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BOC Immingham Dissolved Acetylene Project Environmental Statement: Vol. 2 Main Text
10.34 The nature conservation value or potential value of an ecological feature is determined within the
following geographic context:
� international importance (e.g. SACs, SPAs, Ramsar sites);
� national importance (e.g. SSSIs);
� county (i.e. Lincolnshire, containing the unitary authority areas of ‘modern’ Lincolnshire, North
Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire) e.g. Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) or Local Wildlife
Sites (LWSs) xvi ;
� local (parish) importance this area is considered to be within the vicinity of the site,
approximately bordered by Healing and Great Coates to south, Immingham to the west and
the Humber Estuary to the north/east. (e.g. undesignated ecological features such as old
hedges, woodlands, ponds);
� important within the development area and immediate environs only e.g. habitat mosaic of
grassland and scrub; and
� negligible importance would usually be applied to areas such as built development or areas of
intensive agricultural land where these were not supporting notable species.
10.35 It should be noted that it is usual to consider habitats and species together when ascribing a value
to a feature using this geographic context. However, there are circumstances where an ecologist
may feel it necessary to assign a value to a particularly valuable species. In assigning value to
species it is necessary to consider the species distribution and status including a consideration of
trends based on available historical records and to make use of any relevant published evaluation
criteria. For instance, the presence of a significant population of European protected species such
as bats and great crested newts may be worth separate consideration.
Impact Assessment Criteria
10.36 This impact assessment has been undertaken with reference to current best practice and in
particular the Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment in the United Kingdom 80 .
10.37 The assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed development takes into account both onsite
impacts and those that may occur to adjacent and more distant ecological features. Impacts
can be positive or negative. Negative impacts can include:
� direct loss of wildlife habitats;
� fragmentation and isolation of habitats;
� disturbance to species from noise, light or other visual stimuli;
� changes to key habitat features; and or
� changes to habitats as a result of changes to the local hydrology, water quality and or air
quality.
xvi North East Lincolnshire is a unitary authority forming part of the very large County of Lincolnshire. Although Local Wildlife Sites are
selected, designated and protected at the unitary authority level they are considered to be the most important places for wildlife in the
county. They have substantive nature conservation value, and make a significant contribution to the maintenance of biodiversity. They
may also have an important role in contributing to public enjoyment and understanding of nature. With the publication of Local Wildlife
Sites, Guidelines for their Identification and Selection in the Historic County of Lincolnshire, in 2006, management of the LWS system
became a responsibility of the Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership.
5100935.404 Environmental Statement August 2011 149