Description

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to assess environmental impacts of a proposed tankfarm which is to be situated at the Olokola Free Trade Zone in Ondo State (OKFTZ).It encompasses various field sampling which includes soil, air and noise sampling taken from the proposed site. These samples were tested in the laboratory for parameters such as Total Hydro Carbon, pH values, Total Mean Percentage of Organic Matter, Heavy Metal Investigation, cation concentration. The Total Hydro Carbon which ranges from 4.8 to 33.0 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) in the wet season and 4.0 to 78.5 mg/kg for dry season. The THC is reflective o f an unpolluted environment, and it is widely accepted that soils with a hydrocarbon level below 100 mg/kg are considered unpolluted. Heavy metals investigation showed that Iron had the highest mean concentration (2213mg/kg) followed by Zinc (4.82mg/kg) and Copper (3.78mg/kg) for dry season while for wet season, Iron had 2039mg/kg followed by Zinc (8.68mg/kg) and copper (3.0mg/kg). The concentration of the monovalent cation in the soils was generally high. Sodium (Na) concentrations ranged between 2,136 and 7,341mg/kg in the wet season and 6,175 and 10,308 mg/kg in the dry season while potassium (K) ranged between 0.09 and 0.15 mg/kg in the wet season and 0.04 and 0.45mg/kg in the dry season. The high sodium content could be attributed to the proximity of the study area to the ocean. Suspended Particulate Matter Levels for Wet and Dry Season on shows that there are more suspended particulate matter in the dry season as the result indicated a value of 196 µg/m3 against 64µg/m3 in the wet season. Comparing these findings with EGASPIN guidelines for national air quality standards, more air quality monitoring is needed during the dry season as it reaches a high of 196 though it is still within the EGASPIN (Environmental Guidelines and Standards for Petroleum Industries in Nigeria)  limits. Noise measurements showed that the measured levels varied significantly in the different locations monitored and ranged from a low of 55.2dB to a high of 66.7dB, for the dry season and 52.7dB to a high of 67.9dB, for the wet season as compared to the World Bank standard of 45 dB(A) for residential areas during the daytime. It is recommended that environmental performance be monitored regularly to ensure compliance and those measures to be taken where necessary. The OKFTZ site is generally suitable for the proposed bulk fuel storage facility and all environmental risks can be minimized and managed through implementing preventative measures and sound environmental management systems.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENT

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO STUDY

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

STUDY OBJECTIVES

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW

ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS

PROCESSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS

CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH DESIGN

SOURCES OF DATA

PRIMARY DATA

SECONDARY DATA

POPULATION OF THE STUDY

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS

CHAPTER FOUR DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

DATA ANALYSIS

DISCUSSION

CHAPTER FIVE CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

CONCLUSION

RECOMMENDATION

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to study

Fossil fuels dominate the world’s energy market. The annual production is worth over 1.5 trillion dollars (Goldemberg, 2006). According to Energy Information Administration (2007), the energy generated from fossil fuels will remain the major source and still expected to meet about 84% of energy demand in 2030. The high world demands of petroleum and other fossil fuels are increasing and the world oil resources are judged to be sufficient to meet the projected growth in demand until 2030, with output becoming more concentrated in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) (Shafiee and Topal, 2009). According to O’Rourke and Connolly (2003), the eleven OPEC member states accounts for about 77% of proven oil reserves and 40% of world production. The current world energy consumption growth rate is 2% and crude oil accounts for 36.4% of the world primary energy consumption (Shafiee and Topal, 2009).

Although crude oil is an important national economic mainstay of many nations, being the largest single item in the balance of payments and exchanges between nations, and the major factor in local level politics regarding development, jobs, health, and the environment (O’Rourke and Connolly, 2003), the rapid exploitation of petroleum oil and natural gas poses a significant environmental and ecological danger to the immediate environment owing to oil spills, effluent discharge and gas flaring. Furthermore, Hunter (2015) stated that petroleum exploration and production activities present legal, political, economic, financial, technical and environmental problems. Oil spillage has become a global menace that has been occurring since the discovery, exploration and exploitation of crude oil, which was part of the industrial revolution (Kadafa, 2012).

