, Vernole, Cavallino.
NGOs
•
•
WWF and Legambiente, Lecce;
Italia Nostra, Lecce.
Economic Associations
• Confagricoltura (Agriculture Association).
3
Summary of Discussions with Stakeholders
The main environmental and social issues raised during this phase of stakeholder engagement
are summarised in the following Table E.4.
Table 1
Key Environmental and Social Issues Raised during the ESIA Scoping
Stakeholder Engagement
Issue Title
Issue Description
Main Stakeholder(s) Who
Raised The Issue
PRT
Move the Pressure Reduction Terminal from the Municipality of
Melendugno to Vernole.
•Municipality of Melendugno and
Vernole
•Province of Lecce
Environmental
Protection Plans
The environmental assessment studies should include the existing regional
and provincial special plans, for instance: Provincial Fauna and Hunting
Plan (Piano Faunistico Venatorio Provinciale), the Urban Landscape Plan
(Piano Urbanistico Territoriale Tematico per il Paesaggio) as well as the
Regional Landscape Plan that is under approval.
Engagement of
Include University of Salento in the engagement plan, to collect data and
Univesity of Salento information on the marine environment. Marine flora and fauna shall be
on marine biology
investigated (not only Posidonia). Local technicians should be involved in
issues and local
the project to provide detailed knowledge of the area.
technicians
Survey of the
A detailed geological survey shall be carried out on the coastal (shore)
Coastal area
area.
New roads
Avoid the construction of new roads and foresee the use of existing
agricultural roads (named ‘white roads’).
Sea turtle
The coastal area close to landfall is particular important for what concerns
the protection of the sea turtles (Caretta caretta). The identified coastal
area close to Lido di San Basiglio has been identified as crucial for the
nest-building of the turtle. The nest-building period in this area is mid June
– mid July.
Dry stone walls
Details on the reinstatement of the dry stones walls were requested.
Olive trees
Palaeontology
Water channels
Areas of High
Agricultural Value
The Regional Law on the protection of the monumental olive trees
regulating the techniques for their replanting and treatment. The
department in charge is the Regional Agriculture Inspectorate (Ispettorato
Regionale dell’Agricoltura) to which TAP is supposed to submit its plan on
replanting the monumental olive trees. The same department will issue the
authorization needed for non monumental trees replantation.
It is necessary to foresee the presence of a palaeontologist in case of
excavation activities in areas with paleontological findings risk, as
palaeontology findings occurred during previous activities of quarry
excavation
The gas pipeline will cross and area with water channels collecting the
water deriving from a natural phyto-depuration area (area under
development, exact location to be investigated). The reduction of the
potential impacts on the water channels and the full reinstatement of the
original situation were requested.
High agricultural value areas and landscape constraints are defined by
Urban Territorial Thematic Plan (PUTT) in the area of Cavallino
Municipality.
•WWF, Legambiente, Italia
Nostra
•WWF
•WWF
•Legambiente
•Legambiente
•Province of Lecce,
Legambiente
•Italia Nostra
•Legambiente
•Municipality of Cavallino
The main discussion areas of the meetings held so far are recorded in Table 2 below.
Table 2: Stakeholder Engagement Activities during ESIA Scoping
Stakeholders
consulted
Confindustria
Stakeholder
Type
Business
Association
Type of
engagement
activity
Face to Face
Specific discussion Areas
•
•
•
WWF and
Legambiente,
Lecce
Local NGOs
Face to Face
•
•
Timing
Confindustria Representative indicated that Confindustria places great importance in diversification and
competition in the Italian gas market. They also see access to Caspian gas very important especially with the
recent decision on the nuclear referendum in Italy.
Confindustria Representative also talked about the importance to give a clear message to the Italian
government that TAP is willing to include an Italian investor. Kjetil said that ENEL has been contacted at the
shareholder level and that in 2010 they were seriously considering entering the project. Now they are
probably for a decision from SD II who will selected the gas buyers at the end of the year.
Confindustria Representatives talked about alternatives to ENEL. They discussed the option of a consortium
of large energy industries, which consumes 4 to 5 bcm/y of gas who might be interested in taking an
ownership position in TAP.
June 22, 2011
WWF’s representative provided some information on the area of competence (Province of Lecce) and the
issues of interests (biodiversity and environment protection). He reported the presence of a protected area
(Le Cesine National Reserve), that is also an oasis managed by WWF. WWF representative informed that a
coordination activity on the TAP project had been carried out before the meeting with WWF at Regional and
National levels.
