Natura Impact Statement Rosses Point Pier Enhancement Report for Sligo County Council Woodrow Sustainable Solutions Ltd Main Street, Ballisodare Co Sligo Ireland Tel: 0719140542 Email: [email protected] January 2015 i STATEMENT OF AUTHORITY This report is written by Will Woodrow, MSc. MCIEEM and David McNicholas, MSc, ACIEEM. The authors have considerable experience in impact assessment of projects including over ten years’ specific experience in Article 6 assessments under the EU Habitats Directive and Ecological Impact Assessments. As a Full Member and Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, the authors employ a high degree of competence and professional standard in their approach to environmental assessment. Will Woodrow – qualifications: HND – Conservation Management MSc – European Environmental Policy and Regulation MSc (Arch) – Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies David McNicholas – qualifications: BSc – Environmental Science MSc – Environmental, Health & Safety Management ii Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Requirement for a Natura Impact Statement ................................................................... 1 1.3 Structure/ Layout of the report ......................................................................................... 1 1.4 Main Sources of Consultation and information ................................................................ 2 2.0 DESCRIPTION AND FEATURES OF THE PROJECT AND AREA ................................... 3 2.1 Location ............................................................................................................................ 3 2.2 General layout and details of proposal ............................................................................ 3 2.3 Location in the context of Natura 2000 sites .................................................................. 12 2.3.1 General area ........................................................................................................... 12 2.3.2 Proximity to Natura designated areas ..................................................................... 12 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF NATURA 2000 SITES IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE PROPOSAL ... 14 3.1 Cummeen Strand SPA (Site Code: 004013) ................................................................. 14 3.1.1 Conservation Objectives ...................................................................................... 14 3.1.2 Screening Matrix .................................................................................................. 20 3.1.3 Conclusion of significant effect ............................................................................ 20 3.2 Cummeen Strand/ Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) Special Area of Conservation (Site Code: 000627) ................................................................................................................................ 22 3.2.1 Conservation Objectives ...................................................................................... 22 3.2.2 Screening Matrix .................................................................................................. 32 3.2.3 Conclusion on significant effect ........................................................................... 32 4.0 CONCLUSIONS OF SCREENING ASSESSMENT .......................................................... 38 4.1 Cummeen Strand SPA ................................................................................................... 38 4.2 Cummeen Strand / Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) SAC ....................................................... 38 5.0 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS ...................................................................... 39 5.1 Habitat description ................................................................................................... 39 5.1.1 Overall habitat description ................................................................................... 39 5.1.2 Habitat descriptions at proposed infrastructure locations.................................... 42 5.2 Potential Impacts on the Cummeen Strand SPA .................................................... 47 5.2.1 Potential for disturbance ...................................................................................... 47 5.2.2 Potential for impact on feeding habitat ................................................................ 49 5.3 Potential Impacts on the Cummeen Strand / Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) SAC ......... 50 5.4 Summary of Potential Impacts ................................................................................. 52 6.0 CONSIDERATION OF DIRECT, INDIRECT, CUMULATIVE AND IN-COMBINATION EFFECTS WITH OTHER PLANS & PROJECTS .................................................................... 53 6.1 Context ........................................................................................................................... 53 6.2 In-combination Assessment ........................................................................................... 53 7.0 MITIGATION OF EFFECTS .............................................................................................. 54 iii 7.1 Cummeen Strand SPA - Potential for impact on feeding and / or roosting populations of species for which the SPA is designated as a result of temporary disturbance. ................. 54 7.2 Cummeen Strand SPA - Potential risk of direct impact on intertidal feeding areas as a result of tracked or wheeled vehicles driving on intertidal areas during construction activity. ............................................................................................................................................. 55 7.3 Cummeen Strand SPA - Potential risk of localised pollution due to hydrocarbon spillage resulting from inappropriate re-fuelling methods (and potential knock-on impacts on bird prey availability). .................................................................................................................. 55 7.4 Cummeen Strand / Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) SAC - Potential risk of direct impact on intertidal areas as a result of tracked or wheeled vehicles during construction activity. ..... 56 7.5 Cummeen Strand / Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) SAC - Potential risk of localised pollution due to hydrocarbon spillage resulting from inappropriate re-fuelling methods. ................... 56 7.6 Cummeen Strand / Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) SAC - Potential risk of localised intertidal impact from inappropriate placement of mixed sediments arising from excavation of slipway. ................................................................................................................................ 57 7.7 Cummeen Strand / Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) SAC and Cummeen Strand SPA – Ensuring compliance. ........................................................................................................... 57 7.8 Consideration of impact concerns raised by NPWS ...................................................... 57 8.0 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................ 59 9.0 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 60 Appendix I – Site Synopses ..................................................................................................... 62 iv 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Woodrow Sustainable Solutions was approached by Sligo County Council to undertake a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) for the extension of an existing jetty at Rosses Point, County Sligo. This report provides the information necessary to fulfil that requirement. 1.2 Requirement for a Natura Impact Statement The Habitats Directive was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997 and European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (the Habitats Regulations). Regulation 42 of the 2011 Regulations requires that any proposal likely to have a significant effect on a European Site, alone or in combination with other operations or activities, needs to be assessed with respect to its potential impact in the site’s conservation objectives. Regulation 42 (9) of the 2011 Habitats Regulations states: Where a public authority is required to conduct an Appropriate Assessment pursuant to paragraph (6) in relation to a plan or project that it proposes to undertake or adopt, it shall— prepare a Natura Impact Statement, compile any other evidence including, but not limited to, scientific evidence that is required for the purposes of the Appropriate Assessment, and submit a Natura Impact Statement together with evidence compiled under subparagraph (b) to the Minister not later than six weeks before it proposes to adopt or undertake the plan or project to which the Natura Impact Statement and evidence relates. Section 177AE of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2001 (as inserted by section 57 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010) set out the appropriate procedure for Local Authority projects with potential to impact on Natura 2000 sites. This requires that, where an Appropriate Assessment is required in respect of a development by a local authority that is