Nigeria, an OPEC member state, has about 36-34.2 billion barrels proven oil reserve as of January 2013, making the country the highest oil producer in Africa and the 11^th in the world. Nigeria produced 2.1- 2.3 million barrels per day in 2013 (Hunter, 2015). Eleven oil companies in Nigeria operated 159 oil and gas fields and 1481 oil wells located in the Niger Delta Region (Kadafa, 2012). In spite of the obvious economic gains of this industry, crude oil exploration, exploitation, refining and use have had numerous negative impacts and costs to public health, the environment, cultures and heritage. Oil and gas development in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria has significantly improved the nation’s economy over the past five decades; but it has also caused many environmental, social and ecological issues to the region. The Delta region is an endowed ecological zone of freshwater swamp, lowland rain forest, mangrove swamp forest, coastal barrier island and one of the highest concentrations of biodiversity of the plant and animal kingdoms. It supports numerous species of plants and animals making it a highly diverse and enriched ecosystem and the largest wetland in Africa. The aquatic life has also been greatly threatened by the toxicity of the oil spillages. According to Kadafa (2012), 1.5 million tons of oil has been spilled over a span of several decades in the Niger Delta region and has been either partially cleaned or not cleaned in some areas. About 9-13 million barrels (equivalent to 50 Exxon Valdez spills) have occurred in the region over 50 years (Nriagu et al., 2016). About 0.7-1.7 million tons of oil enters the water bodies in the Niger Delta region owing to many anthropogenic activities involving oil and gas development in the region (Kadafa, 2012). Akoroda (2000) reported a direct relationship of gas flaring and the emergent cancer in the Niger Delta region. The people in the area are now experiencing respiratory disorders as a result of long term exposure to gas

flaring.

Therefore, there is need to provide an environmental justice framework and systematic process to evaluate the environmental, social, health and cumulative impacts of oil exploration, extraction, transportation, refining and use. This framework should seek to examine the distributional, procedural impacts and injustice of oil exploration, extraction, transportation, refining and use, and their effects on the socio-economic and ethnic groups, host communities, ecosystems and biodiversity.

Statement of Problem

Environmental Impact Assessment is the systematic identification and evaluation of the potential impacts of proposed projects, plans, programs, or legislative actions relative to the physicalchemical, biological, cultural, and socio-economic components of the environment (Canter et al. 1977; Saheed et al. 2012). This process intends to provide decision makers the socio-economic and environmental consequences of the proposed actions in a bid to attain sustainability. The primary objective of the process is to arrive at plans, actions and decisions which are benign to the environment while enjoying the economic and political gains.

Nigeria, as a developing country, views sustainability in a neo-classical perspective where the ostensible aim for petroleum resource development is economic sustainability which is peculiar to dependent capitalist economies and with no price attachment to environmental degradation (Agbola and Alabi, 2003). Thus, this study was carried out to examine and evaluate the significant environmental and social impacts of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, the Environmental Impact Assessment system and other environmental regulatory frameworks enacted by the National Environment Protection Act for Niger Delta Region environmental protection from Petroleum Industry. This study also points out the gaps in the EIA process and regulations, proposes mitigation measures and makes the necessary recommendations for socio-economic growth.

 

Study Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine and evaluate the Environmental Impact Assessment system of Proposed Tank Farm. The past and present environmental menace of oil and gas exploration and exploitation in the region will be examined. The specific objectives of the study were to:

1. Identify flaws in the EIA legislation in the Petroleum industry.
2. Analyze the environmental and social aspects that have been significantly affected and/or will likely continue to be affected by the of Proposed Tank Farm under the current legislation.
3. Analyze the environmental effects of the of Proposed Tank Farm by quantifying potential loss and damage to habitat, flora and fauna.
4. Describe and identify key impacts of the petroleum industry and determine measures to mitigate them.

Significance Of The Study

The significance for embarking upon this research is primarily based on the importance of environment. It is a means of substance for human life, Animals, and plants. It provides lively hood for human, Animals, plants and its inhabitants generally. Environment would be of little or no comfort, if it is left in its natural form. To drive comfort from the environment, labour has to be mixed with the environment. It is as a result of the mixture of labour with the environment that we have houses, roads, Airports, Seaports, chairs, tables, beds, cars.

The environment contains precious properties for the comfort of man, such as gold, tin, water, oil. For man to drive maximum benefit of these precious properties, the environment will suffer one form of injury or the other such as drilling, digging, boring, etc.

