Attachment-E DUMPING OPERATIONS DUMPING AT SEA PERMIT APPLICATION Fenit Harbour, Tralee, Co. Kerry Attachment E Dumping Operations CONTENTS E.1 DUMPING SITE SELECTION REPORT E.2 GENERAL INFORMATION E.2 (I) Characteristics of the dumping site(s) E.2 (II) Location of the dumping site E.3 DETAILS OF THE DUMPING OPERATION E.3 (I) Date of commencement and duration of the dumping operations E.3 (II) Name and address of operator contracted to carry out the dumping at sea (if known) E.3 (III) Location and method of dumping E.3 (IV) Total quantities (in tonnes (wet weight) and cubic meters) to be dumped per day/ week/month. Attachment E.1(I) Dump site Selection Report (MWP 2015) Attachment E.2(I) Marine Benthic Study Fenit Harbour Dredging and Disposal Operations (Aquafact 2018) Page 1 of 6 Attachment E Dumping Operations E.1 DUMPING SITE SELECTION The proposed dump site for the future dredging campaign is the same as that used by Fenit Harbour and Marina for disposal of dredged materials arising from the maintenance dredging campaign undertaken in 2016 and in previous campaigns back to 1996. The use of the dumpsite within Tralee Bay had evolved historically overtime and was influenced by local fisheries knowledge, navigation and guidance from the management team in Fenit Harbour. Historically Dumping At Sea Permits were issued by the Department of Marine and those permits did not have the benefit of a detailed site selection process. The preparation of the DAS permit application in 2014 included a comprehensive site selection process to ensure the suitability of the dumpsite. The dump site selection process was driven by constraints analysis and an iterative process where potential locations were examined and either discounted or investigated further. Prior to its final selection a number of assessments at the dumpsite were undertaken including: . Baseline bathymetry undertaken by Hydrographic Surveys Ltd to establish the bed profile. Current speed and direction assessment undertaken by Hydrographic Surveys Ltd. Underwater Archaeological Impact Assessment completed by Lar Dunne Archaeology . Baseline Characterisation Report completed by Aquafact . Sediment Transport Model completed by Aquafact . Sediment sampling from the proposed dredge material within the harbour and analysis of same by RPS Laboratories . Natura Impact Statement (NIS) addressing both the dredge location and the proposed dumpsite location. A copy of the site selection report completed in 2014/2015 is included in Attachment E.1(I). Given the short timeframe since the last dumping activities, the site characteristics of the existing dumpsite would not be expected to have changed significantly in the intervening period so historical studies undertaken relating to the dumpsite and its selection are deemed to be relevant. Notwithstanding this, prior to the selection of the existing dumpsite as the proposed site for disposal of sediments arising from future maintenance dredging campaign, a number of further surveys have been undertaken. These include: Benthic survey of the dump site completed by Aquafact Site Characterisation Report and sediment sampling completed by Aquafact Updated Archaeological Report completed by Lar Dunne Archaeology Updated Marine Mammal Risk Assessment by IWDG The reports were completed by the same consultant specialists who completed studies as part of the Dumpsite Selection Report of 2014/2015. AQUAFACT International Services Ltd carried out a benthic survey of the dump site in 2018. The survey identifies variations in the community type and dominating species between the sampling stations. These local variations are common in the natural environment. This would suggest that the past dumping activities had no long term impact on the general environment within the dump site. A copy of this report is included in Attachment E.2(I). Page 2 of 6 Attachment E Dumping Operations Nothing of archaeological interest was found during the underwater archaeological assessment of the dumpsite in 2015. The report of the Marine Mammal Observer indicates that the dumping of dredged material did not have a significant impact on marine mammals in the area. E.2 GENERAL INFORMATION E.2 (I) Characteristics of the dumping site(s) Distance from nearest shore The dumpsite is located approximately 3km west of the coast at Carrahane Lower townland and approximately 1.5km north-northwest of Fenit Island in the outer part of Tralee Bay. It lies between 1.5km to 2.5km south and southeast of Illaunnabarnagh and Mucklaghmore Islands Average, minimum and maximum depth of water (referenced to OD Malin); Depths within the dumpsite range between 16.4 and 19.6m and outside the dumpsite they ranged from 13.7 to 19.1m. Sediment characteristics The sediment type in