appropriate assessment

359 Pages·2009·3.39 MB·English

by  Conor Skehan

A A
PPROPRIATE SSESSMENT
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF
A 6(3)
RTICLE
OF THE
EU H D
ABITATS IRECTIVE

OF THE

COUNTY GALWAY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
2009-2015

for: Galway County Council

County Buildings
Prospect Hill
Galway

by: CAAS (Environmental Services)

4th Floor,
7 Red Cow Lane
Smithfield
Dublin 7

March 2009
Includes Ordnance Survey Ireland data reproduced under OSi Licence Number 2009/07CCMA/Galway County Council. Unauthorised
reproduction infringes Ordnance Survey Ireland and Government of Ireland copyright. © Ordnance Survey Ireland
Appropriate Assessment of the Galway County Development Plan 2009-2015
Table of Contents
List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................................iii
Glossary.......................................................................................................................iv
Section 1 Preamble.................................................................................................1
Section 2 Appropriate Assessment .........................................................................2
2.1 Methodology....................................................................................................................2
Section 3 Assessment Subjects...............................................................................5
3.1 The Existing Environment..................................................................................................5
3.1.1 The Ecology & Habitats of Galway..................................................................................5
3.2 Biodiversity and Flora and Fauna........................................................................................5
3.2.1 Overview of High Value Biodiversity...............................................................................5
3.2.2 Ecological Networks and Connectivity.............................................................................8
3.2.3 Land Cover and Habitat Mapping...................................................................................9
3.2.4 Designations..............................................................................................................13
3.2.5 Existing Problems.......................................................................................................24
3.2.6 Evolution of Biodiversity and Flora and Fauna in the absence of a CDP............................25
3.2.7 Criteria for the Protection of European Sites (Strategic Environmental Objectives)............26
3.2.8 Objectives derived from International, European and National Strategic Actions...............26
3.2.9 SEOs, Indicators and Targets.......................................................................................28
3.3 The County Development Plan.........................................................................................29
3.3.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................29
3.3.2 Structure and Content.................................................................................................29
3.3.3 Overall Strategic Aims.................................................................................................29
3.3.4 Interactions with other Plans & Policies.........................................................................30
Description of Alternative Plan Scenarios..........................................................................32
3.4 32
3.4.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................33
3.4.2 Description of Alternative Scenario 1: Dispersed Development Strategy...........................33
3.4.3 Description of Alternative Scenario 2: Structured Development Strategy..........................33
3.4.4 Description of Alternative Scenario 3: Centred Development Strategy..............................34
Section 4 Evaluation of Alternative Plan Scenarios..............................................38
4.1 Introduction...................................................................................................................38
4.2 Methodology..................................................................................................................38
4.2.1 Existing Environment..................................................................................................38
4.2.2 Strategic Environmental Objectives (SEOs)...................................................................38
4.3 Evaluation .....................................................................................................................40
4.3.1 Evaluation of Alternative Scenario 1: Dispersed Development Strategy............................40
Evaluation of Alternative Scenario 2: Structured Development Strategy...........................41
4.3.2 41
Evaluation of Alternative Scenario 3: Centred Development Strategy...............................41
4.3.3 41
4.4 Evaluation against SEOs..................................................................................................43
4.5 The Preferred Alternative................................................................................................44
Section 5 The Assessment.....................................................................................45
5.1 Introduction...................................................................................................................45
5.1.1 Two Types of Assessment...........................................................................................45
5.2 Assessment of Effects.....................................................................................................48
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Appropriate Assessment of the Galway County Development Plan 2009-2015
5.3 Mitigation Measures........................................................................................................49
5.4 Findings.........................................................................................................................49
5.4.1 Policies that will require adherence to existing relevant legislation, standards and mitigation
measures proposed to have no adverse effects on Critical Environmental Conditions required to
sustain Favourable Status of Qualifying Interest.........................................................................50
5.4.2 Policies that will require detailed assessment of subsidiary plans or proposals to ensure no
adverse effects on Critical Environmental Conditions required to sustain Favourable Status of
Qualifying Interest...................................................................................................................55
5.5 Mitigation Measures........................................................................................................58
5.6 Recommendations arising from Appropriate Assessment....................................................59
5.7 Mitigation Measures to prevent effects on European Sites..................................................60
5.7.1 Ecology......................................................................................................................60
5.7.2 Water Protection.........................................................................................................60
5.7.3 Waste Water..............................................................................................................61
5.8 Conclusions....................................................................................................................62

