Merkins Windfarm Environmental Statement

Transcription

1 Merkins Windfarm Environmental Statement Non Technical Summary October

2 PREFACE Copies of the Environmental Statement can be obtained from: Lomond Energy East Cambusmoon Farm Gartocharn West Dunbartonshire G83 8RZ The following documents are available free of charge in digital media format only from the above address on written request: Pre-application Community Consultation Report; Design and Access Statement; Accompanying ES Technical Reports. The Environmental Statement is available at a cost of 200 in hard copy format (including postage and packaging) or on digital media (price 10). The Environmental Statement is also available for viewing at: West Dunbartonshire Council (Clydebank) Council Offices Rosebery Place Clydebank G81 1TG i

3 CONTENTS Introduction... 1 Site Context... 2 Rationale for the Scheme... 2 Site Selection and Design... 3 The Proposed Windfarm... 3 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)... 4 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment... 4 Hydrology, Hydrogeology and Peat Stability... 6 Ecology... 6 Ornithology... 7 Noise... 8 Cultural Heritage... 9 Access, Traffic and Transport... 9 Social and Economic Impacts Community Benefits Telecommunications, Aviation and Utilities Dust, Air Quality and Carbon Balance Summary and Conclusion FIGURES Figure 1: Site Location Figure 2: Scheme Layout Figure 3: Photomontage from Duncryne Hill The Dumpling iii

4 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY INTRODUCTION 1. Lomond Energy is applying to West Dunbartonshire Council for planning permission to construct and operate a windfarm comprising up to 10 turbines. The proposed site is located within the West Dunbartonshire Council area, approximately 2.5km east of Bonhill and approximately 4km east of Alexandria and 4km north-east of Dumbarton, as shown in Figure As the windfarm has a maximum generating capacity of less than 50 megawatts (MW), an application for planning permission will be made to West Dunbartonshire Council under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended by The Planning etc. Act (Scotland) The application has been prepared as a Major Development application under the Town and Country Planning (Hierarchy of Developments) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 on the basis that the total installed capacity of the windfarm is anticipated to be 20MW or over. 3. As required by the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, the planning application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement (ES). The purpose of the ES is to detail the results of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and report on predicted environmental impacts of the proposed windfarm. This (NTS) summarises the findings and conclusions of the ES. A Pre-Application Consultation Report and a Design and Access Statement have also been submitted to accompany the application. 4. The ES has been prepared by Land Use Consultants (LUC) on behalf of Lomond Energy. LUC also produced the following ES chapters: Planning Policy; Landscape and Visual Amenity; Ecology; Social and Economic Impacts; Dust, Air Quality and Carbon Balance (with the exception of the Carbon Balance Calculation which was undertaken by Lomond Energy). 5. Lomond Energy and a number of sub-consultants undertook further specialist assessments as follows: JMP Consultants Ltd undertook the Access, Traffic and Transport assessment; CFA Archaeology undertook the Cultural Heritage assessment; Hoare Lea Acoustics undertook the Noise assessment; 1

