Minffordd Quarry, Gwynedd. Environment Act 1995: Review of Planning Conditions First Periodic Review VOLUME 3 NON TECHNICAL STATEMENT.

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1 Minffordd Quarry, Gwynedd Environment Act 1995: Review of Planning Conditions First Periodic Review VOLUME 3 NON TECHNICAL STATEMENT October 2016

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3 NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY VOLUME 3 Minffordd Quarry ROMP Review Document Verification Client: Tarmac Project: Minffordd Quarry, Minffordd Job no Document title: Non Technical Summary Volume 3 Status: Final Date: Ref: NTS

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5 CONTENTS CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION Background Minffordd Quarry Environment Act Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) The Non Technical Summary Technical Studies Planning Conditions THE APPLICATION SITE Site Location Landscape Setting Designations Ecology Geology Surface Water Ground Water Access and Traffic Cultural Heritage ES Baseline THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT Introduction Existing Quarry Quarry Development Scheme Processing Plant Hours of Operation Output and Traffic Movements Water Management Restoration Alternatives SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS Introduction Landscape and Visual Effects Ecology Ground and Surface Water Noise Blast Vibration Air Quality Traffic Cultural Heritage CONCLUSIONS LIST OF FIGURES Figure Site Location Plan... 4 Figure 1-2 Planning Permission Boundaries... 5 Figure 3-1 Current Situation Figure 3-2 Phase 1: 5 Year Plan Figure 3-3 Phase 2:10 Year Plan Figure 3-4 Phase 3: 15 Year Plan Figure 3-5 Phase 4: 30 Year Plan Figure 3-6: Final Quarry Layout Figure 3-7: Restoration Strategy Minffordd Quarry P a g e i SLR Consulting Limited

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7 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been undertaken to consider the effects of ongoing quarrying and related activities at Minffordd Quarry, Minffordd. The results are set out in an Environmental Statement (ES). The location of Minffordd Quarry is illustrated on Figure Minffordd Quarry The Quarry has been operating for many decades with production focused on the extraction of dolerite which produces a high specification aggregate which is used for road surfacing. The asphalt plant at the quarry is an integral part of the operation and the supply of this high specification material. The formal planning history dates back to February 1948 with the issuing of an Interim Development Order planning permission for quarrying. A number of ancillary developments have since been permitted, including the establishment of a stockyard area, quarry haul road and ancillary processing area and the erection of a replacement asphalt plant. The boundaries of the planning permissions are illustrated on Figure Environment Act 1995 The Environment Act 1995 places an obligation on owners and operators of quarries to periodically submit applications to update the planning conditions regulating quarrying and related operations. This is to ensure that planning conditions do not become outdated with the passage of time, and to provide an opportunity for updated standards and criteria to be reflected in the ongoing planning controls. The exercise of a Review of Old Mining Permissions is commonly referred to by the acronym ROMP Review. An Initial Review of the planning conditions at Minffordd Quarry was completed in April 1999, when the local planning authority, Gwynedd Council issued a decision notice with a schedule of 25 updated planning conditions The conditions impose restrictions and controls on the timescale of quarrying operations, hours of working, quarry working programme, blast vibration, noise, ground and surface water, restoration and aftercare. The consideration of the effects of ongoing quarrying is part of a mandatory review of planning conditions regulating activities at quarries, which is a requirement of the Environmental Act The provisions of the Act require that the planning conditions should be the subject of reviews at 15 year intervals. The process of modernising old mineral permissions as required by the Environment Act 1995 is designed to ensure that planning conditions do not become outdated with the passage of time, and to provide for operations to continue in accordance with the most up to date environmental standards. The exercise of a review of old mineral permissions is commonly referred to by the acronym ROMP Review. In addition, the Environment Act 1995 requires that the planning conditions relating to quarrying operations should be the subject of a formal review at intervals of 15 years (unless otherwise agreed with the Local Planning Authority). With an Initial Review undertaken in 1998, a First Periodic Review was scheduled to be undertaken in Following discussions with Gwynedd Council it has been agreed that the Review date can be postponed to October 2016 to allow for various environmental studies to be undertaken in support of the Review application. The environmental studies have now been completed and the results are reported in the ES and are summarised in this Non Technical Summary (NTS) of the ES. Minffordd Quarry P a g e 1 SLR Consulting Limited

