Inspector’s Report CORRIB GAS PIPELINE An Bord Pleanála CASE REFERENCE 16. GA.0004 Re-routing of the onshore upstream gas pipeline facility relating to the Corrib Gas Field Project at Glengad, Ros Dumhach, Aghoos, Bellagelly South, Co. Mayo 16. DA.0004 Corrib onshore pipeline Acquisition Order 2009 For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Applicant RPS, on behalf of Shell E&P Ireland Limited (SEPIL), Corrib House, 52 Leeson St. Lower, Dublin 2. Date of Applications 12th February, 2009 – 16.GA.0004 9th February, 2009 – 16.DA.0004 Inspector Mr. Martin Nolan EPA Export 11-08-2012:00:06:37 Preface This report has been written to stand complete and to provide ABP with a full analysis and assessment of these applications. The report provides firm recommendations on each application. Nevertheless the report is written and provides recommendations on the assessment of the issues considered which will enable the Board to proceed to take whichever decision the Board thinks fit. This report is laid out in five parts as follows: Part 1 Outline of the applications and written submissions received Chapters 1-3 Part 2 Policy Context Chapters 4-9 Part 3 The Oral Hearing Chapters 10-16 Part 4 The Issues to be considered Chapters 17-49 Part 5 Conclusions and Recommendations Chapters 49-51 Appendices 1 to 3 contain the reports of Mr. O’Sullivan Mr. O’Donnell and Mr. Wright 4 to 8 these contain copies of relevant documents The conclusions from each chapter are brought together for both Applications in Chapter 50. The recommendation for the Acquisition Order 16.DA.0004 is contained in Chapter 49. The recommendations on file 16.GA.0004 are presented in Chapter 51. I wish to thank Mr. Stephen O’Sullivan, Mr. Conor O’Donnell and Mr. Nigel Wright who have assisted me with this report. For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. EPA Export 11-08-2012:00:06:37 Table of Contents Chapter 1 The Scheme .................................................................................................................1-1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Project Description .....................................................................................................1-6 1.3 Services ......................................................................................................................1-7 1.4 Landfall Valve Installation (LVI)................................................................................1-9 1.5 The Permission Being Sought ...................................................................................1-13 1.6 The Acquisition Order File 16.DA.0004....................................................................1-13 Chapter 2 The Site ..................................................................................................................... 2-17 2.1 The Location.............................................................................................................2-17 2.2 Special Characteristics of the Site .............................................................................2-17 Chapter 3 The Submissions Received......................................................................................... 3-19 3.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................3-19 3.2 Written Submissions .................................................................................................3-19 3.3 Submissions received at the Oral Hearing .................................................................3-20 Chapter 4 Local Planning Policy: Mayo County Development Plan ........................................... 4-22 4.1 Mayo County Council Submission: April 7th 2009 ....................................................4-22 4.2 Issues Raised by Mayo County Council for the attention of ABP..............................4-23 4.3 Section 48/49 Development Contribution Scheme.....................................................4-24 4.4 Public Sewerage Facilities and Capacity to Facilitate the Proposed Development .....4-24 4.5 The Planning Authority’s Overall Considered View on the Proposal.........................4-24 4.6 Other Submissions by Mayo County Council............................................................4-25 4.7 Inspectors Conclusion...............................................................................................4-25 Chapter 5 Regional Planning Policy........................................................................................... 5-26 5.1 Regional Planning Guidelines ...................................................................................5-26 5.2 Inspectors Conclusion...............................................................................................5-27 Chapter 6 National Planning Policy Government Policy for Gas Infrastructure Development..... 6-28 6.1 National Development Plan (NDP) 2007 – 2013 .......................................................6-28 6.2 Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland (The White Paper) .....................6-28 6.3 National Spatial Strategy for Ireland 2002 - 2020......................................................6-31 6.4 Common Approach to Natural For Gas inspection on anpurposes All only. Island Basis ........................................6-32 6.5 Inspectors Conclusion:..............................................................................................6-33Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Chapter 7 Associated Permissions and Consents ........................................................................ 7-34 7.1 Schedule of Existing Consents ..................................................................................7-34 7.2 Schedule from the Letter of Application to An Bórd Pleanála ...................................7-34 7.3 Schedule of Other Relevant Permissions...................................................................7-36 7.4 Seven Phases of Development for the Scheme ..........................................................7-36 Chapter 8 Planning History ........................................................................................................ 8-38 Chapter 9 Legislative Context.................................................................................................... 9-40 9.1 Mr. O’Sullivan’s Report............................................................................................9-40 Chapter 10 Additional Information provided by The Applicant at the Oral Hearing ................. 10-50 10.1 Summary of OH Submissions ............................................................................... 10-50 10.2 Additional Documents Submitted by SEPIL at the OH.......................................... 10-55 Chapter 11 Planning Authority Submission To the Oral Hearing.............................................. 11-66 11.1 Additional Submissions by Mayo County Council to OH...................................... 11-66 Chapter 12 Dept. of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources...................................... 12-68 12.1 DCENR submissions to OH.................................................................................. 12-68 12.2 DCENR response of 11/05/09............................................................................... 12-68 12.3 DCENR Closing Statement................................................................................... 12-70 12.4 Summary of responses by The Chief Technical Adviser....................................... 12-71 12.5 Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 12-71 Chapter 13 DEHLG and National Parks and Wildlife Services................................................. 13-73 13.1 Inspectors Conclusions.......................................................................................... 13-73 Table of Contents i EPA Export 11-08-2012:00:06:37 13.2 Inspectors Summary of points made by DEHLG and NPWS................................. 13-74 Chapter 14 Environment Protection Agency and Health and Safety Authority.......................... 14-81 14.1 Environment Protection Agency............................................................................ 14-81 14.2 Health & Safety Authority .................................................................................... 14-82 Chapter 15 Observers............................................................................................................... 15-86 Chapter 16 Other Issues ........................................................................................................... 16-87 16.1 Challenge to Assistant Inspector ........................................................................... 16-87 16.2 Gender Balance of the Oral Hearing Group........................................................... 16-88 16.3 No Response from ABP to Correspondence .......................................................... 16-88 16.4 Methane Content of Corrib Gas............................................................................. 16-88 16.5 Indicative Costs .................................................................................................... 16-89 16.6 Conclusions .........................................................................................................