Petroleum Exploration Licence 39 Exploration Programme. Executive Summary. Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world

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1 Petroleum Exploration Licence 39 Exploration Programme Environmental Impact Assessment Report Update Executive Summary August Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world

2 1 Executive Summary Figure 1 Proposed Survey Location Table of Contents 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BACKGROUND PROJECT DESCRIPTION KEY ASPECTS OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT Biophysical and Biological Baseline Conditions Socio-Economic Baseline conditions STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN CONCLUSION BACKGROUND Shell is proposing to conduct a 3D seismic survey offshore of the Namibian coast (Figure 1). Environmental Resources Management Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd (ERM) was appointed by Shell to undertake a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and update the existing baseline studies. The EIA Update process included input from marine faunal and fisheries specialist studies. 1.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The survey is planned to commence in November 2014 and last for approximately 50 days. The survey area lies approximately 180 km offshore of the Namibian coast at its closest point. The nearest settlement to the license area is Oranjemund (~180 km to the east). The distance of the centre of the survey area to Luderitz is approximately 300 km to the northeast and approximately 685km to Walvis Bay to the north northeast. Water depths in the survey area range from 1,300m to 2,500m. For seismic surveys, sound waves are recorded by hydrophones. These are towed in a multiple streamer configuration, consisting of 8 to 10 streamers of 8km length at spacing of around 200m. Analyses of the returned signals allow for interpretation and visualisation of subsea geological formations. 1.3 KEY ASPECTS OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT Salient features related to the biophysical, biological and socio-economic baseline conditions within the area of influence (AoI) are presented below Biophysical and Biological Baseline Conditions The climate of the southern Namibian coastline is hyper-arid with low, unpredictable winter rains and strong predominantly southerly or south-westerly winds. The coastline is characterised by fog, which occurs between 50 to 75 days per year, mostly between February and May. Heavier winter swell conditions are associated with westerly winds which synchronise with the prevailing south-westerly swell direction during winter. Major circulation patterns, water masses and water properties in the region are influenced by the Benguela Current, the continental shelf, and seasonal weather patterns. Faunal communities within the offshore marine habitat display considerable temporal and spatial variability. Tripp Seamount is an important geological feature located within PEL39, but some 50 km southeast of the proposed survey area. Seamounts serve as midocean focal points for a variety of pelagic species (turtles, tunas and billfish, pelagic sharks, cetaceans and pelagic seabirds) that may migrate large distances in search of food or may only congregate on seamounts at certain times. Fish species likely to be encountered comprise primarily large pelagic species (e.g. tunas, billfish and pelagic sharks) which migrate throughout the southern oceans, between surface and deep waters (> 300m). Leatherback turtles are likely to be encountered at a low abundance within the survey area, as are a variety of pelagic seabirds. Leatherback turtles are listed as Critically Endangered worldwide, and some of the 1