8 INTRODUCTION Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) The EIA has been undertaken in accordance with advice from Gwynedd Council regarding the environemntal issues which should be assessed. The application is also supported by updated phased quarry development plans which reflect the nature of the currently approved scheme. In that respect it should be stressed that the application does not relate to proposals to extend the quarry into areas which do not currently enjoy the benefit of planning permission: it merely considers the environmental effects of continuing the existing permitted quarrying activities, with the EIA and ES providing a context for the drafting of updated planning conditions. It is also important to recognise that planning permission for quarrying at Minffordd Quarry already exists. The principle of quarrying is therefore not an issue for reconsideration as part of the Review application. 1.5 The Non Technical Summary This document is a non technical summary (NTS) of the ES, and presents the main findings of the EIA and ES in non technical language. The NTS, as the title suggests, provides only a brief summarised account of a large amount of technical data. However, it is intended to provide a sufficient overview of the ongoing development, and the environmental issues, to allow the reader to gain an understanding of the key issues, and the way in which the EIA and ES have informed the preparation of an updated quarry development scheme and schedule of planning conditions. The NTS comprises Volume 3 of a comprehensive submission which consists of: Volume 1: Volume 2: Volume 3: Environmental Statement (ES); Technical Appendices; and Non Technical Summary of the ES (this document) The application itself is accompanied by the completed application forms, the quarry development plans, and a schedule of proposed planning conditions. 1.6 Technical Studies The content of the EIA and respective technical studies has been informed by a formal exercise undertaken with RCT which has confirmed the scope of the EIA. Specific technical studies have been undertaken to deal with: Landscape and visual impact assessment and restoration design - Pleydell Smithyman Ltd -; Ecology - Wilkinson Associates; Hydrology and Hydrogeology- BCL Consultant Hydrogeologists Ltd Noise and blast vibration - SLR Consulting Ltd; Air Quality SLR Consulting Ltd; Traffic SLR Consulting Ltd; and Cultural Heritage - Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. In addition, technical inputs on geology, quarry development, working practices, and operational mitigation measures have been prepared by in house expertise available to the applicant. The EIA and preparation of the ES has been coordinated by SLR Consulting Limited. SLR are accredited members of the Institute of Minffordd Quarry P a g e 2 SLR Consulting Limited

9 INTRODUCTION 1 Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) with an awarded Quality Mark, and have specialist capability in minerals planning. 1.7 Planning Conditions In those terms, the exercise associated with the EIA has been of positive value in preparing specific conditions which reflect the conclusions and recommendations of the EIA. The purpose of the Review is to formulate a schedule of updated planning conditions which reflect modern standards and controls, and which provide detailed controls over on-going operations for the 15 year Review period, and a context for subsequent reviews over the remaining life of the quarry development. The initial onus is on the Applicant to propose an updated schedule of planning conditions. The purpose of the EIA is to facilitate that exercise by providing an environmental context for the development scheme and environmental and amenity conditions which should logically be associated with the scheme. The ES also includes a review of planning policy guidance which recommends specific criteria levels for e.g. blast vibration and noise. Gwynedd Council is not obliged to accept the planning conditions proposed by the applicant, and they are entitled to impose different conditions or additional conditions. However, where a Mineral Planning Authority (in this case Gwynedd Council) determines conditions different from those submitted by the applicant and the effect of the new conditions, other than restoration or aftercare, as compared with the effect of the existing conditions is to impose a restriction on working rights, then Applicants whose interests have been adversely affected by the restrictions will be entitled to claim compensation (ref. Schedule 14, paragraph 13 of the Environment Act 1995). The conditions proposed by the applicant are set out in the accompanying application, and the rationale behind the proposed conditions is summarised in Section 4.0 of this NTS. The updated quarry development scheme and the proposed updated conditions are considered to represent a positive and constructive approach to devising an environmentally sensitive operation and to regulating the development by modern, up to date planning controls. Minffordd Quarry P a g e 3 SLR Consulting Limited

