I I For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. ,.. L.W. Environmental Planners .. ,e Mews 23 Farnham Street Cavan Tel: 049 4371447 /9 E-mail [email protected] EPA Export 28-06-2018:03:59:52 Mr. Anthony McCluskey Environmental Impact Assessment Report (E.I.A.R.} CONTENTS Page No. Non-Technical Summary 1 1. Introduction & Development Context 5 1.1 Description of site and proposed development 1.1.1 Scale of proposed developments 5 1.1.2 Planning/ Licensing History 6 1.1.3 Site Location 7 1.1.4 Topography 8 1.1.5 Physical description of the proposed development 9 1.1.6 Operation of the farm 10 2. Scoping of Environmental Impact Assessment 13 2.1 Data required to identify the main effects that the proposed 16 development is likely to have on the environment 2.2 Project Type as per EPA Draft Guidelines 17 3. Description of Reasonab.le Alternatives 18 For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. 4. Environmental Assessment 20 4.1.1 Description of the physical characteristics of the proposed 20 development and the land use requirements during construction and operation. 4.1.2 A description of the main characteristics of the production 21 processes, nature and quantity of materials used. 4.1.3 An estimate, by type and quantity, of expected residues and 22 emissions (including water, air and soil pollution, noise vibration, light, heat and radiation) and quantities and types of waste produced during the construction and operation phases. C.L. W. Environmental Planners Ltd. November 2017 Page (i) EPA Export 28-06-2018:03:59:52 Mr. Anthony McCluskey Environmental Impact Assessment Report (E.I.A.R.) 4.2 A description of the relevant aspects of the current state of the 24 environment (baseline scenario) and an outline of the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the project as far as natural changes from the baseline scenario can be assessed with reasonable effort on the basis of the availability of environmental information and scientific knowledge. 4.3 Descriptions of the aspects of the environments likely to be significantly affected by the proposed development 4.3.1 Effect on Population and Human Health 25 4.3.2 Effect on Bio-diversity (Flora and Fauna) 26 4.3.3 Effect on Land and Soil 29 4.3.4 Effect on Geological & Geomorphological Heritage of the 30 Area 4.3.5 Effect on Water 31 4.3.6 Effect on Air 33 4.3.7 Effect on Climate/Climate Change 34 4.3.8 Effects on Visual Aspects and Landscape 35 4.3.9 Effect on Archaeological & Cultural Heritage 36 4.3.10 Effect on Material Assets 37 4.4 Description of the significant effects of the proposed development 39 4.5 The forecasting methods used For inspection to assess purposes the only. effects on the environment 43 Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. 4.6 Cumulative and Transboundary Effects 43 4.7 Inter-relationships 44 4.8 Difficulties encountered in compiling the required information 51 5. Description of measures envisaged to avoid, reduce, prevent or if 52 possible, offset any identified significant adverse effects on the environment. 6. Environmental Management Programme 53 7. Summary 55 C.L. W. Environmental Planners Ltd. November 2017 Page (ii) EPA Export 28-06-2018:03:59:52 Mr. Anthony McCluskey Environmental Impact Assessment Report (E.I.A.R.} A. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY This Environmental Impact Assessment Report (E.I.A.R.) has been prepared by C.L.W. Environmental Planners Ltd. on behalf of Mr. Anthony McCluskey, Coskemduff, Cootehill, Co. Cavan in respect of the operation of 2 No. poultry houses together with all ancillary structures and associated site works, on an existing site. The E.I.A.R. has been prepared by Mr. Paraic Fay B.Agr.Sc and Mr. Oliver Leddy B.Agr.Sc. of C.L.W. Environmental Planners Ltd. with the assistance of persons and bodies referred to hereafter. The farm will operate under Licence by the Environmental Protection Agency, and this E.I.A.R. has been completed in respect of this licence application. The operation is to be completed an existing site at Coskemduff, Cootehill, Co. Cavan. The E.I.A.R. has been prepared after an Environmental Impact Assessment (E.I.A.) of the operation carried out by C.L.W. Environmental Planners Ltd., in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), Planning & Development Regulations 2001-2015 and the Protection of Environment Act 2003. The existing farm operated by the applicant has operated as a poultry farm for a long number of years. The operation is located on a site previously approved by Cavan Co. Co. and will access on to the adjoining public road via the existing entrance. The operation of 2 No. Broiler rearing houses is, and will be, carried on within the existing site. The capacity of the farm is/will be 50,000 birds exceeding the threshold required for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment Report as per 5.1. 