Preliminary Options Report Scheme Assessment Report 1 - Constraints Report 5 Environmental Assessment 5.1 Introduction The Stage 1 appraisal of environmental constraints has been undertaken in accordance with DMRB Volume 11 Section 3. The summary of key data provided is based on the detailed Stage 1 Environmental Assessment Report (EAR1) for the project. 5.2 Scope of the assessment Volume 11 provides guidelines in relation to 12 environmental topics. These comprise: Air Quality. Cultural Heritage. Disruption Due to Construction. Ecology and Nature Conservation. Landscape Effects. Land Use. Traffic Noise and Vibration. Pedestrian, Cyclists, Equestrians and Community Effects. Vehicle Travellers. Road Drainage and the Water Environment. Geology and Soils. Policies and Plans. This summary of the findings of the preliminary investigation into primary environmental constraints adopts the format of the guidelines. 796036/0000/R/006 Version 3 130 ©Mouchel 2008 Preliminary Options Report Scheme Assessment Report 1 - Constraints Report 5.3 Key tasks Identification of constraints has involved a combination of desk based review and analysis, consultations and preliminary site surveys and familiarisation. 5.3.1 Desk - based review Reference has been made to: Literature related to the environmental study area, Databases, records and schedules relating to environmental designations, National, regional and local policy documents, Historic and current maps of the environmental study area, Aerial photographs. Specific sources referred to in relation to each of the environmental topics are described in Section 5.6. 5.3.2 Consultation Consultation has involved correspondence with statutory environmental authorities and bodies and a wider range of national, regional and local environmental organisations and groups. A schedule of consultees is provided in Appendix B. The prime objective has been to collect and verify known data relating to the environmental study area. Consultees have also been invited to highlight issues and interests which could inform the preliminary process of identifying constraints and refining a preferred corridor for further assessment. Meetings have also been held with Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to discuss and outline the framework being adopted for the overall assessment process and the specific approach relating to ecology and nature conservation. 5.3.3 Site walkovers and familiarisation Specific and joint site walkovers and drive-throughs have been undertaken by individual environmental specialists and groups of specialists. The objective has been to verify and consolidate the desk based review and consultation responses and evaluate the relationships between specific environmental interests and their wider environmental value. 796036/0000/R/006 Version 3 131 ©Mouchel 2008 Preliminary Options Report Scheme Assessment Report 1 - Constraints Report 5.4 Environmental Study Areas The extent and location of specific study areas for each of the environmental topics detailed in Volume 11 is described in Chapter 5.6. 5.5 Constraints Criteria The focus has been on designated areas, sites and features of international or national importance, implications in relation to strategic policies and plans and development plans and existing land use. Consideration has also been given to areas within the wider environmental study area where the assessment team have concluded that the relationship between primary criteria and / or a combination of environmental interests frame areas of discernable environmental quality. Whilst these areas have no formal status, they have influenced the review and determination of the preferred corridor. There has been no evaluation / rating of the significance of these identity areas. They have been identified as areas considered to be potentially sensitive to change as a result of linear development such as that being proposed. These areas have been nominated as Identity Areas. Three types of Identity Area have been defined: Heritage Identity Areas (HIA) - these comprise areas where the extent and relationship of recorded heritage assets, reference to literature relating to the history of the environmental study area and topographic location and context within the landscape combine to frame and highlight an area with a discernable sense of cultural value. Ecology Identity Areas (EcIA) – these comprise locations where mosaics of habitat types and combinations of designated areas and associated habitats frame areas of discernibly high ecological quality and nature conservation value. Environmental Identity Areas (EnIA) – these comprise areas that have been identified as being of high environmental quality by virtue of the relationship between landscape, landform, hydrology, habitat types and building form and which currently are not markedly affected by intrusive features. EnIAs are described in Chapter 5.6.5, landscape and visual context. The identified constraints have been plotted using a GIS database. In addition to specific topic related figures supporting the text, a series of composite environmental constraints plans have been prepared for each of the nine sub-sections of the overall 796036/0000/R/006 Version 3 132 ©Mouchel 2008 Preliminary Options Report Scheme Assessment Report 1 - Constraints Report environmental study area. These are included in Volume 2. The relevant drawing numbers are 796036-3000-D-00006 - 00012 respectively. 5.6 The existing environment 5.6.1 Air quality Data sources reviewed and consultees contacted during the constraints study comprise: Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) of each Local Authority and the Northern Ireland Air Quality (NIAQ) website relating to NO2, PM10 and Dust Monitoring. Northern Ireland Air Quality (NIAQ) website http://www.airqualityni.co.uk. Consultation Review and Assessment Reports undertaken by the Local Authorities. National Air Quality Information Archive (NAQIA) website http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/. NIEA - location of potentially nitrogen sensitive designated nature conservation sites and areas) Key issues identified in relation to local air quality comprise: The presence of Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). The Environment (NI) Order 2002 requires local authorities to review air quality periodically. Local authorities are required to consider present and likely future air quality and assess whether national air quality objectives are likely to be achieved within prescribed timescales. If these objectives are likely to be exceeded then an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) must be declared. The presence of Industrial Sources of Local Air Pollution. Part Ai, Aii and B are industrial processes regulated by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and Local Authorities. Such processes may emit pollutants to the atmosphere which could contribute to local air quality concentrations. The presence of nitrogen sensitive Nature Conservation Sites. The DMRB assessment process identifies a need to consider the location of European Designated Sites (ASSI, SAC, pSAC and Ramsar) that are potentially sensitive to nitrogen deposition in the context of potential route corridors and alignments. The paragraphs below list the nitrogen sensitive sites (for both flora and fauna) within each section of the study area. 796036/0000/R/006 Version 3 133 ©Mouchel 2008 Preliminary Options Report Scheme Assessment Report 1 - Constraints Report The presence and distribution of sensitive receptors within the environmental study area. Sensitive Receptors comprise locations where people might potentially be vulnerable to exposure to changes in local air quality. These include such locations as residential properties, schools, hospitals and homes for the elderly. Section 1 – New Buildings to South of Strabane (Drawing 796036-3000-D- 05001) Air Quality Management Areas An AQMA has been declared by Strabane District Council for exceedences in 24 Hour Mean PM10 Objective Limit within Strabane. It is an area that takes in most of the urban area south of Railway Street / Newtown Street. Industrial sources of local air pollution There are no Part A or Part B processes that are likely to release significant quantities of NO2 and PM10 within this section of the environmental study area. Designated sites There are three designated sites within this section of the study area (see 5.6.4): River Foyle and Tributaries ASSI, SAC. Strabane Glen ASSI. McKean’s Moss ASSI. Sensitive receptors The principal centres of population are New Buildings, Magheramason, Bready, Donagheady, Cloghcor, Ballymagorry and Strabane. There are also 18 schools and 5 care homes within this section of the study area. Existing concentrations of NO2 and PM10 There are no NO2 monitoring units within this section of the study area. The nearest monitoring unit for NO2 is north of the study area at Derry Brooke Park (Londonderry). Data from the unit for 2005, 2006 and 2007 indicate there were no 3 exceedences of the Annual Mean NO2 Objective Limit (40µg/m ). However, there was an exceedence of the Annual Mean NO2 Objective in 2005 at Derry Dale’s Corner (outside the limits of the engineering study area). No data was available in 2006 as data capture at this site was not sufficient. The Annual Mean concentration in 2007 was below the Objective Limit at this location. 796036/0000/R/006 Version 3 134 ©Mouchel 2008 Preliminary Options Report Scheme Assessment Report 1 - Constraints Report There is one PM10 continuous monitoring unit in Strabane. Data collected