Morlais Project Environmental Statement Appendix 8.1: Water Framework Directive Compliance Assessment Volume

Morlais Project Environmental Statement Appendix 8.1: Water Framework Directive Compliance Assessment Volume III Applicant: Menter Môn Morlais Limited Document Reference: PB5034-ES-0081 Appendix 8.1: WFD Compliance Assessment Author: Marine Space & Royal HaskoningDHV Morlais Document No.: MOR/ Status: Version No: Date: RHDHV/APP/00126a Final F4.0 25/03/2020 © 2020 Menter Môn This document is issued and controlled by: Morlais, Menter Mon. Registered Address: Llangefni Town Hall, Anglesey, Wales, LL77 7LR, UK Unauthorised copies of this document are NOT to be made Company registration No: 03160233 Requests for additional copies shall be made to Morlais Project [Page left intentionally blank] Document Title: Morlais ES Appendix 8.1: WFD Compliance Assessment Document Reference: PB5034-ES-0081 Version Number: F4.0 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF TABLES ................................................................................................................ II GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................... III 1. WATER FRAMEWORK COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENT ............................................... 1 1.1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2. CONSULTATION ......................................................................................................... 5 1.3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................... 8 1.4. ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY .............................................................................. 10 1.5. STAGE 1: SCREENING ............................................................................................. 14 1.6. STAGE 2: SCOPING .................................................................................................. 17 1.7. STAGE 3: DETAILED COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENT................................................ 35 1.8. BEDDMANARCH BAY SHELLFISH WATER ............................................................. 46 1.9. CUMULATIVE/IN-COMBINATION ASSESSMENT ..................................................... 47 1.10. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................... 49 1.11. REFERENCES ........................................................................................................... 50 Menter Môn Morlais Project Page | i Document Title: Morlais ES Appendix 8.1: WFD Compliance Assessment Document Reference: PB5034-ES-0081 Version Number: F4.0 TABLE OF TABLES Table 1.1 Summary of Relevant Consultation Responses ................................................................... 5 Table 1.2 WFD Water Bodies Screened into the WFD Compliance Assessment ............................... 14 Table 1.3 Project Activity and Potential Impact Mechanism during Construction ................................ 16 Table 1.4 Project Activity and Potential Impact Mechanism During Construction ............................... 16 Table 1.5 Project Activity and Potential Impact Mechanism During Operation.................................... 17 Table 1.6 Onshore Construction Activities: Scoping Questions for Groundwater Quantity ................. 18 Table 1.7 Onshore Construction Activities: Scoping Questions for Groundwater Quality ................... 20 Table 1.8 Project Operation and Maintenance: Scoping Questions for Groundwater Bodies ............. 21 Table 1.9 Project Construction: Scoping Questions for Coastal Water Bodies ................................... 23 Table 1.10 Project Operation: Scoping Questions for Coastal Water Bodies ..................................... 30 Table 1.11 Summary of Scoping Exercise for Caernarfon Bay North Coastal Water Body ................. 35 Menter Môn Morlais Project Page | ii Document Title: Morlais ES Appendix 8.1: WFD Compliance Assessment Document Reference: PB5034-ES-0081 Version Number: F4.0 GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS A/HMWB Artificial or Heavily Modified Water Body CEFAS Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science CEMP Construction Environmental Management Plan CIRIA Construction Industry Research and Information Association DBEIS Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. DCO Development Consent Order DfT Department for Transport DO Dissolved Oxygen EA Environment Agency EC European Commission EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Management Plan EQS Environmental Quality Standards EQSD Environmental Quality Standards Directive ES Environmental Statement FCA Flood Consequence Assessment GBS Gravity Base Structures GEP Good Ecological Potential GES Good Ecological Status GPP Guidance for Pollution