600 of 2001 (Planning and Development Regulations 2001), Schedule 5 Part 2 1 (e) (i) as follows; "Installations for intensive rearing of poultry not included in Part 1 of this Schedule which would have more than 40,000 places for poultry." For inspection purposes only. As all manure is to be moved off-siteConsent of by copyright a registered owner required contractorfor any other use. in line with the requirements of 5.1. 31 of 2014. The additional structures and site works required as part of the operation will include meal storage silo(s), soiled water tank, and gas storage tanks etc. The operation is located in the townland of Coskemduff, Cootehill. The operation of the operation is integrated, in so far as is possible, with the operation of the existing farming activities, and provides for a sustainable diversification of activities on the farm. The capacity of this farm is and will be in excess of that for which a Licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) is required. This E.I.A.R. will be submitted to the EPA as part of the Licence application process. The application site lies within the North-Western River Basin District, the Erne Hydrometric Area and Catchment and the Annalee sub-catchment. There are no mapped watercourses within or immediately adjacent to the application site. C.L.W. Environmental Planners Ltd. November 2017 Page 1 EPA Export 28-06-2018:03:59:52 Mr. Anthony McCluskey Environmental Impact Assessment Report (E.I.A.R.} The closest relevant watercourse (i.e., within the same sub-catchment) is Coskemduff Lough, which is 497m south-west of the application site. This is fed by the Kilclogha Stream, which exists the lake and flows in a northerly direction until its confluence with the Madabawn Stream, where if flows briefly until it reaches the Annalee River, approximately 1.2km north­ west of the application site. The EPA have defined the ecological status of the Kilclogha and Madabawn Streams and the Annalee River at points close to the application site as good. Under the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, this is satisfactory and it is important that this status is maintained. The site in question is located in a rural area within the townland of Coskemduff. The site is c. 0.6 hectares in area and it is accessed via a local third class road. It is 7.5 km south east of Cootehill and 7.5 km north west of Shercock. The activity on the farm is, and will be, a poultry farming activity appropriate to the area and consistent with the development plan for Co. Cavan. The site is well serviced by the current road infrastructure and is accessed by a local road which subsequently connects with the Regional Route, the R192 Cootehill - Shercock Road, c. 3 km from the farm. The poultry houses are located c. 275 m from the adjoining local road. The finished floor level is in keeping with existing ground levels minimising potential visual impact. The location of the operation, screened by the existing land topography and the existing hedgerows together with the existing external finishes and existing landscaping will mean that the development is well integrated into the existing landscape. The site is located c. 22 Km from the closest Natura 2000 site - Lough Oughter and associated Loughs SAC. For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Hazardous waste generated at this site is / will be in the form of spent fluorescent lighting tubes. The annual quantity of each of this class of waste generated on the site is and will be mimimal. It is proposed to accumulate the used fluorescent tubes in a specialised storage area in the site pending periodic disposal at the Cavan Co. Co. civic amenity centre. Alternatively these tubes may be returned to the supplier. The existing poultry houses are similar in design principles to other broiler houses constructed throughout this part of Co. Cavan. The type of house is a simple closed building of concrete and timber panel construction, thermally insulated with a forced computer controlled ventilation system and artificial lighting. Birds are housed on a solid floor, with litter (wood shavings/chopped straw) spread over the entire floor area. Automated feeding and drinking systems are utilised and are in line with Best Available Techniques (BAT) requirements. A button nipple drinking system is used as this is the most efficient type of drinking system and will ensure that the manure/litter remains as dry as possible.