ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT KEADBY DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED 1-1 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THIS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT This Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA Report) has been prepared by Environmental Resources Management Ltd (ERM) on behalf of Keadby Developments Limited (the Company). This EIA Report has been prepared to support an application under section 36C of The Electricity Act 1989 in accordance with the requirements of The Electricity Generating Stations (Variation of Consents) (England and Wales) Regulations 2013 (‘the 2013 Regulations’). 1.2 APPLICATION HISTORY OF THE KEADBY II PROJECT On 10 September 1993, the Company were granted consent pursuant to section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and a Direction under section 90 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 providing for the construction and subsequent operation of a 710 MW combined cycle gas turbine generating station at Keadby, North Lincolnshire. The section 36 consent was subsequently varied on 3 November 2016 pursuant to section 36C of the Electricity Act 1989 (and the 2013 Regulations) and section 90(2ZA) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (2016 Consent) to accommodate an increase in the electrical output of the plant, up to 820 MW (the Consented Development). 1.3 THIS APPLICATION The Company now seeks a further variation pursuant to section 36C of the Electricity Act 1989 (and the 2013 Regulations) and section 90 (2ZA) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, to increase the electrical output of the Consented Development, up to 910 MW and to deliver a higher efficiency in electricity generation (the Proposed Development). The Proposed Development is also known as Keadby II; its location is shown on Figure 1.1. It is anticipated that the design changes for the Proposed Development will not result in the need for any material changes to the existing consent conditions. The application submitted in relation to the 2016 Consent was supported by an Environmental Statement (ES) that was prepared in accordance with The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (‘the 2000 EIA Regulations’). An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been undertaken to determine the likely significant effects of the Proposed Development to the extent these differ from those previously assessed in the ES. The EIA has been undertaken in accordance with The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 (the ‘2017 Regulations’) which have come into force since the 2016 Consent. The 2017 Regulations introduce several changes from the 2000 Regulations and these are identified and discussed in Table 1.2.
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This EIA Report objectively records the assessment of likely significant effects
of the Proposed Development on the environment, including direct effects and
any indirect, secondary, cumulative, short, medium and long-term, permanent
and temporary, positive and negative effects (1), resulting from:
the existence of the Proposed Development;
the use of natural resources; and
the emission of pollutants, creation of nuisances and waste.
Table 1.3 shows the location within this EIA Report and the ES of pertinent information to satisfy the requirements set out in Schedule 4 of the 2017 Regulations. The general approach to the EIA is described in Section 1.6. The EIA Report
scope, including where the ES remains valid or supplementary information is
provided in the EIA Report, is presented in Chapter 3.
1.6 APPROACH TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
This section provides an overview of the broad principles of the methodology
adopted within this EIA Report. A comprehensive description of the approach
to the EIA can be found in Chapter 4 of the ES (see Annex D).
This EIA Report presents a comparison of the Proposed Development and its
likely significant effects, when compared to those attributable to the
Consented Development. An informal scoping exercise has been undertaken
in the preparation of this ES Report and is set out in Chapter 3. In addition
Chapter 3 highlights topics where the likely significant effects have been
reassessed due to changes in the project design. For those topics where no
further assessment is required justification is provided and an overview of
impacts and effects as presented in the Consented Development ES is
provided. For those topics where additional assessment is required a full and
thorough assessment has been carried out.
Figure 1.2 sets out the approach to assessment of likely significant effects that
may arise from the Proposed Development. This approach has been applied
in undertaking the EIA for the Consented Development as well as the
Proposed Development, as part of the Section 36C variation application.
(1) Transboundary effects are scoped out.
Table 1.3 Contents of the EIA Report
Relevant
Paragraph of
Schedule 4 to
the EIA
Regulations
Required Information Report Reference
[Paragraph 1]
Description of the proposed development, including in particular:
a description of the location of the proposed development;
a description of the physical characteristics of the whole development
including, where relevant, requisite demolition works, and the land-use
requirements during the construction and operational phases;
a description of the main characteristics of the operational phase (in
particular any production processes), for instance, energy demand and
energy used, nature and quality of the materials used and natural
resources; and
an estimate, by type and quantity, of expected residues and emissions
(such as water, air and soil and subsoil pollution, noise, vibration, light, heat,
radiation) and quantities and types of waste produced during the
construction and operation phases of the proposed development.
