Environmental

POLES APART provides environmental management and field services for projects in a wide range of ecologically sensitive locations.

Our combination of comprehensive scientific training and extensive field experience gives us the edge in assessing the environmental effects of a variety of field operations and managing multi-disciplinary projects.

Our areas of environmental expertise include:

 Environmental impact assessment
 Environmental auditing
 Field surveys
 Policy development
 Contaminated land investigation
 Environmental risk assessment and contingency planning
 Health & safety assessment
 Permit and licence applications
 Documentation review
 International, national and local legislation review

Below are examples of some of our recent assignments.
For a complete listing see: All Projects.

Pipelines from the Caspian

POLES APART recently supplied an Environmental Advisor to assist the Government of Georgia in strengthening its capability to manage the environmental impacts of the BTC/SCP oil and gas pipelines, which run through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The project was funded by the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Advisor was responsible for:

 Liasing with and representing the Government of Georgia in negotiations with BP, the contractor managing the construction of the pipeline.
 Reviewing the environmental impact assessments of emergency drain-down facilities and secondary containment facilities constructed in the highest risk area.
 Conducting site visits along the length of the pipeline.
 Discussing issues associated with oil solubility testing.
 Reviewing environmental aspects of the emergency response procedures.
 Assisting in the review of soil restoration and biorestoration strategies.
 Training of Government of Georgia project personnel in international environmental practices.

Oil Exploration Environmental Studies

POLES APART has conducted numerous environmental impact assessments (EIAs) of onshore and offshore oil exploration projects in Central and North Africa and the Middle East for a variety of clients.

All these studies are conducted in compliance with national legislation and international standards. Each EIA typically consists of the following:

 Legislation reviews
 A comprehensive description of the surrounding environment (climate, geology and geomorphology; hydrology and hydrogeology, habitats, fauna and flora, sensitive species and protected areas, and socio-economic arrangements)
 Technical description of seismic or drilling operations
 Identification and assessment of key environmental impacts
 Recommendations to minimise impacts
 Development of environmental management plans

Windfarms in the Irish Sea

Through our regular client, RPS Hydrosearch, POLES APART provided an Environmental Adviser to GE Wind Energy for the development of their Arklow Bank wind farm situated off the East Coast of Ireland.

The Adviser was responsible for:

Field visits conducted as part of these projects have included baseline surveys and stakeholder consultations.

 Development of the project environmental management plan
 Compliance with Irish legislation and leasing conditions
 Development of environmental monitoring systems, including noise, bird, sea-mammal and benthic
 Development of oil spill response policy including spill kit inventory and staff training
 Coordination with Irish environmental and health & safety authorities
 Development of emergency response plan
 Review of environmental site audits

Blue-Ice Runways in Antarctica

POLES APART is at the forefront of environmental assessment in the Antarctic for the commercial sector. We conducted the first EIAs for commercial air operations using intercontinental 'blue-ice' runways in Antarctica. These runways are situated on ice fields where natural processes maintain snow-free conditions.

Strict environmental protection of Antarctica is embodied within the Antarctic Treaty. All our Antarctic EIAs have been guided by the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and have met the requirements of the US and UK governments.

Project tasks include:

 Legislation reviews
 Field baseline surveys including hydrocarbon and heavy metal analysis of soils and lichens.
 Description of proposed activities, including fixed wing and land transport operations; refuelling and fuel storage procedures; siting of camps; waste collection and disposal, and visitor management.
 Description of affected environment, including soil and lichen sampling and analyses.
 Likely impacts and assessment of activities: including emissions to air and water; fuel and oil spills; grey water and solid waste output; noise; physical disturbance; introduction of alien species; translocation of diseases, and cumulative effects.
 Minimisation and mitigation of proposed activities including oil spill contingency plans, minimum-separation limits and waste management procedures.
 Design and development of monitoring and verification procedures

Abandoned Whaling Stations in the South Atlantic

The remote island of South Georgia in the South Atlantic has some major derelict industrial sites left over from the whaling era.

The Government of South Georgia commissioned a survey of the environmental and health & safety risks, and the accompanying liability, presented by the disused factories. This was integral to the development and implementation of the Government's policy on visitor permitting.

The following tasks were conducted during the 7-month project:

 A desk-top study including a comprehensive historical listing of remediation work previously conducted at the sites and pinpointing target areas for study
 A field visit which conducted fuel storage tank surveys, contaminated soil and hydrocarbon mapping and sampling, a marine mammal survey; asbestos sampling and monitoring and building structural surveys
 A qualitative risk assessment of the major areas of concern
 Strategic planning for the Government to reduce the risks presented to visitors to the island

The field investigation was conducted by a Poles Apart team that was deployed by HMS Endurance and supported by helicopter. As usual, the Poles Apart team was responsible for all communications, logistic and medical backup whilst on the island.