Appendix 1 Carrickduff WF Responses.Pdf
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An Bord Pleanála E Our Ref: PAOO4O Your Ref: KPIKD 3 U NUV ao Ms. Karen Phillips, Director of Environment and Regeneration, Derry City and Strabane District Council, --- C/o Council Offices, 98 Strand Road, Derry, BT48 7NN 25th November, 2015. Dear Ms. Phillips, 6th I refer to your letter of I November, 2015 in relation to the proposed wind turbines and associated works at Meenbog and Carrickduff, County Donegal. You will probably be aware that the Board decided to determine the application without an oral hearing. At present, the Senior Planning Inspector assigned to the case is completing a report/recommendation. The Board intends to decide the case as soon as possible following the receipt of the report/recommendation. I will arrange for you to receive a copy of the decision when it is made. Yours sincerely, Diarmuid Collins, Senior Administrative Officer. Teil (01) 858 8)0)) Tel GIao Aititlil lSqo 275 175 LoCal) Facs (01) 872 2(i84 Fax 64 Sráid Maoilbhride. Luithrein GrSaaiit wwss .pleanala.ie Web 64 Marlborough Street. Baile Atha Cliath 1. R iomhphost bordtbpIelItaLL.Ie Email Dublin I. I4 4 .4 .4 DOE Department of the Environment vwwdoeni.gov.uk Our Ref: MISC 37717 Your Ref: KP/KD Strategic Planning Division Ms Karen Phillips Level 5 Director of Environment & Regeneration Causeway Exchange Derry City and Strabane District Council 1-7 Bedford Street C/O Council Offices BELFAST 98 Strand Road BT2 7EG Derry City BT487NN Telephone: (028) 90823444 Date: 23rd November 2015 Dear Ms Phillips, l6 Thank you for your letter of November 2015 regarding the Carrickaduff Wind Farm in Co. Donegal (J/2015/0036/TBA) that will be determined by An Bord Pleanála (ABP). Strategic Projects Division (SPD) was consulted by ABP and the following provides a summary of the processing of the application insofar as it affects Northern Ireland. • ABP consulted with Strategic Planning Division (SPD) on February 2015 asking if DoE wished to be involved in the consultation process for the Carrickaduff proposal for 49 turbines in Donegal Co. 9th (Ref:05.PAOO4O). • SPD responded on March 2015 advising it wished to be involved in the formal process. • SPD advertised the application and environmental information in local papers and The Belfast Gazette in accordance with The Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations24th (NI) 2012 and advising third parties that the closing date for submissions to ABP was April 2015. • SPD also carried out consultations with appropriate bodies in terms of their environmental responsibilities. 14th • SPD collated these responses and provided a comprehensive response to ABP on May 2015. This response is available on the Planning Portal under our reference number (J/2015/0036/TBA) but is also attached here for your convenience. • SPD received a letter from ABP dated July 2015 advising that due to the complexity of the case and the issues involved, they were unable to determine315t the application within a period of 18 weeks — but11ththat they intended to determine it by October 2015. • A further letter dated September 2015 was received from ABP advising that they intend to determine the application through written procedure. • All correspondence between ABP and SPD is available to view on the Portal. SPD anticipate that it will be informed when a decision has been made by ABP. Upon receipt of any decision, this information will be uploaded to the Planning Portal and also advertised in accordance with The EIA Regulations. information is of assistance. I trust this Yours sincerely ne Curley Strategic Projects Division Enc. .4 .4. .1..4 DOE Department of the Environment www.doeni.gov.uk Our Planning Ref: J/2015/0036/TBA Your Ref: 04.PA0040 Strategic Planning Division Mr. K. Somers Level 5 Executive Officer Causeway Exchange An Bord Pleanála 1-7 Bedford Street 64 Marlborough Street BELFAST Dublin 1 BT27EG Contact: Jane Curley (028) 90823433 14th Date: May 2015 Dear Mr Somers Proposal: Provision of up to 49 No wind turbines with a maximum overall blade tip height of up to 156.5m and all associated hardstanding areas. 2 No permanent meteorological masts up to a maximum height of 110 metres. 2 no 110kV electrical substations, each with 2 no control buildings, associated electrical plant and equipment, and waste water holding tank. All associated underground electrical and communications cabling connecting the turbines to the proposed substations and connecting the proposed substations to the permitted 110KV Clogher substation in the townland of Cullionboy, Co Donegal. New access junctions and improvements to sections of the public roadway to facilitate delivery of abnormal loads. Upgrade of existing and provision of new site access roads and associated drainage. 