HARDMUIR TO FOCHABERS A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers scheme DMRB Stage 2 Scheme Assessment Report Volume 2 – Part 3 Environmental Assessment December 2018 transport.gov.scot/project/ a96-hardmuir-fochabers A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers DMRB Stage 2 Scheme Assessment Report Part 3: Environmental Assessment A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers DMRB Stage 2 Scheme Assessment Report Volume 2 Part 3 – Environmental Assessment A96PHF-MMS-GEN-00000-RP-Z-00024 Revision Record Ver No Date Originator Checker Approver Status Suitability C01 Dec 2018 Various Various JMH A2 Approved as Stage Complete This document has been prepared on behalf of Transport Scotland by Mott MacDonald Sweco JV for A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers. It is issued for the party which commissioned it and for specific purposes connected with the above-captioned project only. It should not be relied upon by any other party or used for any other purpose. Mott MacDonald Sweco JV accepts no responsibility for the consequences of this document being relied upon by any other party, or being used for any other purpose, or containing any error or omission which is due to an error or omission in data supplied to us by other parties. This document contains confidential information and proprietary intellectual property. It should not be shown to other parties without consent from Transport Scotland. Prepared for: Prepared by: Transport Scotland Mott MacDonald Sweco JV Buchanan House, 58 Port Dundas Road 2nd Floor Quay 2 Glasgow, G4 0HF 139 Fountainbridge Edinburgh, EH3 9QG A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers DMRB Stage 2 Scheme Assessment Report Part 3: Environmental Assessment Contents Page Volume 1 – The Scheme and Engineering Assessment Volume 2 - Environmental Assessment Part 3: Environmental Assessment Introduction and Approach to Environmental Assessment ...................................... 8-1 8.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 8-1 8.2 Sources of Information ................................................................................................... 8-2 8.3 Approach to Environmental Assessment ........................................................................ 8-2 8.4 Structure of Environmental Assessment Part ............................................................... 8-10 Policies and Plans ........................................................................................................ 9-1 9.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 9-1 9.2 Policy Context ................................................................................................................ 9-1 9.3 Approach to Assessment ............................................................................................... 9-4 9.4 Baseline ......................................................................................................................... 9-8 9.5 Assessment ................................................................................................................. 9-15 9.6 Cumulative Effects ....................................................................................................... 9-29 9.7 Summary of Effects...................................................................................................... 9-31 9.8 Scope of the DMRB Stage 3 Assessment .................................................................... 9-34 Air Quality ................................................................................................................... 10-1 10.1 Introduction and Scope ................................................................................................ 10-1 10.2 Approach to Assessment ............................................................................................. 10-2 10.3 Baseline Environment .................................................................................................. 10-6 10.4 Potential Impacts ....................................................................................................... 10-10 10.5 Mitigation ................................................................................................................... 10-10 10.6 Predicted Environmental Effects ................................................................................ 10-10 10.7 Summary of Effects.................................................................................................... 10-19 10.8 Scope of the DMRB Stage 3 Assessment .................................................................. 10-23 Noise and Vibration .................................................................................................... 11-1 11.1 Introduction and Scope ................................................................................................ 11-1 11.2 Approach to Assessment ............................................................................................. 11-1 i A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers DMRB Stage 2 Scheme Assessment Report Part 3: Environmental Assessment 11.3 Baseline Environment .................................................................................................. 11-5 11.4 Potential Impacts ......................................................................................................... 11-9 11.5 Mitigation ................................................................................................................... 11-10 11.6 Predicted Environmental Effects ................................................................................ 11-10 11.7 Summary of Effects.................................................................................................... 11-26 11.8 Scope of DMRB Stage 3 Assessment ........................................................................ 11-30 People and Communities ........................................................................................... 12-1 12.1 Introduction and Scope ................................................................................................ 12-1 12.2 Approach to Assessment ............................................................................................. 12-2 12.3 Baseline Environment .................................................................................................. 12-8 12.4 Potential Impacts ....................................................................................................... 12-16 12.5 Mitigation ................................................................................................................... 12-20 12.6 Predicted Environmental Effects ................................................................................ 12-20 12.7 Summary of Effects.................................................................................................... 12-47 12.8 Scope of the Stage 3 Assessment ............................................................................. 12-54 Agriculture, Forestry and Sporting Interests............................................................ 13-1 13.1 Introduction and Scope ................................................................................................ 13-1 13.2 Approach to Assessment ............................................................................................. 13-1 13.3 Baseline Environment .................................................................................................. 13-5 13.4 Potential Impacts ......................................................................................................... 13-8 13.5 Mitigation ................................................................................................................... 13-17 13.6 Predicted Environmental Effects ................................................................................ 13-17 13.7 Summary of Effects.................................................................................................... 13-32 13.8 Scope of the Stage 3 Assessment ............................................................................. 13-35 Materials ..................................................................................................................... 14-1 14.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 14-1 14.2 Approach to Assessment ............................................................................................. 14-1 14.3 Baseline Environment .................................................................................................. 14-8 14.4 Potential Impacts ......................................................................................................... 14-9 14.5 Mitigation ..................................................................................................................... 14-9 14.6 Predicted Environmental Effects ................................................................................ 14-12 14.7 Summary of Effects.................................................................................................... 14-19 ii A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers DMRB Stage 2 Scheme Assessment Report Part 3: Environmental Assessment 14.8 Scope of the DMRB Stage 3 Assessment .................................................................. 14-22 Visual Effects .............................................................................................................