Appendix E – Appropriate Assessment Report • Aquafact – Appropriate Assessment Stage 1 Screening Report for the Maintenance Dredging of Rosslare Europort 2015-2020 (January 2016) January 2016 Appropriate Assessment Stage 1 Screening Report For the Maintenance Dredging of Rosslare Europort (2015-2020) Produced by AQUAFACT International Services Ltd On behalf of Iarnród Éireann Issued January 2016 AQUAFACT INTERNATIONAL SERVICES Ltd., 12 KILKERRIN PARK LIOSBAUN, GALWAY. www.aquafact.ie [email protected] tel +353 (0) 91 756812 Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary 1 2. Introduction 1 2.1. Background ................................................................................................................................. 1 2.2. Requirement for an Article 6 Assessment..................................................................................... 2 2.3. The Aim of this Report ................................................................................................................ 3 2.4. Consultation ............................................................................................................................... 4 3. Appropriate Assessment Process 4 3.1. Legislative Context ...................................................................................................................... 4 3.2. Stages of AA ................................................................................................................................ 5 3.2.1. Stage 1. Screening for Appropriate Assessment ......................................................................................... 6 3.2.2. Stage 2. Appropriate Assessment (NIS) ....................................................................................................... 6 3.2.3. Stage 3. Alternative Solutions ..................................................................................................................... 7 3.2.4. Stage 4. Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest (IROPI)/Derogation ......................................... 7 4. Stage 1: Appropriate Assessment Screening 7 4.1. Description of Proposed Plan and Site Characteristics .................................................................. 7 4.1.1. Description of the Proposed Activity ........................................................................................................... 7 4.1.1.1. Background 7 4.1.1.2. Investigation/Development Phase 8 4.1.1.3. Operational Phase 13 4.1.2. Description of Receiving Environment ...................................................................................................... 13 4.1.2.1. Rosslare Europort & Nourishment Site 13 4.1.2.2. Rosslare Strand 15 4.1.2.3. Dumping at Sea Site 15 4.1.2.4. Marine Mammals 16 4.2. Identification of Relevant Natura 2000 Sites .............................................................................. 24 4.2.1. Relevant Natura 2000 Sites and Qualifying Interests/Special Conservation Interests.............................. 24 4.2.2. Conservation Objectives ............................................................................................................................ 31 4.2.2.1. Long Bank cSAC; Site Code: IE002161 31 4.2.2.2. Blackwater Bank cSAC; Site Code: IE002953 32 4.2.2.3. Carnsore Point cSAC; Site Code: IE002269 32 4.2.2.4. Slaney River Valley cSAC; Site Code: IE000781 33 4.2.2.5. Raven Point Nature Reserve cSAC; Site Code: IE000710 38 4.2.2.6. Saltee Island cSAC; Site Code: IE000707 39 4.2.2.7. The Raven SPA; Site Code: IE004019 40 4.2.2.8. Wexford Harbour and Slobs SPA; Site Code: IE004076 42 4.2.2.9. Lady’s Island Lake SPA; Site Code: IE004009 50 4.2.2.10. Tacumshin Lake SPA; Site Code: IE004092 50 4.3. Assessment of Likely Effects ...................................................................................................... 50 4.3.1. Likely Effects of Dredging in Ballygeary Harbour and Rosslare Europort ................................................. 51 4.3.2. Likely Effects of Disposal to Beach Nourishment Site ............................................................................... 52 4.3.3. Likely Effects of Disposal to offshore DaS Site ........................................................................................... 57 4.4. Screening Assessment ............................................................................................................... 59 4.4.1. Sediment Suspension during the Dredging Activity .................................................................................. 59 4.4.2. Sediment Suspension at Nourishment Site ................................................................................................ 61 4.4.3. Sediment Dispersion to Rosslare Strand ................................................................................................... 64 4.4.4. Sediment Suspension and Dispersion at DaS Site ..................................................................................... 65 4.4.5. Noise .......................................................................................................................................................... 70 4.5. Screening Statement ................................................................................................................. 73 5. Summary 73 6. References 73 List of Figures Figure 3.1: Stages in the AA process (Source: DEHLG, 2009). .......................................................................................... 6 Figure 4.1: Location of dredge area, beach nourishment site and Dumping at Sea site ................................................ 10 Figure 4.2: Cetacean sightings from January 2009 to July 2014 from Cahore Point to Crossfarnoge Point (www.iwdg.ie). ................................................................................................................................................. 18 Figure 4.3: Number of sightings by species Jan 2009 – Jul 2014 (www.iwdg.ie). .......................................................... 19 Figure 4.4: Number of individuals by species Jan 2009 – Jul 2014 (www.iwdg.ie). ....................................................... 20 Figure 4.5: Number of sightings per month Jan 2009 – Jul 2014 (www.iwdg.ie). .......................................................... 21 Figure 4.6: Number of individuals per month Jan 2009 – Jul 2014 (www.iwdg.ie)........................................................ 21 Figure 4.7: Known breeding, moulting and resting sites in Wexford Harbour (NPWS, 2011). ....................................... 23 Figure 4.8: Grey seal breeding sites in the vicinity of the dredge, beach nourishment and DaS sites. .......................... 24 Figure 4.9: Location of all cSACs and SPAs within 15km of the proposed dredge, beach nourishment and DaS sites. .. 30 Figure 4.10: Locations of the primary and secondary dredge areas and the disposal site............................................. 50 Figure 4.11: Maximum suspended sediment concentrations (kg/m3) during the dredging of Ballygeary and Rosslare Europort (RPS, 2015) ......................................................................................................................................... 52 Figure 4.12: Increase in bed thickness following deposition of sand material at the inshore disposal site (RPS, 2015) 53 Figure 4.13: Maximum suspended solids concentration plume envelope of sand material as a result of depositing sand material at the inshore disposal site (RPS, 2015) ...................................................................................... 54 Figure 4.14: Net movement of nourishment material due to F6 storm from North East (RPS, 2015) ............................ 55 Figure 4.15: Net movement of nourishment material due to F6 storm from East (RPS, 2015) ...................................... 56 Figure 4.16: Net movement of nourishment material due to F6 storm from South East (RPS, 2015) ............................ 56 Figure 4.17: Net movement of nourishment material due to F6 storm from South East & Offshore Swell (RPS, 2015) 57 Figure 4.18: Mean suspended sediment concentration plume envelope of silt material over a full tidal cycle as a result of depositing silt material at the offshore disposal site (RPS, 2015) ........................................................ 58 Figure 4.19: Maximum suspended sediment concentration plume envelope of silt material as a result of depositing silt material at the offshore disposal site (RPS, 2015) ........................................................................................ 59 Figure 4.20: Extend of dredging plume into nearby Natura 2000 sites ......................................................................... 60 Figure 4.21: Mean suspended sediment concentration of silt material over a tidal cycle following disposal of 1 barge load of material (1500m3) in relation to the nearby Natura 2000 sites .............................................................. 68 Figure 4.22: Maximum suspended sediment concentration of silt material following disposal of 36,000m3 of material in relation to the nearby Natura 2000 sites ......................................................................................... 69 List of Tables Table 4.1: Average number of individuals per sighting (www.iwdg.ie). ....................................................................... 20 Table 4.2: Average number of individuals per sighting per month (www.iwdg.ie). .....................................................