What is a VVM report?

Baseline

Hydrography, Water Quality and Plankton of the Baltic Sea

The report outlines the hydrography (currents, salinity and tempera-ture, stratification) and the nutrients, oxygen and plankton conditions of the Baltic Sea. The physical and biogeochemical conditions are important for the assessment of impacts from the fixed link.

FEHY

Impact Assesment

Baltic Sea Hydrography, Water Quality and Plankton

The primary pressures are temporary and permanent structures (e.g. work harbours, access channels, land reclamations and bridge structures), and the potential stop of ferry service. The degree of impairment on the Baltic Sea east of the Danish Straits has been assessed.

FEHY

Baseline

Hydrography of the Fehmarnbelt Area

The report relies on extensive monitoring of the hydrography and physical parameters by a number of fixed monitoring stations and regular surveys in the Fehmarnbelt area. Furthermore, 3D oceanographic simulations of flow and stratification (salinity and temperature depend-ent) were conducted and validated.

FEHY

Impact Assessment

Hydrography of Fehmarnbelt Area

The two primary pressures for the local hydrography are temporary and permanent structures, e.g. work harbours, access channels, tunnel trench, land reclamations and bridge structures. The degree of impairment is analysed by means of 3D oceanographic models.

FEHY

Baseline

Water Quality and Plankton of the Fehmarnbelt Area

The current conditions of water quality, plankton and jellyfish in the Fehmarnbelt area are described based on frequent samplings as well as historical data and modelling of pelagic biology. In addition, the present bathing water quality is assessed.

FEMA/FEHY

Impact Assessment

Water Quality and Plankton of the Fehmarnbelt Area

Permanent pressures include changes in the hydrography and increase of hard substrates. Only suspended sediment was assessed to have impacts on the water quality. Impacts on plankton were assessed to be negligible or not existing.

FEMA/FEHY

Impact Assessment

Seabed Morphology of the Fehmarnbelt Area

The main project pressures are the removal of bed forms and sea bed by dredging activities, structures (reclamations, protection reefs and work harbours), access channel to the production facility on Lolland and the deposition of dredging spill. The impact simulations show that the sea bed is dynamic and that sediment spill is characterised as temporary impairment.

FEHY

Baseline

Seabed Chemistry of the Fehmarnbelt Area

The report describes the results of the sediment sampling and subsequent analysis for heavy metals, organic pollutants and nutrients. The potential release of nutrients and pollutants, as well as consumption of oxygen due to dredging are calculated and discussed.

FEMA

Impact Assessment

Coastal Morphology along Fehmarn and Lolland

The main pressures of the project alternatives on the coastal morphology of Lolland and Fehmarn are the permanent structures (reclamations and protection reefs). Estimated impacts are mainly increased erosion and accretion along beaches and unprotected sections of the coastline on the Lolland side. Nature protection areas and Natura 2000 areas are assigned very high importance; sand beaches on Lolland and Fehmarn are as-signed very high or high importance.

FEHY

Impact Assessment

Benthic Flora of the Fehmarnbelt Area

The report presents a thorough assessment of the impacts from a fixed link across Fehmarnbelt on the benthic flora. Through a screening procedure of the potential impacts, ten potential pressures were identified. The communities that are expected to be most affected by construction of a fixed link are the Furcellaria community followed by the eelgrass community.

FEMA

Impact Assessment

Benthic Fauna of the Fehmarnbelt Area

The report presents a thorough assessment of the impacts from a fixed link on the benthic fauna. Through a screening procedure of the potential impacts, nine pressures have been identified. The results of the impacts assessment showed that none of the impacts of the project alternatives were assessed to have significant impact on the benthic fauna.

FEMA

Baseline

Benthic Habitat Mapping of the Fehmarnbelt Area

The report contains a baseline survey of the extent and distribution of benthic habitats in the Fehmarnbelt. Sea-bed substrates and physical habitats were mapped in the greater Fehmarnbelt area. Overall, 62 benthic habitats were mapped.

