Vermilion Exploration & Production Ireland Ltd Corrib Subsea Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance Surveys - 2021 Natura Impact Statement 660841 November 2020 RSK GENERAL NOTES Project No.: 660841 Title: Corrib Subsea Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance Surveys – Natura Impact Statement Client: Vermilion Exploration & Production Ireland Limited (Vermilion) Date: 13th November 2020 Office: Bristol Status: Final Authorised by: Project Manager Date: 13-11-2020 Andrew Bendell Authorised by: Project QA Rep Date: 13-11-2020 David Watson AB DW/JN 13-11-2020 E Final For issue AUTHOR CHECKED DATE ISSUED POST REV PURPOSE OF ISSUE ISSUED / ELECTRONIC RSK Environment Ltd (RSK) has prepared this report for the sole use of the client, showing reasonable skill and care, for the intended purposes as stated in the agreement under which this work was completed. The report may not be relied upon by any other party without the express agreement of the client and RSK. No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the professional advice included in this report. Where any data supplied by the client or from other sources have been used, it has been assumed that the information is correct. No responsibility can be accepted by RSK for inaccuracies in the data supplied by any other party. The conclusions and recommendations in this report are based on the assumption that all relevant information has been supplied by those bodies from whom it was requested. No part of this report may be copied or duplicated without the express permission of RSK and the party for whom it was prepared. Where field investigations have been carried out, these have been restricted to a level of detail required to achieve the stated objectives of the work. This work has been undertaken in accordance with the quality management system of RSK Environment Ltd. CONTENTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. 1 2 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Purpose of this document .................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 The stages of Appropriate Assessment ............................................................................................... 3 2.3 Previously Assessed Activities ............................................................................................................. 5 2.4 Alternatives .......................................................................................................................................... 6 2.5 Consideration of significance ............................................................................................................... 6 2.6 Consideration of integrity ..................................................................................................................... 7 3 PROPOSED ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................................................ 8 3.1 Background – an overview of the Corrib Gas Development ................................................................ 8 3.2 Overview of work scope – Survey and localised maintenance of the main export pipeline, umbilical, BBGT treated surface water outfall pipeline, and infield flowlines and umbilicals .............................................. 8 3.2.1 Primary acoustic survey equipment ..................................................................................................... 9 3.2.1.1 Multi-beam echosounder (MBES) ............................................................................................ 9 3.2.1.2 Sub-bottom profiler ................................................................................................................ 11 3.2.1.3 Side-scan sonar ..................................................................................................................... 11 3.2.1.4 Soft start ................................................................................................................................ 12 3.2.2 Other inspection / maintenance survey equipment ............................................................................ 12 3.3 Schedule ............................................................................................................................................ 12 3.4 Vessels............................................................................................................................................... 12 4 EUROPEAN SITES .................................................................................................................................... 16 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 16 4.2 European sites in the vicinity of the Corrib Development................................................................... 16 4.3 Characteristics of European sites ...................................................................................................... 41 4.3.1 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) .............................................................................................. 41 4.3.1.1 Broadhaven Bay SAC ............................................................................................................ 41 4.3.1.2 Glenamoy Bog Complex SAC ............................................................................................... 42 4.3.1.3 West Connacht Coast SAC ................................................................................................... 42 4.3.1.4 Erris Head SAC ..................................................................................................................... 43 4.3.1.5 Mullet / Blacksod Bay Complex SAC ..................................................................................... 43 4.3.1.6 Owenduff / Nephin Complex SAC ......................................................................................... 43 4.3.1.7 Inishkea Islands SAC ............................................................................................................. 44 4.3.1.8 Duvillaun Islands SAC ........................................................................................................... 44 4.3.1.9 River Moy SAC ...................................................................................................................... 44 4.3.1.10 Killala Bay / Moy Estuary SAC ............................................................................................... 45 4.3.1.11 Newport River SAC ................................................................................................................ 45 4.3.1.12 Clew Bay Complex SAC ........................................................................................................ 45 4.3.1.13 Mweelrea / Sheeffry / Erriff Complex SAC ............................................................................. 45 4.3.1.14 Cummeen Strand / Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) SAC ............................................................... 46 4.3.1.15 Inishbofin and Inishshark SAC ............................................................................................... 46 Vermilion Exploration & Production Ireland Ltd i Corrib Subsea Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance Surveys – Natura Impact Statement 660841/02_Rev00 4.3.1.16 The Twelve Bens / Garraun Complex SAC ........................................................................... 46 4.3.1.17 Ballysadare Bay SAC ............................................................................................................ 47 4.3.1.18 Maumturk Mountains SAC ..................................................................................................... 47 4.3.1.19 Slieve Tooey / Tormore Island / Loughros Beg Bay SAC ...................................................... 47 4.3.1.20 Lough Corrib SAC .................................................................................................................. 48 4.3.1.21 Lough Gill SAC ...................................................................................................................... 48 4.3.1.22 Connemara Bog Complex SAC ............................................................................................. 48 4.3.1.23 Slyne Head Islands SAC ....................................................................................................... 48 4.3.1.24 Kilkieran Bay and Islands SAC .............................................................................................. 49 4.3.1.25 Lough Melvin SAC ................................................................................................................. 49 4.3.1.26 West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC ........................................................................................... 49 4.3.1.27 Donegal Bay (Murvagh) SAC ................................................................................................ 50 4.3.1.28 Rutland Island and Sound SAC ............................................................................................. 50 4.3.1.29 Lough Eske and Ardnamona Wood SAC .............................................................................. 50 4.3.1.30 Galway Bay Complex SAC ...................................................................................................