10 INTRODUCTION 1 Figure Site Location Plan Minffordd Quarry P a g e 4 SLR Consulting Limited

11 INTRODUCTION 1 Figure 1-2 Planning Permission Boundaries Minffordd Quarry P a g e 5 SLR Consulting Limited

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13 THE APPLICATION SITE THE APPLICATION SITE 2.1 Site Location Minffordd Quarry is located approximately 0.3km to the north of the village of Minffordd, and approximately 2km to the east of the town of Porthmadog, in Gwynedd, north Wales. 2.2 Landscape Setting The quarry is situated at the south eastern extent of a steeply sloping, wooded landform which protrudes eastwards out into the flat floodplain landscape of the Afon Glaslyn estuary, which spans west to eastwards from Minffordd to Porthmadog. The expansive floodplain is traversed by the A487 Porthmadog Bypass and a man made embankment known as the Cob (located to the south west of the site), which provides a crossing point for the Wales Coast Path, the Ffestiniog Railway and the A497 road. The landform upon which the quarry is located flanks the northern edge of a small scale valley which is orientated south west to north east, broadly spanning between the estuary floodplain in the west, and the settlement of Penryhndraeth in the east, which is situated approximately 1km to the east of the site. The wider landscape surrounding the site (at a distance of up to 2km from the site), features a wide valley basin at the mouth of the Afon Glaslyn which protrudes northwards and sharply reduces in width to form a narrow valley north of the settlement of Prenteg, where it meets the Snowdonia National Park (approximately 2km to the north of the site). The elevated mountain range of the Snowdonia National Park curves around the Afon Glaslyn valley forming a distinctive and impressive backdrop to the landscape surrounding the site to the west, north, east and south east. South of Minffordd, the landform slopes down towards the tourist destination and village of Portmerion, which is situated on a headland between the two estuaries of the Afon Glaslyn to the west, and the Afon Dwyryd to the east. 2.3 Designations The site is not located within any nationally designated landscape (i.e. a National Park (NP) or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)), however, the edge of the Snowdonia National Park is located within 2km from the site, at its nearest location. There are no UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS), Ramsar, or Special Protected Areas (SPA) within 5km of the site boundary. However, a number of Special Landscape Areas, Historic Landscape Areas, Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAM), Site s of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), National and Local Nature Reserves (NNR/LNR), Historic Parks and Gardens, a Historic Landscape, Listed Buildings, areas of Ancient Woodland and Long Distance Recreational Routes are present within the 5 km Study Area There are two Special Landscape Area (SLA's) within the study area: the 'Glaslyn & Dwyryd Estuary Landscapes' SLA (within which the site is located), which comprises the 'low-lying reclaimed farmland and marshes of Traeth Mawr and the eastern/southern banks of the Traeth Bach estuary, including the historic village of Portmerion', and the 'Porthmadog & Tremadog Bay' SLA, located to the south west. SLA's are defined by the Countryside Council for Wales as 'areas of high landscape importance for their intrinsic physical, environmental, visual, cultural and historic value in the contemporary landscape' (2008). The site is situated within the Afon Glaslyn Historic Landscape Area, which spans from the Afon Glaslyn estuary south of North y Gest, and covers part of the Afon Dwyrd estuary to an location which is approximately to the south west of Minffordd. The area covers much of the floodplain to the east and north of the site and broadly follows the boundary of the National Park in this area. There are two European designated Special Areas of Conservation (SAC s) within 5km of the Site. One is the 'Meirionnydd Oakwoods and Bat Sites' SAC, which is made of a number of different individual site areas which are present within 1km of the site. The second is the 'Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau' SAC, which is located just over 1km from the site, to the south. Minffordd Quarry P a g e 7 SLR Consulting Limited

14 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3 There are a total of five Scheduled Ancient Monuments within the study area. The closest is 'Tyn y berllan settlement, an enclosed hut circle, which is located some 0.5km to the north west of the site. There are a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) located within 3.0km of the site. The nearest is associated with the 'Glaslyn' SSSI which is located immediately north, east and west of the site boundary, and also to the south of the A487. The 'Ysbyty Bron y Garth' SSSI is located immediately to the east of the site, and spans southwards towards Morfa Harlech. Further south the 'Morfa Harlech' SSSI covers the estuary of the Afon Glaslyn and the Afon Dwyryd. North east of the site, north of Tremadog, is the 'Coes Tremadog' SSSI. There are two National Nature Reserves within 5km of the site. These consist of the 'Coed Tremadog' NNR to the north east of the site, and 'Morfa Harlech' NNR located to the south of the site. There are two Local Nature Reserves within the study area. Both area located north of Borth-y-Gest, to the south west of Porthmadog, and consist of 'Parc y Ban' LNR and 'Pen y Banc' LNR, and are located some 2.5km to the south west of the site. Five Registered Parks and Gardens have been identified within the study area. The nearest are Portmerion, which is located approximately 1.5km to the south of the site, and Tan yr Allt which is located approximately 2.2km to the north west of the site. A number of Ancient Woodland sites have been identified within the 5km study area. A limited area of Ancient Woodland (entitled Ancient Semi- Natural Woodland) is located within the site boundary, and straddles the site along a limited section of its eastern boundary. One Long Distance Recreational Route is located within the Study Area - The Wales Coast Path, which follows, or runs close to the majority of the coastline of Wales, and is located within 1km from site. A number of bridleways and footpaths are present within the 5km Study Area. 2.4 Ecology The application site mainly comprises existing operational land and it thus contains significant areas of bare ground and exposed rock as a consequence of previous and current phases of extraction. The nonoperational land includes a large area of semi-natural broadleaved woodland which lies outside the north and east of the quarry boundary as well as smaller areas within the permitted extraction area. The majority of the quarry void is largely devoid of vegetation or supports only a sparse, open cover of transient species. The main exception to this is a spine of retained material near the southern boundary which supports a narrow band of deciduous woodland and scrub vegetation. Some of the benches and batter slopes also support well-established scrub vegetation. Other habitats present within the quarry include small patches of tall-herb vegetation, ditches and lagoons. Small areas of treeplanting and amenity grassland occur, mainly along the quarry s southern boundary. The land surrounding the quarry is characterised by low-lying coastal marshes, pastures and woodlands associated with the Glaslyn estuary. These areas include several sites which are designated for their nature conservation importance, of which the most significant for the purposes of the current study are: Meirionnydd Oakwoods and Bat Sites Special Area of Conservation (SAC) - immediately west and south west of the quarry; Glaslyn Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - immediately north, west and south west of the quarry, including the non-operational woodland areas; and Ysbyty Bron y Garth SSSI - immediately south and south west of the quarry. The quarry is thus completely surrounded by sites which are designated for their national and/or international nature conservation importance, and parts of the quarry s non-operational land lie within Glaslyn SSSI. As Minffordd Quarry P a g e 8 SLR Consulting Limited

