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ACEV-DOC-Environmental Statement-A-120218-DM.1.1

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ACEV-DOC-Environmental Statement-A-120218-DM.1.1 Afon Claerwen Hydropower Project Environmental Statement February 2018 Hydropower Consultancy & Development Afon Claerwen Hydro Environmental Management Plan Document Control Scheme Name: Afon Claerwen Hydropower Project Client Name: Hydro Electric Development Ltd Client Address: Ellergreen Hydro Ltd Reference: ACEV Ellergreen Hydro Ltd Ellergreen Hydro Ltd Ellergreen Estate Office Pod 3 Avon House Hollins Lane 19 Stanwell Rd Burneside Penarth Kendal Vale of Glamorgan Cumbria CF64 2EZ LA9 5SD Tel: 01539 726 013 Tel: 02921 320 083 Web: www.ellergreen.com Web: www.ellergreen.com Document Control File Name: AACEV-DOC-Environmental Statement-A-120218-DM Original Rev A Original Rev A Revision B Revision C Prepared by: D. Morgan Approved by: A. Cropper Date: 12.02.18 Status: Comments: Disclaimer This report, and information or advice which it contains, is provided by EGH Ltd solely for internal use and reliance by its Client in performance of EGH Ltd’s duties and liabilities under its contract with the client. Any advice or recommendations within this report should be read and relied upon only in the context of the reports as a whole. The advice and opinions in this report are based upon information available to EGH Ltd at the date of this report and may be based on assumptions. Following final delivery of this report to the Client, EGH Ltd will have no further obligation or duty to advise the Client on any matters, including development affecting the information or advice provided in this report. This report has been produced by EGH Ltd in the professional capacity as Consulting Engineers. The content of this report do not, in any way, purport to include any manner of legal advice or opinion. EGH Ltd accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage incurred due to the use of the information within this report. 1 | P a g e Afon Claerwen Hydro Environmental Management Plan CONTENTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 6 2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Outline of Proposed Development ......................................................................................... 7 2.2 Importance of Renewable Energy ........................................................................................... 7 2.3 Purpose of this Report ............................................................................................................ 7 2.4 Elan Hydro Ltd ......................................................................................................................... 8 3 Environmental Impact Assessment ................................................................................................. 8 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 8 3.2 The EIA Process ....................................................................................................................... 9 3.2.1 Town & Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England & Wales) Regulations 1999 ............................................................................................................................. 9 3.2.2 Key Steps ......................................................................................................................... 9 3.2.3 The Screening Process................................................................................................... 10 3.2.4 The Scoping Process ...................................................................................................... 10 3.3 The Stages of Development .................................................................................................. 10 4 The Proposed Development ......................................................................................................... 11 4.1 Need for the Proposed Development ................................................................................... 11 4.2 Do Nothing Scenario ............................................................................................................. 11 4.3 Alternatives Considered During Preliminary Design ............................................................. 12 4.4 Alternatives and subsequent Changes during planning pre application advice and ecological survey work ...................................................................................................................... 13 5 Proposed Development Description ............................................................................................. 13 5.1.1 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 13 5.1.2 Intake Weir .................................................................................................................... 14 5.1.1 Pipeline .......................................................................................................................... 16 5.1.2 Powerhouse & Outfall ................................................................................................... 17 5.1.3 Temporary Construction Compounds ........................................................................... 17 5.1.4 Access Tracks ................................................................................................................. 17 5.1.5 Offsite Access ................................................................................................................ 18 5.1.6 Electricity Connection ................................................................................................... 18 5.1.7 Construction .................................................................................................................. 20 2 | P a g e Afon Claerwen Hydro Environmental Management Plan 5.1.8 Restoration .................................................................................................................... 21 5.1.9 Operation ...................................................................................................................... 21 5.1.10 Decommissioning .......................................................................................................... 21 6 Scoping & Consultation ................................................................................................................. 22 6.1 Scoping Report ...................................................................................................................... 22 6.2 Scoping Response ................................................................................................................. 22 6.3 Public Consultation ............................................................................................................... 22 7 Landscape Amenity ....................................................................................................................... 23 8 Ecology .......................................................................................................................................... 24 8.1 Planning and Policy Context.................................................................................................. 25 9 Methodology ................................................................................................................................. 30 9.1 Desk Study ............................................................................................................................. 30 9.2 Field Survey ........................................................................................................................... 31 9.2.1 Phase 1 habitat survey .................................................................................................. 31 9.2.2 Breeding bird survey ..................................................................................................... 31 9.2.3 Otter and water vole survey ......................................................................................... 32 9.2.4 Badger & general mammal survey ................................................................................ 32 9.2.5 Bats ................................................................................................................................ 32 9.2.6 Evaluation and Assessment Methodology .................................................................... 33 10 Baseline Conditions ................................................................................................................... 39 10.1 Statutory Sites ....................................................................................................................... 39 10.2 Data search results ................................................................................................................ 43 10.3 Field Survey ........................................................................................................................... 43 10.3.1 Habitats ......................................................................................................................... 43 10.3.2 Birds .............................................................................................................................. 51 10.3.3 Water Vole ...................................................................................................................
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