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Brims Tidal Array

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Brims Tidal Array Document Reference: LM000037-Rep-SCO-BTAL Page 1 of 295 Scoping Report - Brims Tidal Array Environmental Scoping Report August 2013 Document Reference: LM000037-Rep-SCO-BTAL Page 2 of 295 Scoping Report - Brims Tidal Array Document Reference: LM000037-Rep-SCO-BTAL Page 3 of 295 Scoping Report - Brims Tidal Array CONTENTS 1 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT ............................................................ 13 1.1 The Project ................................................................................................................... 13 1.2 Components ................................................................................................................. 13 1.3 Project Phases .............................................................................................................. 13 2 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 15 2.1 The Developers ............................................................................................................ 15 2.2 Agreement for Lease .................................................................................................... 15 2.3 Project Overview ........................................................................................................... 16 2.4 Components ................................................................................................................. 20 2.5 Development Process................................................................................................... 20 2.6 Pre-scoping Consultation ............................................................................................. 25 2.7 Layout of this Document ............................................................................................... 25 3 PROJECT BOUNDARIES, APPROACH TO EIA AND CONSENTING PROCESS ............ 27 3.1 Geographical Boundaries of Project Components ....................................................... 27 3.2 Non-Project Components ............................................................................................. 29 3.3 Approach to EIA – Rochdale Design Envelope ............................................................ 29 3.4 Consenting Strategy ..................................................................................................... 31 4 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................... 33 4.1 Technology Envelope ................................................................................................... 33 4.2 Overview of Preferred Tidal Technology ...................................................................... 34 4.3 Overview of Alternative Tidal Technologies ................................................................. 39 4.4 Overview of Technology Independent Infrastructure .................................................... 44 4.5 Onshore Infrastructure .................................................................................................. 47 5 KEY POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES ................................................................ 54 5.1 Renewable Energy Policy in Scotland .......................................................................... 54 5.2 The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 .................................................................... 55 5.3 Marine Planning Policy ................................................................................................. 55 5.4 Marine Spatial Planning ................................................................................................ 56 5.5 Marine Protected Areas ................................................................................................ 57 5.6 Terrestrial Planning Policy ............................................................................................ 57 5.7 Marine (Scotland) Act ................................................................................................... 58 5.8 The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 ...................................................................................................................................... 58 5.9 Consents & Licensing ................................................................................................... 60 5.10 Electricity Act 1989 (‘S36 Consent’) ............................................................................. 61 5.11 Electricity Act 1989 (‘S37 Overhead power lines’) ....................................................... 61 5.12 Marine Licence (Section 16) ......................................................................................... 62 Document Reference: LM000037-Rep-SCO-BTAL Page 4 of 295 Scoping Report - Brims Tidal Array 5.13 Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, Section 57) .................................... 62 5.14 Energy Act 2004 ........................................................................................................... 62 5.15 Conservation regulations .............................................................................................. 63 6 POSSIBLE IMPACTS ON THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT .................................................. 65 6.1 Local communities and socio-economics ..................................................................... 66 6.2 Commercial Fisheries ................................................................................................... 72 6.3 Ports and Harbours....................................................................................................... 79 6.4 Utilities .......................................................................................................................... 86 6.5 Disposal Sites ............................................................................................................... 90 6.6 Land Use ...................................................................................................................... 93 6.7 Landscape and Seascape ............................................................................................ 98 6.8 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage ............................................................................. 106 6.9 Ministry of Defence (MOD) Areas ............................................................................... 116 6.10 Aviation ....................................................................................................................... 121 6.11 Recreation .................................................................................................................. 123 6.12 Tourism ....................................................................................................................... 132 6.13 Onshore Traffic ........................................................................................................... 136 6.14 Shipping and Navigation ............................................................................................. 140 6.15 Questions .................................................................................................................... 145 7 POSSIBLE IMPACTS ON THE ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ...................................... 146 7.1 Birds ............................................................................................................................ 147 7.2 Marine Mammals and Reptiles ................................................................................... 170 7.3 Fish and Shellfish Resource ....................................................................................... 185 7.4 Coastal and Terrestrial Ecology ................................................................................. 197 7.5 Subtidal Seabed Communities ................................................................................... 219 7.6 Questions .................................................................................................................... 227 8 POSSIBLE IMPACTS ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT............................................ 228 8.1 Physical processes ..................................................................................................... 229 8.2 Air and Climate ........................................................................................................... 243 8.3 Marine Water and Sediment Quality ........................................................................... 245 8.4 Geology, Soils and Hydrology .................................................................................... 248 8.5 Questions .................................................................................................................... 257 9 CUMULATIVE AND IN-COMBINATION EFFECTS ........................................................... 258 9.1 Projects to Include in the Brims Tidal Array CIA ........................................................ 258 9.2 Receptors to Include in the Brims Tidal Array CIA ..................................................... 259 9.3 Cumulative Impact Assessment ................................................................................. 260 9.4 Anticipated Key Issues ............................................................................................... 261 9.5 Next Steps .................................................................................................................
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