16.4. Tertiary Mitigation

A perimeter fence will be erected around the substation which will offer screening to EMFs generated by the equipment within the substation.

EMFs from the cables will be screened by the way the cables are manufactured, being insulated and installed within sheaths, and being primarily buried underground.

Where sections of cables may be required to be OHL these will similarly be screened by the way they are manufactured, with OHL’s designed in compliance with ICNIRP 1998 exposure limits. Construction and operation of the Proposed Development would be in compliance with The Control of Electronic Fields at Work Regulations (2016) which ensures that levels of EMF are within safe limits.

16.5. Potential Proposed Development Impacts

The Proposed Development will generate EMFs from both onshore cable circuits and from the equipment housed within the substation.

Due to the likely distance from the substation components to the closest publicly accessible point (outwith the perimeter fence), the greatest exposure to EMFs is likely to be from the onshore cables, however due to the manufacturing design of either underground or OHL cables, limited EMFs, if any, will be experienced. The maximum EMF level that the public will be exposed to will be significantly below the guideline for public exposure limits which are set to protect health (ICNIRP, 1998).

The Proposed Development will be designed and operated in accordance with all relevant health and safety legislation and the occupational exposure guidelines for EMF.

16.6. Receptors and Impacts Scoped In and Out of Assessment

Table 16.1 below summarises the potential impacts proposed to be scoped in and out of the EIAR.

Table 16.1:
Summary of Impacts Relating to EMFs Scoped In () and Scoped Out (x)

Table 16.1: Summary of Impacts Relating to EMFs Scoped In () and Scoped Out (x)

It is considered that EMFs from the Proposed Development will not be significant to cause any public health risk and as such potential effects from EMFs are scoped out and further assessment of EMF is not required within the EIAR. It is also proposed that a standalone section addressing ‘Population and Human Health’ will not be required within the EIAR, with any potential human health effects being assessed within the other environmental topic sections where relevant e.g. noise or traffic and transport.

16.7. Scoping Questions to Consultees


  1. SUMMARY OF SCOPING REPORT

    2. SUMMARY OF SCOPING REPORT

Table 17.1 below summarises the impacts and receptors which the Applicant proposes to scope in and out of the EIAR for the Proposed Development. We would be grateful if consultees could review and confirm agreement, or otherwise, with the scope outlined in Table 17.1.

Table 17.1:
Summary of Impacts /Receptors Scoped In () and Scoped Out (x)

Table 17.1: Summary of Impacts /Receptors Scoped In () and Scoped Out (x)


Annex A – Outline Schedule of Environmental Commitments (Tertiary Mitigation)

Technical Discipline

Environmental Commitment

Implementation Phase

General

The Applicant will produce a draft CEMP, to include the following:

  • detailed project description with maps of construction and operational activity, all cabling and transport routes and all legislative requirements;
  • programme of work;
  • summary of Environmental Management Procedures including roles and responsibilities, sub-contractors and evidence of training, awareness and competence of on-site personnel;
  • procedures for communication; and
  • details of environmental management plans

Construction

General

A Proposed Development Communication Plan will:

  • Develop and implement a stakeholder communications plan that includes community engagement before work commences on site.
  • Display contact information of the head or regional office, or person(s) accountable on the site boundary.

.

Pre-construction and Construction

Landscape and Visual

The siting of the substation, landfall(s), access tracks and cable route will be selected with the sensitivity of landscape and visual resources in mind to help avoid or reduce the potential impacts .

Design

Ecology and Ornithology

Opportunities for biodiversity enhancements, such as planning species-rich hedgerows and establish and manage species-rich grasslands, within the site will be identified

Design

Ecology and Ornithology

Watercourse crossings will be designed to enable passage by mammals where reasonably practicable.

Design and Construction

Ecology and Ornithology

A suitably qualified Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) will be appointed. The ECoW will be present and oversee all construction activities as well providing toolbox talks to all site personnel with regards to priority species and habitats, as well as undertaking monitoring works and briefings to relevant staff and contractors as appropriate.

Pre-construction and Construction

Ecology and Ornithology

A Species Protect Plan (SPP) will be produced as part of the CEMP. The SPP will detail measures to safeguard protected species known to be in the area and will include for pre-construction surveys for protected species as well as ensuring the use of best practice measures during all construction activities.

The SPP will describe the process to be followed in the case that new protected species are recorded on site that will therefore also need to be protected during construction works, as well ensuring the implementation of effective toolbox talks to raise awareness of site personnel to sensitive ecological receptors on site.

