Environmental Impact Assessment of an Underground Pipeline: A Case Study from India

Environmental Impact Assessment of an Underground Pipeline: A Case Study from India

Jahangeer1, Shaktibala2, Vikram Kumar1

1Research Scholar, Department of Hydrology, I.I.T Roorkee, Roorkee-247667

2M.Tech, Department of Civil Engineering, SBCET, Jaipur-302020

Abstract: Domestic as well as industrial gas pipe line serves great purposes of any nation. The area which covers the layout of these pipelines also causes severe environmental impact on the natural resources of a nation. In the present study, emphasize has been given on environmental impact assessment and risk analysis. The study has been done on a proposed underground pipeline in Maharashtra, India. The present work highlights the type of impact and the concentration of environmental pollutant at particular project site. This pipeline is used for the transportation of LPG, which is highly inflammable material. The major pollutants studied in the present study are Sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen (NOX), particulate matter (PM10), (PM2.5) and suspended particulate matter (SPM). The results suggest that the average SPM, PM10, PM2.5, SO2,and NOx concentration found is in the order of 129 µg/m3,58.9 µg/m3,27.8

µg/m3,9.74 µg/m3and 16.12 µg/m3 respectively at different monitoring station located in project site. The result further showed the concentration of pollutant is within the permissible concentration as per the international standard. The impact on ambient air quality is assessed considering the existing baseline air quality.

Key Words: Environmental impact assessment, risk analysis, nitrogen dioxide, suspended particulate matter, PM10

1. INTRODUCTION

   An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the environmental, social and economic aspects [1].EIAs have two roles – legal and educational. The legal one is to ensure that development projects has a minimal impact on the environment in its entire 'lifecycle' – i.e. during design, construction, use, maintenance, and demolition[2]. Many countries including India now have laws stipulating that unless an EIA study is carried out (particularly for large infrastructure projects), permission for construction will not be granted by the local authority [3]. But countries in Africa, EIA processes as a 'hindrance' to development as environment is not yet a priority [4]. The educational one is equally important to educate those involved in professionals and users of the potential.

   The Air Quality Impact Assessment Study involves defining of assimilative capacity of regional environmental systems, determination of residual assimilative capacity, resource accounting of supportive resources, generation of alternate developmental scenarios, their impact consequence analysis, evaluation of scenarios through sustainability criteria, viz. equitable quality of life levels, environmental

   degradation-compliance status, ecological loading and delineation of preferred developmental scenario[5]. With a view to delineate the regional environmental assimilative capacity and to plan proper development of project activity in Maharashtra region of India, Ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) has proposed to undertake a study for carrying out regional Environmental Impact Assessment study of project activity in Maharashtra region and to arrive at proper management plan to sustain existing mining without damage to environmental components.

   Development of EIA/EMP (Environmental management plan) is the most valuable interdisciplinary objective decision making tool with respect to overall management of developmental activities, process technologies and project sites[6]. It is an anticipatory mechanism, which establishes quantitative values for parameters indicating the quality of environment and natural systems before, during and after the proposed developmental activities, thus allowing measures that ensure environmental compatibility and economic efficacy for achieving the goal of sustainable societal development. Since the studies cover entire region for collection of relevant environmental data, an integrated approach can be followed by the concerned Government Departments while granting requisite permits/mining leases to the developers in an environment friendly manner.

   Risk analysis includes identification of various credible and non-credible failure scenarios and consequences of those scenarios leading to various phenomena like dispersion, pool fire, jet fire, un-confined vapour cloud explosion, BLEVE etc.[7]. Frequency of the failure cases, magnitude of hazards and hazard distances have also been dealt with.

2. MATERIAL AND METHOD SITE DESCRIPTION

   The underground LPG pipeline originate from BPCL Uran bottling plant which is located near Bhendkhal village under Uran tehsil of Raigad district of Maharashtra. Geographically, the take-off point of the proposed pipeline is located at longitude 7205835 East and latitude 1805239 North at Uran and the terminating point is located at longitude 7400442 East and latitude 18o4134 North at Shikrapur. The pipeline has three tap-off points i.e. first for Usar at 15.73 Km (provision for proposed bottling plant), second for HPCLs Chakan bottling plant at 114.49 Km and the third for IOCLs Chakan bottling plant at 132.42 Km in between Uran&Shikrapur. The HPCLs Chakan bottling plant is geographically located at 7304719 East and 1804445

   North whereas IOCLs Chakan bottling plant at 7305434 East and 1804429 North. All the four terminals are located in the industrial area having all infrastructural facilities.