5 Arcus Renewable Energy Consulting undertook the Ornithology, Hydrology, Hydrogeology and Peat, and Telecoms, Infrastructure and Aviation assessments; Donaldsons Associates undertook peat probing across the site and produced the Peat Slide Hazard Risk Assessment report, the findings of which were incorporated by Arcus Renewable Energy Consulting into the Hydrology, Hydrogeology and Peat assessment. SITE CONTEXT 6. The site is located within the administrative boundaries of West Dunbartonshire Council and is currently used for cattle and sheep grazing. The nearest settlement to the site is Bonhill, which lies 2.5km to the west. Gartocharn lies approximately 6km to the north and Balloch, which lies within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park boundary, is located about 4km north-west. The site is also adjacent to Auchencarroch landfill site which lies immediately to the north-west. 7. The site occupies a total area of approximately 240 hectares (ha.), comprising gently undulating topography. The actual wind turbines and infrastructure will only occupy a small percentage of this area. The highest point within the site is south-east of Hill of Standing Stones at 272m Above Ordnance Datum (AOD). The turbines are proposed to be located on elevations between 231m to 265m AOD. 8. The proposed site lies to the west of Dumbarton Muir Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The boundary of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is approximately 2km to the north of the site. RATIONALE FOR THE SCHEME 9. Global climate change is widely recognised as one of the greatest environmental, social and political challenges facing the world today. One of the principal causes of climate change is a rise in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), to which fossil-fuelled electricity generation is a major contributor. 10. The UK and Scottish Governments have set ambitious targets for cutting carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases. Renewable energy forms a fundamental part of the Scottish Government Climate Change Delivery Plan prepared to help meet these targets. Scotland s current renewable energy targets are to deliver the equivalent of 100% gross electricity demand from renewable sources by Merkins windfarm will contribute to the increase in renewable energy in Scotland. It is estimated that the windfarm will: meet the annual power needs of approximately 11,000 households (equivalent to 27% of households in the West Dunbartonshire Council area) 1 ; avoid emissions of approximately 41,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide for each year of the windfarm s operation. 1 Based on a total of 41,471 households in West Dunbartonshire as identified in the National Records of Scotland West Dunbartonshire Council Area Demographic Factsheet 2

6 SITE SELECTION AND DESIGN 12. The Merkins site was identified by Lomond Energy as being potentially suitable for a windfarm development through an iterative site selection process which sought to avoid areas of high environmental sensitivity whilst taking account of technical and economic viability. The Merkins site benefits from meeting the following criteria: an absence of international and national landscape and nature conservation designations within the site boundary; an exposed location with good wind speeds; close proximity to a grid connection point (see Chapter 5 for further detail); a land area available to accommodate sufficient viable generating capacity; the availability of a good access route to the site involving minimal environmental disruption; no residential properties within 2km of the main turbine area; no civil and military radar issues and no interference with telecommunication systems. 13. Windfarm design must balance technical, economic and environmental considerations, with the iterative EIA process acting as a tool to further refine the design process to achieve the most appropriate balance. 14. The overall aim of the design strategy was to create a windfarm with a cohesive design that relates to the surrounding landscape whilst taking account of the environmental characteristics of the site, for example, priority habitats, cultural heritage features and hydrological resources. Further details of the design strategy can be found in Chapter 4: Design Strategy of the ES, or the Design and Access Statement which accompanies the ES. THE PROPOSED WINDFARM 15. A site layout plan is shown in Figure 2. The main components of the proposed windfarm comprise: the installation of 10 wind turbines, each with a nominal rated output of around 2MW; construction of approximately 4.2km of new onsite access tracks and the upgrading of 2km of existing access tracks; construction of ancillary development comprising transformers for each wind turbine, crane hard-standing areas and connecting cabling; construction of an onsite control room and substation building; creation of a temporary construction compound. 3

7 16. Stone will be won from up to four onsite borrow pits. An application for the borrow pits will be made at a later date to West Dunbartonshire Council under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended). For information purposes, indicative locations for the borrow pits are show on Figure 2. However, the ES does not include an assessment of the impacts of the proposed borrow pits as these are not included within the windfarm application. 17. The site will be accessed via the existing junction at Auchincarroch Road and the access to Auchencarroch Landfill site Subject to the granting of planning permission, it is anticipated that the construction of the windfarm will take place over a 10 month programme. 19. The operational life of the windfarm is 25 years. At the end of this period, a decision would be made as to whether to remove, or seek consent to refurbish or replace, the turbines. 20. The proposed windfarm will be connected to the electricity distribution network (the grid connection ) via an underground cable to Strathleven just south of Bonhill,. 21. Nearby communities will have the prospect of securing the profits from a one turbine share or equivalent of the windfarm to generate revenue for local projects, whilst the establishment of an Environmental and Educational Trust Fund will bring socio-economic benefits to a wider area around the site within West Dunbartonshire. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) 22. EIA involves the evaluation and presentation of any predicted significant environmental impacts resulting from a proposed development, to assist the consenting authority in considering, and determining, a planning application. Early identification of potentially adverse environmental impacts also leads to the incorporation of appropriate mitigation measures into the scheme design. 23. The scope of the EIA was informed by the Scoping Opinion provided by West Dunbartonshire Council in November 2010 and the consultation responses received from key consultees including Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Historic Scotland (HS), Stirling Council, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNP) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). The key findings of the EIA are summarised by environmental topic area below. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 24. The landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) considered the impact that the proposed windfarm will have on the landscape and on the people who view that landscape. The assessment involved a desk study, field survey and computer modelling. 25. The study area for the assessment was defined as 35km from the outermost turbines of the proposed windfarm in all directions. A study area of 35km radius is 2 It should be noted that Auchincarroch Road and Auchencarroch landfill site are spelled differently. 4

