Finding of no significant effects report: Name of project or plan: The installation of aviation fuel pipeline across the River Tolka at Alfie Byrne Road, , (FS005704)

Name and location of Natura 2000 site: The location of the proposed works is not within a designated Natura 2000 site but is located approximately 300m from the nearest boundary of the South and River Tolka SPA (Site Code 004024) and approximately 3.3Km from the nearest boundary of the North Dublin Bay SAC (Site Code 000206)

South Dublin Bay and River Tolka SPA

The South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA comprises a substantial part of Dublin Bay. It includes the intertidal area between the and Dun Laoghaire, and the estuary of the River Tolka to the north of the River Liffey, as well as Booterstown Marsh. A portion of the shallow marine waters of the bay is also included.

The site is a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the E.U. Birds Directive, of special conservation interest for the following species: Light-bellied Brent Goose, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Black- headed Gull, Roseate Tern, Common Tern and Arctic Tern. The E.U. Birds Directive pays particular attention to wetlands, and as these form part of the SPA, the site and its associated waterbirds are of special conservation interest for Wetland & Waterbirds.

The Conservation Objectives of the South Dublin Bay and River Tolka SPA are1  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Light-bellied Brent Goose in South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA,  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Oystercatcher in South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA,  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Ringed Plover in South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Knot in South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Sanderling in South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA  To maintain the favourable conservation condition

1 NPWS (2015) Conservation Objectives: South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA 004024. Version 1. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. of Dunlin in South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA,  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Bar-tailed Godwit in South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA,  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Redshank in South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA,  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Black-headed Gull in South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA,  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Roseate Tern in South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA,  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Common Tern in South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA,  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Arctic Tern in South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA,  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of the wetland habitat in South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary SPA as a resource for the regularly occurring migratory waterbirds that utilise it.

North Dublin Bay SAC

This site covers the inner part of north Dublin Bay, the seaward boundary extending from the Bull Wall lighthouse across to the Martello Tower at Howth Head. The North is the focal point of this site.

The site is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) selected for the following habitats and/or species listed on Annex I / II of the E.U. Habitats Directive:

Tidal Mudflats and Sandflats, Annual Vegetation of Drift Lines, Salicornia Mud, Atlantic Salt Meadows , Mediterranean Salt Meadows, Embryonic Shifting Dunes, Marram Dunes (White Dunes), Fixed Dunes (Grey Dunes)* , Humid Dune Slacks and Petalwort (Petalophyllum ralfsii)

The Conservation Objectives of the North Dublin Bay SAC are2

 To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide in North Dublin Bay SAC  To restore the favourable conservation condition of Annual vegetation of drift lines in North Dublin

2 NPWS (2013) Conservation Objectives: North Dublin Bay SAC 000206. Version 1. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Bay SAC  To restore the favourable conservation condition of Salicornia and other annuals colonizing mud and sand in North Dublin Bay SAC  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-  Puccinellietalia maritimae) in North Dublin Bay SAC  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Mediterranean salt meadows (Juncetalia maritimi) in North Dublin Bay SAC  To restore the favourable conservation condition of Embryonic shifting dunes in North Dublin Bay SAC  To restore the favourable conservation condition of Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ('white dunes') in North Dublin Bay SAC  To restore the favourable conservation condition of Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation ('grey dunes') in North Dublin Bay SAC,  To restore the favourable conservation condition of Humid dune slacks in North Dublin Bay SAC  To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Petalwort in North Dublin Bay SAC,

Description of the project or plan The works on the foreshore involve the installation of a 200mm diameter steel pipeline, length 26m, under the bed of the Tolka River, directly downstream of the John McCormack Bridge in East Wall, Dublin 1. The pipeline will have a 12.7mm wall thickness with external coatings to protect the pipe from corrosion. Included with the pipeline will be associated communications cabling and external leak sensing ducting.

The works will be completed using trenchless technology with the drilling commencing from a drive pit on the southern side of the river to a reception pit on the northern side of the river. Both the Launch and reception pits are above the HWM and therefore not on state foreshore. The pipe will have a minimum of two meters cover beneath the bed of the river.

Three types of leak detection will be applied on this pipeline:  Visual inspection - Fortnightly inspections will be carried out on the pipeline route.  Computational model based leak detection - the leak detection systems will be chosen from specialist leak detection vendors with a significant installed base and proven track record on similar fuel product pipelines in Europe and particularly the UK.  External leak sensing Sensitive environments will additionally have external leak detection. This will comprise a slotted duct installed in the pipeline trench with a sensing cable installed in the duct. The duct will have 0.5mm wide slots to prevent it filling with silt. The Tolka river crossing is identified for this protection. A dedicated fibre optic communications cable will be installed in ducts in the pipeline trench and will connect both ends of the pipeline from the Port to the Airport. This is required in order to facilitate high speed communications between the pumping and receiving station for the leak detection system. The fibre optic cable will also have a secondary function where if interfered with (third party activity etc.), it will cause shutdown of the pipeline. For the river crossing, the cable ducting comprising 3 No. 40mm HDPE ducts will be attached to the pipe prior to installation.

The location and details of the works on the foreshore is shown in the following Drawings submitted by the applicant  Drawing No. 0362-D-03-G-0011, Rev 1 “Foreshore Lease / Licence Map” dated 13th September 2016  Drawing No. 0362-D-03-G-0012 “Development Map” dated 13th September 2016  Drawing No. 0362-D-07-C-0001 “Tolka River Crossing”, Rev 3, dated 15th September 2016

The total area of foreshore involved is 72m2 and it is anticipated that the works on the foreshore will take approximately 8 weeks to complete.

Is the project or plan directly connected No. with or necessary to the management of the site (provide details)?

Are there other projects or plans that together with the project or plan being assessed could affect the site (provide No details)?

Describe how the project or plan (alone The works could potentially; or in combination) is likely to affect the  impact on macro-invertebrate communities in Natura 2000 site. estuarine environments as a result of the installation  disturb and displace bird species due to construction noise  introduce pollutants into the water column during the works

Explain why these effects are not considered significant. As no works will take place within a Natura 2000 site there will be no direct impact on any habitat or species. There will be no loss of habitat and habitat or species fragmentation will not occur.

Given the fact that trenchless techniques will be used the potential significant indirect impacts on downstream designated sites due to any potential contamination during construction will be very slight and temporary in nature

As the pipeline will be will be installed at a minimum depth of 2m below the bed of the river there will be no impacts on the SAC or SPA post installation.

It is intended that construction works on the foreshore will take place during the period from May to September thus disturbance due to construction noise to wintering birds e.g. Brent goose will be avoided.

The works on the foreshore could lead to temporary disturbance of other bird species of conservation value. It is considered, however, that given the availability of alternative feeding areas with the Dublin Bay area ,and the existing high levels of noise at the works site, these impacts are likely to be slight, and are not expected to have a significant impact on the conservation objectives of the SPA.

On the basis of the above and subject to the full implementation of the mitigation measures set out in Section 4 of the NIS submitted by the applicant it is it is concluded that there are not likely to be significant effects as a result of the installation of an aviation fuel pipeline across the River Tolka using trenchless technology on the Conservation Objectives of either the North Dublin Bay SAC or the South Dublin Bay and River Tolka SPA

Who carried out the assessment? Marine Institute, on behalf of the MLVC, 09 January 2017