15 THE APPLICATION SITE 3 noted above, there are also several additional nationally and internationally designated sites in the vicinity of Minffordd Quarry, as well as a number of locally designated sites including a North Wales Wildlife Trust (NWWT) reserve. The potential impacts of the working and restoration scheme on designated nature conservation sites therefore forms a key part of the Ecological Impact Assessment reported in the ES. 2.5 Geology 2.7 Ground Water The shales and dolerite forming the rock promontory upon which the quarry is sited possess negligible ground water storage (aquifer) properties. Groundwater storage and movement within the rocks is therefore considered to be extremely limited. The site lies with a region with complex geology comprising a mixture of rock types. The low lying land to the south-west and west of the site contains sequence of mudstones and sandstones. The ridge on which the quarry is situated is composed of an igneous intrusion of dolerite, which is the main economic deposit being worked at the quarry. The dolerite is bounded on its northern, western and southern margins quarry by outcrops of shale which is worked as a secondary fill aggregate. 2.6 Surface Water The principal surface-watercourse of the area is the Afon Glaslyn, which locally flows from northeast to southwest within Traeth Mawr to the west of the site, its closest reach (of c.330m length) abutting the western site boundary. A detailed water features survey has been undertaken within a radius of 500m from the quarry boundary, the results of which are presented within Chapter 8.0 (Table 8.6) of the ES, with survey locations shown at Figure 8.9 within ES Volume 2, Appendix 8). Other than minor and temporary flooding of sections of the quarry floor following heavy rainfall, there are no reported incidents of fluvial or tidal related flooding during the long history of quarrying at the site. Rainfall which falls on the quarry is temporarily accommodated within quarried stone fill material on the quarry floor which provides a drainage blanket preventing areas of standing water which would otherwise develop upon the impermeable bedrock of the quarry floor. Drainage of from the quarry floor fill is made under gravity to a central spine ditch, which conveys flow westward to the Western Soakaway. Water from the Western Soakaway ultimately drains by near surface groundwater flow to Traeth Mawr. Due to the extremely low permeability of the bedrock, the volumes of groundwater inflow directed to the Western Soakaway are considered to be insignificantly small; the overwhelming majority of discharge comprising rainfall runoff. The pattern of groundwater drainage from the site thus replicates the prequarrying condition, wherein the limited volumes of groundwater within the upper areas of the rock would drain by deposits of lower lying grounds to the west and south. Drainage from the area to the south of the quarry void; the Southern Catchment comprising plant, workshop and offices areas, comprises rainfall runoff alone, being made by a combination of soakaway and consented off-site discharge to a tributary of the Afon Glaslyn. 2.8 Access and Traffic Minffordd Quarry gains access onto the A487 Porthmadog By Pass via a dedicated purpose designed quarry entrance. This has resulted in substantial improvements for HGV movements from the site which Minffordd Quarry P a g e 9 SLR Consulting Limited

16 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3 historically used a quarry access across the former railway line through the village of Minffordd, with associated amenity issues associated with the use of narrow public highways and HGV s emerging in the centre of the village. The A487 has been designed with the capacity to cater for the projected vehicle flows, but also to specifically cater for HGV traffic associated with Minffordd Quarry. The safety performance of the A487 is excellent, with only one slight recorded personal injury accident in the most recent 5 year period, and no accidents involving HGVs either at the Quarry entrance or along the A487 in the vicinity of the quarry. 2.9 Cultural Heritage The cultural heritage assessment has identified 22 heritage assets within the Site Boundary, of which 15 have already been lost to quarrying operations. Of the surviving assets six are considered to be of low value, including the quarry itself, while one is poorly located and may lie outside the Site Boundary. There are no World Heritage Sites within 5 km of the Site Boundary The assessment has identified five Registered Parks and Gardens within 5 km of the Site Boundary, of which one, Portmeirion, will have no visibility of the quarry. There are three Conservation Areas within 5 km of the Site Boundary. The Site Boundary falls within the Aberglaslyn Registered Historic Landscape, while the Ardudwy Registered Historic Landscape lies 1 km to the south. The potential direct and indirect effects on each of these cultural heritage assets are considered in detail in Chapter 13.0 of the ES ES Baseline The above summary of baseline conditions represents a brief overview of the much more detailed consideration of current circumstances set out in the environmental impact assessment chapters. However, this Chapter 2.0 provides a brief outline of current circumstances as a context for the description of the quarry development and restoration scheme which is described in the following chapter 3.0. There are 18 Scheduled Ancient Monuments within 5 km of the Site Boundary, seven of which will have no visibility of the quarry. There are 427 listed buildings within 5 km of the Site Boundary, although the topography is such that only 130 would have no direct views of the full quarry development. The listed buildings are itemised in full in documents submitted in support of the ES. Three of the buildings are listed at grade I, including Capel Peniel (No 4442), Portmeirion Town Hall (No 4777) and the Church of St Brothen at Llanfrothen (No 48704), while 20 are grade II* and the remaining 404 are listed at grade II. Minffordd Quarry P a g e 10 SLR Consulting Limited

