4. Scoping

  1. The following details the findings of the Scoping stage of the WFD Assessment. This template follows guidance produced by the ‘Clearing the Waters for All’. The potential risks of the activity to each of the key receptor groups across all water bodies identified in section 3 are considered in the sections below.

4.2. Hydromorphology

  1. Specific risk information relating to hydromorphology is provided in Table 4.1   Open ▸ .

 

Table 4.1:
Hydromorphology Risks

Table 4.1: Hydromorphology Risks

1 “Activity” refers to the seabed preparation, installation works, maintenance and decommissioning of the offshore export cables and associated works (e.g. HDD exit punches out).

 

4.3. Biology

4.3.1.    Habitats

  1. The ‘Clearing the Waters for All’ scoping template provides a list of habitats which have a sensitivity to human pressures; split into higher and lower sensitivities. Table 4.2   Open ▸ is a reproduction of the list of sensitive habitats from the WFD scoping template, and Table 4.3   Open ▸ presents the specific risk information for biology habitat receptors.

 

Table 4.2:
WFD Habitat Sensitivity to Human Pressures

Table 4.2: WFD Habitat Sensitivity to Human Pressures

 

Table 4.3:
Biology - Habitats Risks

Table 4.3: Biology - Habitats Risks

2 “Footprint” here refers to the area of seabed directly affected by seabed preparation, installation works maintenance and decommissioning of the offshore export cables and associated works (e.g. HDD exit punches out). For activities resulting in sediment mobilisation, the footprint is 1.5 times the size of the associated works.

 

4.3.2.    Fish

  1. The ‘Clearing the Waters for All’ scoping template provides a list of criteria which may impact fish species within relevant water bodies. Table 4.4   Open ▸ presents the specific risk information for biology fish receptors.

 

Table 4.4:
Biology – Fish Risks

Table 4.4: Biology – Fish Risks

 

4.4. Water quality

  1. Table 4.5   Open ▸ provides the specific risk information for water quality receptors.

 

Table 4.5:
Water Quality Risk

Table 4.5: Water Quality Risk

 

  1. Table 4.6   Open ▸ provides the specific risk information for water quality receptors in relation to the release of chemicals. Table 4.7   Open ▸ provides the specific risk information for water quality receptors in relation to mixing zones.

 

Table 4.6:
Water Quality Risks in Relation to the Use or Release of Chemicals

Table 4.6: Water Quality Risks in Relation to the Use or Release of Chemicals

 

Table 4.7:
Water Quality Risks in Relation to Mixing Zone

Table 4.7: Water Quality Risks in Relation to Mixing Zone

 

4.5. Protected Areas

  1. The WFD assessment considers if WFD protected areas are at risk from the proposed activity. These include:
  • SACs;
  • SPAs;
  • shellfish waters;
  • bathing waters;
  • nutrient sensitive areas – polluted or eutrophic; and
  • NVZs – polluted or sensitive.
    1. As referred to in paragraph 32, the Proposed Development export cable corridor overlaps with one WFD water body (Barns Ness to Wheat Stack), is within 1 km of one other WFD water body (North Berwick to Barns Ness) and within 3 km of one other WFD water body (Wheat Stack to Berwick-Upon-Tweed).
    2. Between them, these three WFD water bodies contain 15 WFD protected areas: four SPAs, two SACs, one NVZ, and eight designated bathing waters. Eight SSSIs are also contained within these water bodies but are not subject to WFD scoping assessment ( Figure 3.1   Open ▸ ).
    3. Only three WFD protected areas lie within 2 km of the Proposed Development ( Table 4.8   Open ▸ ): the Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrew’s Bay Complex SPA, the Lothian and Borders NVZ, and the Thorntonloch bathing water.

 

Table 4.8:
Protected Areas Risks

Table 4.8: Protected Areas Risks

 

4.6. Invasive non-Native Species (INNS)

  1. Table 4.9   Open ▸ outlines the INNS risk for the Proposed Development.

 

Table 4.9:
Invasive Non-Native Species Risks

Table 4.9: Invasive Non-Native Species Risks

 

  1. The footprint of the Proposed Development offshore export cables works within 1 nm seaward of MHWS lies entirely within the Barns Ness to Wheat Stack water body. Given the small scale of the activity here (detailed above), and the limited receptors for which an effect pathway has been identified, the impact of the activity is unlikely to extend beyond the boundary of the Barns Ness to Wheat Stack water body. Receptors in adjoining WFD water bodies will not be affected to a greater extent than those located within the Barns Ness to Wheat Stack water body, and as such the effect pathway will not exceed that assessed here. Assessment of the effects of the activity has therefore been restricted to the Barns Ness to Wheat Stack water body only.

