Marine Energy Test Centre, Orkney Environmental Statement Marine Energy Test Centre Environmental Statement July 2002 Report Status: Final Name Signature Date Prepared By: Various 08/07/02 Checked By: Fiona Brown 15/07/02 Approved By: Hugh Howatson 15/07/02 Revision Content Changes By Date A Tidal Test Area Photographs Removed HH Feb 2003 Section 2.3.2 corrected Figure in Appendix F corrected Drawings updated Prepared By: Prepared For: Carl Bro Group Ltd Section 36 Consent 4 Lynedoch Place Glasgow, G3 6AB, UK Tel: +44 (0)141 331 2525 Fax: +44 (0)141 333 1033 Email: [email protected] www.carlbro.com Environmental Statement (Carl Bro) 2002 REP141-01-03 20071115 Marine Energy Test Centre, Orkney Environmental Statement Index 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 1.2. Scope of this Environmental Statement....................................................... 1 1.3. Report Structure.......................................................................................... 2 2. The Proposal...................................................................................................... 3 2.1. Background to the Project........................................................................... 3 2.2. Site Selection.............................................................................................. 3 2.3. Proposed Project......................................................................................... 3 2.3.1. Overview.............................................................................................. 3 2.3.2. Site Details........................................................................................... 4 2.3.3. Billia Croo Switchgear Building - Proposed Layout and Appearance.... 4 2.3.4. Redundant coastguard’s lookout building on Black Craig Hill – Proposed Changes ............................................................................................ 5 2.3.5. Old Academy, Stromness – Proposed Control Centre.......................... 5 2.3.6. Access ................................................................................................. 5 2.3.7. Offshore Cabling .................................................................................. 6 2.3.8. Staffing................................................................................................. 6 2.3.9. Construction......................................................................................... 6 2.4. Project Procurement ................................................................................... 7 3. The Environmental Assessment......................................................................... 8 3.1. Aims............................................................................................................ 8 3.2. Approach .................................................................................................... 8 3.3. Consultees and Interested Parties .............................................................. 8 4. Offshore Ecology.............................................................................................. 10 4.1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 10 4.2. Existing Conditions.................................................................................... 11 4.2.1. Summary of multibeam and sidescan survey data ............................. 11 4.2.2. Seabed ecology ................................................................................. 13 4.2.3. Mammals, fish and birds .................................................................... 19 4.3. Potential Impacts....................................................................................... 20 4.4. Mitigation Measures .................................................................................. 21 4.5. Residual impacts....................................................................................... 22 5. Onshore Ecology.............................................................................................. 22 5.1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 22 5.2. Existing Conditions.................................................................................... 23 5.2.1. Switchgear building, upgraded track and underground cables ........... 23 5.2.2. Underground cable to Black Craig lookout ......................................... 23 5.3. Potential impacts....................................................................................... 26 5.4. Mitigation measures .................................................................................. 27 5.5. Residual impacts....................................................................................... 27 6. Landuse, Fisheries and Socio-economic Issues............................................... 28 6.1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 28 6.2. Local economic benefits............................................................................ 28 6.3. Offshore issues ......................................................................................... 29 6.3.1. Sea Users .......................................................................................... 29 6.3.2. Potential Impacts ............................................................................... 29 6.3.3. Mitigation Measures........................................................................... 30 6.3.4. Residual Impacts ............................................................................... 31 6.4. Onshore issues ......................................................................................... 31 6.4.1. Existing conditions ............................................................................. 31 6.4.2. Potential impacts................................................................................ 32 Environmental Statement (Carl Bro) 2002 REP141-01-03 20071115 Marine Energy Test Centre, Orkney Environmental Statement 6.4.3. Mitigation measures........................................................................... 32 6.4.4. Residual impacts................................................................................ 33 7. Landscape and Visual Impact .......................................................................... 34 7.1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 34 7.2. Switchgear Building at Billia Croo.............................................................. 34 7.2.1. Existing Condtions ............................................................................. 34 7.2.2. Potential Impacts ............................................................................... 34 7.2.3. Mitigation Measures........................................................................... 35 7.2.4. Residual Impacts ............................................................................... 35 7.3. Redundant coastguard’s lookout building on Black Craig Hill .................... 36 7.3.1. Existing Conditions............................................................................. 36 7.3.2. Potential Impacts ............................................................................... 36 7.3.3. Mitigation Measures........................................................................... 36 7.3.4. Residual Impacts ............................................................................... 36 7.4. Off Shore Generating Devices................................................................... 36 8. Geology............................................................................................................ 37 8.1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 37 8.2. Existing Conditions.................................................................................... 37 8.2.1. Regional Setting................................................................................. 37 8.2.2. Site Geology ...................................................................................... 41 8.2.3. Geological conservation..................................................................... 43 8.3. Potential Impacts....................................................................................... 44 8.4. Mitigation Measures .................................................................................. 45 8.5. Residual Impacts....................................................................................... 45 9. Archaeological Heritage ................................................................................... 46 9.1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 46 9.2. Scope and Objectives of the Study ........................................................... 46 9.3. Methodology ............................................................................................. 47 9.4. Archaeology.............................................................................................. 48 9.4.1. Results of Walkover Survey ..............................................................