8 recommended by current good practice guidance for turbines of 100m to blade tip or higher. The 35km study area encompasses a wide variety of different landform types, from mountains and steep glens to low valleys and flood plains. The site is situated within the Kilpatrick Hills Regional Scenic Area (RSA). The boundaries of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Loch Lomond RSA and the Loch Lomond Regional Park lie approximately 2km to the north of the site. The Clydebank Scenic Area lies to the south-east of the Kilpatrick Hills RSA. The cumulative impact assessment comprised an initial search for other windfarm schemes within a 60km radius in accordance with relevant guidance, with a detailed assessment of the impact of the addition of Merkins Windfarm to all existing, consented or application stage schemes within 35km During the construction phase, it is anticipated that there will be inevitable significant impacts on the landscape of the site itself. Impacts will, however, be temporary and a post-construction restoration plan will be implemented to ensure the appropriate restoration of disturbed areas. 27. Once operational, there will be significant impacts on the landscape of the site and a locally significant impact on the Rugged Moorland Hills Landscape Character Type (LCT) within which the site is located. A significant impact has also been identified for the Rolling Farmland with Estates LCT. 28. The proposed windfarm is located within the Kilpatrick Hills RSA and as such, there will be a significant impact on this locally designated landscape. Locally significant impacts from the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park are also predicted (to 10km) but the impact on the Park as a whole is predicted to be minor. No other significant impacts on designated landscapes are predicted. 29. To assess likely impacts on visual amenity during operation of the proposed windfarm, 20 viewpoints were selected for detailed review; these were agreed in consultation with SNH, West Dunbartonshire Council, Stirling Council, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and several other consultees. Of these 20 viewpoints, significant visual impacts are predicted for nine viewpoints (two with major impacts and seven with moderate impacts) and minor or negligible impacts are predicted for the remaining 11 viewpoints. Significant visual impacts are also predicted from the settlements of Blairquhanan and Gartocharn and sequential visual impacts will be experienced on an access track over Cameron Muir which is approximately 4km north of the site. Figure 3 shows a photomontage of the predicted view from Duncryne Hill The Dumpling. This figure has been provided for illustrative purposes and the full suite of photomontages, which meet SNH guidance, can be found in Volume 2 of the main ES. 30. A cumulative impact assessment was undertaken and a significant cumulative impact on the Kilpatrick Hills RSA is predicted. However, no other significant cumulative impacts are predicted. 3 It was agreed with SNH and LLTNPA that Loaninghead Windfarm (scoping stage) would be included in the assessment, but that other proposals at scoping stage would not be included. 5

