Natura Impact Statement (NIS) (also forms Appendix 4.3 of EIAR) Haggardstown, Blackrock, Co. Louth Mr Gareth E Grindle B.Sc. (Hons.) M.Sc. L.L.M. M.C.I.E.E.M. M.I.Env.Sc. March 2019 Corvus Environmental Consulting Ltd. Arthur House 41 Arthur Street Belfast BT1 4GB Tel: +44 (0) 28 9044 6235 www.corvusconsulting.com EIAR Appendix 4.3: Natura Impact Statement (NIS): Haggardstown, Blackrock, Co. Louth i Corvus Environmental Consulting Ltd. [March 2019] Project: Natura Impact Statement (NIS): Haggardstown, Blackrock, Co. Louth Client: Kingsbridge Consulting Ltd. Prepared for: Kingsbridge Consulting Ltd. Report No: COR17116/nis Status: final Issue No: 6 Primary Author: Mr Gareth Grindle B.Sc. (Hons.) M.Sc. L.L.M. M.C.I.E.E.M. M.I.Env.Sc. Director Reviewed: [external] Approved for Issue: Mr Gareth Grindle B.Sc. (Hons.) M.Sc. L.L.M. M.C.I.E.E.M. M.I.Env.Sc. Director EIAR Appendix 4.3: Natura Impact Statement (NIS): Haggardstown, Blackrock, Co. Louth ii Corvus Environmental Consulting Ltd. [March 2019] EIAR Appendix 4.3: Natura Impact Statement (NIS): Haggardstown, Blackrock, Co. Louth iii Corvus Environmental Consulting Ltd. [March 2019] CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................................... 1 Remit & Scope ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Summary Conclusions ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Personnel ............................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Legislative Context ............................................................................................................................................................... 2 Data & Information ............................................................................................................................................................. 3 Assessment Methodology .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Recent CJEU Case Law – People Over Wind .................................................................................................................. 4 2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ....................................................................................................................................... 5 The Site and Immediate Surroundings ............................................................................................................................... 5 The Proposed Development ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Natura 2000 Sites ................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Screening of Natura 2000 Sites & Rationale ................................................................................................................. 6 Natura 2000 Sites – Detailed Information ................................................................................................................... 10 3. SCREENING FOR APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................. 16 Screening Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................................... 23 4. NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT (NIS) ............................................................................................................................. 25 Conservation Objectives & ‘Favourable Conservation Status’ ........................................................................................ 25 Impact Assessment & Mitigation...................................................................................................................................... 26 Analysis of Significance – Mechanisms for Impacts on the Integrity of the Natura 2000 Sites ................................ 26 Cumulative & In-Combination Effects .............................................................................................................................. 34 Cumulative Effects – Project ........................................................................................................................................ 34 Cumulative Effects – Other Projects/Developments .................................................................................................. 35 Conclusions – Cumulative Impact Assessment ........................................................................................................... 36 NIS Assessment .................................................................................................................................................................. 36 NIS Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................................. 44 ANNEX A: NATURA 2000 DOCUMENTATION .......................................................................................................................... 45 EIAR Appendix 4.3: Natura Impact Statement (NIS): Haggardstown, Blackrock, Co. Louth iv Corvus Environmental Consulting Ltd. [March 2019] EIAR Appendix 4.3: Natura Impact Statement (NIS): Haggardstown, Blackrock, Co. Louth v Corvus Environmental Consulting Ltd. [March 2019] 1. INTRODUCTION Corvus Consulting was commissioned to compile the Natura Impact Statement (NIS) for a site proposed for development at Haggardstown, Blackrock, Co. Louth. Remit & Scope Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive1 establishes an obligation to put concern for potential effects on Natura 2000 sites at the forefront of decision making – assessment pursuant to Article 6(3) must be undertaken for all implicated plans and projects to determine the nature and significance of any impacts which may arise on the integrity of the Natura 2000 network of sites. To this end, a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) must be compiled for all implicated plans and projects. While it is the responsibility of the competent national authorities to undertake the formal assessment, it is the responsibility of the project proponent to collate and provide all of the necessary information, in a Natura Impact Statement (NIS). It is the function of this report to provide the required information and thereby assist the competent authority in the completion of formal Appropriate Assessment. The NIS represents the final stage in the iterative, pre-application design and assessment process. Summary Conclusions The NIS in Section 4 demonstrates, on the basis of precautionary, objective scientific assessment, that the development proposals can be consented without causing significant adverse effects on the integrity of Dundalk Bay SAC or Dundalk Bay SPA. Assessment has demonstrated that the required measures to avoid, mitigate and otherwise reduce the significance of adverse impacts on the integrity of the Natura 2000 sites are technically feasible and attach a high level of confidence in implementation and success. The proposed development will not interfere with any key relationships or elements within the environment which define and control the structure and function of any Natura 2000 sites and will not result in significant adverse impacts on the integrity of the Natura 2000 network or any associated/underlying designations. Personnel Assessment has been conducted by Mr Gareth Grindle B.Sc. (Hons.) M.Sc. L.L.M. M.I.Env.Sc. M.C.I.E.E.M., who has compiled the NIS and is the primary author of this report. Mr Grindle a Director of Corvus Environmental Consulting Ltd. He holds an Honours degree in Environmental Science (B.Sc. (Hons.), University of Stirling, 2000), a Master of Science in Environmental Change (M.Sc., King’s College, London 2001) and a Master of Laws in Environmental Law (L.L.M., Queen’s University, Belfast 2014). He has over 15 years’ professional experience in the public, private and voluntary sectors and is a full member of both the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management (M.C.I.E.E.M.) and the Institution of Environmental Sciences (M.I.Env.Sc.), organisations requiring peer-review for membership and a high standard of professional conduct. 1 Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora EIAR Appendix 4.3: Natura Impact Statement (NIS): Haggardstown, Blackrock, Co. Louth 1 Corvus Environmental Consulting Ltd. [March 2019] Legislative Context The principal national legislation providing for nature conservation and the protection of biodiversity and wildlife in Ireland is the Wildlife Act 1976, updated by the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and the European Union (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997, updated and amended twice in 1998 and 2005, and subsequently revised and consolidated as the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. The early legislation provided a solid basis for species protection and pre-empted