Arklow Bank Wind Park, Phase 2 Marine Site Investigations Natura Impact Statement Comprising a Stage One screening appraisal for appropriate assessment, and a Stage Two appraisal for appropriate assessment SPL DOCUMENT REF: LF100034-CST-OF-LIC-LIC-0002-2 Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 2 Marine Site Investigations Natura Impact Statement Version F06 April 2021 LF100034-CST-OF-LIC-LIC-0002–2 | Marine Site Investigations | Natura Impact Statement | April 2021 www.rpsgroup.com SPL Document Reference: LF100034-CST-OF-LIC-LIC-0002-2 Document status Review Version Purpose of document Author Reviewer Approved by date Rev F06 Revised final issue JMC MW/DN/PD JMC 13.04.2021 Approval for issue James McCrory 13 April 2021 © Copyright RPS Group Limited. All rights reserved. The report has been prepared for the exclusive use of our client and unless otherwise agreed in writing by RPS Group Limited no other party may use, make use of or rely on the contents of this report. 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Prepared by: Prepared for: RPS Sure Partners Limited James McCrory CEcol CEnv MCIEEM CBiol MRSB John O’Sullivan Senior Associate | Ecology Marine Package Manager Elmwood House, 74 Boucher Road Red Oak South, South County Business Park, Belfast, Co. Antrim BT36 6SE Leopardstown, Dublin 18, D18 W688 T +44 (0)28 9066 7914 T +353 (0)1 655 6000 E [email protected] MHC-22113574-1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Glossary ..............................................................................................................................................iii Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................. v Units…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...vii 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Appropriate Assessment ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1.1 The Habitats Directive ......................................................................................................... 1 1.1.2 Irish Legislation .................................................................................................................... 2 1.1.3 UK Departure from the EU ................................................................................................... 3 1.1.4 The Appropriate Assessment Process ................................................................................ 3 1.2 Document Structure .................................................................................................................... 4 1.2.1 Methodology and Guidance ................................................................................................. 4 1.2.2 Proposed Development ....................................................................................................... 4 1.2.3 Stage One Screening Appraisal .......................................................................................... 4 1.2.4 Stage Two Appraisal for Appropriate Assessment .............................................................. 4 2 Methodology .................................................................................................................................... 6 2.1.1 Published guidance on Appropriate Assessment ................................................................ 6 2.1.2 Likely Significant Effect ........................................................................................................ 7 2.1.3 Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................................. 7 2.1.4 Consideration of Ex-situ Effects ........................................................................................... 8 2.1.5 Conservation Objectives ...................................................................................................... 8 2.1.6 In-combination Effects ......................................................................................................... 9 3 The Proposed Development .......................................................................................................... 11 3.1 Location of the Project .............................................................................................................. 11 3.2 Marine Surveys Proposed ........................................................................................................ 11 3.3 Description of the Proposed Survey Works.............................................................................. 14 3.3.1 Survey Schedule ................................................................................................................ 14 3.3.2 Survey Vessels .................................................................................................................. 14 3.3.3 Geotechnical Survey .......................................................................................................... 19 3.3.4 Wind Resource Survey (Floating LiDAR) .......................................................................... 23 3.3.5 Sediment dynamics measurement .................................................................................... 24 4 Stage One Screening Appraisal for Appropriate Assessment ....................................................... 25 4.1 Directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site ...................................... 25 4.2 European sites .......................................................................................................................... 25 4.3 Ascertaining Whether Impact Pathways Exist .......................................................................... 33 4.4 Possible Effects ........................................................................................................................ 33 4.4.1 Habitat Loss ....................................................................................................................... 33 4.4.2 Water Quality ..................................................................................................................... 37 4.4.3 Underwater Disturbance .................................................................................................... 43 4.4.4 Aerial Disturbance and Displacement................................................................................ 61 4.5 In-Combination Effects ............................................................................................................. 65 4.5.1 Arklow Bank Wind Park ..................................................................................................... 68 4.5.2 Arklow WwTP ..................................................................................................................... 71 4.5.3 Energia Site Investigations ................................................................................................ 72 4.5.4 Codling Bank Wind Park Site Investigations ..................................................................... 72 4.5.5 Dublin Array Site Investigations ......................................................................................... 73 4.5.6 Kilmichael Point Site Investigations ................................................................................... 73 4.6 Conclusion of the Screening Appraisal .................................................................................... 74 5 Stage Two Appraisal for Appropriate Assessment ........................................................................ 80 5.1 Underwater Disturbance ........................................................................................................... 80 5.2 Water Quality ............................................................................................................................ 81 5.3 Mitigation Measures ................................................................................................................. 82 5.4 In-Combination Effects ............................................................................................................. 86 6 Conclusion of the Habitats Directive Appraisals ............................................................................ 87 Appendix 1: Foreshore Licence Map ................................................................................................ 89 Appendix 2: Conservation Objectives .............................................................................................. 92 Appendix 3: Physical Processes Baseline