17 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3.1 Introduction The quarry development plans which accompanied the Initial Review application confirmed the intention to extract all exploitable reserves of dolerite and shale within the defined boundaries of the permitted area, including working the faces to the full lateral limits, and developing the quarry down to a final base level of - 45m aod (above ordnance datum). This final quarry arrangement forms the basis of the final restoration concept which proposes woodland planting on the benches along the northern and eastern sides of the quarry. Condition 8 of the Initial Review schedule of conditions imposes a requirement for the initially approved quarry development and restoration plans to be reviewed at intervals of 5 years (or such other period of time as shall be agreed with the Authority). The most recent review was undertaken in These plans provide the context for a further update of the quarry development scheme which accompanies the Periodic Review application. However, no material changes are proposed to the currently approved final face configuration and depth of extraction. with the natural topography to circa 50m AOD around the north eastern boundary. The main processing plant in the form of the primary crusher and screens is located in the southern area of the quarry on a ridge of rock between the main operational quarry area on its northern side, and the quarry administrative area and asphalt plant site to the south and south east. The southerly area comprises an aggregate screen house / aggregate storage bins fed by the main crushing and screening plant, with a direct feed to the asphalt plant. The quarry weighbridge and related offices are located to the south east, with a further mess room / offices to the south of the asphalt plant. Aggregate stockpile areas are located in the south west and south eastern areas of the quarry. A concrete batching plant leased to Hanson is located in the south western frontage area of the site (not currently operational). 3.3 Quarry Development Scheme The updated quarry development scheme reflects four main design principles, namely: The restoration strategy discussed in Chapter 4.0 of the ES has also been updated, but as is the case with the quarry development scheme, it remains consistent with the general principles of the approved restoration scheme. 3.2 Existing Quarry The Current Situation at the quarry is illustrated on Figure 3.1 at the end of this chapter. The plan shows the current layout and configuration of the quarry with a base of the quarry at +2.5m aod and three main benches along the northern side of the quarry at +15m aod, 30m AOD and 40m AOD, rising (i) (ii) (iii) Ensuring consistency with the currently approved final quarry layout in terms of the position of the final benches and faces and depth of quarrying (to -45 m bod [below ordnance datum]). Producing 3 x 5 year quarry development plans which illustrate the anticipated progress of the quarry development scheme for the 15 year period of the current Periodic Review, and where such 5 year plans are consistent with the requirements of the current planning conditions which require 5 yearly updated of the development scheme; Retaining the main processing plant in its current location for the approximate 15 year duration of the current Periodic Minffordd Quarry P a g e 11 SLR Consulting Limited

18 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3 (iv) Review, with the consequence that the southern ridge would also be retained for that period; and Producing an intermediate quarry development plan showing the anticipated progress at 30 years with an intermediate quarry floor at -9m aod capable of accommodating a relocated mobile crushing and screening plant. The updated quarry development scheme is illustrated on Figures and at a larger scale on plan reference numbers M057/ submitted as part of the ROMP application. Phase 2 will release some 720,000 tonnes of dolerite and some 40,000 tonnes of slate / shale Phase 3 (15 Year Plan) - Figure 3.4 Phase 3 will develop the quarry up to the end of the current 15 year Periodic Review with the main elements of the quarry development comprising: (i) The further lowering of the base of the quarry in the north western area to an intermediate level of -9m aod; The scheme assumes a continuation of current levels of output of some 150,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of dolerite and some 30,000 50,000 tpa of slate / shale. The scheme has been designed to ensure the availability of a consistent volume of the premium dolerite reserve, but with the nature of the geology at the site, the volume of slate to be extracted to gain access to the dolerite reserve will vary by phase Phase 1 (5 Year Plan) - Figure 3.2 Phase 1 will be associated and the widening of the quarry floor at the existing +2.5m aod base level. No changes will be made to the existing plant arrangement or to the existing ridgeline in the south central area of the site. Phase 1 will release some 750,000 tonnes of dolerite and some 114,000 tonnes of slate / shale Phase 2 (10 Year Plan) - Figure 3.3 Phase 2 will see the faces and benches worked back in a northerly direction to their approximate final positions to the +2.5m aod level. (ii) (iii) The removal of the western section of the southern ridgeline in readiness for the future development and deepening of the quarry in that area; and The removal of the eastern section of the central ridgeline down to a level of circa 5m aod consistent with the level of the existing stockyard on its southern side. Phase 3 will release some 850,000 tonnes of dolerite and some 375,000 tonnes of slate/ shale. Decisions on the future development of the quarry will then be made as part of an anticipated Environment Act Second Periodic Review. However, to provide a context for such a review, and to allow the full nature of the development to be considered as part of the EIA, a conceptual development scheme has been prepared for Year 30 as an intermediate position towards the final quarry development layout. As confirmed in section 3.1 above, no material changes are proposed to the currently approved final quarry layout Phase 4 (30 Year Plan) - Figure 3.5 The quarry will also be developed in a south easterly direction, north of the office / stock area, removing the upper sections of the eastern ridgeline The key element of phase 4 will be the need to relocate the main crushing down to a level of 15m aod. and screening plant from the central / southern ridge area. Decisions on a location and type of mobile plant will be made at that stage, and it is anticipated that this would be addressed as part of an EIA accompanying a Minffordd Quarry P a g e 12 SLR Consulting Limited

