Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
development. In this case, PfR did not ask for Clackmannanshire Council’s screening opinion
on this matter, as it is accepted that there may be potential for local environmental effects, and
therefore will submit this ES to accompany the planning application for the proposed wind
energy development.
Scoping
3.4.4 Scoping was undertaken according to the guidance provided in Planning Advice Note (PAN)
58: Environmental Impact Assessment (Scottish Executive, 1999). A request for a scoping
opinion in the form of a scoping report was also formally submitted to Clackmannanshire
Council on 22 December 2009. Clackmannanshire Council issued its formal scoping opinion
on 22 March 2010.
3.4.5 The scoping report included the information specified in the EIA Regulations – namely an
indication of the site location, an outline description of the proposed wind energy development
and an indication of its possible effects on the environment. In addition, the report included the
methodology proposed for the various technical assessments for input and comment on these.
3.4.6 The proposed EIA scope was formulated by the project team, based on desk-based and fieldbased
knowledge of the site and prior experience of other wind energy development EIAs.
The scoping report described a scheme with four turbines.
3.4.7 This report was submitted to the Council and statutory consultees for comment, to initiate the
process of consultation with them. In addition, non-statutory consultees were consulted, to
provide input into the EIA process. Consultees were invited to comment on the EIA approach,
to specify issues that need to be addressed, to supply information pertinent to the site and to
recommend technical assessment methodologies where appropriate.
3.4.8 The purpose of scoping and pre-application consultation was to:
• ensure that statutory consultees and other bodies with a particular interest in the
environment are informed of the proposal and provided with an opportunity to
comment at an early stage in the EIA process;
• obtain baseline information regarding existing environmental site conditions;
• establish key environmental issues and identify potential effects to be considered
during the EIA;
• identify those issues which are likely to require more detailed study and those which
can be justifiably excluded from further assessment; and
• provide a means of confirming the most appropriate methods of assessment.
3.4.9 Responses of consultees to the scoping process (in addition to other consultation responses)
are provided in Table 3.1 below. The incorporation of these comments into the EIA process is
discussed in Chapters 6-15 within this ES.
November 2010 Chapter 3 Page 5
Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2010 ©