USKMOUTH POWER STATION CONVERSION PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2017 On behalf of Simec Uskmouth Power Ltd. Volume 1 – Main Text OXF11035 V3 Final for PAC May 2020 rpsgroup.com USKMOUTH POWER STATION CONVERSION PROJECT Quality Management Version Status Authored by Reviewed by Approved by Date V1 Draft Mark Barrett Amy Robinson Dan Smyth 03/02/20 V2 Draft Mark Barrett Amy Robinson Dan Smyth 09/04/20 V3 Final for PAC Mark Barrett Amy Robinson Dan Smyth 21/05/20 Approval for issue Dan Smyth 22 May 2020 File/Model Location O:\11035 Uskmouth Power Station\Reports\EIA PAC Submission\Simec Uskmouth Document location: Power Station Conversion ES Vol 1 Main Text.docx Model / Appendices location: This report was prepared by RPS within the terms of RPS’ engagement with its client and in direct response to a scope of services. This report is supplied for the sole and specific purpose for use by RPS’ client. The report does not account for any changes relating the subject matter of the report, or any legislative or regulatory changes that have occurred since the report was produced and that may affect the report. RPS does not accept any responsibility or liability for loss whatsoever to any third party caused by, related to or arising out of any use or reliance on the report. Prepared by: Prepared for: RPS Simec Uskmouth Power Ltd. Mark Barrett Cara Donovan Associate Senior Environment and Consents Manager 20 Western Avenue Uskmouth Power Station Milton Park West Nash Road Abingdon Newport Oxon NP18 2BZ OX14 4SH T 01235 821888 T 07469 854528 E [email protected] E [email protected] Environmental Statement | Foreword | May 2020 rpsgroup.com USKMOUTH POWER STATION CONVERSION PROJECT Term Definition GLOSSARY NOx Oxides of Nitrogen Term Definition NRW Natural Resources Wales ACT Advanced Conversion Technology power NSR Noise Sensitive Receptors plant PROW Publics Rights of Way ADMS Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling SRF Solid Recovered Fuel System SUP Simec Uskmouth Power Limited AOD Above Ordnance Datum ZTV Zone of Theoretical Visibility APC Air Pollution Control ZVI Zone of Visual Influence AQMA Air Quality Management Areas BAT Best Available Technique BGS British Geological Survey BS British Standard BSI British Standard Institute CCGT Combined Cycle Gas Turbine CERC Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants CIEEM Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management CRTN Calculation of Road Traffic Noise DCLG Department for Communities and Local Government DMRB Design Manual for Roads and Bridges EcIA Ecological Impact Assessment EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EfW Energy from Waste EMF Electromagnetic Fields EPUK Environmental Protection UK ES Environmental Statement FEED Front End Engineering Design FGT Flue Gas Treatment FRA Flood Risk Assessment GGAT Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust GHG Greenhouse Gasses HER Historic Environment Record HGV Heavy Goods Vehicle IAQM Institute of Air Quality Management IEA Institute of Environmental Assessment IED Industrial Emissions Directive IEFs Important Ecological Features LAQM Local Air Quality Management LCP Large Combustion Plant LDP Newport Local Development Plan LHV Lower Heating Value LVIA Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment NCC Newport City Council NLCAs National Landscape Character Areas Environmental Statement | Glossary | May 2020 rpsgroup.com Page i USKMOUTH POWER STATION CONVERSION PROJECT Contents GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................................................... I 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 1-1 Statutory Framework and Purpose of the Environmental Statement .............................................. 1-3 Need for EIA .................................................................................................................................... 1-3 Content of the ES ............................................................................................................................ 1-4 Structure of the ES .......................................................................................................................... 1-5 The Applicant ................................................................................................................................... 1-7 The Assessment Team ................................................................................................................... 1-7 Further Information .......................................................................................................................... 1-7 2 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................ 2-1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 2-1 The Site and Surrounding Area ....................................................................................................... 2-1 Project Outline ................................................................................................................................. 2-3 Summary of Key Parameters .......................................................................................................... 2-7 Construction Phase ....................................................................................................................... 2-14 Environmental Management During Construction ........................................................................ 2-16 Operation and Maintenance .......................................................................................................... 2-19 Measures Adopted as Part of the Uskmouth Conversion Project ................................................. 2-19 References .................................................................................................................................... 2-21 3 NEED AND ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED ................................................................................ 3-1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3-1 Need for the Development .............................................................................................................. 3-3 Alternatives Considered .................................................................................................................. 3-8 References .................................................................................................................................... 3-13 4 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ................................................................. 4-1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 4-1 Scoping ............................................................................................................................................ 4-1 Topics Scoped Out of the EIA Process ........................................................................................... 4-2 Environmental Assessment Methodology ....................................................................................... 4-3 Key Elements of the General Approach .......................................................................................... 4-4 Consultation ..................................................................................................................................... 4-9 References .................................................................................................................................... 4-10 5 GEOLOGY, HYDROGEOLOGY AND GROUND CONDITIONS ................................................... 5-1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 5-1 Assessment Methodology ............................................................................................................... 5-1 Baseline Environment ..................................................................................................................... 5-9 Mitigation Measures Adopted as Part of the Project ..................................................................... 5-11 Assessment of Construction Effects .............................................................................................. 5-11 Assessment of Operational Effects ............................................................................................... 5-14 Assessment of Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................ 5-16 Inter-relationships .......................................................................................................................... 5-16 Summary of Effects ....................................................................................................................... 5-16 References .................................................................................................................................... 5-17 6 HYDROLOGY AND FLOOD RISK 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