Rail Baltica main route in Estonia meets EIA requirements

A map showing the the Ülemiste-Kangru section of Rail Baltica Estonia - Credit: Rail Baltica

The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority declared the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report of the Ülemiste-Kangru section of Rail Baltica to be compliant with the requirements. The recognition of the EIA report as meeting the requirements will soon allow the construction of the first section of the main railway line to begin.

The route section running from the Ülemiste terminal to Kangru township is 15.8 kilometres long, and the railway corridor runs there mainly between business and production areas, and between promising compact built-up areas. There are no large forest areas, agricultural areas or land units in the area, and there are no Natura 2000 areas within the influence area of the railway.

“When it comes to various measures, for example, in order to reduce railway noise, various noise barrier solutions will be built on the section for nearly three kilometres, wooden or metal noise barrier walls and earth embankments,” Roland Müür, Environmental Manager for Rail Baltic Estonia, said. “In order to ensure the movement of fauna, one eco-duct is planned for the section, as well as an underpass suitable for big game, sixteen culverts and tunnels for small animals. In addition, green strips will be built on the edge of three viaducts crossing the railway.”

The environmental impact assessment report also sets important conditions for carrying out construction activities, to protect the bird population, the forest along the route will be cut down outside the birds’ breeding season, and if necessary, time restrictions will also be applied to construction activities. In addition, the water level and quality of the wells that remain in the affected area during construction activities must be ensured, and construction materials must be transported and stored in a way that minimises the spread of dust. The implementation of the measures and the effectiveness of the measures will be monitored by mandatory monitoring during the entire construction period as well as during the period of use of the future railway.

Considering the large number of environmental measures and the complexity of the project, Rail Baltic Estonia will prepare a corresponding environmental management plan for the management of environmental measures for each section to be assessed. The environmental management plan will include both the environmental measures made mandatory when the permit was issued, as well as the environmental measures set voluntarily by the developer. The environmental management plan is updated regularly (either once a year or more frequently according to the important developments of the project) by adding or specifying measures according to changes in environmental information or the development of other improved knowledge.

The environmental impact assessment of the Estonian part of Rail Baltica is carried out in parallel with the design of the main route. Important impact areas assessed by the EIA: wildlife, noise, energy use, cultural heritage, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, etc.

The initiation of the impact assessment was requested by the Estonian branch of RB Rail AS at the beginning of 2019 on its own initiative.