High Pressure Natural Gas Pipeline Pembroke Refinery · High Pressure Natural Gas Pipeline Pembroke Refinery ... during the project design process. 2. ... High Pressure Natural Gas

High Pressure Natural Gas PipelinePembroke Refinery

Environmental StatementNon-technical Summary

July 2010

Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary

High Pressure Natural Gas Pipeline, Chevron Ltd NTS-1

1. Introduction

1.1 Overview

1. Chevron Limited (Ltd) is seeking detailed planning

permission for the development of a high pressure

natural gas pipeline connecting the Pembroke

Refinery to the South Haven Gas Pipeline (SHGP)

(currently under construction).

2. The Pembroke Refinery is situated adjacent to the

Milford Haven Natural Harbour, approximately 4

kilometres (km) west of Pembroke Dock, and on the

edge of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

The SHGP is situated approximately 1.5km to the

east of the Refinery.

3. Figure 1 shows the planning application boundary

in the context of the wider area and the operational

fenceline of the Pembroke Refinery. The application

site, which comprises the proposed pipeline, a

construction compound, pipe lay down and soil

storage areas, and the tie-in point to the SHGP,

comprises a total of 19.3 hectares (ha).

1.2 The Need for the Development

1. The Pembroke Refinery is regulated under the

Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007 (as

amended), for processing crude oil into a range of

product fuels and feedstocks.

2. The refinery’s Environmental Permit (Reference

QP3033LW) sets out site-specific control

measures, limits and Improvement Conditions

relating to processes on site. Through this process,

Chevron Ltd is currently implementing various

improvements across the installation to reduce the

refinery’s emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) to the

proposed limit of 6,800 tonnes per year by 2011

and 4,300 tonnes per year by 2016.

Figure 1: Site Location Plan

Based upon an Ordnance Survey map with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Crown Copyright reserved License No. AL

100017812; 100020449



3. The proposed pipeline will assist Chevron Ltd with

achieving the SO2 target by supplementing heavy

fuel oil used onsite with natural gas. It will also lead

to a reduction in other atmospheric emissions such

as oxides of nitrogen, particulates, and greenhouse

gas emissions.

1.3 The EIA Process

1. URS Corporation Ltd (URS) was commissioned by

Chevron Ltd to undertake an Environmental Impact

Assessment (EIA) in accordance with the Town and

Country Planning (Environmental Impact

Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations

1999 (as amended) and the Town and Country

Planning EIA (Wales) Regulations 2008. The

results of this process are presented in the

Environmental Statement (ES) and accompanying

technical appendices.

2. This document, known as the ES Non-Technical

Summary (NTS), provides an overview of the

findings of the EIA. It has been prepared for a

general audience including parties potentially

affected by the proposed pipeline development.

3. The ES has considered the potential impact of the

proposed pipeline on its neighbours, the local

environment, the local and regional economy, and

the wider area surrounding that in which the

pipeline is proposed. Beneficial and adverse, short

and long-term impacts have been considered.

Mitigation measures to either eliminate or reduce

adverse impacts have been incorporated into the

project design.

4. The ES has highlighted remaining, or ‘residual’

impacts, which remain following the incorporation of

identified mitigation measures. The significance of

residual impacts has been evaluated with reference

to definitive standards, accepted criteria and

legislation where available. Impacts have been

classified as being adverse, negligible or beneficial

in significance and either minor, moderate or major

in magnitude.

1.4 Scoping and Consultation

1. The EIA has included a programme of ongoing

consultation, which is critical to the development of

a balanced and comprehensive ES. Views of

statutory and non-statutory consultees serve to

focus the studies and identify those issues that

require further investigation. Consultation also

enables mitigation measures to be introduced

during the project design process.

2. Key consultees through the EIA process included:

• Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC);

• Environment Agency Wales (EAW);

• Countryside Council for Wales (CCW);

• Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority;

• Dyfed Archaeological Trust;

• Cadw; and

• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

2. Alternatives and Design Evolution

1. The EIA has considered the ‘No Development’

option, the use of ‘Alternative Sites’, and a number

of ‘Alternative Designs’.