Pre-construction and Construction

Ecology and Ornithology

Best practice techniques to prevent pollution of watercourses within the site will be employed. These may include use of buffer strips, infiltration trenches, settlement swales or lagoons.

Pre-construction and Construction

Noise

Normal construction hours will be Monday to Sunday 07.00-19.00; any exceptions to this will be agreed in advance with ELC.

Construction and Decommissioning

Noise

Based on noise modelling results, where noise has the potential to cause disturbance the use of mufflers, acoustic barriers and screening will be considered

Construction and Decommissioning

Noise

The construction and decommissioning works would use Best Practicable Means (BPM) to limit the impacts of noise at sensitive receptors.

Construction and Decommissioning

Noise

Quieter equipment will be selected where reasonably practicable

Design

Noise

Acoustic enclosures and barriers will be installed

Construction

Noise

Where necessary, the substation will be screened further by the construction of a landform/embankment

Operation

Noise

Exhausts/outlets for air handling/cooling units will be silenced

Design

Noise

Equipment will be located to take advantage of screening inherent in the design, i.e. from the substation hall(s) or control room buildings where reasonably practicable

Design

Noise

Noise related complaints will be monitored

Construction and Operation

Air Quality

A Dust and Air Quality Management Plan will be authored and will include best practice measures in accordance with the Institute of Air Quality Management IAQM recommended guidance

Pre-construction and Construction

Air Quality

The Contractor will, in line with the Proposed Development Communication Plan:

  • Record all complaints, including dust and air quality, identify cause(s), take appropriate measures to reduce emissions in a timely manner, and record the measures taken.
  • Make the complaints log available to ELC when asked.
  • Record any exceptional incidents that cause dust and/or air emissions, either on- or off-site, and the action taken to resolve the situation in the logbook.
  • Aim to hold regular liaison meetings with any other high-risk construction sites within 500 m of the site boundary to ensure plans are co-ordinated and dust and particulate emissions are minimised with particular attention to off-site transport/deliveries which may use the same strategic road network routes.

Construction

Air Quality

The Contractor will undertake air quality monitoring by:

  • Regular site inspections to monitor compliance with the Dust and Air Quality Management Plan, record inspection results, and make an inspection log available to ELC when asked.
  • Increased frequency of site inspections by the person accountable for air quality and dust issues on site when activities with a high potential to produce dust are being carried out and during prolonged dry or windy conditions.
  • Where possible commence baseline monitoring at least three months before work commences.

Construction

Air Quality

Measures to prepare and maintain the site will include:

  • Plan site layout so that machinery and dust causing activities are located away from receptors, as far as possible.
  • Erect solid screens or barriers around dusty activities or the site boundary that are at least as high as any stockpiles on site.
  • Fully enclose site or specific operations where there is a high potential for dust production and the site is active for an extensive period.
  • Avoid site runoff of water or mud.
  • Keep site fencing, barriers and scaffolding clean using wet methods.
  • Remove materials that have a potential to produce dust from site as soon as possible, unless being re-used on site.
  • Cover, seed or fence stockpiles to prevent wind whipping.

Pre-construction and Construction

Air Quality

Site operations will:

  • Ensure all Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) is compliant with the engine emission regulations in place at the time of use on site.
  • Only use cutting, grinding or sawing equipment fitted or in conjunction with suitable dust suppression techniques such as water sprays or local extraction, e.g. suitable local exhaust ventilation systems.
  • Ensure an adequate water supply on the site for effective dust/particulate matter suppression/mitigation, using non-potable water where possible and appropriate.
  • Use enclosed chutes and conveyors and covered skips.
  • Minimise drop heights from conveyors, loading shovels, hoppers and other loading or handling equipment and use fine water sprays on such equipment wherever appropriate.
  • Ensure equipment is readily available on site to clean any dry spillages and clean up spillages as soon as reasonably practicable after the event, using wet cleaning methods.
  • Avoid bonfires and burning of waste materials.

