03.08.2022
The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority has declared the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the Ülemiste-Kangru section of Rail Baltica compliant. The EIA report's compliance with the requirements will soon allow the construction of the first section of the main railway route to begin.
The route section from Ülemiste terminal to Kangru hamlet is 15,8 kilometers long and the railway corridor runs mainly between commercial and manufacturing areas and promising compact built-up areas. There are no large forest areas or agricultural areas or land units in the area, nor are there any Natura 2000 areas within the railway's impact area.
Rail Baltic Estonia Environmental Manager Roland WallAccording to the Ministry of Transport, all significant environmental impacts that may arise have been either avoided, mitigated to an insignificant level or compensated for based on the conclusions of the environmental impact assessment. "When it comes to various measures, for example, to reduce railway noise, nearly three kilometers of different noise barrier solutions will be built on the section - wooden or metal noise barrier walls and earth embankments. One ecoduct has been planned for the section, as well as an underpass of suitable dimensions for large game, sixteen culverts and tunnels for small animals. In addition, green strips will be built along the edge of three viaducts crossing the railway," Müür listed.
The environmental impact assessment report also sets important conditions for the construction activities – to protect birds, the forest along the route will be cleared outside the bird breeding season and, if necessary, time restrictions will be applied to construction activities. In addition, the water level and quality of wells in the impact area must be ensured during construction activities, and construction materials must be transported and stored in a way that minimizes dust spread.
The implementation and effectiveness of the measures will be monitored through mandatory monitoring throughout the construction period and also throughout the future period of use of the railway.
Considering the large number of environmental measures and the complexity of the project, Rail Baltic Estonia OÜ will prepare a corresponding environmental management plan for the management of environmental measures for each assessed section. The environmental management plan includes both the environmental measures made mandatory upon issuance of the permit and the environmental measures voluntarily set by the developer. The environmental management plan will be updated regularly (either once a year or more frequently depending on significant developments in the project) by adding or specifying measures according to changes in environmental information or the emergence of other improved knowledge.
The environmental impact assessment of the Estonian part of Rail Baltica is being carried out in parallel with the design of the main route. Important impact areas that will be assessed during the EIA: wildlife, noise, energy use, cultural heritage, ambient air, surface and groundwater, etc.
The initiation of the impact assessment was requested by RB Rail AS Estonian branch on its own initiative at the beginning of 2019.
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