Leitrim County Development Plan 2015 – 2021 Environmental Report on the Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report on the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Leitrim County Development Plan 2015 - 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY - INTRODUCTION .....................................................................1 Environmental Assessment ...................................................................................................................... 1 Methodology .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Baseline Data ................................................................................................................................................ 1 Policy Context ................................................................................................................................................ 2 Assessment of Aims, Policies and Objectives ..................................................................................... 3 Mitigation ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Monitoring...................................................................................................................................................... 4 SEA Statement .............................................................................................................................................. 4 II. ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO THE MAKING OF THE DRAFT PLAN ......................................4 Description of Alternatives ...................................................................................................................... 4 Assessment of Alternatives ....................................................................................................................... 6 III. THE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2015-2021..........................................................................6 IV. POPULATION AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE V. HUMAN HEALTH ................................................................................................................................. 11 .................................................................................9 VI. SETTLEMENT STRATEGY .........................................................................................................11 VII. WATER QUALITY ................................................................................................................................12 VIII. BIODIVERSITY, FLORA AND FAUNA ............................................................................................. 14 IX. LANDSCAPES/GEOLOGY (INCLUDING SOIL) .............................................................................14 X. CLIMATE CHANGE AND FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT XI. AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY .................................... ....................................................................................................................................14. 15 XII. CULTURAL HERITAGE (INCLUDING ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHAEOLOGY) .................15 XIII. AIR QUALITY .......................................................................................................................................16 XIV. MATERIAL ASSETS ............................................................................................................................16 Public Wastewater Treatment Plants Drinking Water Supply Roads Rail, Bus and Port Infrastructure Telecommunications & Information Technology The Extractive Industry Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction (UGEE) XV. SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES & ADDITIONAL MITIGATION MEASURES ... 17 XVI. ASSESSMENT OF STRATEGIC AIMS, POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES XVII. LIKELY EVOLUTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE ABSENCE OF.................................... THE PLAN ......18 .............18 1. MAIN REPORT - INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 21 Legislative Background ..................................................................................................................21 Content of Environmental Report...........................................................................................................22 Methodology ......................................................................................................................................22 Scoping ..............................................................................................................................................25 Baseline Data ....................................................................................................................................25 Directions from the Elected Members/Strategic Planning Policy Committee (SPPC) .... 25 Difficulties Encountered .......................................................................................................................... 27 Submissions from Environmental Authorities on SEA Scoping Report ................................ 27 Submission on Draft Plan ....................................................................................................................... 28 Transboundary Environmental Effects ............................................................................................. 29 SEA Statement ............................................................................................................................................ 29 Checklist on Contents of Environmental Report ............................................................................ 30 Policy Context ................................................................................................................................................ 2 2. RELEVANT POLICY, PLANS, PROGRAMMES AND GUIDELINES ..................................... 32 National and Regional Context ............................................................................................................ 36 The National Development Plan 2007-2013 .................................................................................. 36 National Spatial Strategy ....................................................................................................................... 36 National Development Plan 2007 – 2013 ........................................................................................ 37 Our Sustainable Future - A Framework for Sustainable Development in Ireland (DECLG, 2012) ............................................................................................................................................... 38 National Biodiversity Plan: Action for Biodiversity 2011 – 2016 ........................................... 38 Food Harvest 2020– A Vision for Irish Agri-food and fisheries ............................................... 38 Climate Change .......................................................................................................................................... 38 Statement of Strategy 2011 – 2014 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCE&NR) ............................................................................................................... 39 Border Regional Planning Guidelines 2010 – 2022 ..................................................................... 42 Local Government Local and Regional Government Reform ................................................... 43 Replacement Waste Management Plan 2006-2011 ..................................................................... 44 Regional Strategic Framework for the Central Border Region: ............................................. 45 The Waterways Corridor Study (Upper Shannon Navigation Area) ..................................... 46 Lough Allen Catchment Plan ................................................................................................................. 47 River Basin District Management Plans ........................................................................................... 47 Lough Melvin Programme ..................................................................................................................... 48 Habitats Directive...................................................................................................................................... 48 Combination Impacts ............................................................................................................................... 49 The Aarhus Convention ........................................................................................................................... 49 3. ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO THE MAKING OF THE PLAN ........................................... 49 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 49 Alternatives Considered .......................................................................................................................... 50 Assessment of Alternatives ..................................................................................................................... 53 Difficulties in compiling the information ......................................................................................... 53 4. THE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT