Baseline and significance- EIA lecture 2 Flashcards
Where is the content of an Environmental Statement set out?
UK regulations, part II of schedule 4
What is a baseline?
General description of an area and particular features such as population size
Why do we need to develop?
Population growth
House prices
Job creation
Integration into local policies
Describe the consultation process under the Planning Act 2008.
Who do you talk to?
Did this have a role in the scoping process?
Consultation is an iterative process
For example: wind turbines Max/min number of turbines Max/ Min nacelle height Max/ min blade tip height Minimum clearance above mean sea level Minimum separation between turbines
The 2008 Act places a duty upon developers to engage meaningfully with:
Affected communities
Local authorities
Other statutory consultees over their proposal at pre-application.
During the consultation process- what must the develop/publicise?
A statement of community consultation
What is a statement of community consultation?
Proof of consultation with and have regard to the views of any relevant local authority on the content of the statement.
For example- the horizon nuclear power mission statement- Wylfa Newydd Anglesea.
Includes:
What they are proposing
When they will be consulting
Who and where we will be consulting (zone a, b, c, classified into zones by particular direct or indirect features).
How we will consult with people, groups and community organisation about the Wylfa prject
- newsletters, press adverts, press released, posters, website, engaging with stakeholders, social media. ]
how do you respond?
- feedback forms
What are some of the key receptors and possible impacts to take into account for the DIbden Bay development?
Employment Traffic and Transport Ecology and nature conservation Marine environment Navigation Landscape and visual impacts Lighting Noise and vibration Air quality Agriculture Archaeology and cultural heritage Freshwater and drainage Ground quality Services
When documenting findings, what is included in the impact section?
Introduction to the area Important designations Scoping findings Methodologies Baseline data Impact prediction Suggested mitigation
What are potential receptors?
Population Flora Fauna Soil Water Air climatic factors Material assets, including architectural Archaeological heritage Landscape Interrelationships
What is supported by an Environmental Management Plan?
Monitoring which can be required as a planning condition
How did technology lead to a EIA revolution?
1980s- EIS poorly put together, mixed documentation
1990s/ early 2000s- professionally produced, often single volume, available free of charge or at nominal charge
2006 onwards- all documents online via LPA planning websites; paper copies only by request and at large costs (+200 quid)
New Directive (2014)- requires all documents to be available online across the EU
Although…not everyone has access to technology
Sometimes websites are not easy to navigate
What is Baseline data?
Looks at selected parameters (e.g. human beings, flora, fauna, soil, water, air, climate, material assets, cultural heritage) by:
Collecting existing information (desk study, consultation)
Gathering existing additional information by survey work
What are the aims of collecting baseline data?
Assess the value of the baseline environment (e.g. regional or national importance).
Provide data to predict changes at receptors which the development might cause
Provide a baseline for future monitoring
What is the general model for gathering baseline data?
Draw up limits to area: - of the development - of the potential impacts
Desk study
Field work: phase 1, phase 2 and phase 3.
What are the limits to environmental impact?
The site
The immediate locality
Wider effects: National/ International/ Global
construction, operation and decommissioning phases should all be assessed
Example 1: What was the Dibden Bay enquiry?
Associated British Ports submitted application to build a new container terminal. LOTS OF OPPOSITION.
Economic support:
National need for more container handling capacity
More jobs both during construction and operation
Increased efficiency
More money in local area
Environmental opposition: Threat to designated environmental areas Risk of oil spills Habitat loss Visual impact on landscape
Public enquiry 2001-2002, transport minister upheld the inspectors recommendation that the new container terminal should not go ahead.
Example 2: what were the ‘site itself’ impacts of Heathrow T5?
Land take: conservation, impacts, hydrology and flooding to the local area
Locally: road improvements, employment, noise (local and on flight paths)
National: status of impacted conservation areas economy: local and national effects
International: Greenhouse emissions, trade benefits, tourism impacts
How long and how much did the Heathrow terminal cost and take?
Construction took 6 years (2002-2008) for phase 1, with a further phase completed in 2011
Planning processes cost £63million over 14 years
included a 46 month public enquiry
Construction costs were 4.2 billion
Why did the Heathrow T5 need to be developed?
Failure to build would cost the UK £600 million a year in exports through international trade.
Larger aeroplanes (airbus 380: sites 555 people) need bigger infrastructure- next generation of aircraft
Accommodating modern planes can reduce air and noise pollution while still increasing passenger numbers
- would mean more connecting flights- want to keep status of international hub
What were the impacts of Heathrow T5
Traffic Noise Air pollution Run off- flood risk Economy- jobs (60 contractors) Global impacts: climate change, trade
Example 3: What are the site itself impacts of the Channel tunnel and rail link?
Site itself: major land take
Locally: difficulty finding an acceptable route (through Kent and London)
National
- short term: increase road traffic
- Long term: potential shift to freight on rail
International- improved trade with EU/ national security/ health risks/ migrants
When undergoing a desk study for baseline data- who do you contact?
Statutory: Natural England Environmental agency Local authorities Highways Agency Marine Management Organisation
Non-statutory RSPB National Trust Local Chamber of commerce Cyclists Windsurfers etc...
What are sources of Data in a desk study?
Census Population records Employment data Habitat map and databases (e.g. National Biodiversity Framework, Hampshire Biodiversity information centre) Schedule of Ancient Monuments
Example 4: what were the itself impacts of Ikea Southampton?
Land take of limited importance- brownfield site in urban area
Four storey building, 600 set restaurant, 891 space car park opposite leisure world
