NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

Transcription

1 NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT PLANNING APPLICATION TO REMOVE CONDITION 2 OF PLANNING PERMISSION REFERENCE TDC/94/065 TO EXTEND THE OPERATIONAL LIFE OF THE NON-HAZARDOUS AND HAZARDOUS WASTE LANDFILL SITE AT, STOCKTON-ON-TEES REPORT REFERENCE: AU/PC/ABW/1636/01NTS NOVEMBER 2014

2 NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT PLANNING APPLICATION TO REMOVE CONDITION 2 OF PLANNING PERMISSION REFERENCE TDC/94/065 TO EXTEND THE OPERATIONAL LIFE OF THE NON- HAZARDOUS AND HAZARDOUS WASTE LANDFILL SITE AT, STOCKTON-ON-TEES Report reference: AU/PC/ABW/1636/01NTS Baddesley Colliery Offices, Main Road, Baxterley, Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 2LE Tel. (01827) Fax. (01827)

3 Introduction Augean PLC (Augean) operate Port Clarence Landfill Site which forms part of an integrated waste management facility at Port Clarence, Stockton-on-Tees. The facility comprises a Waste Recovery Park (WRP) and the associated landfill site providing a range of specialist waste treatment and management activities for the recycling, recovery and disposal of primarily industrial wastes including hazardous and non hazardous waste. Planning permission reference TDC/94/065 was granted by the Teeside Development Corporation on 13 September 1996 for the waste disposal site and ancillary operations at Port Clarence. Condition 2 of the planning consent requires the use of the site for waste disposal for a period of 16 years from the date on which waste disposal started. Waste disposal started in late 2000 and therefore planning permission for waste disposal and associated activities will run out in A survey of the landfill site has shown that there is approximately 6 million cubic metres of void space remaining at the landfill site. It will not be possible to complete waste disposal activities at the landfill site before the end of 2016 and closing the landfill in 2016 would result in the loss of valuable void space for the disposal of hazardous and non hazardous waste. It would mean that the site cannot be restored in accordance with the approved scheme to provide biodiversity enhancements, landscape improvements and a beneficial afteruse by providing public access. The WRP adjacent to the landfill site is subject to a separate planning permission (reference 07/2984/EIS) granted in February 2008 by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council that has no end date. Residues from the various waste treatment processes that take place in the WRP that are not suitable for recycling or reuse are deposited in the landfill. In keeping with the planning consent for the WRP and to provide maximum flexibility for the landfill operations, it is proposed that Condition 2 of planning permission reference TDC/94/065 for the landfill site is removed to allow the landfill to continue until the remaining void space has been filled. This approach will allow the planning permissions for the landfill and WRP to be consistent, and will allow continued provision of an integrated facility for the treatment of waste at the WRP and the continued provision of hazardous and non hazardous waste disposal which together are a regional and national resource. Planning permission is therefore being sought for the removal of Condition 2 of planning permission reference TDC/94/065 to allow the waste disposal activities at the landfill site to continue. No other changes to the site activities are being sought. Figure NTS1 The integrated waste management facility at Port Clarence, Stockton-on-Tees. This document summarises in nontechnical language the information in the Environmental Statement which accompanies the application for planning permission. AU/PC/ABW/1636/01/NTS 2

4 Site location and description The site is located approximately 3km north of Middlesbrough, situated 100m west of the northern bank of the River Tees as shown on Figure NTS 2 below. Access to the site is from a private access road leading from Huntsman Drive which joins the A178. The site covers 107 hectares (ha) and includes the landfill, the WRP and surrounding areas of vegetation. The landfill site covers approximately 47ha of the site and the WRP covers approximately 13ha. The remaining land is covered by partially re-vegetated slag and pools some of which has developed ecological interest which are preserved to protect them. The site is remote from residential properties, the nearest being in the village of Port Clarence approximately 1 km to the south west of the site boundary and approximately 1.25 km from the nearest area of landfill. Land uses in the area surrounding the site are industrial facilities, areas of open land, and large ponds and reservoirs which have varying levels of nature conservation interest. There are a number of sites of wildlife interest and nature conservation in the vicinity of the site including the Saltholme Nature Reserve which is located to the north of the site. The Tees and Hartlepool Foreshore and Wetlands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is located approximately 220m north west of the landfill. A second area of the same SSSI is located approximately 300m to the south east of the boundary of the landfill along the northern bank of the River Tees AU/PC/ABW/1636/01/NTS 3

