Newlands Cross Upgrade EIS - European Investment Bank

South Dublin County Council N7 Newlands Cross Upgrade
Environmental Impact Statement
Arup Consulting Engineers
Bats
A detector survey of bat activity in the general study area should be carried out at dusk and or
dawn in spring (from April onwards depending on weather conditions) to assess bat use of the
study area. The detector survey should focus in particular in areas identified as having trees of
high to medium bat potential.
A variety of generic mitigation measures are proposed for the loss of roosts within buildings
and trees. All proposed mitigation measures for the loss of roosts follow the Guidelines for
the Treatment of Bats during the Construction of National Road Schemes and Best Practice
Guidelines for the Conservation of Bats in the Planning of National Road Schemes.
The procedure to be followed for the demolition of buildings depends on whether bats are
suspected or known to be present. In all cases, immediately in advance of demolition, a bat
specialist will undertake a comprehensive examination of the building. Should bats be
encountered the building demolition will proceed as per the NRA Guidelines for the
Treatment of Bats during the Construction of National Road Schemes. Any buildings or trees
identified as confirmed bats roosts will require a licence from the NPWS before being
demolished or felled.
Trees which are to be removed will ideally be felled in the period late August to late October,
or early November, in order to avoid the disturbance of any roosting bats as per NRA
guidelines. The felling of trees identified as existing or potential roosts will be completed by
Mid-November at the latest because bats roosting in trees are very vulnerable to disturbance
during their hibernation period (November – April). Ivy covered trees, once felled, should be
left intact on site for 24 hours to allow any bats within them to escape prior to disposal.
Birds
Where programmed construction activities permit there will be no removal of mature trees or
hedgerows during the period March to August inclusive to prevent disturbance to breeding
bird populations.
11.5.1.3 Aquatic environment and fisheries
The likely impact from the proposed junction upgrade relates to surface water drainage both
at construction and operational level. Best practice must apply at all times and only clean
uncontaminated water may leave the site and drain into local watercourses (ERFB).
Run-off from the working site or any areas of exposed soil should be channelled and
intercepted at regular intervals for discharge to silt traps or lagoons with over-flows directed
to land rather than to a watercourse. Detailed mitigation measures for surface water are
provided in Section 14.5, Surface Water and Drainage.
A maintenance schedule and operational procedure should be established by the Contractor
for silt and pollution control measures during the construction period. This should be
undertaken in consultation with the ERFB as per the NRA Guidelines for the Crossing of
Watercourses During the Construction of National Road Schemes 24 .
11.5.2 Mitigation during Operation
11.5.2.1 Ecological sites and habitats
Where hedgerows, treelines and mature trees cannot be avoided, direct mitigation is not
feasible. To compensate for the loss of these habitats, new hedgerows, treelines and small
stands of woodland will be planted in appropriate locations. Where practicable hedgerows and
treelines will be planted along new field boundaries and road margins to reconnect severed
hedgerows and treelines, to re-establish the network of ecological corridors, and to interlink
with other areas of semi-natural habitat. The trees and shrubs will be predominantly native
December 2007 Page 170