Nigg East Quay Volume 1: Environmental Impact Assessment Report June 2019 Nigg East Quay Volume 1: Environmental Impact Assessment Report Client: Global Energy Nigg Limited Document number: 671906/001 Project number: 671906 Status: FINAL Author: Various Reviewer: Craig Potter / Campbell Fleming Date of issue: 19 June 2019 Filename: Volume 1 – EIA Report Glasgow Aberdeen Inverness Edinburgh Craighall Business Park Banchory Business Alder House Suite 114 8 Eagle Street Centre Cradlehall Business Park Gyleview House Glasgow Burn O’Bennie Road Inverness 3 Redheughs Rigg G4 9XA Banchory IV2 5GH Edinburgh 0141 341 5040 AB31 5ZU 01463 794 212 EH12 9DQ [email protected] 01330 826 596 0131 516 9530 www.envirocentre.co.uk This report has been prepared by EnviroCentre Limited with all reasonable skill and care, within the terms of the Contract with Global Energy Nigg Limited (“the Client”). No part of this document may be reproduced or altered without the prior written approval of EnviroCentre Limited. Global Energy Nigg Limited June 2019 Nigg East Quay; Volume 1: Environmental Impact Assessment Report Contents Preface .................................................................................................................................................................... iii 1 Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Background to Proposed Development .................................................................................................. 5 1.3 The Applicant .......................................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Regulatory Context ................................................................................................................................. 7 1.5 Objectives and EIA Context ..................................................................................................................... 7 1.6 Key Terms ................................................................................................................................................ 8 1.7 The Project Team .................................................................................................................................... 8 1.8 Structure of the EIAR ............................................................................................................................. 10 2 Chapter 2: Proposed Development ............................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Site Description ..................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Description of the Proposed Development ........................................................................................... 14 2.3 Description of Project and Construction Methodology ........................................................................ 16 2.4 Alternatives Considered ........................................................................................................................ 19 3 Chapter 3: EIA Methodology and Scoping ..................................................................................................... 20 3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 20 3.2 General EIA Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 20 3.3 EIA Regulations 2017 ............................................................................................................................. 21 3.4 The EIA Process ..................................................................................................................................... 21 3.5 Scoping as part of the EIA Process ........................................................................................................ 24 3.6 Scoping Requests and Opinions ............................................................................................................ 24 3.7 Final Content and Structure of the EIA Report...................................................................................... 31 4 Chapter 4: Marine Ecology ............................................................................................................................ 32 4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 32 4.2 Scoping and Consultation ...................................................................................................................... 32 4.3 Policy, Legislation and Guidance ........................................................................................................... 36 4.4 Methodology ......................................................................................................................................... 38 4.5 Baseline ................................................................................................................................................. 43 4.6 Evaluation .............................................................................................................................................. 49 4.7 Impact Assessment ............................................................................................................................... 51 4.8 Mitigation .............................................................................................................................................. 74 4.9 Residual Effects ..................................................................................................................................... 78 4.10 Statement of Significance ..................................................................................................................... 85 5 Chapter 5: Water Environment and Coastal Processes ................................................................................. 86 5.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 86 5.2 Scoping and Consultation ...................................................................................................................... 86 5.3 Policy, Legislation and Guidance ........................................................................................................... 88 5.4 Methodology ......................................................................................................................................... 90 5.5 Baseline ................................................................................................................................................. 92 5.6 Impact Assessment ............................................................................................................................. 101 5.7 Mitigation and Monitoring .................................................................................................................. 107 5.8 Residual Effects ................................................................................................................................... 110 5.9 Statement of Significance ................................................................................................................... 122 6 Chapter 6: Airborne Noise ........................................................................................................................... 123 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 123 6.2 Scoping and Consultation .................................................................................................................... 123 6.3 Legislation, Policy and Guidance ......................................................................................................... 126 6.4 Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 127 6.5 Baseline ............................................................................................................................................... 139 i Global Energy Nigg Limited June 2019 Nigg East Quay; Volume 1: Environmental Impact Assessment Report 6.6 Construction Noise Impact Assessment .............................................................................................. 142 6.7 Operational Noise Impact Assessment ............................................................................................... 146 6.8 Mitigation and Monitoring .................................................................................................................. 148 6.9 Residual Effects ................................................................................................................................... 150 6.10 Statement of Significance ..................................................................................................................