9 Hydrology, Hydrogeology and Peat Stability 31. The site is located within the hydrological catchments of the River Leven, the River Clyde and the River Endrick. The study area for the assessment of potential hydrological and hydrogeological impacts included these catchments up to a distance of 10km (beyond which it is considered that developments are unlikely to have an impact). The study area for the consideration of peat stability is defined by the site boundary including the new section of access track. 32. Desk based work was supplemented by field work to determine the hydrological characteristics of the site. In addition, peat probing was undertaken across a 100m grid within the site boundary. 33. The layout of the windfarm has been designed to minimise the impact on hydrological features by minimising watercourse crossings and maintaining a 50m buffer zone around all watercourses for siting wind turbines and other infrastructure where possible. Only one new watercourse crossing will be required. Areas identified as high hazard for peat stability were avoided during the layout design. 34. The assessment considered whether the construction and/or operation of the windfarm could have an impact on the condition of existing surface water, groundwater and flooding. No private or public water supplies are located within the catchments of the site. 35. There are five main watercourses within the site boundary and the eastern part of the site drains into the Dumbarton Muir SSSI which is directly adjacent to the eastern boundary of the windfarm site. The SSSI is located approximately 400m from the nearest turbine and no impact on the SSSI is predicted. The River Endrick Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is located approximately 7km downstream of the site boundary and no impacts upon this designated watercourse are predicted. 36. During construction and operation of the windfarm, good practice measures will be put in place in relation to the control of surface water run-off and drainage. These measures will form part of a Pollution Prevention Plan (PPP) for the windfarm, which will be agreed in consultation with SEPA. With the adoption of the good practice measures, no significant impacts on hydrology or hydrogeology are predicted. 37. Whilst peat stability across the site is generally classified as of negligible or low hazard, there are areas of medium and high hazard. Two turbines and sections of access track lie within medium hazard areas. Following implementation of preventive measures to reduce potential impacts on peat stability in these areas, no significant impacts on peat stability are predicted. Ecology 38. The assessment of impacts on ecology was undertaken reflecting advice from SNH, informed by field surveys undertaken for habitats, otter, bats, water vole, badger and great crested newt and supplemented by existing biological records. 39. The site is covered by the West Dumbarton Muir proposed Local Nature Conservation Site (plnc). It is also directly adjacent to West Dumbarton Muir SSSI 6

10 which is designated for an extensive area of intact blanket bog supporting rare plants. The main habitat types on the site are blanket bog, dry modified bog and wet heath. With respect to protected species, evidence of otter was found within the site but no shelters are located within the site boundaries. No water vole, badger or great crested newts were found within the site. Reptiles, including adder, were recorded within the site. Whilst five species of bat were recorded using the site, the level of activity was limited. 40. The layout was designed to minimise the loss of priority habitats including blanket bog, wet heath and modified bog habitats where possible. However, areas of these habitats will still be lost and, given their international importance, impacts of moderate significance on these habitats are predicted, in addition to an impact of moderate significance on West Dumbarton Muir plnc. 41. A Habitat Management Plan (HMP) is proposed to compensate for the loss of these habitats. The objectives of the HMP will include improving the condition of blanket bog on site, restoring modified bog to blanket bog and improving the condition of heathland habitats. The HMP will be developed by Lomond Energy in consultation with West Dunbartonshire Council and SNH. Implementation of the HMP will reduce all predicted impacts to minor significance. 42. No significant impacts on protected faunal species are predicted. Ornithology 43. Desk based studies, field surveys and consultation with SNH and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) were undertaken to inform the assessment of potential impacts of construction and operation of the windfarm on birds. Historical data on the abundance and distribution of birds was provided by a number of bodies. The ornithological study area extended up to 6km from the proposed turbine locations and survey areas varied depending on the species and type of survey. The site is located within the West Central Belt Natural Heritage Zone Field surveys took place between September 2008 and August 2009 and included surveys for breeding birds (including raptors, barn owl and long-eared owl), black grouse surveys and surveys for breeding divers. Winter walkover surveys and flight activity surveys from three vantage points were also undertaken. 45. There are four Special Protection Areas (SPAs) within 20km of the site. However, no significant impacts on designated sites are predicted as there is no evidence that the birds which use the SPA are also using the windfarm site. 46. Windfarm construction can lead to the disturbance and displacement of birds, particularly during the breeding season. A number of measures are proposed to reduce the potential for significant impacts during construction. These include sensitive timing to avoid undertaking construction activities with the greatest 4 SNH has identified 21 Natural Heritage Zones which cover the Scottish mainland and the islands, with the aim of developing an integrated approach to the management and sustainable use of the natural heritage in each zone. 7

