Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
11.4.8 The effects of construction on the waterbodies and watercourses located adjacent to the
application area are discussed in further detail in Chapter 13: Hydrology, Geology and
Hydrogeology. The ecological effects of potential pollution events vary with the severity of the
pollution incident. They may range from minor, small scale spillages with very limited and
discrete effects of low-neutral magnitude, to large scale incidents resulting in significant longterm
damage particularly to aquatic habitats and associated species, the unmitigated effect of
which would be of high magnitude.
11.4.9 However, it is extremely unlikely that any particularly hazardous or highly polluting substances
will be required during construction of the proposed wind energy development. Any such
incidents are more likely to involve spillages of less potent contaminants such as fuel or wet
concrete which are only likely to result in effects of low magnitude. Therefore, given the
national importance of the Firth of Forth SSSI, the effects of such an unmitigated pollution
incident are predicted to have an adverse effect of moderate significance. It should be noted
however, that even without mitigation the likelihood of such an event is considered to be
extremely low.
11.4.10 All other statutory designated sites are considered extremely unlikely to be affected by the
proposed wind energy development by virtue of either their respective designated features, the
distance separating them from the application area (i.e. all are located over 2km) and the lack
of connectivity between them and the site.
11.4.11 Consequently, the no other statutory designated sites will be considered further in the
assessment of effects.
Non-Statutory Sites
11.4.12 With regard to non-statutory designated sites, due to their distance of separation (all over
500m from the application area) and lack of connectivity and/or segregation from the
application area there are not predicted to be any direct or indirect impacts on Pond Wood
Wildlife Site or Dunmore Moss and Wood Wildlife Site as a result of the construction of the
proposed wind energy development. Consequently, these sites will not be considered further
in this assessment.
11.4.13 In contrast, Black Devon Wetlands Wildlife Site is located within 100m of the application area
while Alloa Inches SWT Reserve is approximately 1.1km up the River Forth from the
application area. Although there will be no direct loss of habitat from the construction of the
wind energy development on either of these sites, their sensitive wetland habitats (e.g. lagoons
and intertidal mudflats) could be indirectly affected by contamination in the event of a fuel or
chemical spillage on site (see Chapter 13: Hydrology, Geology and Hydrogeology for further
details).
11.4.14 With regard to potential contamination of these two sites by a pollution incident, the likelihood
of such an event occurring is considered to be extremely low and would be extremely unlikely
to involve any particularly hazardous or highly polluting substances as discussed above.
However, given the local importance of these two sites and taking a worst case scenario, the
effects of an unmitigated pollution incident are predicted to have an adverse effect of moderate
significance.
November 2010 Chapter 11 Page 28
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