the disposal site consists of fine/medium sand, coarse/medium sand and gravelly coarse sand and sandy gravel. Areas of hard ground occur in the western half. Very fine sand dominate just over 1km south of the dumpsite. Fine/very fine sand dominate to the east of the dumpsite and a gravelly coarse/very coarse sand dominate to the north. All sediments were classified as sand, gravelly sand or sandy gravel by Folk (1954). Silt-clay fractions were low throughout (<10%). Further details are provided in the Marine Benthic Study of the dumpsite undertaken by Aquafact. (See Attachment E.2 (I)). Nature of seabed habitats The faunal assemblage of the dumpsite and surrounding areas can be classified by Fossitt (2000) as SS1 Infralittoral gravels and sands. Variations in the community type and dominating species between the stations was evident. These local variations are common in the natural environment. All species observed are typically of the gravelly/sandy habitat in the area. Some of the main dominants of the assemblage include the bivalve Spisula subtruncata and the polychaetes Magelona johnstoni, Nephtys sp. and Syllis pontxioi. Further details are provided in the Marine Benthic Study of the dumpsite undertaken by Aquafact. (See Attachment E.2 (I)). Current/flow/tidal regime; etc. Tidal currents are generally low at the dump site. The current largest velocities occur at mid ebb and mid flood with magnitudes ranging from 0.2 to 0.3 m/s. Past Disposal at the dumpsite The dumpsite was previously used as the disposal site for the dredging campaign at Fenit Harbour undertaken in 2016. The volume of material dumped was 130,000 tonnes. Page 3 of 6 Attachment E Dumping Operations E.2 (II) Location of the dumping site Co-ordinates from the corners of the dump site areas are set out in Table 1 below. A chart outlining its position is shown in Figure 1 below and in Drawing No. 18598-5005A Table 1 Co-ordinates of Dumping at sea location WGS84 datum ITM Latitude Longitude Easting Northing (dd mm.mmm) (dd mm.mmm) (TL) 52 19.43938 9 54.34701 470091 620862 (TR) 52 19.453516 9 53.467316 471091 620862 (BR) 52 18.9145 9 53.444 471091 619862 (BL) 52 18.90036 9 54.32385 470091 619862 Figure 1 Location of spoil disposal site Page 4 of 6 Attachment E Dumping Operations E.3 DETAILS OF THE DUMPING OPERATION E.3 (I) Date of commencement and duration of the dumping operations The commencement date is unknown at this juncture as it is subject to the grant of the foreshore licence and dumping at sea permits. Operations will commence as rapidly as possible after the required licence and permit have been issued and a contractor appointed. Table 1 sets out an anticipated dumping schedule. It is envisaged that in Year 1 dumping will take place over a 4-6 week period, and annually thereafter over a 3-4 week period. Dumping activities are envisaged to take place typically between February- May annually. E.3 (II) Name and address of operator contracted to carry out the dumping at sea (if known) Currently unknown. Contractor not yet appointed. E.3 (III) Location and method of dumping Location as described and shown in Section E.2 (II). Method of dumping will be undertaken by releasing the dredged material by opening the hatches in the bottom of the dredging vessel. The area over which the dredger deposit each load is recorded with co-ordinates and the volume deposited is noted. Deposition is undertaken at optimum times of the tide, within good weather windows. There will also be monitoring of the plume at the deposition site as part of normal good practice. Once the dredger is finished the disposal process it then returns back to port and recommences the dredging operation The hydrodynamic modelling assessment undertaken for the 2016 permit, shows that less than 20% of the material will deposit and stay within the dumpsite location and the remainder will re-disperse within the wider and outer bay area. Given that material is not contaminated and occurs within the bay, then the fact that the majority re-disperses within the dumpsite area and the wider bay should have no negative effects, as in effect the dredging and deposition process is mimicking what occurs naturally in the system. Any temporary deposition of material will not have a detrimental effect on faunal communities within the habitat. Page 5 of 6 Attachment E Dumping Operations E.3 (IV) Total quantities (in tonnes (wet weight) and cubic meters) to be dumped per day/ week/month. Table 1 Approximate estimates of material be dumped on an weekly basis Total Volume to be Dumped Estimated Estimated Volume per Week Dumping duration Year (Tonnes) m3 (tonnes) m3 1 250,000 156,250 4-6 weeks 40,000 – 65,000 25,000 – 40,500 2 100,000 62,500 3-4 weeks 25,000 – 33,500 15,500 – 21,000 3 150,000 93,750