Coastal Project EIA Flashcards
EIA complex
Eia in coastal context is complicated by the regulatory and natural environment
Marine consents and licensing syst
marine management organisation
national infrastructure projects: planning inspectorate
flood defence consent - A
planning permiaion (above mean low water)- LPA
harbour works consent - Habour Authority
Landowner consent- Crown Estate
Horrendogram
international european and english legislation giving protection to the marine environment
Severn Barrage
Bristol/ swansea/ cardiff
estuary with international shipping
internationally important for wildlife: SPA, SAC, Ramsar
60-85 000 wintering bird per year feeding on mudflats
habitat loss predicted due to sea level rise and coastal squeeze
also important for fisheries (salmon, eels) recreation, landscape and cultural heritage
14m tidal range
barrages babe neem considered since 1974
potentially a predictable source of renewable energy
UK energy policy
path of cutting CO2 by 60% by 2050
real progress by 2020 (2011 target increase to 80% reduction by 2050)
maintain the reliability of energy supplies
to promote the reliability of energy supplies
to promote competitive markets in the UK and beyond
to ensure that every home is adequately and affordable heated
15% energy = renewables by 2020
Four shortlisted options
8GW barrage: cardiff weston (£34.3 bn)
shoots barrage- 1 GW (further upstream) (£17.7bn)
beachley barrage above river Wye 625 MW (£7bn)
bridgwater bay lagoon- 1.36 GW (£12n)
fleming laggon 1.36GW (£6.6bn)
8GW
214 X 40MW turbines
gneration 8.6GW during flow and 2 GW on average
three of the latest nuclear power stations or 7-8 large coal fired power stations
sufficient to provide 5-6% of the current electricity usage of england and wales
cut carbon emissions by 16 million tonnes per year vs coal
shipping locks for navigation to major ports
major flood defence benefit, preventing storm surges on the Severn
construction possible in just 6 - 8 years
economic benefits (8GW)
total of 200000 man years of employment would be greeted with a total of 35 000 jobs during the peak period of construction
further 40 000 permanent jobs in somerset and S. Wales thanks to benefits of proximity of th new severn crossing point
Negative impacts (8GW)
destruction of bird habitats; major compensatory habitat creation would be needed under EU law (some habitat loss likely anyway die to sea level rise)
disruption to migratory fish
changes in seidment - increased siltation and erosion likely and hard to predict
increased flood risk on seaward side
other barrage options
shoots barrage- scheme further upstream which would generate around 1GW = large fossil fuel plant
beacley barrage- even smaller scheme just above Wye River
would generate around 625MW
Tidal lagoons
bridgewater bay lagoon–impind a section of the estuary on the coast between east of hinkley point and weston super mare (1.36GW)
Fleming/ welsh grounds lagoon- similar scheme which would generate the same amount of power from a section of the welsh shore between newport and severn road crossing
Head os sustainable development RSPB
harness huge tifal power of severn cannot trash natural envt
huge estuary marsh and mudflats 69000 birds each winter and block migratory routes of countless fish
Friends of the Eearth Cymru
plans too pig and threat to internationally important wildlife sites
minister must focus on developing the estuary potential for tidal lagoons instead
costs add up?
range of plausible scenarios, large barrage on severn is expensive compared to alternative renewables
appears to be sufficient capacity to use other technologies to meet government targets for renewable generation
appropriate assessment
ID extensive residual effects after mitigation
reduction of bird populations
reduced extent of ey habitat featues
decline or population collapse of protected migratory fish species (extinction of twaite shad, impact sea lamprey and atlantic trout and European eel)