5 and supports an internationally important population of wildfowl and waders. The Tees and Hartlepool Foreshore and Wetlands SSSI forms part of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Ramsar site and Special Protection Area. The Saltholme visitor centre is located approximately 1km north west of the site. About the developer Augean provides specialist services in the treatment and disposal of our more difficult to manage wastes including hazardous waste and some nonhazardous wastes. The company is a market leader in investment in new technology and modernisation of the sector. The proposals Augean are applying to remove Condition 2 in the current planning permission. Condition 2 of planning consent reference TDC/94/065 states: The permission hereby granted authorises the use of the site for waste disposal for a period of 16 years from and excluding the date of commencement of the deposit of waste on the site. The disposal of waste started in late 2000 and therefore planning permission will expire in 2016 under the current consent. In keeping with the planning permission for the WRP and to provide maximum flexibility for the landfill operations, it is proposed that Condition 2 of the landfill planning permission is removed to allow the landfill to continue until the remaining void space has been filled. This would result in a similar approach in the planning permissions for both the landfill and the WRP and will allow continued provision of an integrated facility for the treatment of waste at the WRP and the underpinning landfill disposal which together provide a regional and national resource. No changes to the landfill site layout, site operations or site restoration scheme are proposed and no changes to the waste types or input rates and associated traffic are proposed. The disposal of waste would continue in the same manner as currently approved only over a longer period of time. Port Clarence landfill has been operational for almost fourteen years. As a standard part of the site design and operations substantial protective construction and operational practices and controls have been and would continue to be implemented to ensure that the site is operated without significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health. The landfill site is the subject of Environmental Permits. Site design, operation and monitoring is regulated through the Environmental Permits by the Environment Agency. Need for the proposals The facility at Port Clarence is an important resource to industry in the area and forms part of the nationally significant infrastructure for waste management in the region. The Strategy for Hazardous Waste Management for England published by central government in 2010 considers that the current hazardous waste landfill capacity is provided by seven dedicated hazardous waste landfill sites in England which provide an estimated capacity of 19 million cubic metres. Port Clarence landfill site has a capacity of approximately 5 million cubic metres for hazardous waste which is equivalent to approximately 26% of the national hazardous waste disposal capacity. Closing the landfill in 2016 would result in the loss of regionally and nationally valuable disposal capacity for hazardous and non-hazardous waste. The landfill would no longer be available which could AU/PC/ABW/1636/01/NTS 4

6 result in a shortfall of disposal capacity for hazardous and non-hazardous waste. The landfill is necessary to provide capacity for the disposal of non hazardous and hazardous waste for which no other form of waste treatment is viable. Should the landfill close, the shortfall in capacity would need to be made up by other facilities in the area, or further afield. Alternatives The alternative to applying for planning permission to continue waste disposal operations at Port Clarence Landfill Site is not to apply for permission to continue waste disposal. This option would result in the waste disposal activities at Port Clarence Landfill Site ceasing in 2016 in accordance with the current planning consent. Stopping waste disposal activities at the end of 2016 would result in the loss of this regionally and nationally valuable disposal capacity. Furthermore it would not be possible to restore the landfill in accordance with the approved restoration scheme which is shown in Figure NTS 3 below. Cessation of waste disposal activities at the site would also bring to an end the financial support provided through the Teeside Environmental Trust (TET) to the nearby Saltholme International Nature Reserve project which has transformed a 1000 acre area of industrial wasteland into a wild flower meadow that supports a wide variety of bird species. The reserve also provides a visitor centre which is available for community use and educational visits. Over the last decade, since Augean s acquisition of Port Clarence Landfill Site in 2004, the company has contributed about 1.3M to the trust through the landfill tax credit scheme. At current waste input rates TET is receiving over 200,000 per annum for the nature reserve project. Should waste disposal activities at the landfill site cease, then these financial contributions would also stop. Planning context The proposals are fully in accordance with national and local planning policy regarding the disposal of hazardous and non hazardous waste. Environmental issues An Environmental Impact Assessment of the effects of the development has been conducted by technical specialists. The scope of the assessments has been discussed and agreed with Stockton-on- Tees Borough Council and the appropriate statutory consultees. The Environmental Impact Assessment has been undertaken for all aspects of the application which are associated with the time extension. The results of the assessments are reported in the Environmental Statement and a summary of the findings is presented in this document. The Port Clarence Landfill Site is the subject of two Environmental Permits issued and regulated by the Environment Agency for the landfill of hazardous waste and non hazardous waste. The Environmental Permits will continue to be implemented at the site and will be regulated by the Environment Agency for the extended period of site operations. From an analysis of the environmental context and from views and information from the wide range of consultees it was agreed that the Environmental Impact Assessment should examine the effects of the proposals with respect to the following issues: Water resources Ecology Landscape and visual impact Traffic and transport Noise AU/PC/ABW/1636/01/NTS 5