19 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3 Second Periodic Review application. However, contingency planning conditions are proposed as part of this current review to provide for details of a new plant and location to be submitted in the event that the relocation takes place within the timescale of the current 15 year review period. At this preliminary stage it is anticipated that the remaining operation would be undertaken using a mobile plant sited within the main quarry area, initially at the -9m bod level. The quarry development will involve developing the base of the quarry, initially at the -9m bod level, and then commencing another lift down to - 21m AOD along the northern section of the quarry. The central ridge will be removed and taken down to -9m bod allowing a main quarry access ramp to be created into the quarry from the south western corner. Phase 4 will release some 2million tonnes of dolerite and some 2million tonnes of slate / shale Phase 5: Final Quarry Layout Figure 3.6 The final quarry layout is generally consistent with the currently approved quarry layout, with a minor change in the south eastern area which completes extraction within the permitted quarry boundary. The quarry will be developed down to a base level of -45m bod, consistent with the currently approved layout and depth. As a final operation, reserves would be extracted from beneath the asphalt plant site area and south east stock area, working the faces and benches back in a southerly and south easterly direction to their final positions. The final phase of quarry development would yield some 1.5 m tonnes of stone, over a notional 10 year period at current rates of output, with some 3.2m tonnes of slate / shale. Based upon the above mineral volumes and phased periods, the overall quarry development scheme is anticipated to extend over a duration of some 40 years (phases 1-3: 15 years; phase 4: 15 years; and phase 5: 10 years). From a base year of 2016, this would extend the quarry development to The current schedule of conditions imposes an end date of 24 th February 2042 for the completion of mineral extraction operations. This is an arbitrary date stemming from the Minerals Act 1981 which, in summary, stipulated that in the absence of an end date, all mineral planning permissions should be subject to a default end date of 60 years from the date the Act came into force, with 60 years from the date of enactment being February This date is not linked to the timescale for the extraction of permitted reserves, and the schedule of updated planning conditions thus proposes a planning condition with a revised end date of December Processing Plant Stone is quarried by means of drilling and blasting. It is transported from the quarry face along quarry haul roads by dump trucks to a primary crushing house. A primary crusher initially reduces the size of the quarried rock, with crushed material then transported by enclosed conveyor to a second crushing house to be further reduced in size by means of additional crushers. Crushed material is then transported by enclosed conveyor to a primary screen house where crushed material is screened into dust, 6mm, 10mm 14mm, 16mm, 20mm and 40mm and stored in bins with a capacity of 80 tonnes per screening size. Screened materials can then be transferred directly into dump trucks for stockpiling on site or road haulage wagons for transportation off site by means of a loading chute located directly beneath each storage bin. The quarry also houses an asphalt plant. Screened material feeds directly into the asphalt plant from the main screening house by means of an enclosed conveyor. Material is stored in feed hoppers, dried, placed in hot storage bins, and then discharged into a mixer where bitumen is added to produce the finished asphalt product. This final product is then transferred into hot storage bins with direct loading into road haulage vehicles for transporting off site. Minffordd Quarry P a g e 13 SLR Consulting Limited