4.7. Summary

  1. Table 4.10   Open ▸ presents a summary of the WFD scoping exercise presented in this section.

 

Table 4.10:
WFD Scoping Summary

Table 4.10: WFD Scoping Summary

 

5. Assessment of Effects

5.1. Protected Areas

  1. As detailed in section 4.5, the offshore export cable route overlaps with the Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrew’s Bay Complex SPA and is within 2 km of the Thorntonloch bathing water, and therefore has the potential to affect the interest features of these sites.
  2. The Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrew’s Bay Complex SPA is designated for its breeding and non-breeding seabird assemblage and is also an important feeding ground for overwintering waterfowl (NatureScot, 2020a). The conservation objective of the SPA is to avoid deterioration of the habitats of, or significant disturbance to, the qualifying species to ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained in the long-term and it continues its contribution to achieving the aims of the Birds Directive for the qualifying species. This contribution would be achieved by a) avoiding significant mortality, injury and disturbance of the qualifying features, and b) maintaining the habitats and food resources of the qualifying features in favourable condition.
  3. Information to support the competent authority in its assessment of the potential impacts on this SPA is provided in the Berwick Bank Wind Farm Offshore HRA Screening Report (SSER, 2021b) and the Berwick Bank Wind Farm Report to Inform Appropriate Assessment (SSER, 2022c). The latter provides an updated HRA Screening and gives consideration to adverse effects on the integrity of protected areas that may arise from the Proposed Development. These reports accompany this Offshore EIA Report to support the Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) of the Project and the information therein is not, therefore repeated here in full.
  4. The Berwick Bank Wind Farm Offshore HRA Screening Report (SSER, 2021b) provided information to consider the potential for likely significant effects (LSE) associated with accidental pollution and activities associated with the offshore export cables. The risk of pollution events occurring will be managed by the implementation of measures set out in environmental management plans (e.g. a PEMP including a Marine Pollution Contingency Plan) which will be implemented as part of the Proposed Development. Furthermore, in their response to the LSE Screening Report for the 2020 Berwick Bank Wind Farm Proposal, Marine Scotland Science (MSS) and MS-LOT recommended that this impact could be screened out of the HRA.
  5. No likely significant effects from the Proposed Development export cable corridor are predicted to result on the features of the coastal portion of the Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrew’s Bay Complex SPA with respect to water quality pathways. Therefore, there is no potential for the conservation objectives of the site to be hindered with respect to water quality parameters.
  6. Thorntonloch is a designated EC bathing water and has returned water quality classifications of Good in the 2017-2018 sampling season, and Excellent in the 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 sampling seasons (SEPA, 2020). There were no classifications calculated for 2020-2021 due to the shortened season and reduced sampling during the COVID pandemic.
  7. Effects of cable works during construction, and the presence of cable protection during operation, are expected to be of local spatial extent, long term duration (i.e. the 35-year design life of the Proposed Development) and highly reversible, resulting in effects that are of minor adverse significance. Effects during decommissioning are also predicted to be of minor adverse significance (see volume 2, chapter 19).
  8. As discussed above with respect to the HRA for the construction phase, accidental pollution will be subject to other regulatory control through both legislation and the requirements for contingency plans (NatureScot, 2020a; MSS, 2020a). A potential effect pathway from accidental pollution during onshore works was identified in the Berwick Bank Wind Farm Onshore EIA and assessed as being of minor adverse significance.
  9. Therefore, alongside negligible significant effects predicted from the offshore export cables, an overall negligible magnitude, minor significant cumulative effect on the classification of the Thorntonloch bathing water is anticipated.
  10. The footprint of the Proposed Development does not coincide with the North Berwick to Barns Ness and Wheat Stack to Berwick-Upon-Tweed water bodies so the magnitude of effects of the Proposed Development upon receptors within these water bodies is expected to be lower than those assessed for the Barns Ness to Wheat Stack water body. Receptors in these water bodies, besides the two protected areas that coincide with the Barns Ness to Wheat Stack water body, were therefore not taken forward for assessment in their own right.
  11. In conclusion, therefore, there is no potential for significant impacts on the protected area objectives of these water-dependent protected areas and therefore on the environmental objectives of the Barns Ness to Wheat Stack water body, or the water bodies adjacent to it.