11 potential for disturbance impacts, such as vegetation clearance and access track construction, during the breeding bird season, pre-construction bird surveys and the appointment of an Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) during the construction phase. 47. Once the windfarm is operational, there is a potential risk of collision of bird species with the turbines during flight. Collision risk modelling was carried out for those species for which three or more flights were recorded at risk height within the survey area. This was limited to greylag goose, peregrine and curlew and the findings confirmed that the predicted collision risk for all three species was not significant. Based on the data collected, collision risk for all other species was also assessed as not significant. 48. No significant impacts are predicted as a result of disturbance or displacement once the windfarm is operational. Furthermore, no impacts are predicted as a result of habitat loss. 49. No cumulative impacts on individual birds or territories are predicted as there are no proposed, consented or existing windfarms within 10km of the Merkins Windfarm site. Similarly, no cumulative impacts on the regional populations of any species are predicted at the NHZ level. 50. The HMP proposals outlined in the ecology section will benefit a number of bird species including raptors, waders and passerine species, such as hen harrier, merlin, curlew, snipe, skylark and meadow pipit. Noise 51. Noise is generated by wind turbines as they rotate to generate power. There are two types of noise: aerodynamic noise results from turbines rotating through the air; and mechanical noise can be generated from gearboxes or generators, although mechanical noise from modern turbines is negligible. Construction activities and traffic also generate noise. 52. An assessment has been undertaken of the potential construction and operational noise impacts from the proposed windfarm on nearby residential properties. 53. Construction noise from the operation of a range of construction plant will be temporary in nature, during the 10 month construction period, and will not exceed recommended limits at residential properties. Construction and traffic noise impacts are predicted to be of negligible significance. 54. In agreement with West Dunbartonshire Council, noise monitoring was undertaken at one property near the proposed windfarm for a period of two weeks to establish typical baseline noise levels in the area. Operational noise levels were then assessed in line with government guidance. Due to the distance between the wind turbines and the nearest properties, predicted noise levels from the turbines are not expected to exceed 35 db(a). Therefore, no noise impacts are predicted during operation of the windfarm. 8

12 Cultural Heritage 55. The cultural heritage of an area comprises archaeological sites, historic buildings and other historic environment features, gardens and designed landscapes, and other sites, features or places in the landscape that have the capacity to provide information about past human activity, or which have cultural relevance due to associations with folklore or historic events. An assessment was undertaken of the potential impacts of the windfarm on cultural heritage features within, and around, the proposed site. The assessment considered direct impacts on features within the site such as removal or damage, as well as indirect impacts on the setting of cultural heritage sites within the wider landscape. It also considered potential impacts on unrecorded cultural heritage features and cumulative impacts with other windfarms. 56. Eighteen cultural heritage features were identified within the proposed windfarm site. However, there are no Scheduled Monuments or Listed Buildings present within the site. No part of the proposed site lies within a Conservation Area or Garden and Designed Landscape. 57. Any ground-breaking activities associated with the construction of the windfarm have the potential to disturb or destroy features of cultural heritage interest. The design of the windfarm has taken account of known cultural heritage features to minimise these impacts. There is potential for some unrecorded features to survive buried within the site which could be affected during construction. To minimise impacts, known features within proximity to construction activity will be fenced off, and, if required, an archaeologist will be present during the construction to preserve, record or extract any features identified. 58. Operational impacts on the setting of designated cultural heritage features located up to 15km from the proposed windfarm have been assessed. Views of the windfarm from features in the wider area are likely to be screened by the natural topography of the hills, forested areas and buildings within the urban areas. Therefore, no significant impacts on the setting of features are predicted. 59. No significant cumulative impacts are predicted on cultural heritage. Access, Traffic and Transport 60. During construction, turbine components and material required for construction of the windfarm will be delivered to site. Some materials will be transported by heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Turbine components need to be transported on vehicles capable of carrying abnormal loads (vehicles longer than 17m and/or wider than 4m). 61. There are two options available for construction traffic to access the site from the wider road network via the A82. Route 1 approaches from the north via the A811 before joining the A813 north of Jamestown. Route 2 approaches from the south to access the A813 north of Dumbarton. Both routes would access the site from Auchincarroch Road via an existing access road which currently services the adjacent Auchencarroch Landfill Site. 9