This EIA Report provides a description of the location of the Proposed
Development (Figure 1.1) alongside a description of the physical
characteristics of the whole development and main characteristics of the
operational phase (see Chapter 2: Project Description). Types and
quantities of waste are also addressed in Chapter 2: Project Description.
The changes in project design and how these may affect the estimates
of various emissions have been considered in detail in Table 3.1. There
are no material changes to the project design during construction and so
construction emissions remain reported in the ES (see Annex D),
however, operational emissions to air are reassessed in this EIA Report
(see Chapter 4). See Table 3.1 for further detail on the EIA Report
Scope.
[Paragraph 2] A description of the reasonable alternatives (for example in terms of
development design, technology, location, size and scale) studied by the
developer, which are relevant to the proposed development and its specific
characteristics, and an indication of the main reasons for selecting the chosen
option, including a comparison of the environmental effects.
This EIA Report provides a description of the alternatives considered
and the main reasons for selection of the chosen option. See Section
2.7 for a description of the alternatives.
[Paragraph 3]
A description of the relevant aspects of the current state of the environment
(baseline scenario) and an outline of the likely evolution thereof without
implementation of the proposed development as far as natural changes from the
baseline scenario can be assessed with reasonable effort on the basis of the
availability of environmental information and scientific knowledge.
The ES provides a comprehensive description of the baseline scenario
for all topics that may be affected by the Project. However, this EIA
Report provides updated baselines, where appropriate, to those topics
that are being reassessed (see Table 3.1 for EIA Report Scope and
Chapters 4 and 5).
An outline of the likely natural evolution of the baseline without
implementation of the Proposed Development, where possible, is
provided in Table 3.2.
[Paragraph 4] A description of the factors specified in regulation 4(2) likely to be significantly affected by the development: population, human health, biodiversity (for example fauna and flora), land (for example land take), soil (for example organic matter, erosion, compaction, sealing), water (for example hydromorphological changes, quantity and quality), air, climate (for example greenhouse gas emissions, impacts relevant to adaptation), material assets, cultural heritage, including
The ES provides a comprehensive description of the baseline scenario.
See the following chapters in Annex D:
Chapter 6 - Land and water (including soils);
Chapter 7 - Ecology and nature conservation (including fauna and flora);
Chapter 8 - Noise and vibration;
Relevant
Paragraph of
Schedule 4 to
the EIA
Regulations
Required Information Report Reference
architectural and archaeological aspects, and landscape.
Chapter 9 - Air quality;
Chapter 10 - Archaeology and cultural heritage;
Chapter 11 - Traffic and transport;
Chapter 12 - Socio-economic characteristics;
Chapter 13 - Landscape and visual.
However, this EIA Report provides updated baselines, where
appropriate, to those topics that are being reassessed (see Table 3.1 for
EIA Report Scope and Chapters 4 and 5). Additional information on
landscape and visual impacts are provided in Figure 3.1. Land take is
shown in Figure 2.1.
[Paragraph 5] A description of the likely significant effects of the proposed development on the environment, resulting from, inter alia: (a) the construction and existence of the development, including, where relevant, demolition works; (b) the use of natural resources, in particular land, soil, water and biodiversity, considering as far as possible the sustainable availability of these resources; (c) the emission of pollutants, noise, vibration, light, heat and radiation, the creation of nuisances, and the disposal and recovery of waste; (d) the risks to human health, cultural heritage or the environment (for example due to accidents or disasters); (e) the cumulation of effects with other existing and/or approved projects, taking into account any existing environmental problems relating to areas of particular environmental importance likely to be affected or the use of natural resources; (f) the impact of the project on climate (for example the nature and magnitude of greenhouse gas emissions) and the vulnerability of the project to climate change; (g) the technologies and the substances used.
The description of the likely significant effects on the factors specified in
regulation 4(2) should cover the direct effects and any indirect, secondary,
cumulative, transboundary, short-term, medium-term and long-term, permanent
and temporary, positive and negative effects of the development. This
description should take into account the environmental protection objectives
established at Union or Member State level which are relevant to the project,
including in particular those established under Council Directive 92/43/EEC(a)
and Directive 2009/147/EC(b).