2. The ‘No Development’ option refers to leaving the

site in its current state. This is not considered a

viable option since the continuation of current

operations would result in Chevron Ltd being in

breach of its environmental permit.

3. Having determined that piping the natural gas fuel

to the Pembroke Refinery would significantly

reduce SO2 emissions, Chevron Ltd considered

alternative routes for the pipeline. This included

making a new connection directly to the South

Wales Pipeline, which lies to the north of Milford

Haven waterway, though this was later rejected on

the grounds of environmental impacts and

significantly higher construction costs associated

with drilling and installing the pipeline under the

Milford Haven.

4. The possibility of upgrading one or more existing

pipes that run between the refinery and other

installations in the area was also considered.

However this option was found to be not viable due

to the significant works required to make these

pipes suitable for transporting gas, and the

significant environmental damage that would have

resulted from intrusive investigations needed to

confirm the position of these pipes.

5. The construction of the SHGP, as an associated

key component of the new RWE npower Pembroke

Power Station (approximately 1.5km east of

Pembroke Refinery), provided an opportunity to

bring natural gas to the Refinery via a relatively

short length of new pipeline.

6. It was decided that the optimal design for the new

pipeline would be to lay the pipe predominantly

underground, only coming above grade once it was

within the Refinery fenceline. This option was

chosen in order to minimise visual intrusion, reduce

the chance of accidental or deliberate damage to

the pipeline, and allow the agricultural fields it



crossed to continue to be used in the current

manner.

3. The Proposed Development

1. The proposed pipeline will provide a natural gas

supply between the Pembroke Refinery and the

SHGP, which is currently under construction and

forms a part of the Pembroke Power Station project

(which is also currently under construction).

2. The proposed pipeline route and associated

infrastructure is presented in Figure 2. Figures 4

and 5 present photographic views across the

application site to the north and northwest

respectively.

4. The proposed development will be predominantly

underground (entirely so outside the fence line of

the Refinery to where it connects with the SHGP)

and will pass through a largely agricultural

landscape, south of the Milford Haven Waterway

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and

Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The proposed

pipeline route also passes immediately to the south

of the Pwllchrocan Environmental Centre (formerly

St Mary's Church) and crosses the Pembrokeshire

Coast Path near the easternmost extent of the

pipeline.

5. The proposed development will comprise the

following features:

• 2.17km in length, of which approximately

1.25km is within the fenceline of the Refinery;

• 790m of above ground pipeline within the

Refinery fenceline, a further 460m below ground

within the Refinery fenceline, and 925m below

ground outside of the Refinery fenceline;

• 300mm (approximately 12 inches) diameter,

and suitable for transportation of gas at

Figure 2: Proposed Pipeline Route and Associated Infrastructure



approximately ambient temperature (about 5ºC).

The temperature will be raised to 38ºC by the

pre-heater;

• A maximum height of 2.5m above ground level

(agl) for the above ground structures and over

ground pipeline sections, either in the Refinery

or Power Station sites; and

• A depth to base of the pipe of approximately

1.5m (i.e. 1.2m of ground cover on top of the

300mm diameter pipe) along the majority of the

route between the SHGP and the “pig” catcher

(the receiver for a devise used to remove

deposits in the pipeline and collect information

such as metal loss / corrosion and temperature /

pressure). The buried depth will vary with local

features, increasing to a depth to base of the

pipe of 2.0m (i.e. 1.7m cover) beneath

watercourses;

• A maximum of four 4” (102mm) diameter ducts

will be installed within the pipeline trench along

the length of the pipeline to relay information

from the instruments at the tie-in point to

Pembroke Refinery. Once above grade the

instrument cabling will be carried within cable

ducts and cable trays within the refinery.

6. The pipeline will be designed and constructed in

accordance with prevailing guidance and Chevron

Ltd standards.

3.1 Pre-Construction Activities

1. A Construction and Environmental Management

Plan (CEMP) will be produced and implemented

prior to the onset of the construction phase to

maintain consideration of environmental impacts

beyond the planning stage of the proposed

development.

2. The key pre-construction stages of the project will

be as follows:

• Liaison with key local stakeholders;

• Completion of a pre-construction survey to:

- Accurately mark out the pipeline ‘Right

or Way’ (ROW) (or “construction

corridor”) and location of existing third

party services; and

- Provide a photographic record of the

entire route including key operational

and environmental features and

aspects.

