Krasnodar GRES Project Volume I11 Environmental Assessment

geomagnetic background field value. At long distance from the transmission line
impact of the geomagnetic field prevails. Accounting for multiphase transmission
lines under study and alternating current used, it can be stated that the resulting
magnetic field of all the wires of the transmission line during superposition of the
fields shall be considerably less than the value mentioned. However, it is obvious
that even the 5-meter zone around the transmission line shall not cause
disorientation of the birds during migration, because the transmission line
magnetic field vector runs sideways rather than along the wires, therefore a
migrating bird caught within the 5-meter zone of electromagnetic field impact shall
move sideways and will soon fly out of the zone. Besides, it is predicted that birds
would differentiate between impacts of permanent geomagnetic field and variable
transmission line field. It also needs to be accounted for that bird mass migration
occurs at altitudes much higher than that of the transmission line, and that apart
from the geomagnetic field migration orientation of birds is affected by other
factors too.
A 220 KV transmission line shall render even lower impact on migrating birds than
the 500 KV line discussed above.
Many bird species sometimes use the wires and supports of transmission lines for
rest. In this respect, impact on the bird body by the electric field of the line is of
certain significance, Intensity of the electromagnetic field of 500 KV transmission
lines can be dozens of MVlm around the wires. There are no scientific data on
impact by such powerful electric fields on the bird body, but the international
practice of use of high voltage transmission lines for many years proves that such
impacts do not lead to death of birds and do not cause genetic changes in the bird
body.
Proposed transmission lines shall be connected to the existing 500 KV
transmission line that passes by Psebaj village. This existing 500 KV line is
located much closer to the Caucasus reserve than the transmission lines proposed
for the Krasnodar GRES project.
Therefore, proposed transmission lines shall not have hazardous impact on the
body of either resident or migrating birds of the area nor shall they affect the
routes of bird migration.
5.3 Conclusions
An analysis of potential environmental impacts can be summarized as follows:
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