North Kyle Energy Project Environmental Impact Assessment Report Volume 2: Main Report September 2019 North Kyle Energy Project Volume 2: Main Report EIA Report Table of Contents VOLUME 2 MAIN REPORT: TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Purpose of the EIAR 1.3 Other Documents of the Application 1.4 EIA Process 1.5 Copies of EIAR 1.6 Commenting on the Application Chapter 2: Development Description 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Site Location 2.3 Project Description 2.4 Construction Activities 2.5 Operation Management and Maintenance 2.6 Residues and Emissions 2.7 Decommissioning Chapter 3: Design Evolution and Alternatives 3.1 Site Selection Considerations 3.2 Current Land Use and Site Context 3.3 Policy Considerations 3.4 Key Issues and Constraints 3.5 Alternatives 3.6 Discussion of Comparative Views from Key Design Viewpoints 3.7 Mitigation by Design Commitments Chapter 4: Landscape and Visual Amenity 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Assessment Methodology and Significance Criteria 4.3 Policy Context 4.4 Current Baseline 4.5 Assessment of Likely Effects 4.6 Mitigation 4.7 Assessment of Residual Effects 4.8 Monitoring 4.9 Summary 4.10 Glossary and Abbreviations September 2019 North Kyle Energy Project Volume 2: Main Report EIA Report Table of Contents Chapter 5: Cultural Heritage 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Assessment Methodology and Significance Criteria 5.3 Baseline Conditions 5.4 Assessment of Likely Effects 5.5 Mitigation 5.6 Assessment of Residual Effects 5.7 Monitoring 5.8 Summary 5.9 Glossary and Abbreviations Chapter 6: Noise 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Assessment Methodology and Significance Criteria 6.3 Baseline Conditions 6.4 Assessment of Likely Effects 6.5 Mitigation 6.6 Assessment of Residual Effects 6.7 Monitoring 6.8 Summary 6.9 Glossary and Abbreviations Chapter 7: Ecology 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Assessment Methodology and Significance Criteria 7.3 Baseline Conditions 7.4 Assessment of Likely Effects 7.5 Mitigation 7.6 Assessment of Residual Effects 7.7 Monitoring 7.8 Summary 7.9 Abbreviations Chapter 8: Ornithology 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Assessment Methodology and Significance Criteria 8.3 Baseline Conditions 8.4 Assessment of Likely Effects September 2019 North Kyle Energy Project Volume 2: Main Report EIA Report Table of Contents 8.5 Mitigation 8.6 Assessment of Residual Effects 8.7 Monitoring 8.8 Summary 8.9 Abbreviations Chapter 9: Hydrology, Hydrogeology and Geology 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Assessment Methodology and Significance Criteria 9.3 Baseline Conditions 9.4 Assessment of Likely Effects 9.5 Mitigation 9.6 Assessment of Residual Effects 9.7 Monitoring 9.8 Summary 9.9 Glossary and Abbreviations Chapter 10: Traffic and Transport 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Assessment Methodology and Significance Criteria 10.3 Baseline Conditions 10.4 Assessment of Likely Effects 10.5 Mitigation 10.6 Assessment of Residual Effects 10.7 Monitoring 10.8 Summary 10.9 Glossary and Abbreviations Chapter 11: Schedule of Mitigation 11.1 Introduction September 2019 Environmental Impact Assessment Report North Kyle Energy Project 1 Introduction 1.1.1 This Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) has been prepared on behalf of North Kyle Wind Farm Limited (NKWFL or ‘the Applicant’) to accompany an application for consent to construct and operate a 54-turbine wind farm at a site within the North Kyle Forest (NKF), approximately 5.5 km east of Patna, 6 km west of New Cumnock and 2.5 km south of Skares. The site location is shown in Figure 1.1. 1.1.2 This chapter is supported by the following figures and technical appendices: · Figure 1.1: Site Location; · Technical Appendix 1.1: Consultation Register; · Technical Appendix 1.2: Technical Team. 1.1.3 Figures and technical appendices are referenced in the Main Report where relevant. 1.1.4 The EIAR comprises four volumes: · Volume 1: Non-Technical Summary (NTS); · Volume 2: Main Report; · Volume 3a: Figures; · Volume 3b: Visualisations; and · Volume 4: Technical Appendices. 1.2 Purpose of the EIAR 1.2.1 The application is being made to Scottish Ministers through the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. In determining the application Scottish Ministers are required to consider the “desirability of preserving natural beauty, of conserving flora, fauna and geological or physiographical features of special interest and of protecting sites, buildings and objects of architectural, historic or archaeological interest”. The EIAR demonstrates how the Applicant has taken these consenting requirements into account throughout the siting and design of the proposed development and has included reasonable mitigation measures. 1.2.2 The EIAR has been prepared to accompany the application, in accordance with the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 ('the EIA Regulations'). An EIAR is required where a development is an EIA development, that is a development which is "likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature, size or location." 