WWF and Legambiente announced that they will present a list of key issues/criticalities. An anticipation of
the issues was presented during the meetings and is the following:
(WWF side)
a. Avoid crossing of environmentally sensitive areas with particular regards to the Le Cesine National
Reserve area;
b. University of Salento shall be contacted to collect data and information on the marine environment;
moreover marine flora and fauna shall be investigated (not only Posidonia);
c. A detailed geological survey shall be carried out on the coastal (shore) area;
d. Avoid the construction of new roads and foresee the use of existing agricultural roads (named ‘white
roads’).
e. PRT area shall be located in an existing industrial area and installation of solar panels is recommended.
In this regards SAIPEM presented the criteria adopted in the selection of the PRT location (uncultivated
area without houses and trees, etc) and WWF and Legambiente agreed on them.
(Legambiente side)
f. The coastal area close to landfall is particular important for what concerns the protection of the sea
turtles (Caretta caretta). The identified coastal area close to Lido di San Basiglio has been identified as
crucial for the nest-building of the turtle. The nest-building period in this area is mid June – mid July.
Legambiente (Centro di Educazione Ambientale di Torre Lapillo) and Protected Marine Area of Porto
Cesareo are involved in the caretta caretta turtle, monitoring with regards to the communication and
scientific activity respectively.
g. Legambiente asked details on the reinstatement of the dry stones walls; moreover they asked to pay
attention to the orientation of the olive trees during their replanting.
h. Since the gas pipeline will cross the water channel collecting the waste water deriving from a
phytodepuration area (under development, exact location to be investigated), Legambiente required the
reduction of the potential impacts on the wet/channel area and in particular the full reinstatement of the
original situation.
July 27th, 2011
Stakeholders
consulted
Stakeholder
Type
Type of
engagement
activity
Specific discussion Areas
Timing
Italia Nostra,
Lecce
NGOs
Face to Face
•
TAP presented the objectives of the meeting; some project changes occurred since the last meeting held in
March 2011.
Italia Nostra asked for clarifications on the progress of the permitting/authorization procedure.
Italia Nostra asked information on the energy planning analysis of the TAP project and in particular wanted to
have information on the energy demands to be met by TAP project and wanted to know why the Puglia
Region shall be crossed by a pipeline that will provide gas to the national/international market (and not local
one).
The ESIA shall include an energy balance to support a comprehensive evaluation of the project.
Italia Nostra suggested the involvement of local technicians in particular for what concerns the environmental
expertise.
Details on the management procedure for the paleontological findings are required since paleontological
findings occurred during previous activities of quarry excavation. It is necessary to foresee the presence of a
palaeontologist in case of excavation activities in areas with paleontological findings risk.
July 27th, 2011
The main reference law for what concerns the authorization for the Fire Prevention is the D.M. (Ministerial
Decree) 16.02.1982 based on which buried pipelines with pressure above 5 bar shall be approved by the
Fire Brigade.
A new Decree on Fire Prevention is under discussion and it will include simplified procedures for the fire
safety authorization. Since it concerns not large size plants it is assumed that it will not affect the existing
procedure to be applied to the TAP project.
The Project components to be authorized according the existing Decree are the following: pipeline, PRT,
heating system and emergency generator.
D.M. 04.05.1998 specifies the documents to be submitted for the authorization request.
The Fire Brigade is the authority in charge with the fire protection for the onshore pipeline section; however
the documentation to be presented shall include the information on both onshore and offshore sections.
Safety distances to be applied to the pipeline are discussed in detail in particular for what concerns the
following issues: single house, settlement, forest and karst hollows.
Specific geological investigations shall be carried out since the region present karst phenomena.
The following additional recommendations are provided:
a. To reduce as much as possible the length of the higher pressure gas pipeline
b. To locate the generator as much as possible close to the diesel tank.
The risk analysis and protection measures shall be specified in the documentation to be submitted. The
document shall include also details on the gas leakage detect systems.
Comments from the fire Brigade shall be requested in the frame of the EIA procedure.
Information on similar projects carried out by TAP have been required in particular concerning the location of
the pipeline, age and details on the safety and emergency management procedures and systems adopted.
