CONTENTS

Volume 1- Main Report

1 INTRODUCTION.. 1-1

1.1 Project Background. 1-1

1.2 Project Scope. 1-2

1.3 Site Location and History. 1-2

1.4 EIA Study Brief 1-4

1.5 Designated Projects. 1-4

1.6 Purpose of the EIA Report 1-4

1.7 Objectives of the EIA Study. 1-5

1.8 Structure of the EIA Report 1-6

2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION.. 2-1

2.1 Purposes and Objectives of the Project 2-1

2.2 Need of the Project 2-1

2.3 Benefits of the Project 2-2

2.4 “Without Project” Scenario. 2-3

2.5 Alternative Options of the Project 2-4

2.6 Description of the Preferred Option. 2-19

2.7 Construction Methods and Engineering Requirements. 2-23

2.8 Works Programme. 2-28

2.9 Concurrent Projects. 2-29

2.10 Public Concern. 2-31

3 AIR QUALITY. 3-1

3.1 Introduction. 3-1

3.2 Relevant Legislation and Guidelines. 3-2

3.3 Existing Environment 3-4

3.4 Identification of Air Sensitive Receivers. 3-9

3.5 Construction Dust Impact Assessment 3-13

3.6 Operational Air Quality Impact Assessment 3-31

3.7 Environmental Monitoring and Audit 3-40

3.8 Conclusions. 3-40

4 Noise. 4-1

4.1 Introduction. 4-1

4.2 Background. 4-1

4.3 Identification of Noise Sensitive Receivers. 4-2

4.4 Environmental Legislation, Standards and Guidelines. 4-4

4.5 Construction Noise Impact Assessment 4-8

4.6 Operational Noise Impact Assessment 4-15

4.7 Concurrent Projects. 4-19

4.8 Environmental Monitoring and Audit 4-21

4.9 Conclusions. 4-21

5 WATER QUALITY. 5-1

5.1 Introduction. 5-1

5.2 Relevant Legislation and Guidelines. 5-1

5.3 Baseline Conditions. 5-4

5.4 Assessment Criteria. 5-12

5.5 Assessment Methodology. 5-22

5.6 Potential Sources of Impact 5-22

5.7 Impact Assessment - Construction Phase. 5-23

5.8 Impact Assessment - Operational Phase. 5-30

5.9 Mitigation Measures. 5-67

5.10 Cumulative Impacts. 5-69

5.11 Residual Impacts. 5-72

5.12 Environmental Monitoring and Audit 5-73

5.13 Conclusion. 5-73

6 WASTE MANAGEMENT. 6-1

6.1 Introduction. 6-1

6.2 Environmental Legislation, Standards and Guidelines. 6-1

6.3 Assessment Methodology. 6-5

6.4 Identification and Evaluation of Waste Management Implications. 6-7

6.5 Mitigation Measures. 6-22

6.6 Residual Impacts. 6-30

6.7 Environmental Monitoring and Audit 6-30

6.8 Conclusions. 6-31

7 ECOLOGY. 7-1

7.1 Introduction. 7-1

7.2 Legislative Requirements and Evaluation Criteria. 7-1

7.3 Baseline Conditions. 7-2

7.4 Assessment Methodology. 7-45

7.5 Potential Impacts and Impact Assessment (Terrestrial Ecology) 7-45

7.6 Potential Impacts and Impact Assessment (Marine Ecology) 7-48

7.7 Impact Evaluation. 7-57

7.8 Cumulative Impacts. 7-65

7.9 Mitigation Measures. 7-66

7.10 Residual Impacts. 7-69

7.11 Environmental Monitoring and Audit 7-69

7.12 Conclusion. 7-69

8 FISHERIES. 8-1

8.1 Introduction. 8-1

8.2 Legislative Requirements and Evaluation Criteria. 8-1

8.3 Baseline Conditions. 8-1

8.4 Assessment Methodology. 8-7

8.5 Impact Identification. 8-7

8.6 Impact Assessment - Construction Phase. 8-8

8.7 Impact Assessment - Operation Phase. 8-9

8.8 Impact Evaluation. 8-13

8.9 Cumulative Impact 8-17

8.10 Mitigation Measures. 8-18

8.11 Residual Impacts. 8-19

8.12 Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) 8-19

8.13 Conclusion. 8-19

9 CULTURAL HERITAGE. 9-1

9.1 Introduction. 9-1

9.2 Legislative Requirements and Evaluation Criteria. 9-1

9.3 Assessment Methodology. 9-2

9.4 Marine Archaeological Review and Marine Archaeological Potential Establishment 9-6

9.5 Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment 9-13

9.6 Mitigation Measures. 9-14

9.7 Residual and Cumulative Impacts. 9-14

9.8 Environmental Monitoring & Audit (EM&A) 9-15

9.9 Conclusions. 9-15

9.10 Bibliography. 9-16

10 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL. 10-1

10.1 Introduction. 10-1

10.2 Relevant Legislation, Standards, Guidelines, and Other References. 10-2

10.3 Review of Relevant Planning and Development Control Framework. 10-4

10.4 Scope and Content of the LVIA Study. 10-4

10.5 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Methodology. 10-5

10.6 Baseline Study. 10-13

10.7 Landscape Impact Assessment 10-34

10.8 Visual Impact Assessment before Mitigation. 10-43

10.9 Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures. 10-56

10.10 Residual Landscape Impacts. 10-59

10.11 Residual Visual Impacts. 10-65

10.12 Cumulative Impact 10-70

10.13 Environmental Monitoring and Audit 10-78

10.14 Conclusion. 10-78

11 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND AUDITING (EM&A) REQUIREMENT. 11-1

11.1 Introduction. 11-1

11.2 Project Organisation. 11-1

11.3 EM&A Manual 11-1

11.4 Environmental Mitigation Implementation Schedule. 11-2

11.5 EM&A Programme. 11-2

12 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES. 12-1

12.1 Introduction. 12-1

12.2 Summary of Environmental Benefits and Environmental Achievements of the
Project 12-1

12.3 Environmental Benefits of Environmental Protection Measures Recommended. 12-2

12.4 Estimated Population Protected from Various Environmental Impacts. 12-10

13 CONCLUSION.. 13-1

13.1 General 13-1

13.2 Air Quality. 13-1

13.3 Noise. 13-2

13.4 Water Quality. 13-3

13.5 Waste Management 13-4

13.6 Ecology. 13-5

13.7 Fisheries. 13-6

13.8 Cultural Heritage. 13-7

13.9 Landscape and Visual 13-7

13.10 Overall Conclusion. 13-8