Cross Shannon 400kV Cable Project Foreshore Licence Application Appendix B Proposed Survey Information May 2017 EirGrid plc Mott MacDonald South Block Rockfield Dundrum Dublin 16 D16 R6V0 Ireland T +353 (0)1 2916 700 mottmac.com EirGrid plc EirGrid plc The Oval Cross Shannon 400kV Cable 160 Shelbourne Road 379408 06 C Ballsbridge Project PiMS Deliverables Dublin 4 Mott MacDonald D04 FW28 Ireland Foreshore Licence Application Appendix B Proposed Survey Information May 2017 Directors: C O’Donovan BE MBA CEng MIET (Managing), J T Murphy BE HDipMM CEng FIEI CMCILT (Deputy Managing), D Herlihy BE MSc CEng, F McGivern BSc DipEnvEng CEng MIEI Innealtoirí Comhairleach (Consulting Engineers) Company Secretary: Ian Kilty BA (Hons) ACA Registered in Ireland no. 53280. Mott MacDonald Ireland Limited is a member of EirGrid plc the Mott MacDonald Group Mott MacDonald | Cross Shannon 400kV Cable Project Foreshore Licence Application Appendix B Proposed Survey Information Issue and Revision Record Revision Date Originator Checker Approver Description A 21/04/17 M Wearmouth P Kelly P Kelly Draft for Client Review L Mason-Jarvis P Brennan B 21/04/17 M Wearmouth P Kelly P Kelly Second Draft for Client L Mason-Jarvis Review P Brennan C 26/05/17 M Wearmouth P Kelly P Kelly Final for Issue L Mason-Jarvis P Brennan Document reference: 379408 | 06 | C Information class: Standard This document is issued for the party which commissioned it and for specific purposes connected with the above- captioned project only. It should not be relied upon by any other party or used for any other purpose. We accept no responsibility for the consequences of this document being relied upon by any other party, or being used for any other purpose, or containing any error or omission which is due to an error or omission in data supplied to us by other parties. This document contains confidential information and proprietary intellectual property. It should not be shown to other parties without consent from us and from the party which commissioned it. This report has been pr epared sol el y for use by the party which commissi oned it (the ‘Client’) i n connecti on with the capti oned proj ect. It should not be used for any other purpose. N o person other than the Client or any party who has expressl y agreed ter ms of r eliance with us (the ‘Reci pient(s)’) may rel y on the content, i nformati on or any views expressed i n the repor t. We accept no duty of care, responsi bility or liability to any other r eci pient of thi s document. T his r eport is confi d enti al and contains pr opri etar y intell ectual property. Contents 379408 | 06 | C | May 2017 PiMS Deliverables Mott MacDonald | Cross Shannon 400kV Cable Project 1 Foreshore Licence Application Appendix B Proposed Survey Information Contents Contents 1 1 Introduction 3 1.1 Structure of this Report 3 1.2 Contact for Further Information or Correspondence 3 2 Overview of Cross Shannon Cable Project 4 2.1 Introduction 4 2.2 About the Applicant – EirGrid 4 2.3 Background 4 2.4 Current Activities 4 3 Proposed Surveys 5 3.1 Introduction 5 3.2 Survey Overview 5 3.3 Offshore: Non-intrusive Surveys 6 3.4 Offshore: Intrusive Surveys 8 3.5 Inter-tidal: Intrusive Surveys 9 3.6 Environmental/Archaeological Surveys 9 3.7 Programme 9 4 Drawings/Maps 10 4.1 Inclusions with the Foreshore Application 10 5 Pre-Application Consultation 12 5.1 Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government 12 5.2 Development Applications Unit, Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 12 6 Adjacent Landowners 13 6.1 Overview 13 6.2 Folio References and Adjacent Landowners 13 379408 | 06 | C | May 2017 PiMS Deliverables Mott MacDonald | Cross Shannon 400kV Cable Project 2 Foreshore Licence Application Appendix B Proposed Survey Information 7 Environmental and Land-Use Considerations 14 7.1 Designated Ecological Sites 14 7.2 Fishing/Aquaculture Considerations 14 7.3 Commercial Shipping Activity 15 7.4 Tourism and Recreation 15 7.5 Impacts 15 8 Company Information 16 8.1 Certificate of Incorporation 16 8.2 Constitution/Memorandum of Association 16 379408 | 06 | C | May 2017 PiMS Deliverables Mott MacDonald | Cross Shannon 400kV Cable Project 3 Foreshore Licence Application Appendix B Proposed Survey Information 1 Introduction EirGrid plc are seeking permission (foreshore licence) from the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government for the completion of surveys works to assist in the selection of a new route for a 400kV high voltage electricity cable installation between Moneypoint Power Station, County Clare and Kilpaddoge Substation, County Kerry (located approximately 1.5 kilometres north-west of Tarbert village). 