13 62. During construction, significant impacts are predicted on Auchincarroch Road, due to delays and congestion resulting from increased traffic associated with the windfarm and also potential wear and tear on the road infrastructure. However, no significant impacts on the wider public road network are predicted. Implementation of a Traffic Management Plan, for example avoiding busy periods with deliveries and road widening, and an agreement with the Council to remedy any road deterioration attributable to windfarm related traffic, will minimise these impacts. 63. During operation, the site will require visits for maintenance, estimated to be once per week. On occasion, there may also be a requirement for a small number of HGV movements for the purpose of maintenance or repair work (2-3 vehicles per month). This is not considered to be significant. Social and Economic Impacts 64. The assessment of social and economic impacts considered impacts on current land use of the site, employment, public access and recreation and tourism. 65. During construction there will be some disruption to the current land use of the site which is primarily used for the grazing of cattle and sheep, and potentially the Auchencarroch landfill site. Consultation with the landfill site operator will ensure that disruption is minimised. Once operational, the windfarm will provide a form of rural diversification through income generated from the turbines. There will be no impact on the operations of the nearby Auchencarroch landfill. 66. It is estimated that an average of 30 people will be employed at the site during the 10 month construction period. A small amount of indirect employment will benefit the local economy as a result of supply chain benefits for local businesses, subcontracted work relating to the transportation of labour and materials, and the hire of plant and machinery. A further benefit may arise in terms of the development of skills of local people either directly, or indirectly, employed during the construction of the windfarm. 67. The site is not currently used for any formal recreational activities and no known Rights of Way cross the site. There is a sign-posted local footpath (SD59) and Core Path within the adjacent Nobleston Wood, which extends approximately 100m into the windfarm site. For health and safety reasons, during construction, it may be necessary to display temporary signage at the end of this Core Path where it enters the site. Once the windfarm is operational, access to the site will not be restricted and no impacts are predicted. 68. Within the wider area, there are numerous recreational resources and sites, most notably within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Construction and operation of the windfarm will not prevent people from undertaking recreational activities in the area surrounding the site. Once operational, there is potential for the windfarm to have indirect impacts on offsite recreation and tourism due to changes in views although the impact will partly depend on the personal opinion of the viewer with respect to windfarms. As there is a direct link with the landscape and visual amenity assessment, in particular the viewpoint assessment, these impacts are discussed in the landscape and visual section. 10

