February 2019 Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report REGAN Proposed N24 Tower Road Junction ʹ Improvement Scheme Atkins Ireland Ltd Piltown, Co. Kilkenny MALONE O MALONE Form ES - 04 Ground Floor- Unit 3 Bracken Business Park Bracken Road, Sandyford Dublin, D18 V32Y Tel: + 353 1 5677655 Email: [email protected] Title: Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report, Proposed N24 Tower Road Junction Improvement Scheme, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny Job Number: E1479 Prepared By: Kathryn Broderick Signed:_______________________ Checked By: Dyfrig Hubble Signed:_______________________ Approved By: Kevin O’Regan Signed:_______________________ Revision Record Issue Date Description Remark Prepared Checked Approved No. 00 14/01/19 Report Draft KB DH KOR 01 04/02/19 Report Review KB DH KOR 02 06/02/19 Report Final KB DH KOR Copyright and Third-Party Disclaimer MORES has prepared this report for the sole use of our client (as named on the front the report) in accordance with the Client’s instructions using all reasonable skill and competence and generally accepted consultancy principles. The report was prepared in accordance with the budget and terms of reference agreed with the Client and does not in any way constitute advice to any third party who is able to access it by any means. MORES exclude to the fullest extent lawfully permitted all liability whatsoever for any costs, liabilities or losses arising as a result of or reliance upon the contents of this report by any person or legal entity (other than the Client in accordance with the terms of reference). MORES has not verified any documents or information supplied by third parties and referred to herein in compiling this document and no warranty is provided as part of this document. No part of this report may be copied or reproduced without express written confirmation from MORES. Any methodology contained in this report is provided to the Client in confidence and must not be disclosed or copied to third parties without the prior written agreement of MORES. Disclosure of such information may constitute an actionable breach of confidence or may otherwise prejudice our commercial interests. Third parties who obtains access to this report by any means, including disclosure by the Client, will be subject to the Copyright and Third Party Disclaimer contained herein Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report Proposed N24 Tower Road Junction Improvement Scheme February 2019 Atkins Ireland Ltd Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report Proposed N24 Tower Road Junction Improvement Scheme Atkins Ireland Ltd Piltown, Co. Kilkenny Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................ 1 Project Objectives ....................................................................................... 1 2 METHODOLOGY ........................................................................... 2 Desk Based Studies .................................................................................... 2 Site Survey................................................................................................... 2 Statement of Authority ............................................................................... 2 Regulatory Context ..................................................................................... 2 Overview of Site and Context ..................................................................... 3 Need for the Proposed Development ........................................................ 4 Description of the Proposed Development ............................................... 5 3 SCREENING .................................................................................. 9 Sub-threshold requirements for EIA ......................................................... 9 4 CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................... 13 5 REFERENCES ............................................................................. 14 FIGURESFigure 1-1: Site Location ....................................................................................... 1 Figure 2-1: Watercourses in the vicinity of the Site ................................................................ 4 Figure 2-2: Aerial View of Proposed Site Boundary ............................................................... 6 TABLES Table 2-1: Screening Matrix for Mandatory EIA ..................................................................... 7 Table 2-2: Screening Matrix for Sub-Threshold Road Developments .................................... 8 Table 3-1 EIA Screening Assessment ................................................................................. 10 APPENDICES Appendix A: Site Layout Appendix B: Habitat Map E1479 - Malone O’ Regan Environmental i Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report February 2019 Proposed N24 Tower Road Junction Improvement Scheme Atkins Ireland Ltd 1 INTRODUCTION Malone O’Regan Environmental (MOR Environmental) were commissioned by Aktins to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Report for the proposed N24 Tower Road Junction Improvement Scheme on lands at Piltown, Co. Kilkenny (OS Reference S 449 225). The location of the proposed site (‘the Site’) is shown in Figure 1-1. A proposed site layout drawing is presented in Appendix A. Figure 1-1: Site Location This EIA Screening report has been prepared to consider the requirement or otherwise of carrying out an EIA in respect of the proposed Road improvement scheme. This screening exercise was undertaken in two stages. The first stage considered the requirement for a mandatory EIA, while the second stage considered the requirement or need for a sub- threshold EIA. As part of the sub-threshold screening exercise the potential impacts on environmental sensitivities were considered in addition to the interrelationship between those environmental sensitivities This EIA Screening Report will be submitted as part of the overall planning submission along with a preliminary Ecological Appraisal Report, Appropriate Assessment Screening Report and a preliminary Construction Environmental Management Plan. Project Objectives The key project objectives in undertaking this EIA Screening Assessment was to determine whether the proposed project would require the preparation of an EIAR. E1479 - Malone O’ Regan Environmental 1 Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report February 2019 Proposed N24 Tower Road Junction Improvement Scheme Atkins Ireland Ltd 2 METHODOLOGY Desk Based Studies In undertaking this EIA Screening Assessment, a detailed desk-based study was undertaken that included a review of the following information: • Relevant legislation and guidance (see section 2.4). • Relevant published information pertaining to the Site and surrounding area in regards to all of the stipulated EIAR topics; and, • Relevant design drawings. Site Survey A site walkover survey was undertaken by MOR Environmental Consultants on the 21st May 2018 to gain a better understanding of the receiving environment and to identify any sensitive environmental receptors. Statement of Authority The Screening for Environmental Impact Assessment was prepared under the direction of Kevin O’Regan, who provided peer review and support to the project. Kevin has over 25 year’s environmental consultancy experience. During this time he has successfully completed a wide range of EIS’s and EIARs for major infrastructural projects. Specifically, Kevin has also worked with Kilkenny County Council as Environmental Team lead on a range of other road projects from 2000 to the present including: • Kilkenny Inner Relief Road • Road Infrastructure - Development of Kilkenny Western Environs. • Road Infrastructure - Loughmacask. Local Area Plan. • M8/N8 Culahill – Cashel Motorway. • Graiguenamanagh Inner Relief Road. • N24 Mooncoin By-pass. • Kilkenny Central Access scheme. Regulatory Context 2.4.1 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening EIA Legislation sets down the types of projects that may require an EIAR. Annex I of Directive 2014/52/EU defines mandatory projects that require an EIAR / EIS and Annex Lists projects which can be subject to a case by case subthreshold screening analysis or thresholds to be transposed by member states. In order to determine whether it is required to undertake an EIA for the proposed development, it is necessary to consult the relevant legislation, namely; • The Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended); • EU Directive 2014/52/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (‘2014 EIA Directive’); and, • The Roads Act 1993 (as amended). This Screening Report has been prepared taking full cognisance of Directive 2014/52/EU, as it is transposed into Irish legislation by amendment of the 2018 EIA Regulations, utilising the following legislation and guidance documents: • The Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended); • The Roads Act 1993 (as amended); • Director General Environment – European Commission (June 2001), Guidance on EIA Screening (EU, 2001); E1479 - Malone O’ Regan Environmental 2 Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report February 2019 Proposed N24 Tower Road Junction Improvement Scheme Atkins Ireland Ltd • Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (August 2003), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Guidelines for Consent Authorities regarding Sub‐threshold Development (DEHLG, 2003); • NRA Guidelines on Environmental Impact Assessment