• Completion of additional environmental surveys

if required by Pembrokeshire County Council or

other statutory consultees;

• Instigation of pre-construction environmental

mitigation measures, as necessary;

• Marking of all crossing points of buried services

and any environmental resources to be

protected;

• Establishment of temporary access tracks along

the construction working width; and

• Determination and implementation of the

appropriate security and health & safety

arrangements.

3.2 Construction Phase

1. The construction of the proposed pipeline is

envisaged in phases as follows (as illustrated in

Figure 3):

• ROW Preparation and Grading;

• Trench Excavation;

• Pipe Stringing and Bending;

• Lowering and Laying;

• Pipe Welding and Inspection;

• Field Coating;

• Pipe Tie-in;

• Backfilling;

• Hydrostatic Testing;

• Clean up; and

• Restoration.

2. The proposed pipeline’s ROW for construction will

be up to 30m in width, allowing for construction

vehicle access, and pipeline laying / stringing prior

to installation and burial. This will be reduced to15m

within sensitive areas, namely the reedbed and

wooded areas.

3. The trench (for the underground section of pipeline)

will be 0.6m wide and covered back over with 1.2m

of fill material, or 1.7m beneath the watercourses.

3.3 Above Ground Structures

1. The proposed pipeline development will include the

following above-ground structures:

• The tie-in point to the SHGP, which releases the

pig and includes an emergency shut down

valve); and

• The above ground section of pipeline, within the

Refinery fenceline. This also includes a let down

station (to reduce the gas pressure) and pre-

heater (to raise the temperature of the gas) near

the western end of the pipeline.

2. The locations of these features are shown in Figure

2.



3. The SHGP tie-in point will have a maximum

footprint of 45m by 32m and height of up to 2.5m,

as shown in Figure 4.

4. The pig catcher and let down station will be much

smaller in size, within the general footprint of the

proposed pipeline.

3.4 Temporary Construction Compound

1. It is estimated that there will be approximately 40

construction workers on-site during the peak of

construction activity, of which approximately eight

are managerial staff required on-site at all times.

2. A temporary construction compound will be

required during the duration of the construction

activities. The compound will be located on either of

the two fields east of the reedbed and wet

woodland (i.e. the field south of Pwllcrochan

Environmental Centre) or the field east of the road

to Pwllcrochan, as shown in Figure 2.

3. The compound will include an area for pipe storage,

temporary offices, vehicle parking for construction

workers and a maintenance area. The compound

will have a maximum footprint of 100m by 150m

and will be enclosed by security fencing.

Figure 3: Pipeline Construction Phases for Underground Section of Pipeline



3.5 Construction Programme

1. It is anticipated that the construction phase will

commence in the first quarter of 2011 and comprise

a total of approximately 18 weeks.

2. This includes 4 weeks to mobilise to site, set up the

construction compound and establish the fencing

prior to the main works beginning. Following this,

an estimated 3 weeks will be required to strip the

top soil prior to 3-4 weeks of pipe stringing and

welding. The actual excavation will take an

estimated 3 weeks, followed by 3 weeks of backfill,

1 week of pressure testing, and 3 weeks of

reinstatement.

3.6 Decommissioning of the Development

1. It is anticipated that the pipeline will be operational

for the lifetime of the Pembroke Refinery. At a time

when the pipeline is no longer considered an

operable asset for either technical or commercial

reasons (or the Refinery closes), the pipeline shall

be decommissioned.

2. The pipeline would be emptied, cleaned, sealed

and capped, with above ground pipe removed and

above ground installations cut to at least 900mm

below the ground surface. It is not envisaged that

the underground pipeline would be removed, as this

is anticipated to have the lesser environmental

impact.

Figure 4: Indicative Drawing of Above Ground Installations (AGI)



4. Planning Policy Context

1. The Proposed Development has been assessed

against relevant national, regional and local

planning policies. Planning policy has been

considered in each of the technical Chapters of the

ES as appropriate for the consideration of

environmental effects.

