Screening for Appropriate Assessment Proposed Fenit Diving Board Project
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Screening for Appropriate Assessment Proposed Fenit Diving Board Project 19322-6001-C Screening for Appropriate Assessment March 2020 ISSUE FORM Project number 19322 Document number 6001 Document revision C Document title Screening for Appropriate Assessment – Proposed Fenit Diving Board Project Document status Final Document prepared by FMk (MWP 2020-03-21) Document checked by CoN (MWP 2020-03-24) i 19322-6001-C Screening for Appropriate Assessment March 2020 Table of contents 1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ............................................................................................ 1 2 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 2 2.1 STATEMENT OF AUTHORITY .............................................................................................. 2 2.2 Purpose of Assessment ..................................................................................................... 2 2.3 Legislative context ............................................................................................................ 2 2.4 Stages of Appropriate Assessment..................................................................................... 2 3 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ................................................................................... 3 3.1 Desk Study ........................................................................................................................ 3 4 SCREENING FOR APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT ............................................................. 3 4.1 Management of European sites ......................................................................................... 3 4.2 Description of Plan/Project ............................................................................................... 4 4.2.1 Brief Project Description ....................................................................................................................... 4 4.2.2 Site Location .......................................................................................................................................... 4 4.2.3 Site Description ..................................................................................................................................... 4 4.2.4 Characteristics of the Project ................................................................................................................ 9 4.2.5 Identification of Other Projects or Plans or Activities ......................................................................... 11 4.3 Identification of European Sites ....................................................................................... 12 4.3.1 Zone of Impact Influence .................................................................................................................... 12 4.3.2 Identification of European Site........................................................................................................... 13 4.3.3 Characteristics of European Sites ........................................................................................................ 15 4.3.4 Conservation Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 18 4.4 Identification of Potential Impacts ................................................................................... 19 4.5 Assessment of Significance of Potential Impacts .............................................................. 19 4.5.1 Natura 2000 sites outside the zone of potential impact influence ..................................................... 20 4.5.2 European sites within the zone of potential impact influence ........................................................... 23 4.5.3 Water Quality and Resource ............................................................................................................... 23 4.5.4 Habitat Loss/Habitat Alteration .......................................................................................................... 24 4.5.5 Disturbance and/or Displacement of Species ..................................................................................... 24 4.5.6 Habitat or Species Fragmentation....................................................................................................... 25 4.5.7 Cumulative/In-combination Impacts .................................................................................................. 25 4.6 Conclusion of Screening Stage ......................................................................................... 26 5 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................ 28 ii 19322-6001-C Screening for Appropriate Assessment March 2020 TABLES Table 1. List of planning application granted by Kerry County Council in Fenit Without ..................... 12 Table 2: European sites within 15km radius of proposal site ............................................................... 13 Table 3: European sites with qualifying features of conservation interest ......................................... 15 Table 4: European sites identified as being outside the zone of potential impact influence............... 21 FIGURES Figure 1: Site Location ............................................................................................................................. 6 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Stages of Appropriate Assessment iii 19322-6001-C Screening for Appropriate Assessment March 2020 1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS Project Title Screening for Appropriate Assessment for proposed Fenit Diving Board Project Project Proponent Fenit Development Association Project Location Fenit Bathing Slips, Fenit Without, Fenit, Co. Kerry Screening for The Screening for Appropriate Assessment is undertaken to determine the Appropriate potential for likely significant effects of the proposed works, individually, or in Assessment combination with other plans or projects, in view of the conservation objectives of the site on a European Site (Natura 2000 Site). Conclusion It can be concluded, on the basis of objective scientific information, and in light of the Conservation Objectives of relevant European Sites (Natura 2000 sites) listed below, that the proposed works, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, will not likely have significant effects on the following European sites. These European Sites include: Slieve Mish Mountains (002185) Mount Brandon SAC (000375) Ballyseedy Wood SAC (002112) Castlemaine Harbour SAC (000343) Castlemaine Harbour SPA (004029) Dingle Peninsula SPA (004153) Kerry Head SPA (004189) Magharee Islands SAC (002261) Magharee Islands SPA (004125) Lower River Shannon SAC (002165) It has been concluded with regard to the proposed works, that significant effects cannot be ruled out at this stage, on the following European Sites: Akeragh, Banna and Barrow Harbour SAC (000332) Tralee Bay and Magharees Peninsula, West to Cloghane SAC (002070) Tralee Bay Complex SPA (004188) 1 19322-6001-C Screening for Appropriate Assessment March 2020 2 INTRODUCTION Fenit Development Association (the applicant) is applying for planning permission to develop diving boards with all associated services and site works at Fenit Without, Fenit, Co. Kerry. Malachy Walsh and Partners are Environmental and Engineering Consultants on this project and the Appropriate Assessment Screening has been compiled by Malachy Walsh and Partners on behalf of the applicant. 2.1 STATEMENT OF AUTHORITY This document has been prepared by Fiona McKenna and reviewed by Caoimhin O’Neill, both Ecologists with Malachy Walsh and Partners. Fiona McKenna is an Ecologist with Malachy Walsh and Partners. She has completed a number of Screenings for Appropriate Assessments and Natura Impact Statements for various projects, ranging from proposed remedial works at bridges, to proposed windfarm developments. Caoimhin O’Neill is a Senior Ecologist with Malachy Walsh and Partners. He has over seven years experience and has completed numerous Natura Impact Statements, as well as other Ecological Impacts Assessments, for a wide variety of projects. 2.2 PURPOSE OF ASSESSMENT This screening for Appropriate Assessment has been undertaken to determine whether the proposed project, individually or in combination with other plans and projects, are likely to have a significant effect on any European site (i.e. Natura 2000 Sites), in view of the site’s conservation objectives. 2.3 LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT The Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) seeks to conserve natural habitats and wild fauna and flora by the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) seeks to protect birds of special importance by the designation of Special Protected Areas (SPAs). It is the responsibility of each Member State to designate SPAs and SACs, both of which will form part of Natura 2000, a network of protected sites throughout the European Community. The Habitats Directive has been transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. The requirement for Appropriate Assessment of the implications of plans and projects on the Natura 2000 network of sites comes from the Habitats Directive (Article 6(3)). Under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (amended) (Section 177U), a Local Authority is required to carry out a Screening for Appropriate Assessment of a