3 pelagic seabirds likely to be encountered are listed as Near Threatened or Endangered. Marine mammals likely to be encountered include sperm whales, migrating humpback whales and various baleen and toothed whales known to frequent offshore waters. Of the migrating whales the blue, sei and fin whales are listed as Endangered. Sperm whales are listed as Vulnerable and humpback and southern right whales are listed as Least Concern. No marine protected areas and/or proposed priority areas fall the proposed survey area Socio-Economic Baseline conditions The fishing grounds of four commercial fisheries have been identified as overlapping with the proposed survey area. These include the demersal trawl, the demersal longline, the pelagic longline and the tuna pole and line fisheries. The major fishing port in Namibia is Walvis Bay and the majority of Namibian fishing vessels operate from here. The proposed survey area lies well offshore of Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPLs) and Mining Licences (MLs). There is a high density of shipping traffic along the inshore edge of the survey area, which generally includes commercial and fishing vessels. Offshore recreational and tourist activities which take place in the areas around Lüderitz and Walvis Bay include recreational boating, boat tours (including whale watching) and recreational angling. These activities take place within a close proximity of the coastline and lie far outside of the survey area. The main shipping lanes off the west coast of Southern Africa predominantly lie on the outer edge of the continental shelf, seawards and outside of the proposed survey area. The majority of identified shipwrecks occur close to the coastline (Turner, 1988) and are not likely to be present in the survey area. Landfills sites are located at Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Lüderitz for the disposal of general waste. In addition, a landfill site at Walvis Bay is designated to accept hazardous waste. 1.4 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT A programme of stakeholder engagement was carried out as part of the EIA Report Update process. A Background Information Document (BID) was distributed to stakeholders for an initial 21-day registration and comment period from 24 June 2014 to 14 July The registration and comment period was advertised in The Namibian and Die Republikein newspapers. No key issues were raised during the initial comment period. The draft EIA Report Update was disclosed to stakeholders for a 21-day comment period from 16 July to 5 August Comments received and responses are included in the report. 1.5 IMPACT ASSESSMENT For the survey phase, interactions with the following resources and receptor have the potential for significant effects: Fish and Plankton Cephalopods Seabirds Turtles Marine Mammals Fishing Marine Traffic and Transportation During the survey phase interactions with the following resources and receptor have the potential for significant effects: Vessel movements (to/from port, during survey, support vessels); Deployment of streamers; and Airgun array deployment, testing, operation and retrieval. For the post survey phase there are no interactions that have the potential for significant effects. A summary of the impact assessment findings are presented in Table 1. The impact assessment identified three environmental and socio-economic impacts relating to seismic surveys where the residual (post mitigation) impact is deemed to be of MINOR significance. These included the following: The impact of physiological injury (including disorientation) or mortality to marine turtles as a result of high-amplitude seismic acoustic emissions was assessed to be of Minor significance after mitigation. Mitigation includes similar measures described below that are implemented to avoid/minimise impact of seismic noise on cetaceans. The impact of physiological injury to both mysticete and odontocete cetaceans as a result of highamplitude seismic acoustic emissions. Residual impacts are considered to be MINOR significance after the implementation of the prescribed mitigation measures, including the use of soft starts, not initiating shooting until confirmation that there are no cetaceans within 500 m of the seismic vessel, as well as the use of 24 hour Passive 2

4 Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) to record any interactions that are not possible to observe visually. Behavioural avoidance of fish from normal fishing grounds which may lead to reduced catches over the extreme short term in some pelagic or line fisheries in the seismic survey area, although increased catches could theoretically be experienced outside of the survey area. With the implementation of mitigation measures such as informing fishing fleets of the survey location, programme, and the extent of the exclusion zone and allowing the fleets to plan their fishing activities, the residual significance is considered to be of MINOR significance. Two residual impacts were deemed to be of MINOR to significance. These are related to behavioural avoidances and the masking of important environmental and biological sounds for cetaceans as a result of high-amplitude seismic acoustic emissions. All other residual impacts were considered to be. 3