Appendices & Tables

Appendix I

Sheet 1 European Sites in County Galway

Sheet 2 Constituent Qualifying Interests of European Sites in County Galway

Sheet 3 Assessment of Critical Resource Required to sustain Qualifying Interest Components of
European Sites in County Galway and identification of Resource Requirement Types Groups
for use in Assessment

Sheet 4 Assessment of Likely Effects of Galway County Development Plan

Appendix II

Sheet 5 Assessment of Likely Effects of Galway County Development Plan on the Qualifying Interests
for European Sites

Appendix III

Sites Synopses for European Sites in County Galway

Appendix IV

Policy-by-policy generalised assessment of the effects on Critical Environmental Conditions required to
sustain Favourable Status of Qualifying Interest

Appendix V

Management Plan for Lough Coy SAC

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Appropriate Assessment of the Galway County Development Plan 2009-2015
List of Abbreviations
AA Appropriate Assessment
CDP County Development Plan
CSO Central Statistics Office
DEHLG Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
EU European Union
GCC Galway County Council
GSI Geological Survey of Ireland
NHA Natural Heritage Area
NSS National Spatial Strategy
RBD River Basin District
SAC Special Area of Conservation
SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment
SEO Strategic Environmental Objective
SI No. Statutory Instrument Number
SPA Special Protection Area
WFD Water Framework Directive

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Glossary
Biodiversity and Flora and Fauna
Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources including inter alia, terrestrial,
marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this
includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems’ (United Nations Convention on
Biological Diversity 1992).

Flora is all of the plants found in a given area.

Fauna is all of the animals found in a given area.

Biotic Index Values (Q Values)
The Biotic Index Values, or Q values, are assigned to rivers in accordance with biological monitoring
of surface waters - low Q ratings, as low as Q1, are indicative of low biodiversity and polluted waters,
and high Q ratings, as high as Q5, are indicative of high biodiversity and unpolluted waters. Good
status as defined by the Water Framework Directive equates to approximately Q4 in the national
scheme of biological classification of rivers as set out by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Environmental Problems
Annex I of Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of Ministers, of 27
June 2001, on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment
(the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive) requires that information is provided on ‘any
existing environmental problems which are relevant to the plan or programme’, thus, helping to
ensure that the proposed strategic action does not make existing environmental problems worse.

Environmental problems arise where there is a conflict between current environmental conditions and
ideal targets. If environmental problems are identified at the offset they can help focus attention on
important issues and geographical areas where environmental effects of the plan or programme may
be likely.

Environmental Vectors
Environmental vectors are environmental components, such as air, water or soil, through which
contaminants or pollutants, which have the potential to cause harm, can be transported so that they
come into contact with human beings.

European Site
A Site designated for protection as part of the Natura 2000 network of sites.

Mitigate
To make or become less severe or harsh

Mitigation Measures
Mitigation measures are measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and, as fully as possible, offset any
significant adverse impacts on the environment of implementing a human action, be it a plan,
programme or project. Mitigation involves ameliorating significant negative effects. Where there are
significant negative effects, consideration should be given in the first instance to preventing such
effects or, where this is not possible, to lessening or offsetting those effects. Mitigation measures can
be roughly divided into those that: avoid effects; reduce the magnitude or extent, probability and/or
severity of effects; repair effects after they have occurred; and compensate for effects, balancing out
negative impacts with other positive ones.

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Appropriate Assessment of the Galway County Development Plan 2009-2015
Qualifying Interest
The Constituent Habitats of a Designated Site that are the reason for the Site’s designation. These
habitats are scheduled for protection by the Habitats Directive.

Scoping
Scoping is the process of determining what issues are to be addressed, and setting out a
methodology in which to address them in a structured manner appropriate to the plan or
programme. Scoping is carried out in consultation with the appropriate bodies.