The ES provides a comprehensive description of the likely significant
effects of the Consented Development on the environment. Table 3.1 in
this EIA Report assesses the validity of the findings of the ES in relation
to the changes in project design presented in the EIA Report. For many
topics there are no material changes that would affect the significance of
the assessment in the ES and as such the ES remains valid. Where the
assessment of likely significant effects may be different to that assessed
in the ES, new information is presented in this EIA Report (see Chapter
4: Air quality and Chapter 5: Ecology and Nature Conservation).
Table 3.1 also provides supplementary information to fulfil the
requirements of the 2017 EIA regulations, as indicated within the table.
[Paragraph 6] A description of the forecasting methods or evidence, used to identify and assess the significant effects on the environment, including details of difficulties
The ES provides a comprehensive description of the approach to the
EIA (see Chapter 4 of the ES – Annex D). Further topic specific details
Relevant
Paragraph of
Schedule 4 to
the EIA
Regulations
Required Information Report Reference
(for example technical deficiencies or lack of knowledge) encountered compiling the required information and the main uncertainties involved.
are provided in ES Chapters 6 to 13 and Chapters 4 and 5 of this EIA
Report. A summary of the approach is provided in Figure 1.2 below.
Uncertainty, where relevant, is dealt with within the topic assessment
chapters of the ES and this EIA Report.
[Paragraph 7]
A description of the measures envisaged to avoid, prevent, reduce or, if
possible, offset any identified significant adverse effects on the environment and,
where appropriate, of any proposed monitoring arrangements (for example the
preparation of a post-project analysis). That description should explain the
extent, to which significant adverse effects on the environment are avoided,
prevented, reduced or offset, and should cover both the construction and
operational phases.
A description of the measures proposed to avoid, prevent and reduce
any identified significant adverse effects as well as monitoring and the
effect of implementing the proposed mitigation measures are provided in
the topic assessment chapters of the ES. A summary is provided in
Chapter 15 of the ES (See Annex D to this EIA Report). Where these
measures have been updated due to changes in project design
considered in this variation they are presented in Chapter 4: Air quality
and, Chapter 5: Ecology and Nature Conservation as well as Chapter 7,
which provides a summary of the updated mitigation measures.
[Paragraph 8] A description of the expected significant adverse effects of the development on the environment deriving from the vulnerability of the development to risks of major accidents and/or disasters which are relevant to the Proposed Development. Relevant information available and obtained through risk assessments pursuant to EU legislation such as Directive 2012/18/EU(c) of the
European Parliament and of the Council or Council Directive 2009/71/Euratom(d) or UK environmental assessments may be used for this
purpose provided that the requirements of this Directive are met. Where appropriate, this description should include measures envisaged to prevent or mitigate the significant adverse effects of such events on the environment and details of the preparedness for and proposed response to such emergencies.
The Proposed Development is not within the consultation zone for any
COMAH site and therefore is not at risk of being affected by a major
accident at one of these sites.
Flood risk has been addressed in the design levels of critical operational
infrastructure and the Proposed Development will be provided with a
sustainable drainage system sized to cope with future changes due to
climate change (see Chapter 3 and Annex D).
An emergency situation and response plan will be developed for the
Proposed Development prior to construction and updated for operation.
A Hazard and Operability Study and Process Hazard Review (HAZOP)
will also be conducted prior to construction to consider sources of major
accidents as part of preparing such a plan.
[Paragraph 9]
[A non-technical summary of the information provided under paragraphs 1 to 8] A Non-technical Summary of all relevant information, including
information presented in the ES, is provided with this EIA Report.
[Paragraph 10] A reference list detailing the sources used for the descriptions and assessments
included in the environmental statement.
References are provided as footnotes in each chapter of the ES and EIA
Report, as relevant.
Predict Magnitude
A project’s impacts are quantified in terms of eg:
landtake area or habitat loss;
proportion of an ecological population exposed to impact;
change in noise levels at a residence;
pollutant exposure at a receptor; and
numbers of jobs generated in the local economy.