1.2.3 The Applicant has considered the proposed development in light of the EIA Regulations and concluded that, due to the nature and scale of the proposals and the potential for significant environmental effects, this is an EIA development. 1.2.4 Each of the technical chapters of the EIAR provides the specific criteria, including sources and justifications, for quantifying the different levels of effect. Where possible, this has been based upon quantitative and accepted criteria together with the use of value judgements and expert interpretations to establish to what extent an effect is environmentally significant. The threshold at which effects are likely to be "significant" is defined in each of the technical chapters. Volume 2: Main Report Chapter 1: Introduction 1 - 1 Ramboll North Kyle Energy Project Environmental Impact Assessment Report 1.3 Other Documents of the Application 1.3.1 The Application is accompanied by the following documents that do not form part of the EIAR: · Planning Statement; · Socio- Economic and Tourism Impact Assessment; · Design and Access Statement; · Pre-Application Consultation Report; · Regeneration and Enhancement Activities Statement1; and · Cover Letter, confirming deposit locations for the EIAR. 1.4 EIA Process 1.4.1 EIA is a process that identifies the potential environmental effects (both positive and negative) of a proposed development and proposes mitigation to avoid, reduce and offset any adverse environmental effects. EIA is required where a proposed development is 'likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature, size or location'. The key stages in the EIA process adopted for the proposed development are summarised below. Scoping 1.4.2 The Applicant submitted a request for a Scoping Opinion from the Scottish Ministers in March 2018. This request was accompanied by a Scoping Report, prepared by the Applicant, which set out a summary of the proposals, identified the likely significant environmental effects, and summarised the proposed scope of the EIA. The Scoping Report was simultaneously issued to a list of statutory and non-statutory consultees. 1.4.3 A Scoping Opinion was received from the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) on 14 th June 2018. The contents of this and other consultation responses received are summarised in Technical Appendix 1.1: Consultation Register (EIAR Volume 4), along with a list of all bodies consulted during the scoping exercise. Consultation 1.4.4 In addition to seeking a Scoping Opinion, the Applicant conducted three days of public exhibitions, to seek the views of the local community. Exhibitions were held as follows: · Wednesday 13th June 2018 at New Cumnock Town Hall; · Thursday 14th June 2018 at Dalmellington Community Centre; and · Friday 15th June 2018 at Ochiltree Community Hub. 1.4.5 In addition, the Applicant contacted local community councils (CC) including Dalmellington CC; New Cumnock CC; Ochiltree CC; Drongan, Rankinston and Stair CC; Cumnock CC; and Netherthird and District CC. All of the CCs were first contacted about the proposal in January 2018, by WordsHQ, on behalf of the Applicant. 1.4.6 Once the project entered the public domain, the Applicant embarked on various meetings with the surrounding community groups, a summary of which can be found in the Table 1.1 below. 1 The Regeneration and Enhancement Activities Statement describes how the proposed development could uniquely assist (directly and indirectly) in regeneration of the local area through the restoration of abandoned surface coal mining areas within the site. Except where works are included in the project description at Chapter 2 of this EIAR the restoration opportunities described in the report do not themselves form part of the proposed development and have not been assessed within this EIAR. Volume 2: Main Report Ramboll 1 – 2 Chapter 1: Introduction Environmental Impact Assessment Report North Kyle Energy Project At each meeting the project was introduced, feedback was received, and contact details were provided. The EIA Scoping Report was issued to the same community groups in April 2018. 1.4.7 The Applicant’s representatives met with Jeane Freeman MSP on February 5, 2018, at her Constituency Office in Cumnock. This was a general introduction and discussion of the proposed development, including background and a display of the proposed turbine layout. 1.4.8 The Applicant met with the Coalfield Communities Landscape Partnership (CCLP) on April 26, 2018. Those present were representatives of WordsHQ, the Applicant, and members of the CCLP board representing East Ayrshire Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, Central Scotland Green Network Trust, East Ayrshire Leisure Trust, Forest Enterprise Scotland (now Forestry and Land Scotland) and Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere. 1.4.9 The Applicant held meetings with senior representatives of HES, RSPB Scotland and SNH in the period between July and August 2018.