TALLINN, Estonia, May 1 (UPI) -- Estonian researchers challenged the thoroughness of an environmental survey in the Gulf of Finland for the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline.
Ivar Puura with the Nature Conservation Committee of the Academy Sciences said during public discussion on the environmental impact assessment of Nord Stream that sediment examinations to the depth of about 2 inches were insufficient, suggesting about 12 inches may be appropriate, The Baltic Course reports.
Puura also noted Russian data was not included in the environmental report, nor was dioxin pollution from the Kymi River in Finland.
"All of this amplification has been left out of the survey," he said. "Besides, in earlier studies, it has been noted that truly hazardous substances are at 4 inches deep and below."
Nord Stream would travel along a dual route along the floor of the Gulf of Finland and Black Sea to Germany. Several littoral states have raised repeated concerns over the environmental impact of pipeline construction, which is complicated by World War II munitions strewn along the route.
Ramboll Group, which carried out the study, discounted the sediment claims, noting 85 percent of the pipeline would rest directly on the sea bed.