Construction

Air Quality

The Contractor will:

  • Ensure all vehicles switch off engines when stationary.
  • Avoid the use of diesel- or petrol-powered generators and use mains electricity or battery powered equipment where practicable.
  • Issue all suppliers and contractors with delivery routes and access times/restrictions.
  • Re-vegetate earthworks and exposed areas/soils stockpiles to stabilise surfaces as soon as practicable.
  • Use Hessian, mulches or trackifiers where it is not possible to re-vegetate or cover with topsoil, as soon as practicable.
  • Only remove the cover in small areas during work and not all at once.
  • Avoid scabbling (roughening of concrete surfaces) if possible.
  • Ensure sand and other aggregates are stored in bunded areas and are not allowed to dry out, unless this is required for a particular process, in which case ensure that appropriate control measures are in place.
  • Ensure bulk cement and other fine powder materials are delivered in enclosed tankers and stored in silos with suitable emission control systems to prevent escape of material and overfilling during delivery.
  • For smaller supplies of fine powder materials ensure bags are sealed after use and stored appropriately to prevent dust.
  • Use water-assisted dust sweeper(s) on the access and local roads, to remove, as necessary, any material tracked out of the site. This may require a sweeper being continuously in use.
  • Avoid dry sweeping of large areas.
  • Ensure vehicles entering and leaving sites are covered to prevent escape of materials during transport.
  • Inspect on-site haul routes for integrity and instigate necessary repairs to the surface as soon as reasonably practicable.
  • Record all inspections of haul routes and any subsequent action in a site logbook.
  • Implement a wheel washing system (with rumble grids to dislodge accumulated dust and mud prior to leaving the site where reasonably practicable).

Construction

Cultural Heritage

Avoidance (within design limits ) of identified areas of archaeological constraint during the design of the Proposed Development

Design

Cultural Heritage

Minimisation of visual impacts on designated heritage assets (Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, Gardens and Designed Landscapes, Historic Battlefields) will be minimised

Design

Cultural Heritage

Trial trench evaluation at areas of archaeological sensitivity, as identified through the results of geophysical surveys, will be undertaken

Pre-construction

Cultural Heritage

A further programme of construction phase archaeological mitigation will be agreed

Pre-construction

Cultural Heritage

A professionally qualified archaeological contractor would be appointed to act as an Archaeological Clerk of Works (ACoW)

Pre-Construction

Cultural Heritage

Construction phase archaeological guidelines would be provided to the Contractor for dissemination to all construction contractors, advising on the need to avoid adverse effects on buried archaeological remains

Construction

Cultural Heritage

Fencing off/marking out areas of constraint for avoidance during the construction phase would be carried out, where there are upstanding earthwork remains that require preservation

Construction

Cultural Heritage

Set piece excavations may be required where heritage assets (including buried archaeological remains) cannot be avoided

Construction

Cultural Heritage

Watching briefs/archaeological monitoring may be required in archaeologically sensitive areas during topsoil stripping and construction works as required under planning conditions

Construction

Cultural Heritage

Post-excavation analysis and reporting of any new discoveries made during set piece excavations or archaeological monitoring would be carried out to the satisfaction of ELCAS and in compliance with any planning conditions

Construction

Cultural Heritage

Landscaping mitigation will take account of the settings of designated heritage assets

Design

Geology, Hydrology, Soils & Flood Risk

Where practicable a 50m buffer will be implemented around all watercourses considered to have continuous flow throughout the year. Where it is not possible to maintain a 50m buffer i.e. where a watercourse will require to be crossed, these works will be regulated under the Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR) licensing regime and necessary licences will be sought from SEPA prior to construction works.

Design

Geology, Hydrology, Soils & Flood Risk

The draft CEMP will include a detailed drainage strategy and pollution mitigation measures which will be implemented in accordance with the SEPA’s guidance. This will include, but is not limited to:

  • A contact list for emergency services, the relevant environmental regulators, the local water supply and sewerage undertakers, the Health and Safety Executive and specialist clean up contractors.
  • Requirement for the induction of contractors to include a specific session on good practice to control water pollution from construction activities. The responsibility for protecting the water environment will be shared with all staff on the site with an appropriate level of support from construction managers to achieve this.
  • Details of how surface water arising during construction will be dealt with, taking into consideration site-specific ground conditions.
  • Abidance by the best practice outlined in the Pollution Prevention Guidelines (PPGs), the Guidance for Pollution Prevention (GPPs) and CAR Regulations.
  • Implementation of temporary SUDS during construction to manage surface run-off which may include cut-off ditches, settlement lagoons/ponds, sacrificial ditches and silt filter fences during construction to manage surface run-off.
  • Details of measures to manage run-off and discharge water from the excavation sites.
  • Full inspection of temporary construction SUDS regularly, in particular after periods of heavy rainfall. Maintenance will be undertaken in periods of dry weather where practicable.
  • Management of dewatering activities through dewatering permits and method statements. The ECoW will be consulted and agree pumping and associated mitigation measures prior to commencement of works.
  • Prevention of loose material discharging into the local water environment by using appropriate drainage.
  • Monitoring of all work within or adjacent to watercourses or the sea will be by the ECoW.
  • Appropriate construction compounds design, which will include fuel, oil and chemical storage situated on an impervious base with an impermeable bund, waste to be stored in a designated area and removed at appropriate intervals and minimisation of hardstanding where possible.
  • Positioning of interceptor drip trays under any stationary mobile plant to prevent oil contamination of the ground surface or water.
  • Careful consideration will be given to the location of topsoil and subsoil storage areas, ensuring the they are located on flat areas away from the watercourses, or that cut-off drains are placed between the watercourses and the storage areas.
  • Full training on spill kits and absorbent materials and their appropriate use.
  • Regular checks of vehicles for leakages and, with the exception of emergency repairs, all maintenance to be undertaken offsite.
  • Authoring of a method statement for the laying of concrete foundations. The Applicant will seek to carry out concrete batching offsite however this will be determined as the project develops.
  • Any connection to the Scottish Water clean water network or sewage network will be undertaken by appropriately licenced and trained contractors appointed by Scottish Water.