FEMA

Baseline

Fish Ecology in Fehmarnbelt

The fish ecology surveys comprised a programme designed to catch fish eggs and larvae, monthly samplings, hydro-acoustic surveys and tagging experiments on migrating silver eel and spawning cod. In total 69 different fish species were registered during the mapping of fish communities in the Fehmarnbelt area.

FeBEC

Impact Assessment

Fish Ecology in Fehmarnbelt

The main pressures regarding fish are seabed reclamation, the hydrological regime, sediment spill, noise/vibration and indirect pressures caused by changes/impairments of fish habitats. The impacts of the construction of bridge and tunnel are minor or medium; for the operation phase they are with one exception minor. The impact of the foot-print of the bridge is “high” regarding four species. For the tunnel one species is highly impacted.

FeBEC

Baseline

Commercial Fisheries in Fehmarnbelt

The report analyses a variety of sources on commercial fisheries, such as fleet and fishery statistics and interviews with fishermen. Bottom trawling makes up the highest contribution to the value of landings. Regarding catches in gillnets cod has by far the highest economic importance. Eel also has a considerable value for the pound net fisheries.

FeBEC

Impact Assessment

Commercial Fisheries in Fehmarnbelt

The main pressures for the commercial fisheries are seabed reclamation and structures, sediment spill, noise/ vibration, hydrographical regimes and other pressures potentially causing avoidance responses and loss of fish habitats. All impairments are minor, while the severity of loss from the footprint/structures of the project alternatives is “very high” with regards to pound net fisheries.

FeBEC

Baseline

Recreational Fisheries in Fehmarnbelt

The baseline investigations regarding German and Danish recreational fisheries imply the characterisation of the coastal and offshore recreational fisheries, naming of the primary fish species of interest and their fishing seasons. Sea trout, cod, garfish and diverse flatfish species are the primary species of interest.

FeBEC

Baseline

Bird Investigations in Fehmarnbelt, Baseline Investigations and Evaluation

Investigation of the seasonal abundance of birds in the Fehmarnbelt; their distribution within the area and available habitats and existing pressures by means of visual surveys, radar studies and individual tracking.

FEBI

Baseline

Birds in land approach-areas on Lolland and Fehmarn

The report studies the land habitats in the vicinity of the future land approach areas and their importance for breeding and staging birds. It analyses species composition and density of birds in relation to defined habitat types.

FEBI

Baseline

Bats of the Fehmarnbelt Area

By means of various shore and offshore based investigations (e.g. radar equipped vessels, personal surveys using detectors and recording bat calls) the occurrence of bats in the Fehmarnbelt area is assessed. The study proves that some species migrate across the Fehmarnbelt, though without using specific corridors.

FEBI

Impact Assessment

Bats of the Fehmarnbelt Area

The report assesses potential effects on bat migration related to construction, operation and structures of a fixed link. Three of the detected bat species were assessed in depth regarding relevant pressures like e.g. disturbance, collision, barrier effects, and habitat change.

FEBI

Baseline

Marine Mammals Studies

Extensive baseline studies using visual and acoustic surveys as well as telemetry data investigated the distribution and abundance of harbour porpoises and seals. The Fehmarnbelt area could be identified as an area of medium importance for harbour porpoises all year round with subareas of high and even very high importance during summer.

FEMM

Impact assessment

Marine Mammals Studies

Harbour porpoises and seals respond to pressures like noise, habitat loss and change, contaminants and barrier effects through the construction, operation and the structure itself. Their sensitivity is assessed on the basis of noise models as well as studies at existing bridges and in relation to their behaviour against other artificial structures in the sea.

FEMM

Baseline

Det danske tilslutnings- og rampeanlæg for en fast Femern Bælt-forbindelse

The baseline investigations regarding Lolland encompass the existing conditions of the landscape and soil, flora and fauna, cultural heritage, water, air and climate, noise and vibrations, population and other subjects potentially affected by the project in the area of the ramp, the production facilities and the land reclamation areas.

COWI

Impact Assessment

Det danske tilslutnings- og rampeanlæg for en fast Femern Bælt forbindelse

Assessment of the environmental impacts on Lolland’s landscape and soil, flora and fauna, cultural heritage, water, air and climate, noise and vibrations, population and other subjects, impacted by the project. Incorporated mitigation and compensation measures are described.