7 Figure NTS 3 AU/PC/ABW/1636/01/NTS 6

8 Water resources The proposal to continue waste disposal activities at the Port Clarence Landfill Site would not result in any significant change to the potential impacts on water resources compared with the currently consented development. The proposed development does not include any changes to the area of the landfill or the restoration scheme. It was therefore agreed with the Environment Agency that it is not necessary to carry out a flood risk assessment for the proposal to extend the life of the operations. Ecology A number of ecology surveys were undertaken at the site for an extended range of plant and animal species. The continuation of waste disposal activities at Port Clarence Landfill Site would have a beneficial impact on a number of species such as bats, brown hare, roe deer and wetland birds due to the new and improved habitats that would be created during the progressive restoration of the site. Surveys revealed that species such as badger, otter, water vole and great crested newt are not present at the site. The impact on reptiles and amphibians is limited since suitable habitats will be retained at the site throughout the operation of the landfill. No negative effects are anticipated on the sites of wildlife interest and nature conservation in the vicinity of the site including the Saltholme Nature Reserve, the Tees and Hartlepool Foreshore and Wetlands Site of Special Scientific Interest designated for a range of wintering and passage waterfowl roosting birds, and the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Ramsar site and Special Protection Area which includes habitats which support populations of breeding birds that are of European importance and also regularly supports at least 20,000 waterfowl over winter. The nearby Saltholme International Nature Reserve project has received substantial financial support from Augean through the TET which manages the landfill tax credit fund on behalf of the company. The TET was established in 1998 with the aim of creating a nature reserve of international importance at Saltholme. The project has transformed a 1000 acre area of industrial wasteland into a wild flower meadow that supports a wide variety of bird species. Landscape and visual impact The site area already is disturbed as a result of consented waste disposal activities and no changes to the operation taking place at the site or the approved restoration are proposed. As the landfill will be progressively restored its visual effects will reduce over time. The scenic quality of the surrounding landscape is predominantly industrial with most views of the site having a backdrop of heavy industry which has been intensified following recent developments to the north of Huntsman Drive. The proposed development represents a temporary activity and a permanent restored landform on an area of previously disturbed land. It is considered that the extended duration of filling will not result in any additional visual effects of consequence over and above the consented scheme, save that the completion and restoration of the site will take longer to achieve. Transport and traffic The current planning permission does not restrict the number of vehicle movements nor the input rates to the landfill site. No increases to the volumes of waste accepted at the site or the numbers of AU/PC/ABW/1636/01/NTS 7

9 HGV movements are proposed as a result of the application to extend the life of the site. A transport assessment has been undertaken taking into consideration traffic generated by the landfill, the adjacent waste recovery park and facilities in the surrounding area. The current level of HGV traffic generated by activities at the landfill site account for less than 1.5% of the current traffic generated by the landfill and WRP during the peak hours on the A178 Seaton Carew Road. When the committed development on Huntsman Drive is taken into account current traffic generated by the site reduces to less than 1.4%. If the consented WRP is fully operational the percentage of traffic attributable to the landfill and WRP on the A178 during peak hours increases to between 3.5% and 4.3% of the overall traffic flow. However, the proportion attributable to the continued landfill operations is less than 0.7% of the overall flow. Including the fully operational WRP, the continuing landfill operation and the other committed developments on Huntsman Drive both the A178 and Huntsman Drive will be operating within capacity. noise prediction calculations. The noise assessment shows that the operations at the site can be completed within the current noise limits in the current planning permission which do not result in nuisance. Conclusions Extensive technical studies have been undertaken to define the environmental conditions of the site and the surrounding area on which to base robust assessments of the potential environmental impacts of the development. The studies have demonstrated that the proposed development can be undertaken without significant adverse impacts on local residents and the environment while providing a beneficial restoration scheme for the landfill site and wider benefits in terms of continued substantial financial contributions to support the nearby Saltholme International Nature Reserve project. The full application documents can be viewed through the Augean website at HGV traffic accessing the site would continue to follow an existing routing agreement which restricts HGVs from using the local highway network, and directs them north on the A178. A review of accident data for the last 5 years shows that there were no reportable accidents in the vicinity of the site. The continued operation of the landfill site beyond 2016 will not have a detrimental impact on the highway network, on higway safety or traffic flow. Noise The noise associated with the continued landfill operations has been assessed in AU/PC/ABW/1636/01/NTS 8

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