Application for Preliminary Sta-2
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WORK IN PROGRESS 14 February 2011 Project Title WORK IN PROGRESSArena House, Arena Road, N14-N15 TO A5 LINK WORK IN PROGRESS 14 February 2011 14 February 2011 Roughan & Sandyford, Dublin 18. Project Title Tel : +353 1 294 0800 Project Title Drawing Title No. Revision Date By Chk'd App'd Fax : +353 1 294 0820 Arena House, Arena Road, N14-N15 TO A5 LINKArena House, Arena Road, O'DonovanN14-N15 TO A5 LINK Stage App'd PLAN AND ELEVATION Roughan & Sandyford, Dublin 18.Roughan & Sandyford, DublinDate 18. e-mail : [email protected] Tel : +353 1 294 0800PRELIMINARY Tel : +353 1 294 0800 www.roughanodonovan.com Drawing Title Consulting Engineers No. Revision Date By Chk'd App'd Fax : +353 1 294 0820APPROVAL Drawing Title No. Revision Date By Chk'd App'd Fax : +353 1 294 0820 Drawn: Job No: Drawing No: Rev: Stage Date App'd O'Donovan e-mail : [email protected] PLAN AND ELEVATION GM 10.152 Stage Date App'd O'Donovan e-mail : [email protected] PLAN AND ELEVATION PRELIMINARY www.roughanodonovan.com PRELIMINARY Consulting Engineers CONSTRUCTION Designed: Checked: Approved: Status: Scale: Date: APPROVAL www.roughanodonovan.com PD MB SMG EIS AS SHOWN JAN 11 Figure 3.5 Consulting EngineersDrawn: Job No: Drawing No: Rev: (A1) TENDER APPROVAL GM 10.152 Drawn: Job No: Drawing No: Rev: CONSTRUCTION TENDER GM 10.152 Feb 14, 2011 - 4:28pm Drawing Location: L:\acaddwg\2010\10152\Drgs\EIS\FigureDesigned: PD Checked: MB Approved: SMG Status:3.5.dwg EIS Scale: AS SHOWN Date: JAN 11 Figure 3.5 DO NOT SCALE USE FIGURED DIMENSIONS ONLY CONSTRUCTION (A1) Designed: PD Checked: MB Approved: SMG Status: EIS Scale: AS SHOWN Date: JAN 11 Figure 3.5 Feb 14, 2011 - 4:28pm Drawing Location: L:\acaddwg\2010\10152\Drgs\EIS\Figure 3.5.dwg DO NOT SCALE USE FIGURED DIMENSIONS ONLY (A1) Feb 14, 2011 - 4:28pm Drawing Location: L:\acaddwg\2010\10152\Drgs\EIS\Figure 3.5.dwg DO NOT SCALE USE FIGURED DIMENSIONS ONLY Roughan & O‟Donovan N14/N15 to A5 Link Consulting Engineers Natura Impact Statement/Habitats Regulations Assessment N14 / N15 to A5 Link NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT / HABITATS REGULATIONS ASSESSMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The Requirement for an Assessment under Article 6 .................................................... 1 1.2 The Aim of this Report .................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Background to the Project ............................................................................................. 1 2.0 The Appropriate Assessment Process ........................................................... 2 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Stages of Article 6 Assessment ..................................................................................... 2 3.0 Description of the Project ................................................................................ 3 4.0 The Ecological Impact Assessment ................................................................ 5 5.0 Natura 2000 Sites .............................................................................................. 6 5.1 Designated Sites in the Vicinity of the Project ............................................................... 6 5.2 Characteristics of the Designated Sites ......................................................................... 7 6.0 Screening Methodology ................................................................................... 9 6.1 Consideration of Significance ........................................................................................ 9 6.2 Likelihood and Significance of Effects ........................................................................... 9 6.3 Surveys and Consultation ........................................................................................... 10 7.0 Assessment of Potential Impacts .................................................................. 10 7.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 10 7.2 Qualifying Habitats ..................................................................................................... 10 7.3 Qualifying Species ..................................................................................................... 12 7.4 Non-qualifying / Unlisted Habitats and Species .......................................................... 14 7.5 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................... 15 8.0 Specific Design Mitigation Measures ............................................................ 15 9.0 Discussion and Conclusion ........................................................................... 