July 28th, 2011
The Confagricoltura representatives asked clarifications on the following issues:
a. Duration of the construction phase. SAIPEM representatives mentioned an average duration of one year
and half depending also on the specific requests from the land owners on the reinstatement activities to
be carried out (for instance replanting period, etc.)
b. The pipeline will cross a large agricultural area located at 0-1 km that would be potentially developed as
touristic farm. In particular the Confagricoltura representatives asked if the crossing of this area can be
avoided. SAIPEM/ERM presented the main reasons of the route selection in that area (proximity to the
wet area and technical constraints).
July 29th, 2011
•
•
•
•
•
Provincial
Office of the
Fire
Department
Lecce
Fire Brigades
Face to Face
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Confagricoltura Agriculture
Association
Face to Face
•
Stakeholders
consulted
Stakeholder
Type
Type of
engagement
activity
Specific discussion Areas
Municipality of
Cavallino
Public
Authorities –
Municipalities
Face to Face
•
•
Meeting with
Alderman to
the quality of
the territory
Public
Authorities
Face to Face
Municipalies of Public
Melendugno,
Authorities –
Lizanello,
Municipalities
Castri di Lecce,
Vernole,
Cavallino.
Face to Face
Timing
July 29th, 2011
Detailed information on the pipeline route has been required and provided by ERM/TAP representatives.
The Cavallino Municipality officials mentioned the existence of a number of restrictions in the Municipality
area directly interested by the pipeline route and in particular:
a.
High agricultural value area constraints as defined by the Thematic Plan (to be further investigated)
b.
Landscape constraints as defined by PUT (thematic territorial Urban Plan) of Apulia Region. The PUT
constraints are located closed to Masseria of Ossano.
• The Cavallino Municipality representatives asked for further investigations on the interferences of the pipeline
route with existing constraints. In particular in case the PUT constraints apply to the pipeline area of
influence, a specific authorization shall be required and issued by the Municipality.
• The presence of a number of public infrastructures (Refused Derived Fuel Plant, Landfill, Waste Water
Treatment plant of Cavallino and Lizzanello) in the Municipality area is mentioned including the Commercial
Area located along National Road SS16 for which a major expansion is foreseen.
• The presence of an Archaeological Park in the Municipality area is also reported.
• The Alderman confirmed the validity of the project but she recommended to use a totally professional service July 29, 2011
during the construction so that the land is safeguarded. In fact she said that many projects are well presented,
but under construction do not respect what was promised.
• The Alderman has greatly appreciated the procedure that TAP followed and that the visits to regional
Authorities, provincial, municipal and non-governmental entities.
•
•
•
•
The mayor of Vernole indicated that TAP has to talk to an archaeology Professor at the University of Lecce
to confirm that TAP route is at an adequate distance from the Ecomuseo of Aquarica.
The mayor of Vernole also indicated that the proposed location of the TAP terminal is at a distance of about
400 to 500 from a new Masseria/Agriturismo that is under construction. The planning departments of
Vernole and Melendugno municipalities will review the TAP maps and discuss the terminal location and
provide alternatives by Aug 3, 2011 for TAP’s review.
TAP discussed the release of the scoping document and of the procedure going forward.
The mayor of Melendugno appointed a staff member of the municipality as the single point of contact for
the working group that will work with TAP and the NGOs.
July 28th, 2011
Stakeholders
consulted
Ministry of
Environment
Stakeholder
Type
Public
Authorities –
Municipalities
Sovrintendenza Public
of Cultural
Authorities
Heritage of
Taranto
Type of
engagement
activity
Specific discussion Areas
Timing
Face to Face
To discuss the Scoping Procedure
September 15,
2011
Face to Face
•
•
•
•
•
•
September 28,
The Sovraintendenza Representative asked for details about pipeline construction. SAIPEM explained the
2011
contraction methodology offshore, nearshore and onshore.
The Sovraintendenza Representative said that a diver archeologist (previously approved by the
Sovrintendenza) would follow the offshore survey. This specific survey should be carried out right before the
start of the construction activities (no need to be carried out at this stage of the project).
The Sovraintendenza Representative suggested two approved archeological associations that can assist TAP
during the survey.
The Sovraintendenza Representative had no comments about the landfall point.
About the onshore survey, he suggests to involve an archaeologist that should draft an Archaeological Risk
Map to be included in the ESIA.
After the submission of the ESIA, the Sovrintendenza will provide comments and instructions on the
archaeological sections (e.g. the presence of an approved archaeologist during the excavation operations,
specific procedure to manage possible archaeological findings).