Pre-construction and Construction

Geology, Hydrology, Soils & Flood Risk

A Water Quality Monitoring Programme will be implemented before and during construction to record the pre-existing water conditions and ensure that no deterioration occurs during construction.

Pre-construction and construction

Geology, Hydrology, Soils & Flood Risk

The CEMP will contain a Soils Management Plan which will included, but not limited to, the following measures:

  • All earthmoving works will be carried out in accordance with BSI Code of Practice for Earth Works BS6031:2009.
  • An earthworks method statement where more than 50 m3of spoil is to be excavated.
  • Avoid stripping soil following periods of heavy rainfall when practicable.
  • Keep areas of exposed ground to a practicable minimum.
  • Segregate top and subsoil stockpiles.
  • Handle soils carefully to minimise potential soil structure damage.
  • Keep temporary stockpile heights as low as possible given space restrictions e.g., 3 m for topsoil and 4 m for subsoil.
  • Minimise run-off from stockpiles by light compaction and at an angle of no more than 45°, use of trenches and locating stockpiles away from drainage systems and watercourses.
  • Protect stockpiles to minimise erosion losses and weed infestation if storage is to be longer than 6 months (e.g., seeding or light compaction).
  • Protect stockpiles (e.g., using berms) from flooding to avoid soil losses.
  • Keep traffic off soil stockpiles, as much as possible, throughout the period of soil storage.
  • Display clear and unambiguous signage to notify site personnel of the presence of different types of soil stockpiles.
  • Avoid reinstating soils following periods of heavy rainfall when practicable.
  • Reinstate subsoil to maintain natural drainage patterns and avoid settlement.
  • Reinstate topsoil by rendering into a loose and workable condition as well as contouring to maintain the profile with the adjacent undisturbed area.
  • Implement effective temporary and / or permanent soil erosion control measures, where necessary.
  • Implement and maintain suitable, adequate and effective control measures to prevent run-off from stockpiles contaminating surface waters.
  • Land clearance and occupation would be limited to the necessary works areas. The site and temporary construction compound will be kept in a tidy and contained condition.
  • Existing trees within the Site which do not require removal as part of the Proposed Development would be protected during the construction phase for their future retention.
  • Disturbed areas and mounds of topsoil/subsoil will be re-graded to blend with the surrounding landform.

Pre-construction and construction

Geology, Hydrology, Soils & Flood Risk

A Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) around the permanent infrastructure will be maintained and managed on a regular basis

Operation

Traffic and Transport

A Construction Traffic Management Plan will be developed and implemented.

The hours of operation will be managed to mitigate the impact on sensitive receptors, with the construction access route chosen to minimise the impact on residential properties adjacent to the route, as far as possible

Construction

Socio-economics

No mitigation required.

 

Land Use, Tourism and Recreation

An Access Management Plan will be developed in consultation with ELC and be included within the CEMP. It will include measures to minimise temporary disruption to pedestrian access and include requirements for signage

Pre-construction and Construction

Land Use, Tourism and Recreation

Agricultural land not required through the operational phase will be reinstated to ensure it can return to agricultural use

Operation

EMF

A perimeter fence will be erected around the substation which will offer screening to EMFs generated by the equipment within the substation.

Design

EMF

The cables will be insulated, installed within sheaths, and primarily buried underground.

Design

EMF  

Construction and operation of the Proposed Development would be in compliance with The Control of Electronic Fields at Work Regulations (2016).

Construction and operation