Oil being one of the most precious property, is the major source of revenue for the country. Its exploration, exploitations, refining, transportation, has brought about huge damage to the environment, and its inhabitants. It brought about degradation, such as Air pollution, Water pollution, Soil pollution, Acid rain, Coastal and marine environment also suffer similar degradation. There were cry out from individuals, communities, none

Governmental organizations (NGOS) and likewise international communities. In response to this, Laws, Regulations, were made and Institution established to prevent the degradation. Some of these Laws and Regulations includes: Oil in

Navigable Water Act, Associated Gas Re-Injection Act, Oil Pipe Line Act,

Oil and Gas Export Free Zone Regulation, Hydro Carbon Oil Act, The West Africa Gas Pipe Line Project, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, (NOSDRA), Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR), Niger Delta

Development Commission (NDDC), Niger Delta Ministry, and National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

Despite the existence of these Laws and Institutions, environmental degradation by Oil and Gas companies continues on a very large scale. What would have gone wrong? It is based on these facts that this research was carried out. This research is also justified by the fact that previous writers in one way or the other, did not discuss some laws and institutions such as NESREA, NOSDRA and the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules.

Scope of the study

The study will focus on the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry taking into consideration the operations of illegal Indigenous Refineries in the country.

CHAPTER

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

 

CONCLUSION

 

Crude oil has been the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy since its commercial production in 1958. There have been unsustainable processes and obsolete equipment and laws involved in harnessing this natural resource and this has wrecked great havoc to the Niger Delta environment which is very sensitive and ecologically endowed. The Niger Delta people have suffered environmental racism and marginalization in the hands of the operating companies and the Nigerian State since the inception of oil and gas developments. This natural resource became a black gold, causing adverse effects to the environment and the people including poverty, corruption, political and social unrest. The oil boom actually turned into an oil doom where the crude oil became a resource curse to Nigeria. The oil wealth brews corruption and gross mismanagement to the extent there was scarcity (Figure 49) and high cost of refined products in the period of low global oil price. The following conclusions are drawn from the assessment of oil and gas industry in Niger Delta Region and the environmental legal framework promulgated by the

Government of Nigeria.

1. Environmental Impact Assessment was adopted for environmental protection as stated in Principle 17 of Rio Declaration of 1992 to be a management tool that interfaces and balances developmental projects between the environment and communities in a society in order to enhance economic performance while maintaining the highest standards of environmental sustainability, stewardship and social responsibility.
   • But this tool and other environmental legislations have not been adequately applied in Nigeria for environmental protection and achievement of sustainability owing to obselete and inadequate laws which are ad hoc, ambiguous and the earliest developments went ahead without a formal EIA legislation process.
   • A 260 km dual carriage way which passes through 185 communities in Cross River State and a National Park was constructed without a formal EIA process.
   • Even with the existence of EIA guidelines and legislation, environmental degradation continues to be a major concern in Nigeria and there is need to provide an environmental sustainability assurance and supporting tool for sustainable development.
2. The Nigeria’s Environmental Legislations have been saddled with:

• Poor enforcement and sanctions for non-compliance to environmental management which are required for better protection of the environment and the people from adverse effects of an impacting activity.
• The much required parity between development, economic gains and environmental protection in the Niger Delta has not been well achieved and enhanced in such a complex and impacting oil and gas industry and enough resources have been wasted.
• The legal and institutional framework by which the problem of environmental degradation and devastation could be tackled is inefficient, leading to a legal lacuna through which the companies utilize its inefficiency to perpetrate the perpetual environmental devastation.
• The inadequate defense to liability of oil spill is the major cause of oil contaminated environment in the Niger Delta (Shell alleging in 2015 that 70% of their spills are caused by sabotage).
• NOSDRA which is mandated to respond to oil spills lacks the expertise and funds to tackle these spills by a third party.
• The inadequate and non-enforceable laws and inconsistent and overlapping of regulations led to environmental degradation, poverty of the communities, public health concerns, deaths, social tensions and the exacerbation of the pollution situation through oil bunkering, illegal refineries and blowing up of oil installations (by the Niger Delta Avengers and other newly erupted militant groups), all have impeded economic developments in the current dispensation.

 

 RECOMMENDATION

 

Aside of urging the United Nations to apply Principle 6 of Rio Declaration of 1992 (Earth Summit) on Nigeria and the application of International Environmental Treaties since gas flaring in Nigeria contributes to global warming, the following are recommended to improve environmental protection from oil and gas activities in Niger Delta and quell social tension.

