South Western CFRAM Study
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South Western CFRAM Study SEA Environmental Report - Non Technical Summary UoM 22 July 2017 Office of Public Works South Western CFRAM Study 296235 IWE CCX ES011 A P:\Cork\DESIGN\projects\296235, SWRBD CFRAM Study\Reports\Strategic Environmental Assessment\Non Technical July 2017 SEA Environmental Report - Non Technical South Western CFRAM Study Summary UoM 22 SEA Environmental Report - Non Technical Summary UoM 22 July 2017 Office of Public Works Trim, Co. Meath Mott MacDonald, South Block, Rockfield, Dundrum, Dublin 16, Ireland T +353 (0)1 2916 700 F +353 (0)1 2916 747 W www.mottmac.com South Westem RBD CFRAM StudY .'rn SEA Environmental Report - Non Technical Summary UoM 22 Mott MocDonqld lssue and revision record Revlrlon Date Orlglnator Gheckor Deecrlptlon A 07t0712016 HL RH For lssue ûr\ lnlormatlon classl Etandard This document is issued for the party which commlssioned it We accept no responslbillty for the consequences of this and for specific purpos€s connected wlth the above'captloned document belng relled upon by any other party, or being used proJect only. lt should not be relied upon by any other party or for any other purpose, or containing any error or omigsion used for any other purpose. which is due to an error or omission in data supplied to us by other partl6s. This document contains confldentlal information and proprietary intellectual property. lt should not be shown to other partles without consent from us and from the party which commissloned it. 296235llWElCCX/8S01 1/A July 2017 p:\Cork\DESIGN\projects\296235, SWRBD CFRAM Study\Reports\Strategic Environmêntal Assêssment\Non Technical S ummary\UoM 22-Environmental Report-NT-REVA.docx South Western RBD CFRAM Study SEA Environmental Report - Non Technical Summary UoM 22 Contents Chapter Title Page 1 Introduction 1 2 Stakeholder and Public Consultation 4 3 Key Environmental Issues in UoM 22 6 4 Strategic Environmental Objectives 8 5 Assessment of Alternatives 11 6 Assessment of South West FRMP for UoM 22 12 7 Mitigation and Monitoring 17 8 Conclusions 18 296235/IWE/CCX/ES011/A July 2017 P:\Cork\DESIGN\projects\296235, SWRBD CFRAM Study\Reports\Strategic Environmental Assessment\Non Technical Summary\UoM 22_Environmental Report_NT_REVA.docx South Western RBD CFRAM Study SEA Environmental Report - Non Technical Summary UoM 22 296235/IWE/CCX/ES011/A July 2017 P:\Cork\DESIGN\projects\296235, SWRBD CFRAM Study\Reports\Strategic Environmental Assessment\Non Technical i Summary\UoM 22_Environmental Report_NT_REVA.docx South Western RBD CFRAM Study SEA Environmental Report - Non Technical Summary UoM 22 1 Introduction 1.1 Introduction This Non-Technical Summary (NTS) summarises the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report for the Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) for Unit of Management (UoM) 22. The Plan has been prepared on behalf of the Office of Public Works (OPW) and their partners and sets out a programme of prioritised studies, actions and works (including both structural and non-structural measures) to manage predicted flood risk in catchments within UoM 22 in the short to long-term. The purpose of the Environmental Report is to identify, evaluate and describe the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) for UoM 22. Once the environmental effects have been identified, then mitigation measures are developed in tandem with an effective monitoring programme to ensure that the potential environmental impacts are minimised. The Environmental Report also specifically identifies the impacts of the Plan on sites of international and national nature conservation importance within UoM 22. A “Habitats Directive Assessment” (HDA) was undertaken in tandem with the SEA process and the outcomes of this assessment are included in the overall SEA appraisal presented in this Environmental Report 1.2 Flood Risk Management Plan for Unit of Management (UoM) 22 For the purpose of delivering on the components of the National Flood Policy and on the requirements of the European Union Floods Directive, the OPW, in conjunction with local authorities and stakeholders, is conducting a number of Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Studies. These studies are the core activity from which medium to long-term strategies for the reduction and management of flood risk in Ireland will be achieved. The overarching objectives of the CFRAM Studies are to: ¡ Identify and map the existing and potential future flood hazard within the study area; ¡ Assess and map the existing and potential future flood risk within the study area; ¡ Identify viable structural and non-structural options and measures for the effective and sustainable management of flood risk within the study area; ¡ Prepare Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) setting out recommendations to manage the existing flood risk and also the potential future flood risk which may increase due to climate change, development, and other pressures that may arise in the future. FRMPs will set out policies, strategies, measures and actions that should be pursued by the relevant bodies (including the OPW, Local Authorities and other Stakeholders), to achieve the most cost-effective and sustainable management of existing and potential future flood risk within the study area, taking account of environmental plans, objectives and legislative requirements and other statutory plans and requirements1. 