Natura Impact Statement - Provision of Information for Appropriate Assessment
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NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT - PROVISION OF INFORMATION FOR APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT FOR PROPOSED EXTENSION TO AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY IDA BUSINESS PARK, BELVIEW, CO. KILKENNY PRODUCED FOR PM GROUP For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Rev. Status Author Reviewed By Approved By Issue Date D02 Final CC AC AC 10.03.2017 Scott Cawley, College House, 71-73 Rock Road, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, A94 F9X9 Tel+353(1)676-9815 Fax +353(1) 676-9816 EPA Export 19-01-2018:03:53:32 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 2 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 1 2.1 Authors’ Qualifications & Expertise ................................................................................................ 1 2.2 Guidance ........................................................................................................................................ 2 2.3 Site Surveys and Desktop Study ...................................................................................................... 2 2.4 AA Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 3 3 Overview of Proposed Development and its Receiving Environment ..................................... 4 3.1 Description of Subject Lands........................................................................................................... 4 3.2 Description of Receiving Environment for the Proposed Development .......................................... 4 3.3 Location of European sites and the Distribution of Habitats and Species of Interest within the Vicinity of the Proposed Development Site ....................................................................................................... 5 3.4 Description of the Proposed Development ..................................................................................... 5 4 Zone of Influence and Relevant European Sites .................................................................... 6 4.1.1 Zone of Influence of the Proposed Development .................................................................... 6 4.2 Relevant European Sites ................................................................................................................. 7 4.3 Conclusions on Information Provided for Stage One Screening Assessment ................................. 15 5 Provision of Information for Appropriate Assessment ........................................................ 15 5.1 Summary of European Sites Relevant to the Appropriate Assessment.......................................... 15 5.1.1 Lower River Suir SAC – Condition of site and management ................................................... 15 5.1.2 River Barrow and River Nore SAC – Condition of site and management ............................... 16 5.1.3 Qualifying Interests Potentially Exposed to Risk .................................................................... 16 5.2 Conservation Objectives ................................ For inspection purposes................................ only. ............................................... 16 Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. 5.2.1 [1029] Freshwater Pearl Mussel Margaritifera margaritifera ............................................... 17 5.2.2 [1095] Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus, [1096] Brook Lamprey Lampetra planeri, and [1099] River Lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis. .......................................................................................................... 18 5.2.3 [1103] Twaite Shad Alosa fallax ............................................................................................. 19 5.2.4 [1106] Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar ....................................................................................... 19 5.2.5 [1355] Otter Lutra lutra .......................................................................................................... 20 5.2.6 [1990] Nore Freshwater Pearl Mussel Margaritifera durrovensis ......................................... 20 6 Appraisal of Potential Impacts on European Sites ............................................................... 21 6.1 Potential Impacts on European Sites ............................................................................................ 21 6.1.1 Potential Impact 1: Water quality impacts resulting sediment run-off/discharge or an accidental pollution incident to onsite drains .......................................................................................... 22 6.2 Mitigation Measures to Ensure an Absence of Adverse Effects on the Integrity of European Sites23 6.2.1 Mitigation Measures to Address Potential for Impacts to Water Quality ............................. 23 6.3 6Potential Effects of the Proposed Development In-combination with other Potential Sources ... 24 7 Conclusions on the Appropriate Assessment Process .......................................................... 25 Belview Glanbia Extension Natura Impact Statement IDA Business Park, Belview, Co. Kilkenny 2 PM Group EPA Export 19-01-2018:03:53:32 8 References ........................................................................................................................ 27 Appendix 1 - Qualifying Interests, Conservation Status and Conditions Underpinning Site Integrity for relevant European Sites ..................................................................................................... 29 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Analysis of European Sites within the ZoI of the Proposed Development (Information downloaded from www.npws.ie in February 2017. Relevant European Sites are indicated in grey rows; relevant European Sites are those where a relevant source-pathway-receptor link exists................................................................................................................................. 10 Table 2: Indicative attributes and targets for freshwater pearl mussel in the Lower River Suir SAC and the River Barrow and River Nore SAC ................................................................................. 17 Table 3: Indicative attributes and targets for sea, brook and river lamprey in the Lower River Suir SAC and the River Barrow and River Nore SAC. ......................................................................... 18 Table 4: Indicative attributes and targets for twaite shad in the Lower River Suir SAC and the River Barrow and River Nore SAC. ............................................................................................... 19 Table 5: Indicative attributes and targets for Atlantic salmon in the Lower River Suir SAC and the River Barrow and River Nore SAC. ............................................................................................... 19 Table 6: Indicative attributes and targets for otter in the Lower River Suir SAC and the River Barrow and River Nore SAC. ................................................................................................................. 20 Table 7: Indicative attributes and targets for Nore Freshwater Pearl Mussel in the River Barrow and River Nore SAC. ................................................................................................................. 21 LIST OF FIGURES For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Figure 1. Overview of European sites located within 15km of Proposed Development. .......................... 9 Belview Glanbia Extension Natura Impact Statement IDA Business Park, Belview, Co. Kilkenny 3 PM Group EPA Export 19-01-2018:03:53:32 1 Introduction This report, which contains information to enable the competent authority (in this instance Kilkenny County Council) to undertake an Appropriate Assessment (AA) in respect of a proposed extension to an industrial facility (“the proposed development”), at the IDA Business Park, Belview, Co. Kilkenny, was prepared by Scott Cawley Ltd. on behalf of PM Group. Article 6(3) of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (as amended) (hereafter ‘the Habitats Directive’) requires that, any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of a European site, but likely to have a significant effect thereon, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, shall be subject to AA of its implications for the site in view of the site's conservation objectives. For the purposes of the application for permission for the proposed development, the requirements of Article 6(3) have been transposed into Irish law by the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, as amended. The possibility of there being a significant effect on any Natura 2000 sites (hereafter ‘European sites’1) generates the need for an AA to be carried out by the relevant competent authority for the purposes of Article 6(3). Accordingly, an AA in respect of an application for consent for proposed development must be carried out by the competent authority (in this case, Kilkenny County Council) in order to assess, in view of best scientific knowledge, if the proposed development, individually or in combination with other plans or projects is likely to have a significant effect on any European site. 2 Methodology 2.1 Authors’ Qualifications