Volodymyr Tykhyy, Project Manager, Kyiv
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an important tool in designing cost effective projects that prevent unnecessary damage to the environment. A Demonstration EIA Project (DEIAP) described in this paper is a cooperative effort of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and UNDP, supported by numerous agencies and organizations within Ukraine.
USEPA's strategic partner for the project is the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety of Ukraine (MEPNS) which is responsible for reviewing environmental assessment statements under Ukrainian law (ecologichna expertyza). USEPA's initiative to launch DEIAP was supported by MEPNS.
The ultimate idea of the project is to demonstrate that a western-style EIA will work in Ukraine and that this type of EIA is a win-win strategy for business and community.
Due to various reasons, it was not easy to find a real investment project and to get investor's support for conducting a western-style EIA for the project. It was clear that a more complicated EIA procedure and mandatory public involvement might lead to unexpected and undesirable delays in project design and implementation. Support from Ukrnafta oil production company has proven that at least some Ukrainian businesses understand the importance of EIA and look for public support of their activities. Thus the project of an expansion of oil and gas production at Pasichna oil field in Nadvirna rayon of Ivano-Frankivsk oblast was selected for DEIAP. DEIAP was strongly supported by local authorities at both oblast and rayon levels, as well as by village councils.
All of the above mentioned stakeholders were invited to work on the Steering Committee for the project to provide recommendations to project implementers and to share the lessons learned during the project execution with their respective agencies. Ukrainian Parliament Committee on Environmental Policy is also represented on the Steering Committee.
It was decided from the very beginning that the EIA process, as well as the resulting EIA document, should comply with both Ukrainian and American EIA regulations that do not contradict each other. Ivano-Frankivsk State Technical University of Oil and Gas (IFSTUOG) has been contracted by Ukrnafta to carry on an EIA for Pasichna oil field. IFSTUOG is licensed to work on EIAs according to Ukrainian regulations.
Technical assistance on various issues of EIA such as collecting and analyzing background environmental information, alternatives analysis and public participation, which are commonly used in USA, but are new for Ukrainian EIA team, are provided by US EPA experts. UNDP office in Kyiv, together with Ukrainian NGO Pylyp Orlyk Institute of Democracy, provided operational support for DEIAP in Ukraine.
The first and very important step in conducting a western-style EIA in Ukraine was an intensive five-day training course Principles of EIA conducted by EPA team. This training brought together 20 representatives from different sectors, including oil company staff, governmental and local authority officials, scientists, media, and NGOs. Some participants of the training are now working on EIA for Pasichna oil field, others represent institutions which will be involved in commenting and approval of the EIA document.
It is very important that DEIAP enjoys a permanent interest from MEPNS and Ukrnafta company, first of all through their participation at the Steering Committee. Upon request of Ukrnafta a second Principles of EIA training had been conducted for Ukrnafta staff from all over Ukraine. A team of Ukrainian facilitators has been awarded a certificate to deliver the Principles of EIAtraining course.
Public participation throughout all EIA process is really a key issue of the western style EIA. Following successful American examples, a public advisory council for DEIAP has been established in Nadvirna. Membership includes environmentalists, educators, journalists, and NGO activists. The council is chaired by the Head of Nadvirna Rayon Society for Nature Protection.
Pasichna oil and gas field is located on the territory of three communities with a total population of about 20,000. On the 22nd of October 1998, a scoping meeting was held in Pniv village community hall. More than 150 people attended the meeting and actively participated in a dialogue with representatives of investor (Ukrnafta) and EIA team. American experts were also present and answered numerous questions on EIA practice in the USA. At the meeting participants formulated 20 issues which need detailed investigation during EIA process, such as recultivation of mud pits, disposal of drilling fluids and formation water, quality of drinking water and others. Many express their concerns regarding economic efficiency of the project and underestimation of environmental damage.
To maintain dialogue and to receive feedback from local communities, four information repositories have been organized in the region: one in the school, two in village councils and one in Nadvirna Nature Protection Society office. A lot of people visited information repositories and left their written comments and inquiries. EIA team provides immediate answers where appropriate and works on investigation of more complicated problems. All questions shall be answered by the time the public hearing on draft EIA document will be convened.
Local media regularly publish and broadcast information on the progress of DEIAP. Recently Nadvirna Rayon Newspaper "Narodna Volia" has published an overview of public comments collected at information repositories:
"It would be great if this project is safe from technogenic and environmental points of view".
"I would like to thank scientists of IFSTUOG for their work. It is great that environmental specialists keep on informing local people"
"I looked through materials investigating the state of the oil field and I think that some of these materials should be expanded. Earthquakes are not mentioned. Data on gas emissions are limited. Impact of oil industry on ground water has not been clarified".
"We must stop crippling our land and experimenting with it".It is clear that besides providing for better design and environmental safety of the investment project environmental impact assessment indeed raises public awareness and helps in building mutual understanding and cooperation between all sectors of society.