Etteridge to Boat of Garten Rationalisation Scheme Environmental Statement Volume 1: Main Report February 2012 Etteridge to Boat of Garten Rationalisation Scheme Environmental Statement Preface Introduction This Environmental Statement has been prepared on behalf of Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD), a subsidiary of Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution Limited (SSEPD), in accordance with the statutory procedures set out in the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000. The Environmental Statement is provided in support of the application for consent made to the Scottish Ministers under section 37 of the Electricity Act. The section 37 application for consent (the section 37 application) is to install and keep installed a new 33kV electric line, supported by wooden poles, between Etteridge and Boat of Garten located within the Cairngorms National Park. This Environmental Statement also includes an assessment of the proposed underground cable installation between Etteridge and Boat of Garten and the dismantling of the existing steel lattice tower line between Etteridge and Boat of Garten. These activities do not require section 37 consent, but are considered in this document to provide an assessment of the environmental effects of all aspects of the Etteridge to Boat of Garten rationalisation scheme, as approved by the Scottish Ministers pursuant to Condition 19.-(1)(a) of the section 37 consent for the Beauly to Denny 400kV overhead line, dated 6th January 20101. The Environmental Statement comprises: Non-Technical Summary; Volume 1: Main Report; Volume 2: Figures; and Volume 3: Technical Appendices. Notification The section 37 application, including the Environmental Statement, will be publicised in accordance with the Electricity (Applications for Consent) Regulations 1990, and section 9 of the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000. Notice will be served to the relevant planning authority, in this case The Highland Council, of the application to the Scottish Ministers for consent under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. The Environmental Statement will be provided to the following consultees: The Highland Council; Cairngorm National Park Authority; Scottish Environment Protection Agency; Scottish Natural Heritage; Forestry Commission; 1 Later amended by ‘The Overhead Transmission Line (Beauly to Wharry Burn) Modification of Planning Permission Order 2011’, 10th March 2011; Volume 1: Main Report 0-1 Chapter 0: Preface Etteridge to Boat of Garten Rationalisation Scheme Environmental Statement Historic Scotland; Marine Scotland (in land fisheries); Transport Scotland; and Spey District Salmon Fishery Board. In addition, a copy of the Environmental Statement will be made available to the RSPB, and local Community Councils. The Environmental Statement will be available for viewing at the following locations: The Highland Council, Planning and Building Standards Office, 100 High Street, Kingussie, PH21 1HY; Aviemore Library, Units 1 & 2, Market Hall, Aviemore,PH22 1RH ; and Cairngorm National Park Authority, 14 The Square, Grantown on Spey, PH26 3HG. An electronic version of the application submission, including the Environmental Statement, will be available to download from the applicant’s website (www.sse.com/beaulydenny). The Environmental Statement will be available in paper format at a cost of £350 (including VAT, postage and packaging) or on CD-ROM at a cost of £20 (including VAT, postage and packaging). Copies of the Environmental Statement can be obtained from: Amanda Queen SSE Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth, PH1 3AQ Tel: 0845 0701 696 Paper copies of the Non-Technical Summary of the Environmental Statement are available free of charge. Please quote Etteridge to Boat of Garten Rationalisation Scheme when ordering documents. Volume 1: Main Report 0-2 Chapter 0: Preface Etteridge to Boat of Garten Rationalisation Scheme Environmental Statement Commenting on this development Any comments you would like to make on this development should be made to the Energy Consents and Deployment Unit at the Scottish Government by email to [email protected] OR by post to Energy Consents and Deployment Unit Scottish Government 4th Floor 5 Atlantic Quay 150 Broomielaw Glasgow, G2 8LU Representations should be dated. Please include your name and full return email or postal address. All representations to the Scottish Government will be copied in full to the planning authority, and made available to the public on request, unless individuals request otherwise. Volume 1: Main Report 0-3 Chapter 0: Preface Etteridge to Boat of Garten Rationalisation Scheme Environmental Statement Table of Contents Main Report Chapter 1 