5. Environmental Impacts

5.1 Air Quality

1. An air quality modelling exercise was undertaken to

assess the impacts associated with emissions

generated by road traffic, exhaust emissions from

plant and machinery, and the potential for dust

generation during the construction phase of the

proposed pipeline development. The modelling

exercise also considered the indirect effects, which

will result from a change in fuel mix being

combusted on the Pembroke Refinery as a result of

the availability of a natural gas supply.

2. Impacts from road traffic emissions, site plant, and

construction dust during site preparation and

construction are predicted to be negligible. These

impacts will only be for a maximum of 4 months,

and a number of mitigation measures have been

recommended to further minimise any impacts,

which will be incorporated into the CEMP.

3. The modelling of the refinery emissions predicts

that pollutant concentrations will easily comply with

the air quality objectives across the site and

surrounding area.

4. Pollutant concentrations are predicted to improve in

the area as a result of the proposed development,

since the Heavy Fuel Oil currently used onsite will

be replaced by Refinery Fuel Gas. This is predicted

to result in lower (better) emissions of several

pollutants, including sulphur dioxide, oxides of

nitrogen and particulates.

5. There is predicted to be a minor beneficial impact at

the Milford Haven Waterway SSSI due to a

reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions from the

Refinery. A small improvement in pollutant

concentrations is also predicted at Greenhill Farm,

the nearest residential dwelling to the Refinery,

situated 430m south of the pipeline route or 220m

south of the nearest point of the application site

boundary.

5.2 Noise and Vibration

6. A baseline noise survey was conducted during the

period 7th December 2009 - 8th December 2009 in

accordance with best practice.

7. The noise environment in the western part of the

proposed pipeline route is dominated by the

Pembroke Refinery. The noise in the eastern part of

the application site was dominated by the

construction of the Pembroke Power Station. There

was also some noise contribution from the local

road network, of which some can be attributed to

the construction traffic associated with the

construction traffic movements to and from the

Pembroke Power Station Site.

8. The nearest sensitive receptor to the proposed

pipeline route is Greenhill Farm, as discussed

above. Given the absence of any piling works

during construction of the pipeline, and the

distances between Greenhill Farm and the

proposed locations of the above ground

installations, noise and vibration (both from

construction activities and traffic) will have a

negligible impact on this receptor.

9. Once built, it is expected that there will be little or

no operational noise from the proposed pipeline.

Any operational noise that does arise will be on the

Refinery or Power Station sites (associated with the

above ground installations, such as the emergency

shut down valve). Operational noise impacts have

been calculated to be negligible.

10. Since piling is not required during construction, and

there are not anticipated to be operational vibration

sources associated with the proposed pipeline,

there is not predicted to be a significant impact from

vibration.

11. With the exception of the occasional maintenance

vehicle, there will be no operational traffic

associated with the proposed pipeline.

12. The potential impacts associated with the

decommissioning phase are considered to be less

than those impacts associated with construction

and as such, are considered to be negligible.

13. It is not anticipated that there will be significant

impacts in terms of noise or vibration throughout all

phases of the proposed pipeline development.



5.3 Ecology

1. An ecological impact assessment (EcIA) has been

undertaken by establishing the current ecological

baseline conditions within the application site, and

subsequently assessing the significance of potential

impacts of the proposed pipeline upon these

conditions.

2. The assessment included a desk based review of

secondary data, an Extended Phase 1 Habitat

survey to record the nature and extent of vegetation

and habitats within and adjacent to the site, and

detailed surveys for flora and fauna including the

following:

• Bat (roost emergence and activity);

• Badger;

• Water vole and otter;

• Hazel Dormouse;

• Breeding birds; and

• Vegetation.

3. Following implementation of the mitigation

measures outlined within the ES, no significant

adverse residual effects are anticipated associated

with the proposed development. There will be no

permanent landtake in areas of substantive nature

conservation value and impacts on habitats will be

temporary during the construction period, with

restoration taking place after the pipeline

installation has been completed.

4. The only significant impact will be on woodland

habitat and will be at the lowest ‘Site’ level. With the

works anticipated to take place in the winter,

impacts on bats and nesting birds will be avoided

and potential impacts on other species can be

mitigated by the implementation of standard

measures.

