6.6. Inter-Related Effects

  1. The EIA Regulations require consideration of the inter-relationships between EIA topics that may lead to environmental effects. For example, the separate impacts of habitat disturbance upon a single receptor group such as benthic subtidal ecology.
  2. Potential inter-related effects have been assessed concurrently considering two levels of potential effect:
  • project lifetime effects: effects that occur throughout more than one phase of the project (construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning) interacting to potentially create a more significant effect upon a receptor than if just assessed in isolation in a single phase; and
  • receptor led effects: effects that interact spatially and/or temporally resulting in inter-related effects upon a single receptor. For example, the effect of displacement of fishing activity into other areas on commercial fisheries may be greater when multiple sources of impact interact or combine to produce a different or greater effect upon this receptor than when single sources of impact are considered in isolation. Receptor led effects might be short term, temporary or transient effects, or incorporate longer term effects.
  1. Within the Array EIA Report, assessment of inter-related effects has been undertaken with specific reference to the potential for such effects to arise in relation to receptor groups. The term ‘receptor group’ is used to highlight the fact that the proposed approach to the inter-relationships assessment will not assess every individual receptor assessed at the EIA stage, but rather, potentially sensitive groups of receptors. Receptor groups considered and assessed in the Array EIA Report include:
  • physical processes;
  • benthic subtidal ecology;
  • fish and shellfish ecology;
  • marine mammals;
  • offshore ornithology;
  • commercial fisheries;
  • shipping and navigation;
  • aviation, military and communications;
  • infrastructure and other users;
  • major accidents and disasters;
  • climatic effects;
  • offshore socio-economics; and
  • marine archaeology.
  1. Inter-related effects are identified and assessed in volume 2, chapter 20. This chapter provides a descriptive assessment outlining the potential for individual effects to combine, incorporating qualitative and quantitative assessments (where practicable), to potentially create additional effects that may be of greater significance than the individual effects acting in alone.
  2. The approach for assessing the potential inter-related effects on each receptor or receptor group follows the steps below:
  • review of the topic chapters of the Array EIA Report to identify receptors or receptor groups requiring assessment and the likely effects on each receptor or receptor group; and
  • assessment of how individual effects may combine to create inter-related effects on each receptor or receptor group for project lifetime effects and receptor-led effects and conclusion on likely significant inter-related effects.
  1. Where the significance of an effect within the topic-specific assessment has been identified as ‘negligible across all stages of the project’, the assumption has been made that these effects cannot contribute to any inter-related effects. These effects will therefore not be included in the inter-related effects assessment as any effect is predicted to be negligible for the Array over the lifetime of the project.
  2. The inter-related assessment considers potential effects from the Array only, and not those from other projects. Inter-related effects from other projects are considered in the CEA.
  3. Additional detail on the approach and methodology followed for the assessment of inter-related effects relating to the Array are provided in volume 2, chapter 20.


6.7. References

British Standards Institute (BSI) (2015). Environmental Impact Assessment for Offshore Renewable Energy Projects – Guide.

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) (2012). Guidelines for Data Acquisition to Support Marine Environmental Assessments of Offshore Renewable Energy Projects. Available at: https://tethys.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/publications/CEFAS_2012_Eenvironmental_Assessment_Guidance.pdf. Accessed on: 09 August 2023.

CIEEM (2019). Guidelines for ecological impact assessment in the UK and Ireland: Terrestrial, Freshwater, Coastal and Marine. September 2018 Version 1.1 - updated September 2019. Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, Winchester.

Highways Agency, Transport Scotland, Welsh Government and the Department for Infrastructure (2008). Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, Volume 11: Environmental Assessment. Accessed on: 17 September 2021.

Highways England, Transport Scotland, Welsh Government and the Department for Infrastructure (2020). Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB): LA104 – Environmental Assessment and Monitoring. Available at: https://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/tses/attachments/0f6e0b6a-d08e-4673-8691-cab564d4a60a?inline=true. Accessed on: 27 August 2023.