Strategic Actions
Strategic actions include: Policies, which may be considered as inspiration and guidance for action
and which set the framework for plans and programmes; Plans, sets of co-ordinated and timed
objectives for the implementation of the policy; and Programmes, sets of projects in a particular
area.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is the formal, systematic evaluation of the likely significant
environmental effects of implementing a plan or programme before a decision is made to adopt it.

Strategic Environmental Objective (SEO)
Strategic Environmental Objectives (SEOs) are methodological measures which are developed from
international, national and regional policies which generally govern environmental protection
objectives and against which the environmental effects of the CDP can be tested. The SEOs are used
as standards against which the objectives of the CDP can be evaluated in order to help identify areas
in which significant adverse impacts are likely to occur, if not mitigated.
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Appropriate Assessment of the Galway County Development Plan 2009-2015
may reasonably be expected to be available at
Section 1 Preamble each such stage.

The assessment provides a full record of the
information used, the sources of that information
and of the appraisal carried out in the
Having regard to;
assessment to justify the conclusions. This

information has been used to inform the
• the level in the hierarchy and detail of the
development and evaluation of alternative plan
Plan and that the County Development Plan
scenarios in the early stages of plan development
[notwithstanding the use of the title ‘Plan’]
and to subsequently develop appropriate
provides a Strategic Framework Document,
avoidance mitigation policies and objectives.
• that the Plan does not dictate or indicate the

location, extent, use, character or intensity
Galway County Council have given consideration
of specific or any future landuses or
to a level of assessment which is appropriate for
developments - to a level that permits the
the contents of the Plan and future subsidiary
prediction of locations of likely effect,
plans in order to determine the likely impact of
• the absence of either published management
the Plan’s provisions. The assessment method
plans or conservation objects for European
followed is deemed to be proportionate, fit for
Sites,
purpose, scientifically sound and pragmatic.
Galway County Council have, through the application Specifically it aims to identify whether and how
of the precautionary principle, to assume that due to the Plan is likely to affect the conservation
the level in the hierarchy and detail of the Plan and to objectives of European sites (Sheet 2, Appendix
the current state of knowledge of the European Sites I) and, where these are not currently published,
and their conservation objectives that is necessary to to identify the general factors that help to
adopt a Plan that; maintain the favourable status of the key habitats
and species of these sites (Sheet3, Appendix I).
• integrates the requirement that further This facilitates an assessment of whether and
appropriate assessments will be required to where effective provisions to protect the integrity
ascertain that any subordinate plans will not of European Sites exist in The Plan or in other
adversely affect any European site, more specific instruments/measures – such as
• makes explicit that any subsequent plan or pollution control legislation, River Basin
project will only be compliant if further Management Plans etc.
appropriate assessments of any subordinate
plans – or developments will not adversely
affect any European site,
• includes policies, objectives and measures to
mitigate or restrict the permitting of
subsidiary plans, landuses or developments
that might give rise to adverse effects on
any European site,
Notwithstanding these considerations an
assessment is provided hereunder of the impact
of the Plan, alone or in combination with other
plans and projects, on all relevant European
sites, as required by Article 6(3) of the Habitats
Directive - that is proportional to the level in the
hierarchy and detail of the Plan and is as rigorous
an assessment as is practicable in the context of
the this plan - as acknowledged by the EC in their
Article 6 guidance.

Accordingly the effects on European site interests
will be assessed at this and at each relevant
future stage, in accordance with the principle of
subsidiarity – from County Development Plan
through Local Area (or other plan) Plan to
Development Control (including EIS if relevant)
so that the assessment will be re-visited with
increasing specificity at each subsequent stages.
In this way more specific assessments,
determinations, conditions or mitigations may be
applied in light of the level of knowledge that
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Appropriate Assessment of the Galway County Development Plan 2009-2015
Section 2 Appropriattee AAsssseessssmmeenntt
22..11 MMeetthhooddoollooggyy
PPllaann AAsssseessssmmeenntt SSttaaggee KKeeyy
Strategic Environmental Assessment
Appropriate Assessment [with conservation objectives]
SEA Screening &
Appropriate Assessment [without conservation objectives]
Scoping
Figure 2.1 Diagram of full Plan
Early Plan Formulation Assessment Process.

