Bunkimalta to Nenagh 38 Kv Underground Cable Project Natura Impact Statement
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Lough Ree Power Ash Disposal Facility Screening for Appropriate Assessment Volume 4 - Appendix 6-1 For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. ESB International, Stephen Court, 18/21 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. Phone +353 (0)1 703 8000 www.esbi.ie Copyright © ESB International Limited, all rights reserved. EPA Export 02-06-2018:05:14:11 Derraghan Ash Disposal Facility Development: AA Screening Table of Contents 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Objective of this report 1 1.2 Statement of competence 1 2 Regulatory Context 2 2.1 Appropriate Assessment process 3 3 Methodology 4 3.1 Assessment criteria 4 3.2 Desk review 4 3.3 Potential zone of influence 5 3.4 Consultation 5 3.5 Site visit 6 4 Screening for Appropriate Assessment 7 4.1 Introduction 7 4.2 Description of project 7 4.2.1 Site context 7 4.2.2 Current operation 8 4.2.2.1 Cell Construction 8 4.2.2.2 Disposal Activity at the ADF 8 4.2.3 Future operation 9 4.2.4 Associated Activities 10 For inspection purposes only. 4.2.4.1 ConsentPower of copyright generation owner required for atany otherLough use. Ree Power 10 4.2.4.2 Peat supply from Bord na Móna bogs 11 4.3 Elements of the project with potential for having significant environmental effects 15 5 Description of Natura 2000 Sites 16 6 Assessment of likely effects 13 6.1 Direct impacts 13 6.2 Indirect impacts 13 6.2.1 Derraghan ADF 13 6.2.2 LRP Station 13 6.2.3 Peat Supply to LRP Station 16 6.3 In-combination effects 18 6.4 Screening statement and conclusion 19 Volume 4 - Appendix 6-1 AA Screening ii EPA Export 02-06-2018:05:14:11 Derraghan Ash Disposal Facility Development: AA Screening 1 Introduction 1.1 Objective of this report This report presents the Screening for Appropriate Assessment (AA), also known as Stage 1 AA, which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Article 6(3) of the EU Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC). The Screening relates to the proposed increase in capacity at Derraghan Ash Disposal Facility (ADF), which services Lough Ree Power (LRP), Lanesborough, Co. Longford. A separate Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) has also been prepared, which comprises an assessment of potential impacts to biodiversity arising from the proposed ADF capacity increase. The purpose of this report is to determine if the proposed ADF capacity increase, either alone or in combination with other plans and projects, is likely to have significant effects on any Natura 2000 site(s) in view of the site’s conservation objectives. 1.2 Statement of competence This report was prepared by Geoff Hamilton, Ecologist with ESB International. He has over 10 years’ experience in the fields of ecological assessment, agri- environment scheme design and implementation, rural stakeholder consultation and environmental advocacy. He has been involved in a wide range of infrastructure projects for local authorities and private commercial clients and has carried out a significant number of field surveys to inform Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), AA Screening Reports and Natura Impact Statements (NIS). For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. He has particular experience in the production of ecological reports relating to electricity generation developments such as power stations, wind farms and solar farms. He holds a Master’s degree in Zoology and is a Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). Volume 4 - Appendix 6-1 AA Screening 1 EPA Export 02-06-2018:05:14:11 Derraghan Ash Disposal Facility Development: AA Screening 2 Regulatory Context The EU Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC provides legal protection for habitats and species of European importance through the establishment of a network of designated conservation areas known as the Natura 2000 Network. The Natura 2000 network includes sites designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive and Special Protection Areas (SPA) designated under the EU Birds Directive 79/209/EEC. The Habitats Directive was initially transposed into Irish national law in 1997, with the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, SI 94/1997. These Regulations have since been amended by SI 233/1998 & SI 378/2005. The European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 consolidate the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997 to 2005 and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats)(Control of Recreational Activities) Regulations 2010. The requirements for an Appropriate Assessment are set out under Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC which state: 6(3) Any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site (Natura 2000 sites) but likely to have significant effect thereon, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, shall be subject to Appropriate Assessment of its implications for the site in view of the sites conservation objectives. In the light of the conclusions of the assessment of the implications for the site and subject to the provisions of paragraph 4, the competent national authorities shall agree to the plan or project only after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site concerned and, if appropriate, after having obtained the opinion of the general public. 6(4) If, in spite of a negative assessment of the implications for the site and in the absence of alternative solutions, For inspection a plan purposes or only.project must nevertheless be carried out Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. for imperative reasons of overriding public interest, including those of social or economic nature, the Member State shall take all compensatory measures necessary to ensure that the overall coherence of Natura 2000 is protected. It shall inform the Commission of the compensatory measures adopted. Where the site concerned hosts a priority natural habitat type and/or a priority species the only considerations which may be raised are those relating to human health or public safety, to beneficial consequences of primary importance for the environment or, further to an opinion from the Commission, to other imperative reasons of overriding public interest. Definitions of conservation status, integrity and significance used in this assessment are defined in accordance with ‘Managing Natura 2000 sites: The provisions of Article 6 of the 'Habitats' Directive 92/43/EEC’ (European Commission, 2000). The conservation status of a natural habitat is defined as the sum of the influences acting on a natural habitat and its typical species that may affect its long-term natural distribution, structure and functions as well as the long- term survival of its typical species. Volume 4 - Appendix 6-1 AA Screening 2 EPA Export 02-06-2018:05:14:11 Derraghan Ash Disposal Facility Development: AA Screening The conservation status of a species is defined as the sum of the influences acting on the species concerned that may affect the long-term distribution and abundance of its population. The integrity of a Natura 2000 site is defined as the coherence of the site’s ecological structure and function, across its whole area, or the habitats, complex of habitats and/or populations of species for which the site is or will be classified. Significant effect should be determined in relation to the specific features and environmental conditions of the protected site concerned by the plan or project, taking particular account of the site’s conservation objectives. 2.1 Appropriate Assessment process Key stages in the Appropriate Assessment process are set out below, as per European and Irish Government guidance (EC 2000, EC 2001 and DoEHLG 2009). Stages 1 and 2 relate to Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive and Stages 3 and 4 relate to Article 6(4). The outcome of each successive stage determines if a further stage in the process is required. Stage 1. Screening for Appropriate Assessment The first step in the Screening process is to determine if the plan or project is directly connected to or necessary for the management of a Natura 2000 site. The process then identifies whether a plan or project, either alone or in combination with other plans or projects, is likely to have significant effects on a Natura 2000 site in view of its conservation objectives. Stage 2. Appropriate Assessment This stage considers whether the plan or project, alone or in combination with other projects or plans, will have adverse For inspection effects purposes only.on the integrity of a Natura 2000 site, and Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. includes any mitigation measures necessary to avoid, reduce or offset negative effects. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) must be prepared as part of this stage of the process. The AA is carried out by the competent authority, and is supported by the NIS. Stage 3. Alternative Solutions If Stage 2 of the process concludes that there is likely to be significant effects to a Natura 2000 site, Stage 3 then examines any alternative solutions or options that could enable the plan or project to proceed without adverse effects on the integrity of a Natura 2000 site. Stage 4. Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest (IROPI)/Derogation Stage 4 is the main derogation process of Article 6(4) which examines whether there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest (IROPI) for allowing a plan or project that will have adverse effects on the integrity of a Natura 2000 site to proceed in cases where it has been established that no less damaging alternative solution exists.