Page 292 - Alderney Regional Environmental Assessment of Renewable Energy: Environmental Report

Alderney Regional Environmental Assessment of Renewable Energy:
Environmental Report
area. Additionally due to the substantial distance of the projects from the Draft Plan and the
sandbanks in Alderney’s territorial waters, no significant impacts are anticipated.
8.2.2 Physical Processes
Cumulative effects could occur on physical processes such as from alterations to tidal regime
and sediment transport by the Draft Plan GDF Suez, DCNS, GREC and SoG TW. All tidal
turbines have the potential to cause hydrodynamic changes which can alter tidal flow and the
stability, location and size of seabed features such as sandbanks. As with marine
geomorphology, and as discussed in Section 4.2 of particular importance are any effects on the
sandbanks, for example the Alderney’s South Banks. Similarly to marine geomorphology, whilst
details of the location and extent of all potential effects are unknown, it is considered the
changes will be relatively small when compared to the wider study area. Additionally due to the
substantial distance of the projects from the Draft Plan and the sandbanks in Alderney’s
territorial waters, no significant impacts are anticipated.
8.2.3 Water Quality
Cumulative effects could occur to water quality as a result of non-toxic contamination from the
Draft Plan in addition to GDF Suez, DCNS, GREC, SoG TW or spillages and contaminants
from shipping and FABLink. However, as discussed in Section 4.3 best practice measures are
considered to reduce the risks associated with spillages from vessels. Additionally whilst
factors such as the superficial sediments, historic contamination and underlying geological
properties are unknown, it is considered given the energetic hydrodynamic regime within
Alderney’s territorial waters and the wider study area, any sediment plumes or pollution will be
rapidly dispersed. Therefore no significant impacts are anticipated.
8.2.4 Benthic Ecology
The Draft Plan in combination with GDF Suez, DCNS, GREC, SoG TW and FABLink have the
potential to result in cumulative effects such as from further loss and/or damage to benthic
habitats. However as discussed in Section 5.1 effects are typically short-term and localised.
Additionally it is likely the changes will be relatively small when compared to the extent of
benthic habitats in the wider study area. Whilst it is considered that details of sensitive habitats
are currently unknown, they will be addressed through the EIA process and appropriate
mitigation such as by micro siting. Therefore it should be possible to avoid significant
cumulative effects on benthic ecology receptors.
8.2.5 Pelagic Ecology
The Draft Plan in combination with GDF Suez, DCNS, GREC, SoG TW and FABLink have the
potential to result in cumulative effects on pelagic ecology (potential effects are discussed in
Section 5.2). However plankton is considered widespread across the study area and no
substantial effects are anticipated from the plans, project and activities. Therefore no
significant impacts are anticipated.
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