14 69. No significant cumulative social or economic impacts are predicted. Community Benefits 70. Being under local site ownership and development, this project opens up a significant opportunity for local community participation. Specifically, nearby communities will have the prospect of securing the profits from a one turbine share or equivalent of the windfarm to generate revenue for local projects, whilst the establishment of an Environmental and Educational Trust Fund will bring socioeconomic benefits to a wider area around the site within West Dunbartonshire, summarised as follows: Environmental and Education trust Fund: 2,000 per MW of installed capacity from the operation of the windfarm for the benefit of the wider community around the windfarm and within West Dunbartonshire; Community Share scheme: the Community Share is to be made available to communities close to the windfarm, and which have developed a local community action plan (LCAP) which sets out clear aims and objectives of funding for future local projects. It provides an opportunity for local communities to invest in the windfarm and own a one turbine equivalent share, or alternatively annual payments of 3,000 per MW of installed capacity shared between participating communities. 71. Community benefits are in total expected to be worth over 100,000 per annum throughout the life of the project based on a level of 5,000 per MW of installed capacity as a baseline level, with larger benefits anticipated should participating local communities decide to invest in the project. Telecommunications, Aviation and Utilities 72. Consultation with link operators confirmed that there are no known telecommunication links within 2km of the site; therefore there will be no impacts on telecommunications. No impacts on television reception are anticipated due to the area now receiving television signals digitally. 73. With respect to aviation, wind turbines can potentially affect navigation and surveillance systems, including radar, and can affect the safety of flying and use of aerodromes. The nearest civil aviation aerodrome to the windfarm site is Glasgow International Airport. BAA has confirmed that the windfarm will not affect the physical safeguarding of the airport and whilst some of the turbines may be visible to the Lowther Hill radar, this is unlikely to affect air traffic control operations. It is anticipated that any requirement for aviation safeguarding measures in respect of civil aviation will be addressed by planning condition. 74. A desk based assessment has identified two turbines which may be visible to the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) radar at Lowther Hill. NATS will be consulted once the planning application is submitted, to discuss potential impacts on the radar, if any, and mitigation solutions required. 75. No impacts on Ministry of Defence (MoD) operations are predicted. 11

15 76. Consultation with utilities providers identified one pipeline which will require to be crossed by the access track to the site. To prevent damage to the pipeline during construction, discussions with the operator of the pipeline will be undertaken prior to construction to agree appropriate methods of working. Dust, Air Quality and Carbon Balance 77. The assessment of impacts of dust has been undertaken for receptors within 200m of windfarm construction activities in accordance with accepted good practice. Potential air quality impacts resulting from machinery and vehicle emissions are considered for the site itself and the wider West Dunbartonshire area. 78. One residential property at the junction of Auchincarroch Road and the proposed site access has been considered for potential dust impacts during construction. Good practice measures such as suppressing of dust emissions through spraying loads with water will be implemented to ensure that no significant dust impacts occur. 79. Air quality at the site is currently within the limit values set out in the Air Quality Standards (Scotland) Regulations The additional vehicle movements to the site during construction of the windfarm will not result in exceedences of the limits and therefore no significant impacts on air quality are predicted. 80. A carbon balance assessment has also been undertaken which demonstrates that Merkins Windfarm will payback the carbon emitted by its construction in its first 12 months of operation, and thereafter offset the annual emission of over 41,000 tonnes of CO2 during its 25 year operational life based on the current mix of UK electricity generation. 81. The net CO2 impacts of this proposal have been minimised by avoiding areas of deep peat where possible in the routing of access tracks and location of wind turbines, and by the placement of wind turbines in the highest yield locations of the site whilst allowing for environmental and planning constraints. 82. No significant CO2 impacts are predicted as a result of construction of the windfarm, and there will be a net positive significant impact in reducing CO2 emissions after the first year of operating the windfarm. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 83. The EIA of the proposed Merkins windfarm was carried out in accordance with regulatory requirements and guidance on good practice. The overall aim of the design strategy was to create a windfarm with a cohesive design that fits into, and relates well to, the surrounding and host landscape whilst minimising impacts on on site environmental conditions, for example habitats and cultural heritage features. 84. The ES shows that, with the proposed mitigation measures in place, the potential environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of the windfarm can be avoided or minimised. 12

16 M E R K I N S WINDFARM Site Location Site Boundary Helensburgh!! Glasgow! Edinburgh Map Scale: 1:100,000 Figure Km Reproduced from Ordnance Survey digital map data Crown copyright All rights reserved. Licence numbers , Map Scale: LUCGL Fig01-00_ r1_SiteLocation 12/10/2011

17 M E R K I N S W I N D F A R M Scheme Layout Site Boundary!A Turbine Layout Access Tracks Crane Pad Borrow Pit Control Building Construction Compound Map Scale: 1:15,000 Figure Km Reproduced from Ordnance Survey digital map data Crown copyright All rights reserved. Licence numbers , Map Scale: LUCGL Fig02-00_ r1_SchemeLayout 12/10/2011

18