Geology, Hydrogeology, Ground Conditions and Contaminated Land
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PORTISHEAD BRANCH LI NE PRELIMINARY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMAT I O N R E P O R T V O L U M E 2 CHAPTER 10 Geology, Hydrogeology, Ground Conditions and Contaminated Land Table of Contents Section Page 10 Geology, Hydrogeology, Ground Conditions, and Contaminated Land .......................... 10-1 10.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 10-1 10.2 Legal and Policy Framework .................................................................................... 10-2 10.3 Methodology............................................................................................................ 10-4 10.4 Baseline, Future Conditions and Value of Resource .............................................. 10-11 10.5 Measures Adopted as Part of the DCO Scheme .................................................... 10-16 10.6 Assessment of Effects ............................................................................................ 10-17 10.7 Mitigation and Residual Effects ............................................................................. 10-18 10.8 Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................. 10-18 10.9 Limitations Encountered in Compiling the PEI Report........................................... 10-19 10.10 Summary ................................................................................................................ 10-19 10.11 References ............................................................................................................. 10-21 10.12 Abbreviations ......................................................................................................... 10-21 Tables Table 10-1: Summary of relevant NPSNN advice regarding ground conditions Table 10-2: Summary of local policy Table 10-3: Summary of consultation responses Table 10-4: Comparison of consequence against probability and related categorisation of risks Table 10-5: Significance of effect criteria – ground conditions and contaminated land risk Table 10-6: The geological sequence underlying the DCO Scheme Table 10-7: Potential impacts, mitigation and residual impacts of the DCO Scheme on geology, hydrogeology, ground conditions and contaminated land Figures See Volume 3 Book of Figures Figure 10-1: Ground conditions Appendices Appendix 10.1: Risk classifications PORTISHEAD BRANCH LINE PRELIMINARY CHAPTER 10 - GEOLOGY, HYDROGEOLOGY, GROUND CONDITIONS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION REPORT, VOL. 2 CONTAMINATED LAND CHAPTER 10 10 Geology, Hydrogeology, Ground Conditions, and Contaminated Land 10.1 Introduction The Portishead Branch Line (MetroWest Phase 1) DCO Scheme (“the DCO Scheme”) has the potential to give rise to likely significant effects on geology, hydrogeology, ground conditions and contaminated land. This chapter: • describes the relevant legal and policy framework which informs the undertaking of the assessment; • describes the methodology used for the identification and assessment of likely significant geology, hydrogeology, ground conditions and contaminated land effects in the Preliminary Environmental Information Report ("PEI Report"); • describes the geology, hydrogeology, ground conditions and contaminated land baseline having regard to existing information; • describes the measures that have been adopted as part of the DCO Scheme; • identifies and assesses the likely significant environmental effects that could result from the DCO Scheme during construction, operation and decommissioning phases; • mitigation of likely significant effects and assesses those residual effects that will result; • identifies the limitations encountered in compiling the PEI Report; and • provides a summary of the residual effects for the mitigated DCO Scheme. This chapter assesses the potential for impacts from the construction of the DCO Scheme on the underlying geology and associated groundwaters, and also any potential for impacts arising from ground conditions, such as the presence of contamination or mineral workings. Any potential for impacts on geological conservation sites present within the footprint of the DCO Scheme are also considered. The National Policy Statement for National Networks (see paragraph 10.2.3) requires the applicant to assess and address significant land contamination issues as part of the development. It therefore follows that post construction, there will unlikely to be any significant effects relating to ground conditions. Paragraph 3.28 of the Scoping Opinion from the Planning Inspectorate states that the Secretary of State agrees that operational impacts on geology, hydrogeology, ground conditions and contaminated land can be scoped out. It may be possible to re-use waste materials within the DCO Scheme. For example track bed ballast will require replacement and there may be the potential to re-use these old ballasts in the station sites or to form an access road to the side of the railway. This is very much dependent on there being a need for this material and it being suitable for use. Where possible waste materials should be re-used within the DCO Scheme as this reduces waste going to landfill. Waste and material aspects of the DCO Scheme are discussed, to the extent possible at this stage of project design, in Chapter 12 Materials and Waste. This chapter should be read in conjunction with Chapter 4 Description of the Proposed Works. 10-1 CHAPTER 10 - GEOLOGY, HYDROGEOLOGY, GROUND CONDITIONS, AND PORTISHEAD BRANCH LINE PRELIMINARY CONTAMINATED LAND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION REPORT, VOLUME 2 10.2 Legal and Policy Framework EU and National Legislation The protection of groundwaters is provided for at the European level by the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and the Groundwater Directive (2006/118/EC). Together these provide the framework within which much of the national legislation intended to secure the protection of groundwaters is established. National legislation relevant to the DCO Scheme comprises the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Water Resources Act 1991, the Water Act 2003, the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003 and the Groundwater (England and Wales) Regulations 2009. A statutory regime for the identification and remediation of land posing unacceptable risks on human health and the environment is set out in the Environment and Protection Act 1990 Part 2A. National Policy National Policy Statement for National Networks The National Policy Statement for National Networks ("NPSNN") advises on geology and their geomorphological importance, land instability and contaminated land. Table 10-1 below identifies those policies of direct relevance to this assessment and the location where they are considered in the PEI Report. Table 10-1: Summary of relevant NPSNN advice regarding ground conditions Summary of NPS provisions Consideration within the PEI Report Paragraph 5.20 makes reference to sites that are designated Geological and geomorphological sites are for their geology and / or their geomorphological identified within Section 10.4 and the importance. Paragraph 5.21 notes that there is a range of scheme is considered to have very little international and national legislation that can impact on impact upon them as described in Section planning decisions that affect geological conservation issues 10.6. set out in Government Circular: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation – Statutory Obligations and their Impact within the Planning System (ODPM 06/2005). Paragraphs 5.116 to 5.119 consider land instability. A coal mining assessment has been Paragraph 5.117 states that new developments need to be undertaken and the works will be designed appropriate for the location and if land instability is likely to to stabilise existing slopes. Some small scale be an issue the applicant should seek appropriate expert stabilisation such as periodic rock picking advice. Paragraph 5.118 requires the Applicant to assess will be required in the Avon Gorge. This is land instability. Mitigation measures to address land described in the baseline in Section 10.4 instability are identified in Paragraph 5.119. Paragraph 5.168 states that for developments on previously The land-use history of the scheme has been developed land, applicants should ensure that they have documented and ground investigation considered the risk posed by land contamination and how it undertaken to allow the design to allow for is proposed to address this. Reference is made to Model risks posed by land contamination. This is Procedures for Management of Land Contamination (CLR11) described in Section 10.4. (Environment Agency, 2004) 10-2 PORTISHEAD BRANCH LINE PRELIMINARY CHAPTER 10 - GEOLOGY, HYDROGEOLOGY, GROUND CONDITIONS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION REPORT, VOL. 2 CONTAMINATED LAND National Planning Policy Framework The National Planning Policy Framework (“NPPF”) paragraph 109 requires that the planning system contributes to enhancing the local environment by protecting and enhancing geological conservation interests and remediating contaminated land where appropriate. Local Policy A description of local policy relevant to the DCO Scheme is provided in Chapter 6 Planning Framework and an assessment of compliance of the DCO Scheme against policy is to be provided in the Planning Statement to be submitted with the DCO application. Table 10-2 summarises local policy related to ground conditions. Table 10-2: Summary of local policy