N4-N15 Sligo Urban Improvement Scheme Sligo County Council Environmental Assessment Report Volume 2 of 4: Main Text 32106101_EAR_Vol2 | FINAL June 2017 Envir onmental Assessment R eport Volume 2 of 4: Mai n T ext Sligo C ounty Council Environmental Assessment Report Volume 2 of 4: Main Text N4-N15 Sligo Urban Improvement Scheme Project no: 32106101 Document title: Environmental Assessment Report Volume 2 of 4: Main Text Document No.: 32106101_EAR_Vol2 Revision: Final Date: June 2017 Client name: Sligo County Council Client no: Project manager: Paul Carroll Author: Various Jacobs Engineering Ireland Limited Merrion House Merrion Road D4 Dublin Ireland T +353 1 269 5666 F +353 1 269 5497 www.jacobs.com © Copyright 2017 Jacobs Engineering Ireland Limited. The concepts and information contained in this document are the property of Jacobs. Use or copying of this document in whole or in part without the written permission of Jacobs constitutes an infringement of copyright. Limitation: This report has been prepared on behalf of, and for the exclusive use of Jacobs’ Client, and is subject to, and issued in accordance with, the provisions of the contract between Jacobs and the Client. Jacobs accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for, or in respect of, any use of, or reliance upon, this report by any third party. Document history and status Revision Date Description By Review Approved 0 April 2017 Various Various PC Final June 2017 OD PC PC 32106101_EAR_Vol2 i Environmental Assessment Report Volume 2 of 4: Main Text Contents 1. Introduction & Need for the Proposed Road Development .................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Existing Situation ......................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Need for the Scheme................................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Integration with Policy Objectives ................................................................................................................ 5 1.5 Scheme Objectives .................................................................................................................................... 10 1.6 Consultation ............................................................................................................................................... 10 1.7 Legislative Requirement for an EIA ........................................................................................................... 11 2. Description of the Proposed Development .......................................................................................... 12 2.1 Location ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Existing Carriageway Details ..................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Description of the Proposed Development ................................................................................................ 12 2.4 Traffic Assessment of Proposed Development ......................................................................................... 15 2.5 Compatibility of Proposed Development with Scheme Objectives ........................................................... 15 3. Outline of Alternatives ............................................................................................................................ 17 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 17 3.2 Alternatives Considered ............................................................................................................................ 17 3.3 Assessment of Alternative Options ........................................................................................................... 19 4. Human Beings and Socio-Economics ................................................................................................... 24 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 24 4.2 Description of the Existing Environment.................................................................................................... 24 4.3 Appraisal Method used for Assessment of Impacts .................................................................................. 29 4.4 Predicted Impacts of the Proposed Development ..................................................................................... 30 4.5 Proposed Mitigation and Avoidance Measures ......................................................................................... 32 4.6 Residual Impacts ....................................................................................................................................... 32 4.7 Difficulties Encountered in Compiling Information ..................................................................................... 32 4.8 Cumulative Impacts and Impact Interrelations .......................................................................................... 32 5. Flora and Fauna ....................................................................................................................................... 33 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 33 5.2 Methodology .............................................................................................................................................. 34 5.3 Ecological Valuation and Impact Assessment Methodology ..................................................................... 42 5.4 Description of the Existing Environment.................................................................................................... 42 5.5 Ecological Valuation and Identification of Key Ecological Receptors ....................................................... 61 5.6 Impact Assessment ................................................................................................................................... 64 5.7 Proposed Mitigation and Avoidance Measures ......................................................................................... 72 5.8 Residual Impacts ....................................................................................................................................... 75 5.9 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................................................................... 75 5.10 Summary of Potential Impacts .................................................................................................................. 77 5.11 Difficulties Encountered in Compiling Information ..................................................................................... 82 5.12 References ................................................................................................................................................ 82 6. Surface Water .......................................................................................................................................... 85 32106101_EAR_Vol2 ii Environmental Assessment Report Volume 2 of 4: Main Text 6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 85 6.2 Legislation and Guidance .......................................................................................................................... 85 6.3 Baseline Data Gathering ........................................................................................................................... 86 6.4 Description of the Existing Environment.................................................................................................... 88 6.5 Description of the Proposed Development ................................................................................................ 94 6.6 Appraisal Method used for Assessment of Impacts .................................................................................. 95 6.7 Predicted Impacts of the Proposed Development ..................................................................................... 99 6.8 Do-Nothing Scenario Impact ................................................................................................................... 108 6.9 Proposed Mitigation and Avoidance Measures ....................................................................................... 108 6.10 Difficulties Encountered in Compiling Information ................................................................................... 112 6.11 Residual Impacts ..................................................................................................................................... 112 6.12 Impact Interrelations & Cumulative Impacts Assessment ....................................................................... 112 6.13 Water Framework Directive