5.4 Land Use and Agriculture

1. The agricultural area assessed in the ES is mostly

in pasture with one arable field. Some of the land

examined in the eastern side of the application site

was a former sports ground (later abandoned)

associated with the former RWE npower Power

Station. Although the land is not in active use either

for sports or agriculture, this area was included

within this study as being of potential agricultural

use.

2. The entire application site is encompassed by

either Chevron Ltd or RWE npower ownership, with

the agricultural fields rented to two farm holdings.

3. In view of the fact that the proposed development

involves reinstating the land to its former condition

following the laying of the pipeline, the largest

disruption to farming operations will occur during

the construction phase.

4. The entire duration of the impact on agricultural

pasture land in the construction phase is likely to be

a maximum of 4-5 months, between preparing

access and reinstatement of the construction

corridor upon completion. This is an impact of minor

adverse significance, which is temporary and will

become negligible once the vegetation is re-

established.

5. The duration of the construction phase for the

arable field is unlikely to have a direct impact upon

any established crop. There is a slight chance of

interference in drainage if any drainage channels

are interrupted. However, this is also considered

unlikely; therefore the proposed development could

potentially result in an impact of minor adverse

significance.

6. The potential impacts associated with the

decommissioning phase will be less than with

construction, due to the absence of trenching. It is

anticipated that minimal works would be required

within the agricultural farm holdings and therefore

the impact would be negligible.

7. Following implementation of mitigation measures,

the residual impact from the construction,

operational and decommissioning phases on land

use and agriculture is therefore considered to be

negligible.

5.5 Cultural Heritage and Archaeology

1. In order to inform the assessment of the

development of cultural heritage and archaeology,

an initial desk-based assessment was prepared,

identifying the potential for archaeological remains

to be present along the part of the proposed

pipeline route that has not been subject to previous

below ground disturbance.

2. In view of the potential identified and in consultation

with PCC’s Archaeological Advisor (Dyfed

Archaeological Trust), further field surveys were

undertaken within this area in January and

February 2010, comprising an archaeological

watching brief during geotechnical investigations

and a programme of invasive archaeological field

evaluation (trial trenching) in order to more fully

clarify the presence/absence, extent, character,

date and significance of archaeological remains.



3. There are no Scheduled Ancient Monuments

(SAMs) within the application site, although three

SAMs are present situated approximately 480m to

the north, 1.1km northwest and 900m to the

northeast of the application site respectively.

4. The application site lies within the Wales registered

outstanding historic landscape area of the Milford

Haven Waterway, which is identified as a

landscape of national importance in the Welsh

context.

5. Trial trench evaluation has recorded a series of

surviving Post Medieval features and deposits to be

present along the route of the proposed pipeline. All

the recorded features were shown to survive in a

poor state of preservation. On the basis of the

evaluation results, a low to moderate potential for

further surviving remains of this period was

identified along the pipeline route within the field to

the south of the Pwllcrochan Environmental Centre

and reedbed area. Beyond these areas, a low

potential for remains of this period was identified.

6. It is proposed that a programme of archaeological

monitoring and recording (watching brief) be

undertaken during site preparation and trenching

for the proposed pipeline development In order to

mitigate for the direct impacts of construction.

7. A short-term indirect impact of moderate adverse

significance is predicted during the construction

phase on the setting of the registered outstanding

historic landscape of the Milford Haven Waterway

and on designated built heritage assets situated

adjacent to the application site. However, following

completion of construction, pre-development

conditions will be re-established as a result of

reinstatement. As such, there will be an overall

negligible environmental effect in the medium and

long term.

8. No operational or decommissioning phase impacts

on cultural heritage resources from the proposed

pipeline development have been identified, and as

such potential impacts are anticipated to be

negligible.

Figure 5: View North from Road to Rhoscrowther

The Pembroke Refinery lies at the western extent of the photograph, and Martins Haven lies in the centre.

Figure 6: View North / Northwest from Road to Pwllcrochan (near entrance to Greenhill Farm)

The Pembroke Refinery lies in the background, the wet woodland and reedbed area in the middle ground, and the field to the south of Pwllcrochan Environmental Centre (formerly St Mary’s Church) in the foreground.