HM Government (2007). The Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1518/contents. Accessed on: 27 August 2023.

HM Government (2009a). The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111176573.

HM Government (2009b). The Marine Environment (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2019. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2019/55/contents/made.

IEMA (2016). IEMA Environmental Impact Assessment Guide to Delivering Quality Development.

IEMA (2022). IEMA Environmental Impact Assessment Guide to Determining Significance For Human Health In Environmental Impact Assessment.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2007): Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge.

MarLIN (Marine Life Information Network) (2020). Marine Life Information Network. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Available from: www.marlin.ac.uk. Accessed on: 12 September 2023.

Maclean I.M.D., Wright L.J., Showler D.A. and Rehfisch M.M. (2009). A Review of Assessment Methodologies for Offshore Wind farms (COWRIE METH-08-08). Available at: https://tethys.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Maclean-et-al-2009.pdf. Accessed on: 27 August 2023.

Marine Directorate Licensing Operations Team (2023). Scoping Opinion for the Ossian Array. Available at: https://marine.gov.scot/sites/default/files/ossian_array_-_scoping_opinion.pdf. Accessed on 27 August 2023.

Marine Scotland (2018). Marine Scotland Consenting and Licensing Guidance: For Offshore Wind, Wave and Tidal energy Applications. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/advice-and-guidance/2020/02/marine-licensing-applications-and-guidance/documents/guidance/guidance-manual-for-offshore-wind-wave-and-tidal-energy-application/guidance-manual-for-offshore-wind-wave-and-tidal-energy-application/govscot%3Adocument/Guidance%2BManual%2Bfor%2BOffshore%2BWind%252C%2BWave%2Band%2BTidal%2BEnergy%2BApplication.pdf. Accessed on: 27 August 2023.

MvOWFL (2023). Morven Offshore Wind Project. Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report. Available at: Scoping Report – Morven Offshore Wind Farm Array Area – July 2023 | Marine Scotland Information. Accessed on: 25 March 2023.

NatureScot (2018). Environmental Impact Assessment Handbook. Available at: https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2018-05/Publication%202018%20-%20Environmental%20Impact%20Assessment%20Handbook%20V5.pdf. Accessed on: 27 August 2023.

Ossian OWFL (2023). Ossian Array EIA Scoping Report. Available at: https://marine.gov.scot/sites/default/files/ossian_wind_-_array_eia_scoping_report_-_eor0811a.pdf. Accessed on 27 August 2023.

RenewableUK (2013). Cumulative Impact Assessment Guidelines - Guiding Principles For Cumulative Impacts Assessment In Offshore Wind Farms. Available at: https://tethys.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Cumulative-Impact-Assessment-Guidelines.pdf. Accessed on: 27 August 2023

Scottish Government (2013). PAN 1/2013, Environmental Impact Assessment. Available at: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0043/00432581.pdf. Accessed on: 27 August 2023.

The Planning Inspectorate (2018). Advice Note Nine: Rochdale Envelope. Available at: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/legislation-and-advice/advice-notes/advice-note-nine-rochdale-envelope/. Accessed on: 12 September 2023.

The Planning Inspectorate (2019). Advice Note Seventeen: Cumulative Effects Assessment Relevant to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. Available at: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/legislation-and-advice/advice-notes/advice-note-17/. Accessed on: 27 August 2023.

The Planning Inspectorate (2020). Advice Note Twelve: Transboundary Impacts and Process. Available at: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/legislation-and-advice/advice-notes/advice-note-twelve-transboundary-impacts-and-process/. Accessed on: 12 September 2023.

 

[1] Case law (i.e. R v Rochdale MBC ex parte Milne (No1.) [1999] 5 WLUK 67 and R v Rochdale MBC ex parte Milne (No.2) [2000] 7 WLUK 955).