Note how SEA takes place prior to
Critical Issues Alternatives Appropriate Assessment in order to provide a
holistic consideration of the potential for
interactions and cumulative effects.
An overall plan strategy – including
consideration of alternatives – emphasizes
the anticipation and avoidance of adverse
Plan Strategy effects in the formulation of the Plan.
Impact Anticipation & Avoidance
+
Mitigating Measures
Pre-Draft
Plan
Effects on European Sites ?
nt
e
m
e
g
a
n
a
Sites with Management Plans Sites without Manage- m
&Sh Ceoent s4e, rAvaptpioenn dOixb jIe] ctives [See maStheioennett 2P,Ol aAbnpjsep cet&niv deiCxso In] s[eSreve- Aims Objectives Policies Development
Qualifying Interests
Qualifying Interests
Appropriate
Assessment
Qualifying Interests
Qualifying Interests
Management Strategies & Objectives
Further Plan Modifications & Mitigation
Final
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Appropriate Assessment of the Galway County Development Plan 2009-2015
Plan
Effects on European Sites
nt
e
m
e
Sites with Management Plans Sites without Management ag
n
& Conservation Objectives Plans & Conservation ma
[See Sheet 4, Appendix I] OApbpjeecntdivixe sI ] [See Sheet 2, es ent
Aims Objectiv Policies Developm
Qualifying Interests
Qualifying Interests
Appropriate
Assessment
Qualifying Interests
Qualifying Interests
Management Strategies & Objectives
Final Further Plan Modifications & Mitigation
Figure 2.2 Diagram of Appropriate Assessment Process

A Develoment Plan is assessed to examine the potential effects on European Sites in accordance with the
requirements of Article 6 (3) of the Habitats Directive which calls for an evaluation of the likely effects of the
proposed Plan on the conservation objectives of the European Site.

Where Management Plans have been published, containing Conservation Objectives, then the specific
strategies and objectives for the key indicators of the site are assessed to determine what effects – if any –
are likely to occur, whether the Plan anticipates and mitigates against these impacts and whether there is
likely to be any adverse effects on the integrity of the site.

Where Management Plans have not yet been published then General Conservation Objectives are inferred for
European Sites by identifying the Critical Resources necessary to sustain each of the Qualifying Interests that
make up each Site.
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Appropriate Assessment of the Galway County Development Plan 2009-2015

Sites with Consult Assessment of

Management Plans Management Plans Likely Effects of

for European Sites Plan on
Conservation
Objects of
European Sites
Appendix V Sheet 4 Appendix 1
Identification of
European Sites in
Co. Galway
Appropriate
Assessment
Sheet 1 Appendix 1
Identification of Assessment of Critical Assessment of Likely 
Constituent Resources required to Effects of  Galway CDP 
Qualifying Interests sustain Favourable on the Qualifying 
Status of Qualifying Interests for European 
Sites without Interest Sites.
Management Plans
Sheet 2 Appendix 1 Sheet 3Appendix 1 Sheet 5 Appendix 2
Figure 2.4 Flowchart illustrating how the Plan is assessed
The upper stream illustrates how Sites with Management plans are assessed – by assessing the likely effects of
the relevant parts of the Plan on the Conservations Objectives for the Site. The lower stream illustrates how
Conservation Objectives are inferred [as ‘Critical Resource Requirements’] for the Qualifying Interests of Sites
without Management Plans - which facilitates a generalized assessment – appropriate to this level of plan
making. This assessment identifies those policies and objectives that will require further assessment at subsidiary
levels of plan-making and project evaluation-see below.
Appropriate Identification of Identification of Future
Assessment of Plan Elements Subsidiary Plan Development &
The County requiring Elements Projects
Development Plan mitigation requiring requiring
Appropriate Appropriate
Assessment Assessment in
EIA
Appendix IV Section 5.4.1 Section 5.4.2
Figure 2.3 Flowchart illustrating the subsidiarity of Assessment
This identifies those elements that are assessed at this stage and which subsidiary elements - such as town or
local area plans - will be assessed at a more appropriate level of detail in the future.
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