9. Whilst the proposed development will result in a

potentially moderate adverse effect on the cultural

heritage resource due to the truncation/removal of

archaeological remains, this adverse effect will be

offset by undertaking an effective mitigation

strategy that will produce an overall positive effect

of minor beneficial significance, in that further

knowledge will be gained on the archaeology and

historic landscape of this area.

10. By following the phased programme of mitigation

suggested, it is anticipated that the environmental

effect of the proposed pipeline development upon

known or unrecorded archaeology can be reduced

or removed to an acceptable level resulting in a

negligible impact.

5.6 Ground Conditions

1. The impact of the proposed development on

existing ground conditions has been assessed via

review and collation of readily available information

pertaining to the current condition of the soils and

groundwater beneath the application site and the

potential risks they pose to the environment and

future users. In addition, site investigation has been

undertaken along the proposed pipeline route and

surrounding area.

2. The ground conditions information collected does

not indicate a high potential for soil contamination

outside of the refinery fenceline. Therefore, there is

considered to be negligible impact from this section

of the works. The CEMP will include procedures to

be followed should contaminated soils be

encountered during construction works.

3. The impacts are therefore associated with

excavation for the foundations of the let down

station and the pigging station and for the buried

section of pipeline within the refinery boundary. The

potential sources of soil contamination are the

adjacent former ‘landfarm areas’ (licensed waste

disposal areas) and general soil contamination from

refinery sources.

4. If surplus soil cannot be re-used on site and needs

to be disposed of it will be done via an appropriate,

licensed landfill facility, in accordance with current

Duty of Care responsibilities and other statutory

requirements. Following mitigation the impact of

potentially contaminated soils are considered to be

negligible.

5. Given that groundwater is primarily found within the

bedrock, the excavations of the construction work

are considered unlikely to encounter significant

groundwater. Dewatering of groundwater from the

excavation will be included in the CEMP.

6. Whilst groundwater is anticipated to be below the

depth of the base of the trench, it may be present

within the depth of the trench at some points along

the pipeline. The backfilled trench is therefore

potentially a preferential pathway for groundwater,

and associated contaminant, movement. Ditch

breaks are included in the design in areas of

sloping terrain with the aim of reducing groundwater

flow. Implementation of these mitigation methods

will result in a negligible impact.

7. During decommissioning, it is anticipated that the

pipeline would be emptied, cleaned, sealed and

capped in-situ with above ground features

removed. Ditch breaks used to mitigate impacts

during the pipelines long-term operation will remain

in place to reduce flow of groundwater /

contaminants along the route of the disused

pipeline.

8. Overall, a negligible impact to the ground conditions

is expected to occur throughout the construction,

operational and decommissioning phases of the

proposed pipeline development.

5.7 Water Resources and Flood Risk

1. Milford Haven lies approximately 550m north of the

proposed pipeline route, and the mouth of the

Pembroke River is approximately 1km to the east.

2. There is also a small watercourse named ‘Martin’s

Haven Pill’ within the wet woodland and reedbed

area adjacent to Pwllcrochan Environmental

Centre, which the proposed pipeline will traverse.

The Martin’s Haven Pill surfaces as a series of

springs approximately 900m south of the proposed

pipeline route and flows in a northern / northeastern

direction through the Milford Haven Waterway

SSSI, before exiting into Milford Haven.

3. The application site lies within a flood zone which is

an area which has an Annual Exceedance

Probability (AEP) of flooding that is less than 0.1%

(1 in 1000 year event). Therefore, flood risk is

allocated a low importance.

4. Measures which are specific to each type of

potential pollution will be undertaken to help ensure

the impacts of these pollutants are mitigated,

including (but not limited to): silt-fences; washing

facilities; pre-coating measures; and bunding.

5. With the extensive and, in many cases, specialised

mitigation measures proposed, potential impacts



associated with the aspects listed above during

construction works are anticipated to be negligible

and insignificant.

6. Disturbance to groundwater during construction is

predicted to result in a minor adverse impact on

groundwater which will be temporary in nature and

of significance ranging from low to insignificant

depending on the leaching potential of the soils

involved.

