Pipeline Route Selection Criteria

During each phase of the route selection process, community, environmental and technical selection criteria were considered throughout the route selection process, in order to eventually select a proposed route. That is, each of the short-listed corridors were appraised against the chosen criteria to assist in selecting the proposed route.

The route selection criteria (outlined below), were developed following detailed consultation with, and input from, the local community, as well as taking the relevant statutory, environmental, technical and project requirements into consideration. Safety was highlighted by the community during consultation and is always the first priority and will inform decisions at every level, and is the most important project requirement. These criteria are also in line with best practice for infrastructural and pipeline projects.

The Selection Criteria are outlined below:

Community Criteria

• Maximise safety
• Minimise impacts on people
• Proximity to dwellings/ public centres
• Planning / land use

Environmental Criteria

• Minimise impacts on wildlife / habitats
• Avoid impacts on archaeology / cultural heritage
• Minimise visual impacts

Technical Criteria / Project Requirements 

• Pipeline construction and operation
• Minimise environmental disturbance
• Optimise pipeline design and operation
• Minimise pipeline length
• Location and access to landfall
• Project requirements (including costs and schedule)

Source: http://www.corribgaspipeline.com/index.php?page=route-selection-criteria. Accessed by 24-1-2014