In predicting magnitude the effect of all the project mitigation in place (ie
committed to by the applicant) is taken into account.
For some impacts, especially noise, air and water pollution, significance is
assessed directly against numerical criteria and standards. For
exceedances, further mitigation must be incorporated by a project to
reduce the magnitude of the impact (and the significance of its effect).
For other impacts nominal levels of magnitude (eg small, medium, large)
may be adopted based on widely recognised factors such as: the nature
of a change (what is affected and how); its size, scale or intensity; its
geographical extent and distribution; its duration, frequency, reversibility
and, for unplanned events, likelihood of occurrence.
Some activities will result in changes to the environment that may be
immeasurable or undetectable or within the range of normal natural
variation. Such changes are assessed as having no impact or to be of
negligible magnitude and will not lead to significant effects.
Predict
Magnitude
Evaluate
Significance
Report
Effects
Identify
Impacts
Describe Baseline
Baseline data are collected to better understand the potentially most
important impacts and effects identified in scoping. Baseline data may
quantify existing exposure levels (eg for noise, air and water pollution),
identify vulnerable populations of animals or people, more clearly delineate
valued cultural property and ecosystem services etc.
Where a baseline aspect cannot be quantified then nominal levels of
importance, quality or value (low, medium, high) are assigned based on
widely accepted criteria in fields such as ecology, cultural heritage, landscape
and socioeconomic assessment. Inter-relationships between elements of the
baseline are identified.
Interact with Project Design
The EIA process interacts with a project design team to develop a basis for the
assessment (for example quantities of emissions, noise levels of equipment,
sizes of structures). The EIA process also interacts with design to assess
alternatives, ‘best available technology’ and mitigation options, especially
when after initial assessment some impacts may need to be further reduced.
Consult Stakeholders
Ongoing stakeholder consultation, post-scoping, is good practice in EIA and is
undertaken to refine the assessment and present preliminary findings to
stakeholders to elicit early responses and help make the Environmental
Statement as fit for purpose as possible.
Informed by high
level baseline,
project infor-
mation and con-
sultation with key
stakeholders
Project as
currently planned
with mitigation
incorporated
Compared
against standards
or looking at
magnitude in
combination with
affected re-
source/receptor
Increasing interaction with baseline studies, project design and stakeholders Identify Impact
The scoping process identifies the potentially most important/significant
impacts and effects (including secondary, indirect and cumulative) for the
assessment to address. This is done through a combination of:
looking at the nature of a project’s activities and the impacts they will
give rise to;
looking at a project’s environmental and social settings and their
aspects which are likely to be most sensitive/vulnerable to impacts
from the project;
applying professional understanding gained from the evidence base;
and
considering inputs from stakeholders through consultation.
Decisions are then made on which impacts and effects to assess or to
prioritise in the assessment (scoping in and scoping out) and how to
assess them (proposed methodology).
Evaluate Significance
In evaluating significance, the EIA process is seeking to inform regulators and stakeholders about the effects of
a project in a way that helps them make decisions on whether to approve it and allows them to develop
suitable conditions to attach to an approval. The evaluation of significance ideally demonstrates legal
compliance at least (eg compliance with quantified standards, avoidance of effects on legally protected
resources).
In the absence of quantified standards, significance can be evaluated through considering the magnitude of an
impact in combination with the importance/quality/value of the receptor or resource that is affected, also
considering the response (or sensitivity) of a resource or a receptor to a particular impact. Impacts/effects of
more than minor significance may warrant re-examination to see if an impact magnitude can be reduced
further. Different mitigation options may be examined and the reasons for selecting one and rejecting others
explained. Some impacts/effects that cannot be adequately mitigated may need to be addressed through the
consideration of offsets or compensation.
The evaluation process may go through more than one iteration of working with project design to develop
suitable mitigation and re-evaluating impacts and effects.
For some impacts and
effects further or
different mitigation
may need to be con-
sidered and the effect
re-evaluated
While the above provides a general framework for identifying impacts and assessing the significance of their effects, in practice the approaches and criteria applied vary across
different environmental and socio-economic topics.