Natura Impact Statement for Proposed Jetty extension and slipway - Frenchport, Co Mayo Report for: Mayo County Council March 2015 Report by: Woodrow Sustainable Solutions Ltd Main Street Ballisodare Telephone: 071 9140542 Email: [email protected] DOCUMENT CONTROL Natura Impact Statement – Proposed Proposed Jetty Document extension and slipway - Frenchport, Co Mayo Client Mayo Local Enterprise Office Will Woodrow Woodrow Sustainable Solutions Ltd Prepared by Main Street, Ballisodare, Co Sligo, Ireland. T: +353 719140542 Lead Author Will Woodrow Checked internally WW Checked by client Status / Version / Date V1 27 03 15 STATEMENT OF AUTHORITY This report is written by Will Woodrow, MSc. MCIEEM. The author has considerable experience in impact assessment of projects including over ten years’ specific experience in Article 6 Assessments under the EU Habitats Directive and Ecological Impact Assessments. As a Full Member and Associate Member respectively of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, the author employs a high degree of competence and professional standard in his approach to environmental assessment. Will Woodrow – qualifications: HND – Conservation Management MSc – European Environmental Policy and Regulation MSc (Arch) – Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Requirement for a Natura Impact Statement ................................................................. 1 1.3 Structure/ Layout of the report ....................................................................................... 1 1.4 Survey Dates and Main Sources of Consultation and Information .............................. 2 2 DESCRIPTION AND FEATURES OF THE PROJECT AND AREA .................................... 3 2.1 Location ............................................................................................................................ 3 2.2 Project details .................................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Area description and issues .......................................................................................... 8 2.3.1 Area description ..................................................................................................... 8 2.3.2 Management and current use .............................................................................. 11 3 DESCRIPTION OF NATURA 2000 SITES ......................................................................... 13 3.1 Termoncarragh Lake and Annagh Machair Special Protection Area (SPA 004093) .... 13 3.1.1 Qualifying features of the Termoncarragh Lake and Annagh Machair Special Protection Area (SPA site code: 004093) .......................................................................... 13 3.1.2 Proximity of the proposal to Natura 2000 features ............................................... 13 3.1.3 Main threats to the site ......................................................................................... 14 3.2 Mullet Peninsula Special Protection Area (SPA site code 004227) ............................. 14 3.2.1 Qualifying features of the Mullet Peninsula Special Protection Area (SPA) .......... 15 3.2.2 Proximity of the proposal to Natura 2000 features ............................................... 15 3.2.3 Main threats to the site ......................................................................................... 15 3.3 Mullet / Blacksod Bay Complex SAC (SAC site code 000470) .................................... 15 3.3.1 Qualifying features of the Mullet / Blacksod Bay Complex Special Area of Conservation (SAC) .......................................................................................................... 16 3.3.2 Proximity of the proposal to Natura 2000 features ............................................... 16 3.3.3 Main threats to the site ......................................................................................... 18 3.4 Erris Head Special Area of Conservation (SAC site code 001501) .............................. 18 3.4.1 Qualifying features of the SAC ............................................................................. 19 3.4.2 Proximity of the proposal to Natura 2000 features ............................................... 19 3.4.3 Main threats to the site ......................................................................................... 19 3.5 West Connacht Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC site code 002998) ............ 20 3.5.1 Qualifying features of the SAC ............................................................................. 20 3.5.2 Proximity of the proposal to Natura 2000 features ............................................... 20 3.5.3 Main threats to the site ......................................................................................... 21 3.6 Screening Matrix ......................................................................................................... 22 2 4 CONCLUSIONS OF SCREENING ASSESSMENT ........................................................... 28 5 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS ...................................................................... 29 5.1 Potential impacts arising from different aspects of the proposal ...................................... 29 5.1.1 Direct habitat loss ..................................................................................................... 30 5.1.2 Potential localised changes in sediments ................................................................. 30 5.1.3 Release of hydrocarbons and cement into the water-column .................................... 31 5.1.4 Potential disturbance during construction ................................................................. 31 5.1.5 Production of suspended solids within the water column .......................................... 32 5.1.6 Potential for carriage of pollutants into the watercourse by surface run-off ............... 32 5.1.7 Disturbance to common bottlenose dolphins during the operation of ships to and from AMETS 32 5.2 Potential impacts on Termoncarragh Lake and Annagh Machair SPA ............................. 33 5.2.1 Species potentially affected ................................................................................. 33 5.2.2 Proximity to areas potentially used by species ..................................................... 33 5.2.3 Loss of feeding / roosting habitat ......................................................................... 33 5.2.4 Disturbance during construction ........................................................................... 37 5.2.5 Disturbance during operation ............................................................................... 39 5.2.6 Pollution of feeding habitat ................................................................................... 39 5.3 Potential impacts on Mullet / Blacksod Bay Complex SAC .............................................. 39 5.3.1 Habitats and species potentially affected ............................................................. 39 5.3.2 Proximity to features potentially affected .............................................................. 39 5.3.3 Pollution ............................................................................................................... 41 5.3.4 Impacts on sedimentation .................................................................................... 42 5.3.5 Disturbance to otter.............................................................................................. 42 5.4 Potential impacts on West Connacht Coast SAC ............................................................ 42 5.4.1 Species potentially affected ................................................................................. 42 5.4.2 Proximity to areas potentially used by species ..................................................... 43 5.4.4 Disturbance during construction ........................................................................... 45 5.4.5 Disturbance during operation ............................................................................... 45 5.4.5 Hydrocarbon and chemical pollution during construction and operation ............... 47 5.5 Potential impacts on local ecology ................................................................................... 47 5.5.1 Description of features potentially affected ........................................................... 47 5.5.2 Habitat loss .......................................................................................................... 48 5.5.3 Pollution ............................................................................................................... 48 5.5.4 Disturbance ......................................................................................................... 48 6 IN-COMBINATION EFFECTS WITH OTHER PLANS & PROJECTS ................................ 49 3 6.1 Context ............................................................................................................................ 49 6.2 In-combination Assessment ............................................................................................ 49 7 MITIGATION OF EFFECTS .............................................................................................