7. Overall, with appropriate mitigation measures, the

impacts of the construction, operation and

decommissioning works of the proposed pipeline on

the hydrological regime are predicted to be, at

worse, moderate adverse and temporary in nature,

and therefore of low significance.

5.8 Traffic, Transportation and Access

1. The main access route to the application site is via

the B4320, which runs west from Pembroke

towards Angle on the coast. The road leading to

the application site and to the Pembroke refinery

runs north from the B4320. The two roads form a

simple T-junction.

2. Construction traffic will be generated by the

following construction activities: delivery of plant

and material; disposal of spoil and import of fill

material; and arrival and departure of employees.

The maximum increases in both total traffic and

Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) traffic occur during the

evening peak, and are 10.5% and 8.3%

respectively.

3. In order to construct the section of pipeline that

crosses the road, a road closure will be required.

The road provides access to Pwllcrochan

Environmental Centre (formerly St. Mary’s Church)

and the coastal footpath. There is no alternative

route for traffic, and therefore in the short-term the

impact of the pipeline construction will be major

adverse prior to mitigation. This closure is likely to

be limited to one or two days only however, and

outside the period of the road closure the impact on

the local highway network will be negligible.

Construction along this part of the route will not be

scheduled when events are to be held at the

Environmental Centre, and pedestrian access to

the graveyard will be provided. Overall the impact is

considered to be minor adverse in significance and

short-term in nature.

4. Bus services are infrequent and the bus route does

not pass close enough to the pipeline construction

site for commuting by bus to be feasible. Therefore

the impact of construction on public transport will be

negligible.

5. The number of additional walking and cycle trips

generated by the construction works is expected to

be negligible. There will be some inconvenience for

pedestrians and cyclists at the road crossing point,

but as the number of pedestrians and cyclists using

the road is very small, the impact is considered to

be negligible.

6. With the implementation of an agreed Traffic

Management Strategy, residual impacts of

construction on all modes of transport are

considered to be negligible. The only exception is

the short-term impact of the road closure to

Pwllcrochan Environmental Centre.

7. Other than occasional traffic generated by

maintenance staff there is not anticipated to be

operational phase traffic associated with the

proposed development. Decommissioning traffic is

also anticipated to be less than for the construction

phased. Therefore the impact on all modes of

transport is considered to be negligible.

5.9 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment

1. The value of the rural landscape in the area is

considered by CCW’s LANDMAP dataset to be

‘outstanding’ for the Historical Landscape aspect. It

is ‘high’ for Cultural Landscape but it should be

noted that this area covers a large proportion of

Pembrokeshire’s countryside. For the other

LANDMAP aspects, the area is considered of

‘medium’ value.

2. The refinery and power station are considered of

low value in all aspects where separated from the

wider landscape.

3. The proposed pipeline development will also cross

and run close to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path,

which is considered of high sensitivity. During

construction, the impacts on users could be

substantial for a short length of the path near the

power station and for a short duration (anticipated

to be less than 5 days). The overall impacts are

therefore considered to be of minor adverse

significance. During this time a diversion route

would be provided, along with prior notice of

closures and diversions through the applicable

advertisements.

4. In the first year of operation the corridor created by

the pipeline including the removal of hedgerows

and woodland would be apparent. Users would

therefore experience some degree of impact.



Whilst the impacts would be slight on a potentially

high sensitivity receptor, overall the impact is

considered to be of minor adverse significance.

Proposed mitigation measures include the

production of a reinstatement plan and subsequent

reinstatement of hedges, reedbed, wildflower grass

sward in rough grass areas and agricultural land.

5. The potential impacts on the farmhouse at Greenhill

Farm are considered to be indiscernible during

construction and the first year of operation. There

are no other nearby dwellings.

6. During the first year of operation the hedges would

be reinstated leaving views of small gap in the

scrub woodland to the north. This effect would be

slight (on a high sensitivity receptor) resulting in an

impact of moderate adverse significance.

7. In terms of landscape elements all receptors are

considered to be of medium / low sensitivity due to

their size, pattern and location and following

mitigation the impacts are considered to be of minor

adverse significance.