6. Conclusion

  1. Based on the WFD Scoping presented in section 4 and the assessment of effects in section 5, there is no potential for deterioration of the status of the three water bodies identified in section 3.1. In most instances, the relevant activities for the construction and installation of the Proposed Development export cable corridor have been scoped out of the assessment as they are below the thresholds set by the ‘Clearing the Waters for All’ guidance.
  2. With respect to protected areas, the criteria which determine whether an assessment of effects is required were met for activity occurring within 2 km of a WFD protected area. The Proposed Development offshore export cable route coincides with the Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrew’s Bay Complex SPA and is within 2 km of the Thorntonloch bathing water, and the features of these protected areas have the potential to be impacted by the activities.
  3. Based on the low likely effects related to the offshore export cables, there is no potential for deterioration of the status of the water body in relation to water quality nor is there potential for jeopardising the potential of this quality element achieving good status in the future.
  4. The Berwick Bank Wind Farm Offshore HRA Screening Report (SSER, 2021b) and the Berwick Bank Wind Farm Report to Inform Appropriate Assessment (SSER, 2022c) have been submitted alongside the EIA to support the HRA for the Proposed Development. With respect to effect-pathways pertinent to changes in water quality due to offshore export cable works, the HRA documents provide information to support a finding of no LSE on the Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrew’s Bay Complex SPA. Similarly, therefore, there is no potential for significant impacts on the protected area objectives the Thorntonloch bathing water.
  5. In conclusion, therefore, there is no potential for significant impacts on the protected area objectives of these water dependent protected areas and therefore on the environmental objectives of the Barns Ness to Wheat Stack water body, the Thorntonloch bathing water or the Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrew’s Bay Complex SPA.

7. References

Environment Agency (2015). Water for Life and Livelihoods. South West River Basin District River Basin Management Plan. Available at: South_West_RBD_Part_1_river_basin_management_plan.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk). Accessed on: 18 May 2022

Environment Agency (2016). Clearing the Waters for All. Water Framework Directive assessment: estuarine and coastal waters guidance. Available at: Water Framework Directive assessment: estuarine and coastal waters - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Accessed on: 24 June 2022

International Maritime Organization (IMO) (2004). International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM) Available at: International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM) (imo.org). Accessed on: 18 May 2022

JNCC (2015). Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast SAC Natura 2000 Standard Data Form. Available at: UK0017072.pdf (jncc.gov.uk). Accessed on: 12 May 2022

MSS (2020). Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm – consultation on HRA Screening Report. Available at: appendix_i_-_consultation_representations_advice_0.pdf (marine.gov.scot). Accessed on: 15 July 2022

MS-LOT (2022). Scoping Opinion for Berwick Bank Wind Farm. Marine Scotland – Licensing Operations. 4 February 2022

NatureScot (2011a). Citation for Firth of Forth SSSA (8163). Available at https://apps.snh.gov.uk/sitelink-api/v1/sites/8163/documents/1. Accessed on: 04 July 2022

NatureScot (2011b). Citation for Barns Ness Coast SSSI (153). Available at https://apps.snh.gov.uk/sitelink-api/v1/sites/153/documents/1. Accessed on: 04 July 2022

NatureScot (2011c). Citation for Berwickshire Coast (Intertidal) SSSI (1695). Available at https://apps.snh.gov.uk/sitelink-api/v1/sites/1695/documents/1. Accessed on: 04 July 2022

NatureScot (2011d). Citation for Burnmouth Coast SSSI (278). Available at https://apps.snh.gov.uk/sitelink-api/v1/sites/278/documents/1. Accessed on: 04 July 2022

NatureScot (2020a) Citation for special protection area (SPA) Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex (UK9020316). Available at: https://apps.snh.gov.uk/sitelink-api/v1/sites/10478/documents/16. Accessed on: 04 July 2022

NatureScot (2020b). Berwick bank Offshore Wind Farm, Firth of Forth. NatureScot Advice on Habitats Regulations Appraisal. Available at: appendix_i_-_consultation_representations_advice_0.pdf (marine.gov.scot). Accessed on: 15 July 2022

SEPA (2014a). Water body information sheet for water body 200467 in Forth. Available at: https://www2.sepa.org.uk/waterbodydatasheets/PDF/2012/200467.pdf. Accessed on: 12 May 2022

SEPA (2014b). Water body information sheet for water body 200038 in Forth. Available at: https://www2.sepa.org.uk/waterbodydatasheets/PDF/2012/200038.pdf. Accessed on: 12 May 2022

SEPA (2014c). Water body information sheet for water body 200031 in Forth. Available at: https://www2.sepa.org.uk/waterbodydatasheets/PDF/2012/200031.pdf. Accessed on: 12 May 2022

SEPA (2015). The river basin management plan for the Scotland river basin district: 2015–2027. Available at: The river basin management plan for the Scotland river basin district 2015 - 2027 (sepa.org.uk). Accessed on: 04 July 2022

SEPA (2020). Bathing Water Profile for Thorntonloch. Available at: Thorntonloch bathing water profile v1.3 (sepa.org.uk). Accessed on: 12 May 2022

SEPA (2021). The River Basin Management Plan for Scotland 2021 – 2027. Available at: 211222-final-rbmp3-scotland.pdf (sepa.org.uk). Accessed on: 04 July 2022

SEPA (2022). Water Classification Hub. Available at: Water Classification Hub (sepa.org.uk). Accessed on 21 July 2022

SSER (2021b). Berwick Bank Wind Farm Offshore HRA Screening Report.

SSER (2022a). Berwick Bank Wind Farm Onshore EIA Report

SSER (2022c). Berwick Bank Wind Farm Report to Inform Appropriate Assessment