20 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT Hours of Operation The schedule of planning conditions imposed as part of the Initial Review restricted the hours of working associated with screening, crushing and other operations, including the repair and maintenance of equipment and water pumping to: Mondays to Fridays; Saturdays; and Sundays (ref condition 6 of 5/76/198C). The schedule also restricts crushing and screening operations on Sundays to a maximum of fifteen Sundays per year, and at all other times, no quarry operations shall take place on Sundays or Bank Holidays, except for pumping and essential maintenance (ref condition 7 of 5/76/198C). Blasting is restricted to Mondays to Fridays (ref condition 11 of 5/76/198C). The asphalt plant is subject to a separate planning permission (ref C10M/0116/05/MW dated 28 th October 2010), which is not part of the current Review of the mineral planning permissions. This includes slightly extended working hours of: 5.30 to hours Mondays to Saturdays; and 7.30 to hours on a maximum of fifteen Sundays per year (ref condition 3). No changes are proposed to these hours of working which are long established at the quarry, and this is reflected in the schedule of proposed planning conditions which accompanies the submission. However, within these permitted working hours, the conventional working hours tend to be Mondays to Fridays and on Saturdays, albeit with the flexibility to work to the extended permitted hours if required. The conventional working hours for the asphalt plant are Mondays to Fridays, with occasional working on Saturdays and Sundays, but again with flexibility to work within the permitted extended hours if required. 3.6 Output and Traffic Movements Recent production at the quarry has averaged some 150,000 tonnes of dolerite and some 30,000 tonnes of slate. The dolerite sales are relatively consistent, but the volume of slate sales fluctuates in response to market requirements for this general fill product. Based upon average overall sales of 180,000 tonnes, average 20 tonne load sizes, and an average 275 day working year (reflecting the hours of working restrictions) the quarry generates an average of 33 loads per day (66 movements). A proportion of the sales (circa 15%) is carried in articulated vehicles with average carrying capacities of 30 tonnes which serves to reduce the overall number of vehicle movements. The proportion of drystone to coated stone is approximately 5:1. The asphalt plant operation requires deliveries of bitumen at an average rate of 1.5 tanker deliveries per week The quarry benefits from a dedicated direct access onto the A47 Porthmadog / Minffordd by pass, with a westbound right turn ghost island, and an eastbound deceleration lane. The vast majority of the output is directed eastwards along the A487 to markets in north east Wales and the north west of England. The quarry also contains a ready mixed concrete batching plant within an area of the quarry leased to Hanson. The plant is currently mothballed but when it was operational, it delivered an output of some 25,000m3 per annum. Based upon mixer truck load sizes of 6m3, this generated an average of some 15 loads per day (30 movements). The plant also imported sand (circa 27,000 tpa at a rate of circa 5 loads per day), and cement, at a rate of circa 1 tanker delivery per week. Minffordd Quarry P a g e 14 SLR Consulting Limited

21 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT Water Management There will be no material alterations to the drainage system serving the plant, workshop and office areas situated south of the spine-ridge during the working of the planned development. The drainage system in this area was designed in accordance with current guidance and includes attenuation, settlement and hydrocarbon interception. Deepening of the quarry void will require minor modifications to the existing drainage in this area and contingency provision for new settlement ponds which may be required from phase 3 onwards. However, current calculations indicated that the existing soakaway in the western area of the site will be able to accommodate the relatively minor increase in groundwater likely to be encountered when the quarry is deepened. Upon cessation of quarrying, all plant and machinery will be removed, pumping will be terminated and the void will be allowed to flood with incident rainfall, creating a restoration lake with a water level of c.2maod. 3.8 Restoration To maximise the potential of the quarry to provide a range of biodiverse habitats; To soften the engineered form of the quarry void; and To create strong habitat links throughout the restoration area including to the restored benches, south and west of the Glaslyn SSSI. The proposed restoration operations have been developed in relation to the physical form of the full quarry development and the anticipated restored ground water level. Upon cessation of mineral extraction and subsequent processing followed by decommissioning of all remaining quarry plant and associated activities, the ground water within the site will be allowed to return to its natural equilibrium level which is anticipated at approximately circa 2metres aod. It is anticipated that this will occur over between circa 4.5 and 16 years depending on the rate of groundwater and surface water ingress and possible rates of augmentation pumping from the Afon Glaslyn. The detailed restoration scheme for the site comprises a diverse range of interlinked landscape and wildlife habitats, with five main restoration types: The Concept Restoration Scheme for all land within the ROMP application is illustrated on Figure 3.7. The restoration strategy will comprise a variety of landscape restoration types and will see the restoration of the quarry void to a water body. The Restoration Objectives are: To maximise the mineral reserve whilst mitigating potential adverse impacts to local residents; To retain the existing southern site internal ridge feature until Phase 3 to mitigate potential adverse impacts to local residents during this period; Minffordd Quarry P a g e 15 SLR Consulting Limited Tree and Shrub Planting; Species Rich Meadow Grassland; Site Lakes; Shallows / Reed bed; Quarry Benches and Faces The ES includes details of tree and shrub planting and species rich grassland planting proposals, treatment of quarry faces and benches, and the aftercare management of the restored site. Planning conditions are proposed to ensure the successful delivery of the restoration strategy. 3.9 Alternatives The context of an ES submitted in support of an Environment Act ROMP Review is different in that planning permission for the development has