8. With regard to landscape character the proposed

mitigation measures will stitch together the

landscape of the Peninsula Farmland Mosaic

character area reinstating hedgerows and

reedbeds. After 15 years, these will be well

established allowing only minimal opportunity to

perceive the small changes caused by the pipeline

corridor. Therefore, it is considered that an impact

of minor adverse significance will result.

9. The refinery and power station are considered to be

low sensitivity areas. The anticipated reduction in

flaring that will result would lead to a minor

beneficial indirect impact at the refinery.

10. The nature of the above ground pipeline is very

small-scale in the context of the adjacent developed

areas and is considered to be of negligible

significance with regard to the Pembroke Refinery,

and of minor adverse significance to the Pembroke

Power Station.

11. It is considered that there is a residual impact of

minor adverse significance on landscape elements

and on the Peninsula Farmland Mosaic character

area. All other residual landscape and visual

impacts are considered to be negligible. Therefore

it is considered that there are no significant impacts

on landscape and visual receptors.

5.10 Socio-Economics

1. It is estimated that there will be approximately forty

construction workers on-site during the peak of

construction activity, of which at least eight will be

permanent managerial staff required on-site. Local

sourcing of construction labour will be sought by

Chevron Ltd for works taking place outside the

refinery’s boundary, although the exact origin of

these workers will ultimately be dependent on

suitability. There are also potential beneficial effects

for local firms who secure contracts for ancillary

services during the construction phase. These

contracts would be for services and materials, such

as plant hire and for the transportation of

construction materials.

2. It is considered that the construction of the

proposed development will have a negligible to

minor beneficial effect on the local (Pembrokeshire)

economy, depending on whether local employees

and companies are utilised.

3. It is not anticipated that the proposed development

will generate any additional employment during its

long-term operational phase; therefore there would

be a negligible impact on the local economy in the

long-term.

4. It is anticipated that the decommissioning will be a

less labour intensive process than construction and

therefore the impact on employment generation is

anticipated to be negligible.

5. In summary, it is considered that this development

would have an overall negligible effect on the local

and regional economy as well as local tourist and

recreational activities, given that there will be no

impact during the operational phase and only short

term impacts during the 18-week construction

phase, which will be mitigated for. If local staff and

companies can be utilised it could lead to a minor

beneficial impact, though short-term in nature.

6. Residual Impact Assessment and Conclusions

1. The site preparation and construction could

potentially lead to short-term potentially adverse

impacts, such as on the landscape and visual

setting of the area, the archaeological landscape,

agricultural land use, and local hydrological regime

in the area. These will be limited to only a few

weeks in duration and a number of mitigation

measures (or actions) will be put in place to ensure

that these are minimised.



2. The operational impacts of the proposed pipeline

are predominantly negligible, with some minor

beneficial impacts anticipated with the employment

creation and recording of archaeological finds

during construction of the project, the removal of

potentially contaminated soils, as well as reduced

atmospheric emissions generated by substituting

Heavy Fuel Oil used at the Refinery with Refinery

Fuel Gas.

3. The proposed pipeline will make a positive

contribution towards meeting the sector limits for

atmospheric emissions of sulphur dioxide enforced

by the Environmental Permitting regime. There is

also predicted to be a noticeable reduction in

oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter due to the

development.

4. Overall, the proposed pipeline accords with the

overall objectives of planning polices at national,

regional and local levels, and is in accordance with

the governmental objectives for sustainable

development.

7. Contacts and Availability of ES

1. This NTS provides an overview of the findings of

the EIA. A full assessment of the environmental

impacts associated with the proposed development

is presented within the main ES. CD’s containing

the full ES are available free of charge from:

Jane James (Public Affairs Manager)

Chevron Ltd

Pembroke Refinery

Pembroke SA71 5SJ

2. The ES is available for viewing during normal office

hours at the Planning Department of

Pembrokeshire County Council. Comments on the

planning application should be forwarded to the

PCC at the following address:

Pembrokeshire County Council

Planning Department

1B County Hall

Haverfordwest

Pembrokeshire SA61 1TP

Documents

High Pressure Natural Gas Pipeline Pembroke Refinery · High Pressure Natural Gas Pipeline Pembroke Refinery ... during the project design process. 2. ... High Pressure Natural Gas