1 The Floods Directive requires that Flood Risk Management Plans should take into account the particular characteristics of the areas they cover and provide for tailored solutions according to the needs and priorities of those areas, whilst promoting the achievement of environmental objectives laid down in Community legislation. 1 296235/IWE/CCX/ES011/A July 2017 P:\Cork\DESIGN\projects\296235, SWRBD CFRAM Study\Reports\Strategic Environmental Assessment\Non Technical Summary\UoM 22_Environmental Report_NT_REVA.docx South Western RBD CFRAM Study SEA Environmental Report - Non Technical Summary UoM 22 The OPW has commissioned a CFRAM study for each of Ireland’s seven River Basin Districts (RBDs)2. Unit of Management 22 is located within the South Western River Basin District (SWRBD) which covers an area of approximately 11,160 km2. The study area of the SWRBD includes most of county Cork, large parts of counties Kerry and Waterford along with small parts of the counties of Tipperary and Limerick. The study area contains over 1,800 km of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean and the Celtic Sea. (Refer to Figure 1.1) In total, six Local Authorities administer the regions within the SWRBD: Cork County Council, Cork City Council, Kerry County Council, Waterford City and County Council, Tipperary County Council and Limerick City and County Council. Much of the SWRBD is rural and the predominant land usage is agriculture. Figure 1.1: South Western River Basin District (SWRBD) 2 River Basin Districts (RBDs) are the main units for the management of river basins and have been delineated by Member States under Article 3 of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). RBDs are areas of land and sea, made up of one or more neighbouring river basins together with their associated groundwaters and coastal waters. 2 296235/IWE/CCX/ES011/A July 2017 P:\Cork\DESIGN\projects\296235, SWRBD CFRAM Study\Reports\Strategic Environmental Assessment\Non Technical Summary\UoM 22_Environmental Report_NT_REVA.docx South Western RBD CFRAM Study SEA Environmental Report - Non Technical Summary UoM 22 The Laune / Maine / Dingle Bay Catchment UoM covers an area of approximately 2,031km 2. The large majority of the area is in County Kerry with parts in County Cork. The main rivers within UoM 22 are the Maine, the Flesk and the Laune. UoM 22 also has a number of large lakes including Lough Leane and Muckross Lake (Refer to Figure 1.2). Six Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) have been identified within UoM 22 (Refer to Table 1.2). Associated with the AFA’s is over 134km of high and medium priority watercourses. Table 1.2: AFAs within Unit of Management 22 UoM Name Unique ID Fluvial Coastal County Easting Northing 22 Castleisland 220323 Yes No Kerry 97750 110000 22 Dingle 220327 Yes Yes Kerry 44500 101000 22 Glenflesk 225502 Yes No Kerry 106621 85316 22 Killarney 220337 Yes No Kerry 97000 90500 22 Milltown 220339 Yes No Kerry 82500 101000 22 Portmagee 220340 No Yes Kerry 36500 73000 Figure 1.2: Laune / Maine / Dingle Bay Catchment Unit of Management (UoM 22) The AFA Portmagee was ruled out of the optioneering process in the Flood Risk Management Plan, therefore for the purpose of this SEA Environmental Report, the viable structural options for Castleisland, Dingle, Glenflesk, Killarney and Milltown AFA’s are considered. 3 296235/IWE/CCX/ES011/A July 2017 P:\Cork\DESIGN\projects\296235, SWRBD CFRAM Study\Reports\Strategic Environmental Assessment\Non Technical Summary\UoM 22_Environmental Report_NT_REVA.docx South Western RBD CFRAM Study SEA Environmental Report - Non Technical Summary UoM 22 2 Stakeholder and Public Consultation The SEA Directive (2001/42/EC) requires that consultation is carried out with Environmental Authorities and with members of the public at various stages in the SEA process. The intention of this consultation process is to enhance transparency in the decision-making process, to ensure that the relevant authorities and the public are informed and are provided with an early opportunity to express their opinion, and to ensure that the information used in the assessment is comprehensive and reliable. Early consultation and the open delivery of information on the assessment will avoid unnecessary delays in the decision-making process at later stages which may arise due to public opposition. Article 5(4) of the SEA Directive requires that Environmental Authorities (designated by each Member State) be consulted when deciding on the scope and level of detail of the information which must be included in the Environmental Report i.e. consultation is statutorily required at this Scoping Stage of the SEA process.