CORK LINE LEVEL CROSSINGS PROJECT EIA Screening & Scoping Report Update to Environmental Impact Assessment Screening & Scoping Report Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Project Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 EIA Screening and Scoping Report ............................................................................................................ 2 2. Project Need .............................................................................................................................................. 4 2.1 Safety ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Efficiency of the Dublin-Cork Railway Line ..................................................................................................5 2.3 Efficiency of the Local Road Network.......................................................................................................... 5 2.4 Guidelines on a Common Appraisal Framework (CAF) for Transport Projects and Programmes’ .............. 6 3. Alternatives ............................................................................................................................................... 7 3.1 Proposed Project: Options Assessment process ........................................................................................ 7 3.2 Feasibility Study .......................................................................................................................................... 7 3.3 Level Crossing and Emerging Preferred Solutions ......................................................................................8 3.4 Multi-Criteria Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 11 4. Project Description ................................................................................................................................. 12 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 12 4.2 History of the Project ................................................................................................................................. 12 4.3 Project Description .................................................................................................................................... 13 4.4 Construction Phase .................................................................................................................................. 16 5. National, Regional and Local legislation, Policies and Transport Programmes ................................ 17 5.1 Legislation & Guidance ............................................................................................................................. 17 6. EIA Process ............................................................................................................................................. 18 6.1 Legislation ................................................................................................................................................ 18 6.2 Environmental Impact Assessment Process ............................................................................................. 18 6.3 Generic Methodology ................................................................................................................................ 18 6.4 Mitigation Measures .................................................................................................................................. 18 6.5 Monitoring ................................................................................................................................................. 18 6.6 Appropriate Assessment: .......................................................................................................................... 18 6.7 Water Framework Directive (WFD) ........................................................................................................... 19 7. EIA Consultation ..................................................................................................................................... 20 7.1 Consultation to Date ................................................................................................................................. 20 7.2 Consultation with Prescribed Bodies and other Consultees ...................................................................... 20 7.3 EIA Scoping Consultation ......................................................................................................................... 21 8. Population & Human Health ................................................................................................................... 22 8.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 22 8.2 Legislation, Policy & Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 22 8.3 Proposed Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 22 8.4 Baseline Conditions .................................................................................................................................. 23 8.5 Potential Effects ........................................................................................................................................ 26 9. Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................................. 27 9.1 Legislation, Policy & Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 27 ii Update to Environmental Impact Assessment Screening & Scoping Report 9.2 Proposed Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 27 9.3 Baseline Conditions .................................................................................................................................. 27 9.4 Potential Impacts ...................................................................................................................................... 32 10. Soils, Geology & Hydrogeology ............................................................................................................ 33 10.1 Legislation, Policy & Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 33 10.2 Proposed Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 33 10.3 Baseline Information ................................................................................................................................. 33 10.4 Potential Impacts ...................................................................................................................................... 40 11. Water ........................................................................................................................................................ 42 11.1 Study Area ................................................................................................................................................ 42 11.2 Legislation, Policy & Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 42 11.3 Proposed Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 42 11.4 Baseline Information ................................................................................................................................. 42 11.5 Potential Impacts ...................................................................................................................................... 44 12. Air Quality................................................................................................................................................ 46 12.1 Legislation, Policy & Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 46 12.2 Proposed Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 46 12.3 Baseline Conditions .................................................................................................................................. 47 12.4 Potential Impacts ...................................................................................................................................... 48 13. Noise & Vibration ...................................................................................................................................