5 Table 1 Summary of Impact Assessment Results Activity Aspect Receptor Impact Vessel movements (to/from port, during survey, support vessels) Deployment of streamers Airgun deployment, testing, operation and retrieval Physical interaction (unplanned) Physical interaction (unplanned) Marine Fauna and Flora Marine fauna Impact Rating (Pre- Mitigation) Residual Impact (Post-Mitigation) Physiological injury or mortality to marine turtles through collisions with moving vessels MINOR Physiological injury or mortality to cetaceans through collisions with moving vessels MINOR Physiological injury or mortality to marine turtles through accidental entanglement with equipment. Safety exclusion zone Fishing Temporary cessation or displacement of fishing activities within the survey area. Physical interaction (unplanned) Safety exclusion zone Acoustic emissions from sound sources Marine traffic and transport Disturbance to fishing activities from accidental interactions with fishing gear. MINOR to Temporary cessation or displacement of marine traffic and transport within the survey area. Plankton Physiological injury and mortality Marine Invertebrates Physiological Injury and Mortality Behavioural Avoidance Fish Physiological Injury and Mortality MINOR Behavioural Avoidance MINOR Reproductive Success MINOR Indirect impact due to effects on predators and prey. MINOR Seabirds Physiological Injury and Mortality MINOR Turtles Physiological injury (including disorientation) MODERATE MINOR Behavioural avoidance MINOR Masking of environmental sounds and communication Not significant Not significant Seals Physiological Injury MINOR Behavioural avoidance MINOR Masking of Sounds MINOR Indirect impact due to effects on their food source MINOR Cetaceans Physiological Injury MODERATE MINOR Behavioural avoidance MODERATE to MINOR MINOR to Masking of Environmental or Biological Sounds MODERATE to MINOR MINOR to Fishing Change in catch rate due to behavioural avoidance of fish in and around survey areas MINOR MINOR 4

6 1.6 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN The Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) details the specific mitigation and management measures proposed to reduce impacts in the EIA. The ESMP provides the means for ensuring that all EIA mitigation measures and commitments are translated into actions. It also serves as the vehicle for dealing with unforeseen circumstances during the Project operations, such as changes to survey methodology or unforeseen environmental conditions or ineffective mitigation measures. The ESMP further details project standards and guidelines which need to be considered and defines the roles and responsibilities of the entities involved in the Project environmental management. Key mitigation measures that the Project will implement (in the way of technology specifications or operational controls) to protect environmental and human resources during operations include: Appointment of geophysical contractor who is a member of the International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC). Members of this organisation are required to adhere to a strict code of environmental conduct and international best practice. The United Kingdom (UK) Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC, 2010) guidelines for seismic surveys and the New Zealand Department of Conservation code of conduct for seismic surveys (2013) will be used as guidance during this project where relevant. Implementation of a safety exclusion zone during operations of 8 km towards the front and 6 km toward the rear of the furthermost buoy during daytime; and 12 km towards the front and 9 km toward the rear of the furthermost buoy during night time. The exclusion zone is intended to prevent interaction with other marine vessels. A 500 m mitigation zone will be implemented around the airgun array to minimise the impact of the sound on marine fauna in and around this zone. The zone will be monitoring during operation and firing of the airgun array. removes the risk of a sea turtle becoming entangled in the towed gear. During survey operations when the airgun array is firing, the mitigation zone and the area around the mitigation zone is constantly monitored for the presence and behaviour of marine fauna. If certain sensitive marine fauna species are detected (i.e. marine turtles and cetaceans) in the mitigation zone, or if it appears that they may enter the mitigation zone, airgun array firing would shut down. Monitoring will be carried out by qualified Marine Mammal Observers (MMO) who are trained to identify and/or observe cetaceans and differentiate between different whale species. Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) will be undertaken by trained operators and will allow for the detection and monitoring of certain marine mammals on the basis of underwater noises that they make. PAM can detect the presence of marine mammals even when visual observations are not possible. Commercial fishing operators that operate in and around the survey area will be notified of the survey schedule and location prior to commencement. A dedicated Fisheries Liaison Officer (FLO) will proactively communicate with vessels at sea during the survey and will monitoring the survey area to alert vessels in the vicinity. Figure 2 below illustrates the implementation of some of the mitigation measures described above. Further detail is provided in the ESMP table contained in Chapter CONCLUSION A detailed programme of environmental protection has been developed as an outcome of the impact assessment process. Implementation of the programme would serve to minimise the impacts and risks associated with the proposed activities to industry standard levels. The intensity of the airgun array sound will gradually increase upon start-up. This is called a soft start and will allow marine fauna to move away from the sound source before it reaches maximum intensity. Tail buoys will be equipped with a deflector device known as a turtle guard. This device effectively 5

7 Figure 2 Key Impacts and Mitigation Measures

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