Introduction Introduction Background Key Terminology Application Details and Ledisiative Context Development Context Environmental Sensitivity Structure of the Environmental Statement Chapter 2 EIA Process Environmental Impact Assessment EIA Process – Screening EIA Process – Scoping and Consultation EIA Methodology Mitigation Cumulative Impacts Assumptions and Limitations Environmental Statement Chapter 3 Route Selection and Alternatives Introduction Development Considerations Alternatives Chapter 4 Description of Developments Introduction Application for Consent Description of project Description of Route Substations and ancillary works Programme Operation and Management of the Electric Line Volume 1: Main Report Table of Contents Etteridge to Boat of Garten Rationalisation Scheme Environmental Statement Chapter 5 Construction Introduction Construction Programme Hours of Work Construction Traffic and Plant Description of Construction Works Description of Dismantling Works Construction and Dismantling Management Potential Construction and Dismantling Phase Environmental Impacts Chapter 6 Ecology and Ornithology Introduction International Legislation & Policy Issues Identified During Consultation Assessment Methodology Baseline Conditions Ecological Evaluation Potential Impacts Mitigation Assessment of Residual Impacts Summary Chapter 7 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Introduction Legislation & Policy Context Issues Identified During Consultation Assessment Methodology Baseline Conditions Potential Impacts Mitigation Assessment of Residual Impacts Summary Chapter 8 Water Resources Introduction Legislation & Policy Volume 1: Main Report Table of Contents Etteridge to Boat of Garten Rationalisation Scheme Environmental Statement Issues Identified During Consultation Assessment Methodology Baseline Conditions Potential Impacts Mitigation Assessment of Residual Impacts Summary Chapter 9 Landscape and Visual Amenity Introduction Legislation and Policy Context Issues Identified During Consultation Assessment Methodology Future Baseline Impact Identification Mitigation Residual Impacts Summary of Visual Impacts Chapter 10 Forestry Introduction Legislation & Policy Context Issues Identified During Consultation Assessment Methodology Baseline Conditions Potential Impacts Mitigation Assessment of Residual Impacts Residual Operational Impacts Summary Chapter 11 Summary Summary Volume 1: Main Report Table of Contents Etteridge to Boat of Garten Rationalisation Scheme Environmental Statement Volume 1: Main Report Table of Contents Etteridge to Boat of Garten Rationalisation Scheme Environmental Statement 1 Introduction Introduction 1.1 The Applicant, Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD), a subsidiary of Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution Limited (SSEPD), is seeking consent to install and keep installed a new 33kV electric line supported by wooden poles between Etteridge and Boat of Garten grid substation, located within the Cairngorms National Park. This Environmental Statement (ES) is provided in support of the application for consent made to the Scottish Government under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. 1.2 The ES has been prepared on behalf of SHEPD in accordance with the statutory procedures set out in the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (The Electricity Works EIA Regulations). This ES also includes an assessment of underground cable installation and the dismantling of the existing steel lattice tower transmission line, which, whilst not activities requiring section 37 consent, are considered in this document to provide an assessment of the environmental effects of the Proposed Development as a whole. 1.3 This ES has been prepared in order to provide information on the potential significant environmental effects associated with the Proposed Development, in order to inform stakeholders and to support the decision making process of the competent authority. Background 1.4 In January 2010, Scottish Ministers granted consent under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989, to Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited (SHETL) to install and keep installed a double circuit 400kV overhead transmission line (OHTL) from Beauly substation to Wharry Burn, near Dunblane (the Consent). Planning conditions attached to the Consent for the Beauly to Denny OHTL require a number of rationalisation schemes to be undertaken. 1.5 The requirements of condition 19 of the Consent1 are as follows: “Cairngorms National Park Rationalisation Scheme 19.-(1) Neither the overhead transmission line nor the towers carrying that line shall be installed or constructed in the area of THC until- (a) a scheme prepared in accordance