Analysis of environmental sensitivity

For this purpose - and in keeping with German practice - an environmental sensitivity analysis has been prepared for the coast-to-coast link.

The environmental sensitivity analysis relates to humans, animals, plants, biodiversity, soil, water, climate, air and landscape as well as cultural and economic values.

The extent of the environmental impact from the construction work and the traffic facility was evaluated for each factor, based on current legislation, planning objectives and expert assessments.

During the assessment, the individual parts of the area were classified according to sensitivity. In some areas, the construction work or the traffic facility may cause such significant impact that the alignment may have to be rerouted. This may apply in residential areas with stricter restrictions on noise from construction work and the traffic facility.

In other areas, the construction work may be carried out under special conditions, e.g. changes to local planning because the alignment will affect areas with dikes, dunes, paths and resting birds.

The environmental sensitivity analysis is an important part of Femern A/S' application to the German authorities for permission for the overall physical location of the facility.

Minimum environmental impact
Based on an overall balancing of the environmental considerations, the analysis concludes that a corridor east of the ferry ports is preferable in that it will cause the least negative impact on the environment.

It is not possible to determine a continuous coast-to-coast corridor with no impact on the environment. As a result, Femern A/S expects that remedial measures will have to be undertaken in certain areas. Such measures will be detailed in the EIA report for the coast-to-coast project which is expected to be published in the spring of 2012.