Natura Impact Statement Proposed Maintenance Dredging Aughinish, Co. Limerick 17076-6002-A Natura Impact Statement February 2016 ISSUE FORM Project number 17076 Document number 6002 Document revision A Document title Natura Impact Statement: Proposed Maintenance Dredging, Aughinish, Co. Limerick Document status Final Document prepared by Hazel Tough, Pat Ryan Document checked by Ken Fitzgerald, Caoimhin O’Neill i 17076-6002-A Natura Impact Statement February 2016 Table of contents 1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ............................................................................................ 1 1.1 Natura Impact Statement .................................................................................................. 1 2 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Requirement for Appropriate Assessment ......................................................................... 2 2.2 Stages of Appropriate Assessment..................................................................................... 2 2.3 Purpose of Assessment ..................................................................................................... 3 2.4 Assessment Methodology ................................................................................................. 3 2.5 Appropriate Assessment Guidance .................................................................................... 3 2.6 Desk Study ........................................................................................................................ 4 2.7 Field Surveys ..................................................................................................................... 4 2.8 Description of Plan/Project ............................................................................................... 4 2.8.1 Brief Project Description ....................................................................................................................... 4 2.8.2 Purpose of the Project .......................................................................................................................... 5 2.8.3 Subject Site Location ............................................................................................................................. 5 2.8.4 Description of the Site ........................................................................................................................... 6 2.8.5 Characteristics of the Project .............................................................................................................. 10 2.9 Identification of Other Projects or Plans or Activities ....................................................... 12 2.9.1 Development ....................................................................................................................................... 12 2.9.2 Estuary Operations .............................................................................................................................. 13 2.9.3 Diffuse and Point Sources of Pollution ................................................................................................ 13 2.10 Identification of Natura 2000 Sites .................................................................................. 13 2.10.1 Characteristics of Natura 2000 Sites ............................................................................................... 13 2.10.2 Conservation Objectives ................................................................................................................. 15 2.11 Identification of Potential Impacts ................................................................................... 16 2.12 Selection of Qualifying features for Impact Assessment ................................................... 17 2.12.1 Lower River Shannon SAC (002165)................................................................................................ 17 2.12.2 River Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries SPA (004077) ................................................................. 6 2.13 Assessment of Potentially Significant Impacts .................................................................. 12 2.13.1 Water Quality.................................................................................................................................. 14 2.13.2 Habitat Loss and Alteration ............................................................................................................ 15 2.13.3 Disturbance and/or Displacement of Species ................................................................................. 18 2.13.4 Habitat or Species Fragmentation .................................................................................................. 21 2.13.5 Cumulative/In-combination Impacts .............................................................................................. 22 2.14 Mitigation ....................................................................................................................... 23 2.14.1 Marine Mammals ............................................................................................................................ 23 2.14.2 Water Quality Measures ................................................................................................................. 24 2.14.3 Dredging Activities .......................................................................................................................... 25 ii 17076-6002-A Natura Impact Statement February 2016 2.14.4 Archaeology .................................................................................................................................... 25 2.15 Residual Impacts ............................................................................................................. 25 2.16 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 25 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 26 TABLE OF TABLES Table 1:Planning Applications ............................................................................................................... 12 Table 2: Natura 2000 sites with qualifying features of special conservation interest ......................... 13 Table 3: Selection of qualifying features of Lower River Shannon SAC 002165, potentially exposed to adverse impacts .................................................................................................................................... 19 Table 4. Qualifying features of the River Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries SPA, including species population usage and maximum populations thought to occur ............................................................ 7 Table 5: Selection of Qualifying Features of River Shannon and River Fergus SPA (004077), potentially exposed to adverse impacts ................................................................................................................... 8 Table 6. Habitats Directive habitats and species selected for impact assessment .............................. 13 Table 7. Qualifying interest species for the Lower River Shannon SAC (002165) considered to be within the zone of potential influence .................................................................................................. 18 TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1. Location of jetty and proposed dredging works (Adapted from the NBDC online map- viewer) .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 2. Extent of shoreline within the Lower River Shannon SAC (002165) currently mapped as a 'commuting buffer' for otter. Source: (NPWS, 2012) ............................................................................. 3 Figure 3. Bottlenose dolphin habitat within the Lower River Shannon SAC including two 'critical habitat' areas located within the outer and middle estuary (NPWS, 2012) ........................................... 4 Figure 4. Likely distribution of the Annex 1 habitat 'mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide' within the Lower River Shannon SAC (002165) (NPWS, 2012) ............................................ 5 Figure 5. Known distribution of the Annex I habitat-type 'reefs' within the Lower River Shannon SAC (002165) .................................................................................................................................................. 6 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1 Stages of Appropriate Assessment Appendix 2 Screening for Appropriate Assessment iii 17076-6002-A Natura Impact Statement February 2016 1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS 1.1 NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT Project Title Proposed Maintenance Dredging, Aughinish, Co. Limerick Project Proponent Aughinish Alumina Ltd Project Location Shannon Estuary, Aughinish, Co. Limerick In cases where an Appropriate Assessment is required a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) is prepared. This is a report based on a scientific examination of Natura Impact evidence and data, carried out by competent persons with the aim of identifying Statement and classifying any implications of a proposal, either individually, or in combination with other plans or projects, on Natura 2000 sites in view of the conservation objectives of the sites In conclusion, provided the recommended mitigation