environmental statement - Rotherham's Online Application for ...

3. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT PROCESS
INTRODUCTION
3.1 This section sets out the required stages that have been followed in the
completion of this Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). It describes
the regulatory context for undertaking EIAs in general, the scoping and
consultation processes which have been followed for the Penny Hill Wind
Farm proposal and the assessment method applied and reported within
this Environmental Statement (ES).
3.2 The purpose of an EIA is to ensure that the environmental effects of a
proposed development are fully considered before an application for
consent is determined. The EIA process collates information and analysis
regarding the environmental effects of a development, which are to be
taken into account by the consenting authority, in this case the Local
Planning Authority, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC),
and other consultees.
3.3 The Applicant presents the findings of the EIA within an ES. In this case
the ES has been submitted with the application for planning permission
which has been made under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
The ES should outline the likely impact that the development is expected
to have on the environment and the measures the developer proposes to
take to minimise any adverse environmental impacts. Consultations with
statutory consultees and other interested bodies must be undertaken to
establish that all potentially significant issues are adequately covered in
the EIA.
3.4 The EIA process consists of the following key stages:
Scoping - to establish significant environmental issues;
Baseline Studies – to examine the environmental character of the area
likely to be affected by the development;
Predicting and Assessing Impacts – to predict and assess the possible
effects, both negative and positive, of the development on the
environment; and
Mitigation – to introduce measures to avoid, minimise or mitigate any
adverse effects.
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Penny Hill Wind Farm
Environmental Statement