Prevention GWDTE Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems HDD Horizontal Directional Drilling HRA Habitat Regulations Assessment INNS Invasive Non-Native Species IPPC Integrated Pollution and Prevention Control JLDP Joint Local Development Plan MDZ Morlais Demonstration Zone MLWS Mean Low Water Springs MPCP Marine Pollution Contingency Plan MSFD Marine Strategy Framework Directive NPS National Policy Statement NRW Natural Resources Wales NSIP Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project PEL Probable Effect Level RBD River Basin District RBMP River Basin Management Plan RIAA Report to Inform Appropriate Assessment SAC Special Area of Conservation SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment Menter Môn Morlais Project Page | iii Document Title: Morlais ES Appendix 8.1: WFD Compliance Assessment Document Reference: PB5034-ES-0081 Version Number: F4.0 SFW Shellfish Water SPA Special Protected Area TEC Tidal Energy Converters TEL Threshold Effect Level TOC Total Organic Carbon TSS Total Suspended Solids TWAO Transport and Works Act Order UK United Kingdom VER Valued Ecological Receptor WFD Water Framework Directive Menter Môn Morlais Project Page | iv Document Title: Morlais ES Appendix 8.1: WFD Compliance Assessment Document Reference: PB5034-ES-0081 Version Number: F4.0 1. WATER FRAMEWORK COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENT 1.1. INTRODUCTION 1. This report aims to determine whether the onshore and offshore activities associated with the proposed Morlais Project (the Project) are compliant with the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy (known as the Water Framework Directive (WFD)). 2. A brief description of the Project is provided in this report. A more detailed description is provided in Chapter 4, Project Description of the Environmental Statement (ES). 3. The objectives of this compliance assessment are to: ⚫ Identify water bodies that could potentially be affected by the Project; ⚫ Identify activities that could affect these WFD water bodies; ⚫ Assess the potential for the proposed project activities to result in a deterioration in the status of WFD water bodies, or prevent status objectives being achieved in the future; and ⚫ Determine the compliance of the Project with the requirements of the WFD. 4. This report sits as an appendix to Chapter 8, Marine Water Quality and Sediment Quality and has been prepared as part of the ES of the Project to be submitted alongside a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) application, and a Marine Licence application. 5. It should be read in conjunction with the relevant chapters of the ES and has drawn upon information and assessments provided in: ⚫ Chapter 4, Project Description; ⚫ Chapter 7, Metocean Conditions and Coastal Processes; ⚫ Chapter 8, Marine Water and Sediment Quality; ⚫ Chapter 9, Benthic and Intertidal Ecology; ⚫ Chapter 10, Fish and Shellfish Ecology; and ⚫ Chapter 17, Water Resources and Flood Risk, with associated Flood Consequence Assessment (FCA) Appendix (Appendix 17.1, Volume III). 1.1.1. The Water Framework Directive 1.1.1.1. Overview 6. The WFD is transposed into national law by means of the Water Environment (WFD) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017. The WFD Regulations provide for the implementation of the WFD, from designation of all surface waters (rivers, lakes, transitional (estuarine) waters, coastal waters and ground waters) as water bodies, to the requirement to achieve Good Ecological Status (GES) or Good Ecological Potential (GEP). Menter Môn Morlais Project Page | 19 Document Title: Morlais ES Appendix 8.1: WFD Compliance Assessment Document Reference: PB5034-ES-0081 Version Number: F4.0 7. Unlike the EU Birds and Habitats Directives (EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (2009/147/EC) and EC Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (92/43/EEC), respectively), which apply only to designated sites, the WFD applies to all bodies of water, including those that are man-made, 1 nautical mile from the Mean High Water Spring tide limit. The consideration of the proposals under the WFD will, therefore, apply to all water bodies that have the potential to be impacted by the Project. 1.1.1.2. Surface Waters 8. There are two separate classifications for surface water bodies (including rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters); ecological and chemical. For a water body to be in overall 'good' status, both ecological and chemical status must be at least 'good'. The ecological status of surface waters is classified using information on the biological, physico-chemical and supporting hydromorphological quality of the body of water. 9. The ecological status of a surface water body is assessed according to: ⚫ The condition of biological

Load more