18 Appendix 1 River Finn cSAC Site Synopsis and Natura 2000 Standard Data Form Appendix 2 River Foyle and Tributaries SAC Natura 2000 Standard Data Form Ref: 10.152 July 2011 Page ii Roughan & O‟Donovan N14/N15 to A5 Link Consulting Engineers Natura Impact Statement/Habitats Regulations Assessment 1.0 Introduction This report has been prepared by Roughan & O‟Donovan Consulting Engineers, in conjunction with Paul Murphy of EirEco Environmental Consultants, on behalf of Donegal County Council to determine the potential effects, if any, of the proposed N14 / N15 to A5 Link on sites with European conservation designations (i.e. Natura 2000 sites). It will be submitted alongside the Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Statement to support the planning application for the project in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. 1.1 The Requirement for an Assessment under Article 6 The requirement for appropriate assessment is set out in the EU Habitats Directive (92/34/EEC) in Article 6.3 which states: “Any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the [Natura 2000] site but likely to have a significant effect thereon, either individually or in combination with other plans and projects, shall be subjected to appropriate assessment of its implications for the site in view of the site’s conservation objectives.” 1.2 The Aim of this Report This Natura Impact Statement / Habitats Regulations Assessment (NIS/HRA) has been prepared in accordance with current guidance and provides an ecological impact assessment for the proposed N14 / N15 to A5 Link to assist the Competent Authority in completing the Appropriate Assessment required by Article 6.3 of the EU Habitats Directive. The NIS/HRA provides the information required in order to establish whether or not the proposed development is likely to have a significant impact on the Natura sites in the context of their conservation objectives and specifically on the habitats and species for which the Natura 2000 sites have been designated. The NIS/HRA considers the potential impact on the Natura 2000 sites in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. 1.3 Background to the Project County Donegal is situated in the north-west of the Republic of Ireland. The National Primary Roads form the main links between the County and the rest of the Republic, the N15 to the south-west and the N14 to the south-east of Ireland. The N14 link, however, passes through Northern Ireland where it continues as the A5 from Strabane until the border is crossed again at Aughnacloy where it becomes the N2 National Primary Road. The Roads Service in Northern Ireland has been developing the planning and design of the A5 Western Transport Corridor (A5 WTC). This 86km dual carriageway scheme runs from Aughnacloy in the south to Derry in the north and includes a western bypass of Strabane. A Preferred Route Corridor has been selected and the statutory orders and environmental impact assessment for this scheme were published in November 2010. The N14/N15 to A5 Link involves the design of a road linking the proposed A5 WTC in Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland to the existing N15 in County Donegal. The Scheme includes a significant structure crossing the River Finn and its associated floodplain (refer to Figures 3.1 to 3.9, EIS Volume 2, ‘Scheme Location’). The River Finn is a Ref: 10.152 July 2011 Page 1 Roughan & O‟Donovan N14/N15 to A5 Link Consulting Engineers Natura Impact Statement/Habitats Regulations Assessment candidate Special Area of Conservation (and forms part of the River Foyle and Tributaries Special Area of Conservation in Northern Ireland). 2.0 The Appropriate Assessment Process 2.1 Introduction As set out in 1.1 above, Article 6(3) of the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) defines the requirement for Appropriate Assessment of certain plans and projects. In order to inform the requirements of this NIS/HRA the following guidance documents have been referred to: National Roads Authority (Rev. 2, 2009). Guidelines for Assessment of Ecological Impacts on National Road Schemes. Appropriate Assessment of Plans and Projects in Ireland – Guidance for Planning Authorities (NPWS 2009, Revised February 2010); The Habitats Regulations: A Guide for Competent Authorities (EHSNI, 2002) EU Guidance document on Article 6(4) of the „Habitats Directive‟ 92/43/EEC (2007); and Assessment of plans and projects significantly affecting Natura 2000 sites. Methodological guidance on the provisions of Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC (2002). In terms of what is required to allow the competent authority to