   To evaluate the baseline status, an ambient air quality monitoring was carried out for one season (During 2011) in the study area as shown in Fig.1. The monitoring points were

   1. Originating Point at BPCL Uran; (b) LPG Bottling Plant of HPCL at Chakan; (c) LPG Bottling Plant of IOCL at Chakan; (d) LPG Bottling of BPCL at Shikrapur; (e) 500- meters corridor on either side of 164.632 Km Pipeline Route. Each monitoring point have four sampling locations. Topography of the area; safety, accessibility and non- interference with general routine of the people residing near the station; dominant wind direction during the study period were the criteria which were taken into consideration during selection of the sampling locations.

      Fig.1 Monitoring Stations Location Map

      METHOD USED FOR AIR QUALITY MEASUREMENT:

      To measure various gaseous components present in the air, Table 1 depicts the method used for determining various reagent and its estimation method.

      S. No.	Gaseous reagent	Method for estimation
      1	SPM analysis	Gravimetric method, TEOM method
      2	SO2 analysis	West & Geake method
      3	NOx analysis	Jacob &Hochheiser modified (NaOH-NaAsO ) Method 2
      4	PM10 analysis	Gravimetric method, TEOM method
      5	PM2.5 analysis	Gravimetric method, TEOM method

      S. No.	Gaseous reagent	Method for estimation
      1	SPM analysis	Gravimetric method, TEOM method
      2	SO2 analysis	West& Geake method
      3	NOx analysis	Jacob &Hochheiser modified (NaOH-NaAsO ) Method 2
      4	PM10 analysis	Gravimetric method, TEOM method
      5	PM2.5 analysis	Gravimetric method, TEOM method

      TABLE 1 METHOD USED FOR AIR QUALITY MEASUREMENT

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

   In this section, the results obtained after laboratorial experimentation for the study area has been discussed. As depicted from Fig.2, the average Suspended particulate matter (SPM )concentration levels at different locations were observed to be ranging from 75 to 170 (µg/m3),and hence, were within the permissible limit as per National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS).The max SPM concentration level found between123 to 276(µg/m3), and minimum SPM concentration was between 49 to 92(µg/m3). The maximum concentration of SPM were recorded at the station no. 16 i.e Sanaswadi Village Is 276(µg/m3). On the contrary the SPM concentration along proposed route line is high due to vehicular transportation of LPG and due to emission of different industries present along the pipe line.

   The maximum PM10 concentration levels at different location were observed to be ranging from 56 to97(µg/m3) and the average conc. is 36 73(µg/m3) as depicted in Fig.3 and at the locations viz. Gate no-6 Uran,Funde Village Uran, Main Gate Chakan Bottling Plant of IOCL etc. the concentration were found to be above permissible limits.The maximum PM2.5 concentration levels at different location were observed to be ranging from 20 to48(µg/m3) and the average conc. is 19 – 36 (µg/m3). Theconcentration of PM10 was found to be below permissible limits.The same can also be depicted from the contour map of Fig.4.

   The SO2 concentrations in all the locations were observed in the range 4.9 to 27.6 g/m3, with the average values in the range 7.1 to 14.2 g/m3. We find that the observed SO2 concentrations as well as their average values are well below the limit specified for Sensitive Areas. Thus, it may be concluded that the SO2 concentration in the area is well within the limits specified not only for Residential, rural and other areas but also for Sensitive areas. The same can also be depicted from the contour map of Fig.5.

   As observed from Fig. 6, the NOx concentrations in all the locations were observed in the range 9.4 to 33.1 g/m3, with the average values in the range 12.4 to 27.2 g/m3. The authors has found that the average NOx concentrations were well below 30 g/m3, which is the limit specified for Sensitive Areas. Thus, the NOx concentration is well within the limits.

   Fig. 2 Spatial distribution of mean SPM concentration levels in the study area

   Fig 5 Spatial distribution of mean NOX concentration levels in the study area

   Fig 3 Spatial distribution of mean PM10 concentration levels in the study area

   Fig.4Spatial distribution of mean SO2 concentration levels in the Study Area

4. CONCLUSIONS

The major pollutants studied in the present study are Sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen (NOX), particulate matter (PM10), (PM2.5) and suspended particulate matter (SPM). The results suggest that the average SPM, PM10, PM2.5, SO2,and NOx concentration found is in the order of 129 µg/m3,58.9

µg/m3,27.8 µg/m3,9.74 µg/m3and 16.12 µg/m3 respectively at different monitoring station located in project site. The result further showed the concentration of pollutant is within the permissible concentration as per the international standard. The impact on ambient air quality is assessed considering the existing baseline air quality.

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