COWI

Other reports

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Sand Extraction at Krieger’s Flak

Krieger’s Flak – located in the Baltic Sea, 30 km east of the island Møn is one of the designated areas to extract sand and gravel for construction and backfilling. The report assesses the environmental impact of extracting 6 mio. cubic metres sand in an area of 10 square kilometres.

FEMA

Other reports

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Sand Extraction at Rønne Banke

1 mio. cubic metres of materials required for the tunnel element production is planned to be extracted from an area of 9 sqaure kilometres at Rønne Banke off the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. The report assesses the environmental consequences in the potentially affected area.

FEMA

Other reports

Environmental Impact Assessment of a Bored Tunnel

The bored tunnel is a third alternative and differs from the immersed tunnel and the cable stayed bridge by causing less sediment spill and no barrier effects on the marine area. On land impacts are similar to the immersed tunnel. The bored tunnel has a very high power demand during construction and handling of slurry could be a challenge.

COWI

Other reports

Lolland Reclamation Lagoons, Flushing and Water Quality

New coastal landscapes will be established using excavated soil from the tunnel trench. The report conducts an assessment of the new lagoons, which will be established east and west of Rødbyhavn. It analyses the water quality and whether the lagoons will develop as planned as recreational and nature elements.

FEMA/FEHY

Other reports

Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory

The report compares the greenhouse gas emissions from the project alternatives with the emissions in the zero-alternative (continued ferry operation across the Fehmarnbelt without a fixed link). The level of the total GHG emissions is indicated and the main sources of GHG emissions identified.

COWI

Other reports

Marinearkæologisk forundersøgelse af produktionsområde til tunnelelementer samt geofysiske anomalier omkring tunneltracé

The report deals with the explorations in the shallow waters in the area affected by the production site of the tunnel elements. It focusses on areas adjacent to outcropping tills at Syltholm which could have been attractive settlement areas in the stone age.

Other reports

Marinarkæologisk forundersøgelse: Dykkerbesigtigelse af kystnære sonar-, magnetometer- og luftfotoanomalier i dansk farvand

The report deals with anomalies in the Danish shallow waters by means of studies of aerial photos, diver investigations and assessment of geophysical surveys.

Other reports

Vandindvinding til Projektformål

The report presents the surveys that form the basis for the groundwater studies. The surveys include update of geological model and test pumping surveys. Furthermore the setup and initial runs with the hydrological model are described. The report also contains a Nature 2000 screening and the field results from mapping of nature conditions (flora and fauna).

RAT

Supplementary material

Emissions for the ferry routes: 1) Rødby - Puttgarden, 2) Gedser - Rostock and 3) Trelleborg – Rostock

This report from 2010 was elaborated by Hans Otto Holmegaard Kristensen, consulting Naval Architect and senior researcher and quoted in the background report from COWI (2013): Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory, page 19

Hans Otto Holmegaard Kristensen

Supplementary material

Fixed Link across the Fehmarn Belt – Effect on Emissions to Air

This report from 2005 was elaborated by COWI and quoted in the background report from COWI (2013): Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory, page 18.

Danish Ministry of Transport and Energy and German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Housing

Supplementary material

Risk of TBT pollution of new recreational lagoons

This report from 2013 was prepared by FEMA. It assesses potential impacts of TBT-contamination on the planned recreational lagoons.

FEMA

Supplementary material

Third party review of Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link plausibility check report and suitability of baseline plus check data on marine birds and mammals

This third party review was elaborated by professor Robert W. Furness (MacArthur Green). On basis of the Plausibility check, the report evaluates whether the baseline data remain relevant and reliable.

FEIA

Supplementary material

Third party review on Underwater Noise – Harbour Porpoise

This third party review was elaborated by an international group of experts (IBL Umweltplanung (DE), Bureau Waardenburg bv (NL), WaterProof BV (NL) og CMACS (UK)). It assesses the potential impact of underwater noise from dredging upon harbour porpoise and reviews the supporting baseline studies.

FEIA