1.1 Structure of this Report The structure of this report is presented hereunder; Section 2 Overview of Cross-Shannon Cable Project Section 3 Proposed Surveys Section 4 Drawings/Maps Section 5 Pre-Application Consultation Section 6 Adjacent Landowners Section 7 Other Foreshore Activities Section 8 Designated Ecological Sites and Appropriate Assessment Section 9 Company Documentation 1.2 Contact for Further Information or Correspondence Should any further information be required please direct all correspondence to; Paul Kelly Technical Director Environment Mott MacDonald Ireland Limited South Block, Rockfield, Dundrum, Dublin 16 D16 R6VO Telephone (01) 291 6700 Email [email protected] 379408 | 06 | C | May 2017 PiMS Deliverables Mott MacDonald | Cross Shannon 400kV Cable Project 4 Foreshore Licence Application Appendix B Proposed Survey Infor mation 2 Overview of Cross Shannon Cable Project 2.1 Introduction The Cross-Shannon Cable Project involves the laying of a new 400kV cable across the Shannon Estuary (in the river bed) between the existing electricity substations at Moneypoint, County Clare and Kilpaddoge, County Kerry. There are high levels of renewable electricity generation, mainly wind power, being connected to the electricity grid in the south and west of Ireland. At times of high wind, power is expected to flow from the south-west to the east of Ireland. The Cross-Shannon Cable Project will enable this power to transfer to the existing cross- Ireland 400 kV overhead lines which connect at Moneypoint. 2.2 About the Applicant – EirGrid EirGrid is responsible for a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity: now and in the future. EirGrid develop, manage and operate the electricity transmission grid. This brings power from where it is generated to where it is needed – throughout Ireland. EirGrid use the transmission grid to supply power to industry and businesses that use large amounts of electricity. The transmission grid also powers the distribution network. This supplies the electricity you use everyday in homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, and farms. Mott MacDonald are an international firm of management, engineering and development engineers specialising in electricity transmission projects. Mott MacDonald is providing EirGrid with specialist technical advice and guidance on the Cross-Shannon Cable Project. 2.3 Background In 2014, the Government announced the establishment of an Independent Expert Panel to conduct an independent review of overhead and underground options for the Grid Link Project in the south of the country. In 2015 EirGrid developed a number of alternative options to meet the need of the Grid Link Project, in line with the terms of reference, as set by the expert panel. In EirGrid’s analysis it identified a solution, referred to as the “regional solution”. This option meets the need of the project, and minimises the development of new, large-scale infrastructure. The “regional solution” uses a technology known as series compensation. This allows more power to flow through existing lines, and does not require any significant new transmission lines. To complete this solution, a new underwater cable across the Shannon estuary is needed, in addition to a set of reinforcements elsewhere on the system. 2.4 Current Activities EirGrid are currently completing a range of technical, environmental and social studies to assist in the identification of feasible options for the routing of the cable. These surveys will occur both on land but also in the Shannon Estuary itself. In accordance with the requirements of Foreshore Act 1933 as amended, the surveys which are the subject matter of this application are required to be completed in accordance with the requirements of a Foreshore Licence issued by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. 379408 | 06 | C | May 2017 PiMS Deliverables Mott MacDonald | Cross Shannon 400kV Cable Project 5 Foreshore Licence Application Appendix B Proposed Survey Information 3 Proposed Surveys 3.1 Introduction The data obtained from the proposed survey will be used to select the preferred route for the new 400kV cable installation and to inform its design. The spatial definition of the proposed survey area is included in Appendix C Drawings/Mapping; ● 379408-MMD-XX-00-GIS-Y-001 (Proposed Survey Area – Discovery Mapping); ● 379408-MMD-XX-00-GIS-Y-002 (Proposed Survey Area – Orthophotography); and ● 379408-MMD-XX-00-GIS-Y-008 (Proposed Survey Area – Admiralty Chart). Geographic reference points (1 to 28) have been defined around the red-line boundary to inform the specific boundaries of the survey. As can be seen from the drawings the proposed survey location includes discrete inter-tidal areas (from the high water mark) and corridors across the full width of the Shannon Estuary. The indicative