View - North East Lincolnshire Council

BOC Immingham Dissolved Acetylene Project Environmental Statement: Vol. 2 Main Text
Summary
10.109 No habitats of importance to nature conservation are to be lost as a result of proposed works. The
development area consists primarily of arable land with a negligible value to nature conservation.
The land take will be minimal with site compounds constructed within the redline boundary; with
only one additional access route constructed off South Marsh Road.
10.110 Key potential nature conservation receptors are:
� the wildlife corridor along Middle Drain (the main habitat linking the application site to the
Humber Estuary) and water vole using Middle Drain; and
� the internationally important populations of birds associated with the Humber Estuary SPA and
Ramsar site (and also the nationally important populations of birds associated with the
Humber Estuary SSSI and North Killingholme Haven Pits SSSI which form part of the
internationally important population of birds).
10.111 Water pollution would be controlled during construction and no process water will be discharged
into Middle Drain. There would be no direct habitat loss within Middle Drain, although there would
be some loss of marginal and aquatic vegetation under the bridge due to shading. Construction
works, specifically bridge construction over Middle Drain would result in temporary disturbance of
water voles. However, this disturbance would not result in long term displacement of water voles.
Operation of the facility is unlikely to cause a significant negative impact on water voles.
10.112 There would be no habitat loss within any designated sites. The only potential negative impacts
on designated sites would be to the nationally and internationally important populations of birds
associated with the Humber Estuary using the surrounding arable fields at high tide. There is the
potential for disturbance of these birds from noise and visual perturbation (presence of people,
machinery, and lighting). This will be of temporary duration with the most likely disturbing activity,
piling, only taking in the region of three weeks to complete and worst case noise predictions,
which are unlikely to be a reality, indicate that birds are unlikely to be disturbed such that they
would be displaced from the surrounding high-tide roosts.
10.113 Although significant negative impacts as a result of construction activities are not predicted a
COMP is proposed which would be part of the CEMP. The COMP would monitor and record
behavioural changes of birds associated with the Humber Estuary SPA as a result of hydraulic
hammer piling or rotary piling using a large rig (if these piling methods were used). A statement of
intent for the COMP is included within the HRA Stage 2 AA provided in Appendix 10A. The
contents of the COMP would be agreed with NE, Humber INCA and the NELC Ecologist.
10.114 An operational noise limit has been set for Poplar Farm (at a distance of 550 m from the
development site), and earth bunds will screen visual disturbance of birds. Birds are likely to
habituate to operational activities within the development as evidenced by birds using high-tide
roosts immediately adjacent to existing similar industrial sites within the South Humber Bank.
10.115 The key findings of the ecological assessment are that given the measures within the project
design, no significant negative ecological effects are predicted.
5100935.404 Environmental Statement August 2011 187