Shannon Foynes Port Company Land Reclamation Project Environmental Impact Statement IBE0215.00/September 2011 rpsgroup.com/ireland Shannon Foynes Port Company - Land Reclamation Environmental Impact Statement CHAPTER LIST ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Consultations Chapter 3 Site Description Chapter 4 Project Description Chapter 5 Cetaceans Chapter 6 Terrestrial Mammals, Inter-tidal and Sub-Tidal Flora and Fauna Chapter 7 Birds Chapter 8 Air Quality Chapter 9 Coastal Processes & Water Quality Chapter 10 Sediment Quality Chapter 11 Noise & Vibration Chapter 12 Material Assets Chapter 13 Archaeology & Cultural Heritage Chapter 14 Human Beings Chapter 15 Landscape and Visual Chapter 16 Summary of Impacts and Mitigation Bibliography APPENDICES Appendix 1 Consultation Process Appendix 2 Terrestrial Mammals, Inter-tidal, sub-tidal flora and fauna Appendix 3 Birds Appendix 4 Air Quality Appendix 5 Coastal Processes & Water Quality Appendix 6 Sediment Analysis –RPII correspondence Appendix 7 Noise & Vibration Appendix 8 Material Assets – Traffic Flows Appendix 9 Archaeology Appendix 10 Landscape and Visual 0215.00/EIS01/September 11 SHANNON FOYNES PORT COMPANY- LAND RECLAMATION TABLE OF CONTENTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 FOYNES PORT .............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 PORT FACILITIES .......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 LOCATION AND WATER DEPTH ...................................................................................... 1-2 1.4 CURRENT TRADE AT FOYNES PORT .............................................................................. 1-4 1.5 SHANNON FOYNES PORT COMPANY AND THE ECONOMY................................................ 1-5 1.6 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION ............................................................................................... 1-6 1.6.1 Background ................................................................................................... 1-6 1.6.2 Physical and Operational Constraints on the East Jetty ............................... 1-7 1.6.3 Future Strategic Needs ................................................................................. 1-8 1.7 CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES............................................................................... 1-9 1.7.1 The “Do Nothing” Scenario............................................................................ 1-9 1.7.2 Alternative Locations/Options Considered .................................................... 1-9 1.8 FOYNES PORT MASTER PLAN........................................................................................ 1-9 1.9 STRATEGIC POLICY DRIVERS....................................................................................... 1-10 1.9.1 National Spatial Strategy 2002 - 2020 ........................................................ 1-10 1.9.2 National Development Plan 2007-2013 ...................................................... 1-11 1.9.3 Mid-West Regional Planning Guidelines 2010-2022................................... 1-11 1.9.4 Limerick County Development Plan 2010 - 2016........................................ 1-12 1.10 THE PLANNING PROCESS ............................................................................................ 1-13 1.10.1 Planning Permission.................................................................................... 1-13 1.10.2 Other Required Permissions ....................................................................... 1-15 1.11 SCOPE AND FORMAT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT .............................. 1-17 1.11.1 Scope of the EIS ......................................................................................... 1-17 1.11.2 Format of the EIS ........................................................................................ 1-18 2.0 CONSULTATION PROCESS ................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 STATUTORY AND RELEVANT BODIES CONSULTATION...................................................... 2-1 2.3 PUBLIC CONSULTATION................................................................................................. 2-5 2.3.1 Questionnaire ................................................................................................ 2-6 2.4 FURTHER PUBLIC CONSULTATION.................................................................................. 2-8 2.5 PHASE TWO OF OPEN PUBLIC CONSULTATION DAYS ...................................................... 2-11 2.6 MEDIA COVERAGE OF PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ........................................................... 2-12 2.7 RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION PROCESS .................................................................... 2-12 0215.00/EIS01/September 11 i SHANNON FOYNES PORT COMPANY- LAND RECLAMATION TABLE OF CONTENTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 2.7.1 Dust and the Movement of Lorries Through the Village of Foynes............. 2-12 2.7.2 Speed Ramps and Transit Through Village ................................................ 2-13 2.7.3 Quarterly Meetings Between PortUusers, SFPC and Foynes Community Forum .......................................................................................................... 2-13 2.7.4 Planting of Trees in the Vicinity of the Port ................................................. 2-13 2.7.5 Construction Traffic Through Village........................................................... 2-14 2.7.6 Flooding....................................................................................................... 2-15 3.0 SITE DESCRIPTION............................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 SITE LOCATION............................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 SITE CONTEXT AND LAND USE ...................................................................................... 3-2 3.3 GEOLOGY..................................................................................................................... 3-5 3.3.1 Sources of information and Methodology...................................................... 3-6 3.4 SOLID GEOLOGY........................................................................................................... 3-6 3.4.1 Regional Geology.......................................................................................... 3-6 3.4.2 Local Geology................................................................................................ 3-8 3.5 EVAULATION OF IMPACTS............................................................................................ 3-10 3.5.1 Ground Stability........................................................................................... 3-10 3.5.2 Topography and Landform Features........................................................... 3-10 3.5.3 Superficial Deposits (Drift)........................................................................... 3-10 3.6 SOILS......................................................................................................................... 3-11 3.7 HYDROGEOLOGY ........................................................................................................ 3-12 3.7.1 Potential Impacts to Groundwater............................................................... 3-13 3.8 SUMMARY EVALUATION OF IMPACTS ............................................................................ 3-13 4.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION...................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WORKS ............................................................................... 4-1 4.2.1 General Construction Sequence ................................................................... 4-4 4.2.2 Retaining Structure........................................................................................ 4-1 4.2.3 Dredging........................................................................................................ 4-5 4.2.4 Reclamation and Shore Protection ............................................................... 4-6 4.2.5 Demolitions.................................................................................................... 4-7 4.2.6 Services and Security.................................................................................... 4-7 4.3 PORT OPERATIONS....................................................................................................... 4-8 4.3.1 Use of the Reclaimed Area ........................................................................... 4-8 4.3.2 Port Equipment.............................................................................................. 4-8 4.3.3 Access ......................................................................................................... 4-10 4.4 CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES........................................................................................