1. The Government and the operating companies should accept the responsibility of

mandating environmental standards in the oil and gas industry that are adequately enough to achieve sustainable development. This irresponsibility though, has caused the host communities to now gasp for access to environmental, judicial and constitutional remedies to the environmental injustice meted on them in order to forestall inter generational equity because their children are being bequeathed with a degraded environment that is prone to annihilation. The region is now known for polluted waters and land, devastated mangrove forest and the seat of unhindered gas flaring as an OPEC member.

2. The polluters should clean up the environment according to the Amnesty International

and “the polluters pay up” policy of Environmental Law. There is need for improvement of Nigeria’s environmental legislations and a sustainable manner of oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities in the Niger Delta Region to achieve socio-economic developments while promoting safe and healthy environment. The operating companies and the government should therefore clean all contaminated sites, imbibe and adopt proactive environmental management procedures and then discontinue their mere reactive environmental management practices which have caused numerous environmental devastations and public health concerns.

3. Principle 16 of Rio Declaration of 1992 stipulates national authorities should endeavor to promote the internalization of environmental costs and the use of economic instruments, taking into account the approach that the polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution, with due regard to the public interest and without distorting international trade and investment. The key challenge to energy companies should be practical demonstrations to enhance economic performance while maintaining the highest standards     of       environmental         sustainability,         stewardship and           social responsibility.
4. Comprehensive corruption risk assessment should be conducted in the industry periodically.
5. The multi-jurisdictional implementation of environmental regulations is always counter-productive. To enhance proper environmental management and reduce overlapping of regulation and conflict of interest, DPR should allow NESREA to handle environmental regulations in the oil and gas sector and focus only on economic development of the sector including licensing and revenue management according to international best practice.

• Submission of an environmental management commitment should be made mandatory for all operations in the Region and must be consistent with sustainable development.
• Adequate environmental management that encompasses monitoring and mitigation measures and involve the stakeholders and the pubic in its implementation should be included.
• An efficient post decision monitoring program and follow-up should be incorporated in every future EIAs to verify impacts predictions which is lacking presently.

6. Identification of VECs is lacking in the EIA process.
   • Effective scoping, baseline information gathering and cumulative effects assessment practitioner’s guide with a structured methodology should be introduced to the process.
   • A multi-stakeholder initiative in the form of cumulative environmental management association to manage the cumulative environmental effects of industrial developments in the region should be implemented.
7. EIA is also a communication of environmental effects to the concerned public and stakeholders.
   • Public and stakeholders’ participation should be improved with a legal framework to enhance co-operation, sustainability of projects, proper identification of VECs and gathering of quality baseline information.
   • Ethno-diversity of the region should be recognized and an incorporation of Social Impact Assessment into EIA framework should be made.
   • Participants’ funding should be introduced to facilitate public and stakeholders participation so that they can be able to make incisive, constructive and convincing comments necessary for better decision making and environmental protection.
   • SEA should be introduced as it has the potential to facilitate greater transparency and more efficient and effective public participation at strategic levels for a developing country like Nigeria.
   • The 21 days giving for public comments is not enough to get a quality feedback for better decision making and should be increased to 60 days because of the literacy level in Nigeria.
   • Final decisions on the project should be made public, together with the reasons for approval.
   • Habitat Regulatory Assessment and Species at Risk Assessment should be part of EIA regulation in order to protect species at risk, wildlife, their breeding and survival. There should be proper monitoring of vegetation and mangrove fauna too.
   • The independent consultants preparing EIAs for operators should be registered and external EIA experts and NGOs who will be gaining international training should review the prepared EIAs.
8. Local people should be powered economically to be stakeholders responsible for consequences of environmental degradation.
   • Annual environmental reports should be published by the operators to demonstrate their environmental performance and stewardship to the local people and the stakeholders.
   • The operating companies should adopt the environmental and social safeguard policies of the International Finance Corporation arm of World Bank which should lead to the issuance of a “social license” by the community in order to improve public participation, social equity, reduction of environmental injustice and improvement of inter generational justice.
   • The local residents should always be enlightened with the deleterious effects of the pollutants emanating from the region in order to reduce the health effects and contamination.
   • There should be a section on public health monitoring to force the oil and gas operators into collecting and publishing data of public health effects. Social and health impact assessment should also be part of EIA regulation.
9. OMPADEC has no power to make regulations, enforcement and sanctions and the Federal Government even controls their funds.
   • It should be discontinued together with NDDC and replaced with Petroleum Host Communities’ Fund (PHCF) as contained in Sections 116-118 of the drafted PIB and should be enhanced with good governance.
   • PHCF should look into ways for capacity and skills developments of the local people and their employment.