9 No borrow pits, 6 No. temporary construction compounds, all associated site development works. Location: County Donegal in the townlands of Gortnamuck, Raws Lower, Raws Upper, Egglybane, Tievebrack, Belalt, Owennagadrah, Ballyarrell Mountain or Cornashesk, Corradooey, Corlea, Cronalaghy, Lismullyduff, Meenagolan, Meenreagh, Meenahinnis, Gortahork, Cam, Corraifrin, Kinletter, Tievecloghoge, Trusk, Taughboy, Meenbog and Croaghonagh. 24th Thank you for your letter of February 2015 inviting the Department to participate in the decision making procedure in relation to the above planning application in terms of the likely significant27th effects on the environment in Northern Ireland. As previously advised in my email of April 2015, the Department advertised the proposal in local newspapers and The Belfast Gazette in accordance with The Planning (EIA Regulations) Northern Ireland 2012 (The EIA Regs). This ensures that the public concerned in Northern Ireland has been afforded the opportunity, before development consent for the project is granted, to forward their opinion to the competent authority. Additionally, in compliance with the EIA Regs, the Department has also undertaken consultation with authorities in Northern Ireland who it considers are likely to be concerned by the project by reason of their specific environmental responsibilities. Copies of these consultation responses are enclosed for your information but are summarised as follows: Strabane District Council SDC raises concerns regarding potential unacceptable adverse impact on residential amenity in terms of noise, shadow flicker, proximity of turbines, height, number, scale, size and siting and cumulative impacts — including impacts on flora and fauna and potential impacts on water bodies and their quality. Omagh District Council Endorses the response by Strabane District Council. Derry City & Strabane District Council — Environmental Health Service EHS advises that it is of the opinion that potential exists for significant transboundary n 4r on properties in Northern Ireland. It is recommended that a revised noise impact assess entr addressing the matters raised in their full consultation response is provided to allow thepepartment to provide a considered response to An Bord Pleanála. DCAL Inland Fisheries Site is not within their catchment area. Ioughs Agency Loughs Agency has provided a detailed response in terms of river catchments within the vicinity of the proposed wind farm site and the potential for impacts on river habitats. Loughs Agency requests additional details on: proposed culverts, silt management plan, fuel oil management and details on the management of released acidified water from peat bogs. Transportni Transportni seek assurances regarding delivery of materials from Northern Ireland. If any deliveries are anticipated via Northern Ireland, Transportni would request to be involved in the traffic management plan and would also need to agree an inspection scheme to establish the condition of the road network and agree how, if needed, repairs can be undertaken if damage is caused by extraordinary traffic. Northern Ireland Environment Agency — Natural Environment Division No objection to the proposed development. Northern Ireland Environment Agency — Historic Monuments Unit No objection. Northern Ireland Environment Agency — Water Management Unit The proposed site borders the Derg and Mourne Local Management Area. WMU therefore advises that robust and acute mitigation measures must be in place to protect these water bodies from any discharge that may damage ecological status. Rivers Agency No comment. Tourism Northern Ireland The scale of this proposal and its proximity to the border means that there is the potential for impacts on tourism assets in Northern Ireland. Tourism NI has provided information on the tourism value of areas in Northern Ireland in close proximity to the proposed wind farm. RSPB No comment. Forest Service Forest Service has no objection in principle but ask that consideration is given to separation distance from Forest Service plantations in line with IWEA Best practice Guidelines and the potential for windthrow as a result of deforestation. They would also like to be re-consulted in the event of any changes to the scheme. Northern Ireland Water The proposed wind farm falls within the catchment area for the Derg Water Treatment Works (WTW) where raw water is abstracted to supply high quality drinking water to a wide area of County Tyrone. A total of 41 of the 49 turbines are located within the Derg Catchment area. There is a concern that the development could adversely affect raw water quality or quantity at the water abstraction point downstream of the proposed wind farm — but that the Environmental Statement does not appear to have addressed this. Economics