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BOC Immingham Dissolved Acetylene Project Environmental Statement: Vol. 2 Main Text
8.15 An impact assessment will be undertaken to determine what, if any, effect the Dissolved
Acetylene Project could have on the baseline environment. The assessment will based on
relevant guidelines and regulations and will be considered separately for the construction and
operational phases of the project. The magnitude of any effects will be determined in accordance
with the criteria set out in Table 8.3. The sensitivity of the baseline and the magnitude of effects
will be combined based on the matrix outlined in Table 8.4, to generate a level of impact
significance. The assessment will also take account of the nature of impact in terms of the
duration and permanence (e.g. short term, medium term or long term).
Assessment Criteria
8.16 The criteria that will be used to describe the severity of any effects that the Dissolved Acetylene
Project may have on water quality are provided in Table 8.3.
Magnitude of
Effect
Table 8.3 Assessment Criteria for Magnitude of an Effect
Definition
Major Significant change in environmental conditions causing breaches of
legislation or the exceeding of statutory objectives. Likely to affect sites
designated national or international importance. Likely to affect a large
scale area or a large number of people on frequent or permanent basis.
May be an irreversible decline.
Moderate Unlikely to cause a breach of legislation but likely to effect a site of
regional or local environmental importance. Likely to affect a small
number of residents/visitors on a permanent basis.
Minor Likely to effect an area or feature of local interest or importance. Likely to
have a temporary effect on a small number of people, or be a recoverable
effect.
Neutral No discernable effect predicted.
Magnitude of
Effect
Table 8.4 Matrix for the Assessment of Significance of Impact
Sensitivity of Baseline feature
Very High High Medium Low
Major Major Major Major Moderate/ Minor
Moderate Major Major/ Moderate Moderate Minor
Minor Major/ Moderate Moderate/ Minor Minor Neutral
Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral
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