Laying a liquefied natural gas pipeline from Ocean Cay, near Bimini, to Florida presents the greatest potential for impact to marine resources as it will cause temporary disturbance to the ocean floor, according to an environmental impact assessment of the proposed AES project.
But the EIA also said that the $550 million project is not expected to impact critical habitats of any endangered or at risk species.
The much-anticipated assessment was conducted by Haley & Aldrich, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and was viewed Wednesday by the Bahama Journal at the Bahamas Environment Science Technology office at Nassau Court.
AES funded the study and chose the company, but a consultant hired by BEST reviewed the report.
The entire project would include a liquefied natural gas import terminal; a liquefied petroleum gas removal plant; a seawater desalination plant; an undersea pipeline to supply potable water from Ocean Cay to North Bimini; as well as Ocean Cay employee housing and associated facilities on South Bimini, and an undersea natural gas supply pipeline.
In order to accommodate ship traffic associated with the LNG terminal, the existing approaching channel at Ocean Cay will be widened and deepened.
Upon completing dredging operations, long-term operational impacts to underwater communities will be minimal, the assessment said.
But it also said, “The dredging will result in loss of the [flora and fauna] located within the dredge area.”
The report adds, “Although existing biological habitats will be permanently altered in the short term, new habitats and organisms are able to rapidly re-establish themselves in previously disturbed areas.”
The assessment said that maximum concentrations of contaminants in the environment would not exceed allowable levels.
Noise impact would be “negligible” at neighbouring inhabited islands primarily due to the isolation of Ocean Cay from permanent residences and other sensitive receptors and there are no significant visible impacts.
No findings of significant land or sub sea cultural resources, including shipwrecks, were made during the study. Therefore, no impact to cultural resources is expected, the EIA said.
AES proposes to construct the steel pipeline and install it on the sea floor, but that plan has been met with concern from local environmentalists.
The plan also calls for an expansion of the island.
The report said the development of a LNG gas terminal and desalination plant on Ocean Cay would provide economic and social benefits to Bimini and the Bahamian government as well as providing a much needed additional supply of natural gas to South Florida and potable water and natural gas to Bimini.
The project is expected to create about 450 jobs during the construction phase and 25 to 35 permanent jobs.
The report also points out that there would be a potential improvement in the balance of trade with the United States, specifically by natural gas exploration.
If AES receives the go-ahead from the Bahamian government, the construction of the project would begin in mid 2004 and completed within 36 months.
Natural gas is a fuel that is in demand all over the world.
AES points out that natural gas requires considerably less storage space than regular natural gas making it possible to ship large quantities.
AES Project Director Aaron Samson has said that The Bahamas is the single best place in the world to bring LNG into southeast Florida and has continuously promised that his company is adhering to the strictest environmental standards.
Two other companies, El Paso and Tractebel North America Inc. also propose to establish liquefied natural gas pipelines between The Bahamas and Florida.
But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently warned that the Tractebel project could be harmful to marine life.
NOAA said recently that it is “highly likely” the Tractebel Calypso Pipeline would harm “highly important living marine resources” because it would pass through areas designated essential fish habitat.
It said that the project is “large-scale and technically complex with a high potential for a technological failure and or human error.”
NOAA said it is appropriate to proceed under the assumption that the significant adverse impacts are possible.
By Candia Dames, The Bahama Journal
