Inspector’s Second Report CORRIB GASPIPELINE An Bord Pleanála CASE REFERENCE 16. GA.0004 Re-routing of the onshore upstream gas pipeline facility relating to the Corrib Gas Field Project at Glengad, Ros Dumhach, Aghoos, Bellagelly South, Co. Mayo 16. DA.0005 Corrib onshore pipeline Acquisition Order 2010 For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Applicant RPS, on behalf of Shell E&P Ireland Limited (SEPIL), Corrib House, 52 Leeson St. Lower, Dublin 2. Date of Applications 182c Original Application: 12th Feb 2009 16.GA.0004 182c Modified Development 31st May 2010 Acquisition Order 31st May 2010 16.DA.0005 Inspector Mr. Martin Nolan EPA Export 11-02-2014:23:29:51 Preface This Second Inspectors report has been written to stand reasonably complete. The following is a breakdown of how the report is structured: Part 1 Outline of the applications and written submissions received Chapters 1-3 Part 2 Policy Context Chapters 4-9 Part 3 The Oral Hearing Chapters 10-16 Part 4 The Issues to be considered Chapters 17-48 Part 5 The Acquisition Order Chapters 49 Part 6 Conclusions and Recommendations Chapters 49-51 Conditions Recommended Chapter 52 Appendix 1 Mr. O’Sullivan’s Report, Appendix 2 Mr. Wright’s Report Appendices 3 to 6 contain copies of relevant documents The File 16.DA.0004 is considered also in Chapter 49. I wish to thank and acknowledge Mr. O Sullivan and Mr. Wright and Mr. O Donnell for their assistance and advice, and for the significant contribution they have made to this Report. For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Martin Nolan Inspector 3.01.2011 EPA Export 11-02-2014:23:29:51 Table of Contents Chapter 1 The Scheme .................................................................................................................1-1 1.1 Introduction................................................................................................................1-1 1.1.1 Further information request ........................................................................................1-1 1.2 The Scheme As Now Proposed..................................................................................1-1 1.3 Previous Routes..........................................................................................................1-3 1.4 Route Selection ..........................................................................................................1-3 1.5 Project Description.....................................................................................................1-6 1.6 The Pipeline ...............................................................................................................1-6 1.7 Services ....................................................................................................................1-12 1.8 Landfall Valve Installation (LVI) ............................................................................1-12 1.9 The Permission being sought ...................................................................................1-13 1.10 The Acquisition order File 16.DA.0005 ................................................................1-13 1.11 Acquisition Order Application File Withdrawn.....................................................1-13 Chapter 2 The Site .....................................................................................................................2-19 2.1 The Location ............................................................................................................2-19 2.2 Special Characteristics of the Site............................................................................2-19 Chapter 3 The Submissions Received........................................................................................3-24 3.1 Introduction..............................................................................................................3-24 3.2 Written Submissions 2010 16.GA.0004...................................................................3-25 Chapter 4 Local Planning Policy: The Mayo County Development Plan .................................4-96 4.1 Mayo County Council Submission of 28th July 2010. ............................................4-96 4.1.1 Relevant Planning History ........................................................................................4-96 4.1.2 Waste Policy .............................................................................................................4-96 4.1.3 Adequacy of public water supply .............................................................................4-96 4.1.4 Landscape Visual Impact..........................................................................................4-96 4.1.5 Road Network Carrying Capacity.............................................................................4-96 For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. 4.1.6 Environment Carrying Capacity ...............................................................................4-97 4.1.7 View of Mayo County Council on the Decision by Board.......................................4-97 4.1.8 Mayo County Council – Community Gain Conditions ............................................4-98 4.1.9 Section 48/49 Development Contribution ................................................................4-98 4.1.10 Special Contribution Conditions.............................................................................4-99 4.1.11 Views and Recommendations of all relevant Departments and Personnel.............4-99 4.2 Mayo County Council’s clarification at Oral Hearing.............................................4-99 4.3 Planning Authority’s considered view on the proposal .........................................4-100 4.4 Schedule of Proposed Conditions ..........................................................................4-100 4.5 Inspectors Conclusions ..........................................................................................4-100 4.5.1 Mayo CDP 2008-2014 ............................................................................................4-100 4.5.2 Mayo CDP 2008-2014 ............................................................................................4-100 4.5.3 View and Prospects.................................................................................................4-101 4.5.4 Mayo CDP 2008-2014 ............................................................................................4-101 4.5.5 Mayo County Council.............................................................................................4-101 4.5.6 Planning Authority’s View .....................................................................................4-101 4.5.7 The 2009 Scheme Mayo County Council’s Considered View ...............................4-102 4.5.8 The 2010 Scheme Mayo County Council’s Considered View ...............................4-102 4.5.9 Mayo County Council have Provided a Substantial Submission which.................4-102 Table of Contents i EPA Export 11-02-2014:23:29:51 details:..............................................................................................................................4-102 4.6 Inspectors Recommendations.................................................................................4-102 Chapter 5 Regional Planning Policy ........................................................................................5-105 5.1 New Regional Planning Guidelines 2010 – 2022 ..................................................5-105 5.2 Region in Context ..................................................................................................5-105 5.3 Regional Policy ......................................................................................................5-106 5.4 Regional Policy Regarding Energy Infrastructure - Gas........................................5-107 5.4.1 Objectives relating to Gas Infrastructure ................................................................5-108 5.5 An Ghaeltacht and the Islands ...............................................................................5-108 5.6 Inspectors Conclusions ..........................................................................................5-108 Chapter 6 National Planning Policy.........................................................................................6-110 6.1 National Development Plan (NDP) 2007 – 2013...................................................6-110 6.2 Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland (The White Paper)................6-110 6.2.1 Security and Reliability of Gas Supplies ................................................................6-111 6.3 National Spatial Strategy for Ireland 2002 - 2020 .................................................6-113 6.4 Common Approach to Natural Gas on an All Island Basis ...................................6-114 6.4.1 Security of Supply Measures ..................................................................................6-116 6.4.2 Recommendations for Security of Supply ..............................................................6-116 6.5 Joint Gas Capacity Statement 2010 .......................................................................6-117 6.6 EU Directive 994/2010 of 20/10/2010 Concerning Security of Gas Supply 6-117 6.7 Observers Submissions ..........................................................................................6-118