22 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3 already been granted. The purpose of this First Periodic Review application and accompanying ES is thus not to consider whether the principle of the development is acceptable, or the extent to which alternatives may be preferable. Rather, the purpose of the EIA is to assist in identifying environmental effects, to devise mitigation measures to minimise the identified effects, and to allow those measures to be enshrined in updated planning conditions. The issue of alternatives is thus of little relevance to an EIA in support of a ROMP Review application. This conclusion is reinforced by the fact that Minffordd Quarry has already been subject to an Initial Review (1999), and where this First Periodic Review is associated with a quarry which is well established, with an approved quarry development and restoration scheme which it is not proposed to materially change, and where the exiting planning conditions have been proven to work effectively in minimising the effects of the ongoing development. part of the 1998 Initial Review in terms of lateral limits and depth of quarrying. The scheme thus does not depart from the originally approved scheme which itself was deemed appropriate via the 1999 Initial Review. It is considered to represent the most environmentally acceptable means of completing quarry operations. It forms the basis of a reconsideration of environmental effects, undertaken as part of the EIA, which itself has an underlying theme of improving environmental standards and performance associated with the ongoing quarrying operations. In the case of the ROMP Review application and ES, the consideration of alternatives has thus not related to alternatives to Minffordd Quarry in terms of supply, but rather, whether there are alternative working and restoration schemes which could be explored. The starting position is that Minffordd Quarry provides an important source of high specification aggregate which is deemed to be a resource of UK importance. The exploitation of the remaining reserves at Minffordd Quarry is thus important in fulfilling demand requirements. The quarry development scheme has accordingly focussed on the means of maximising the availability of dolerite reserves, but within the limits of the planning permissions and the design principles which have been set (reference Section 3.3 above). The planning permission limits of extraction allow for quarrying to take place to defined lateral limits. The Initial ROMP Review was accompanied by a development scheme which defined the approved lateral limits of quarrying, with the quarry working down to a level of -45m bod. Minor revisions to this scheme were made as part of an updated working scheme approved in The scheme which accompanies this current First Periodic Review application is consistent with the scheme approved as Minffordd Quarry P a g e 16 SLR Consulting Limited

23 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3 Figure 3-1 Current Situation Minffordd Quarry P a g e 17 SLR Consulting Limited

24 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3 Figure 3-2 Phase 1: 5 Year Plan Minffordd Quarry P a g e 18 SLR Consulting Limited

25 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3 Figure 3-3 Phase 2:10 Year Plan Minffordd Quarry P a g e 19 SLR Consulting Limited

26 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3 Figure 3-4 Phase 3: 15 Year Plan Minffordd Quarry P a g e 20 SLR Consulting Limited

27 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3 Figure 3-5 Phase 4: 30 Year Plan Minffordd Quarry P a g e 21 SLR Consulting Limited

28 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3 Figure 3-6: Final Quarry Layout Minffordd Quarry P a g e 22 SLR Consulting Limited

29 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3 Figure 3-7: Restoration Strategy Minffordd Quarry P a g e 23 SLR Consulting Limited

30 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 3 Minffordd Quarry P a g e 24 SLR Consulting Limited

31 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 4.1 Introduction The ES includes detailed consideration of the potential environmental effects of the ongoing quarry development at Minffordd Quarry, and related elements of the overall development scheme, including the restoration of the overall application site. Based upon the studies and content of the individual chapters, the underlying conclusion of the EIA is that there is no single topic, or combination of issues which should objectively prevent the development from continuing. The respective environmental studies have paid due regard to the environmental issues identified in the scoping exercise undertaken with Gwynedd County Council relating to environmental effects. Where relevant, the studies have made a series of recommendations for measures which could minimise effects. These issues are summarised below. For each topic, the summary describes the key elements of the study which has been undertaken, the mitigation measures which have been incorporated into the development scheme or which will be implemented as part of the ongoing development, the planning conditions which could be imposed to reflect the recommendations of the respective studies, and the conclusions which are reached. 4.2 Landscape and Visual Effects LVIA Study The study (i) describes the existing environment; (ii) identifies and assesses the likely impact of the development on the receiving landscape, its elements, features and character; (iii) determines the visual extent of the proposed development; and (iv) assesses the effects of the development on identified key visual receptors within the developments zone of visual impact. The scope of the assessment covers the totality of the Minffordd Quarry development, and includes consideration of potential landscape and visual effects which may be brought about as a result of the future phases of the quarry working, including extraction, processing, access, quarry waste disposal etc. along with the restoration scheme. The assessment considers the progression of the phased quarry development scheme, but also the full quarry design and restoration scheme. With Environment Act ROMP Reviews required at 15 year intervals, the potential landscape and visual effects associated with the current Review will be associated with phases 1 3 of the quarry development scheme, with the phase 3 quarry development plan illustrating the anticipated progress of the development at the end of the current 15 year ROMP review period. The proposed future full quarry development at Minffordd predominantly includes those areas that are already disturbed as part of the ongoing mineral operations within the site, which includes the central ridge landform, located towards the south of the site. The proposals include one limited area which is currently not disturbed which comprises sloping woodland at the eastern extent of the site. It is important to note that the existing permitted scheme includes for the working of all areas which are defined by the red line application boundary. The elements of the development that may affect landscape character and visual amenity can be defined as occurring during two stages of the development: firstly, during the remaining operational life of the quarry and secondly, following final restoration. In accordance with the permitted scheme, the phased working scheme proposes final extraction depths to -45m bod, which will bring about the formation of new quarry faces and benches, initially generated along the northern, eastern and western extents of the quarry. This will be followed by the creation of faces and benches to the south, following the removal of the central ridge landform which is located at the southern extent of the existing quarry void, and upon which structures asociated with the processing plant are situated. It is proposed that the ridge will remain in place during the phase 1 works, and thereafter will be subject to phased removal as part of the phase 2 and 3 works, and completely removed as part of the phase 4 works. Minffordd Quarry P a g e 25 SLR Consulting Limited