PETERHEAD PORT AUTHORITY ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Document No 5357/04 Rev FINAL Issued January 2015 West Pier Peterhead Aberdeen AB42 1DW Niras Fraenkel Ltd Merlin House Mossland Road Hillington Park Glasgow G52 4XZ
PETERHEAD PORT AUTHORITY ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Document Reference 5357/04 Rev Final Issue Date Status Author Checker Approver Comment D1 09/12/14 Draft BC WR PMM For comment 30/01/15 Final BC WR PMM For issue Final.docx 5357/04 Rev - Final 30/01/2015
CONTENTS EXCECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 The Proposed Scheme 1 Method of assessment 3 Existing environment 3 Impact assessment and mitigation 4 Recommendation 5 Final.docx 5357/04 Rev - Final 30/01/2015
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Proposed Scheme Peterhead is situated in the north east of Scotland, just over 30 miles north of Aberdeen. With a population of about 18,500 it is the centre for the local Buchan economy within Aberdeenshire. The main focus for this activity is the port which is administered by the (PPA) as a trust port. The port has one of the busiest fish markets in Europe and also acts as a major logistics supply base for the offshore oil and gas industry in the North Sea. PPA has identified a significant need to modernise the existing port provision in respect of fishing and has identified works to bring facilities in line with current and anticipated vessel and market standards and demands. Essentially the objectives of the works which are planned are to: Maintain and enhance Peterhead s position as the top performing UK port for both demersal and pelagic fish, catering for future market demand. Enhance Peterhead s position as a major fishing port in Europe, particularly with regard to white fish. The proposed works include the following: Deepening of the Port s north and south harbours and approaches to allow vessels non-tidal, easy access and berthing in safe, deep water, weather protected inner basins. Associated strengthening of quay walls where required, and removal of relatively small structures causing narrowing of access channels. Construction of a new larger modern fish market able to accommodate existing and future market demand, with a covered landing area for private sales. An extended reclamation area, using dredged material from the inner harbours, contiguous with the recently completed Smith Embankment Figure 1 indicates the extent of the proposals. Final.docx 5357/04 Rev - Final 30/01/2015 1
Figure 1 - Proposed development Final.Docx 2 5357/04 Rev - Final 30/01/2015
PPA have appointed NIRAS Fraenkel Ltd to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment of the scheme and prepare an Environmental Statement. A Harbour Revision Order (HRO) will be required in order to obtain statutory consent for the proposed works. PPA will be making an application to the Scottish Ministers for the HRO under Section 14 of the Harbours Act 1964, in conjunction with the Environmental Statement (ES). This ES has been prepared in accordance with The Marine Works (Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2007, Statutory Instrument 2007 No1518 Environmental Protection, as amended by The Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 for works below the mean low water mark. This complies with European Community EC Directive 85/337/EEC, as amended by Council Directives 97/11/EC and 2011/92/EC. Method of assessment The ES is based on information from a master plan recently developed by PPA, previous studies, recent specific investigations and studies including a geotechnical site investigation, together with consultation with statutory bodies, stakeholders and other integrated parties. Statutory bodies which have been consulted and have provided feedback include Marine Scotland and Marine Scotland Science, Aberdeenshire Council Planning, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and Transport Scotland who were managing the overall consultation process. Discussions and correspondence have also taken place other interested parties. A total of twenty one organisations were consulted and seven responses were received. Evaluation of the various elements of the proposed development for the purpose of the ES was undertaken by the in-house resources of NIRAS Fraenkel Ltd, with specialist ecological input provided by associated company NIRAS Consulting Ltd. Existing environment The sea bed within the bay consists of generally thin deposits of sands and gravels, underlain by varying depths of stiff boulder clay which in turn is underlain by granite or microgranite rock. In the Inner Harbour basins, thin sediments are directly underlain by granite rock. Although there are at times noticeable currents outside the port, currents within the port are low. Sediment movement due to currents is negligible within the Inner Harbour and what little movement there is emanates from the action of small locally generated waves. While the main breakwaters give general protection to the bay, in storm conditions, with easterly and south easterly winds in particular, waves reaching the southern berths and in some cases the outer northern berths can be of concern. However, there is only local wave action in the Inner Harbour which is well protected from waves and swell. Bathing waters within the port at Peterhead Lido have passed for over 10 years in a row appropriate bathing water quality standards as monitored by Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). Air quality within the port is good. Maintenance dredging has now been completed in the Inner Harbour and the results of sediment sampling and testing for contamination will be provided prior to the start of the construction phase. Final.docx 3 5357/04 Rev - Final 30/01/2015
Peterhead is situated on the eastern edge of the North East Coastal Plain, where it meets the North Sea. In the areas surrounding the town the land forms an open, rolling landscape, which is intensively farmed with only small areas of woodland and seminatural vegetation. Peterhead town itself has many listed buildings, three conservation areas and one scheduled monument. In terms of local amenity and recreation the port plays an important role with the Lido, a caravan park, a marina, and a Maritime Heritage Centre complementing areas of open grassland, dunes and footpaths around the western fringes. The key habitats in the area surrounding Peterhead are in the coastal zone. These include sea cliffs, extensive sand dunes, small estuaries, exposed rocky shores, and the sea itself. These habitats are generally in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. No designated conservation sites exist within the immediate vicinity of the works. Cetacean species are present in the waters of the North Sea off Peterhead, the most important of which are the bottle nosed dolphins from the Moray Firth SAC, but only common harbour seals have been observed within Peterhead port itself. There are several sites of importance to birds in the general area: south of Peterhead lies the Buchan Ness to Collieston SPA, as well as the Ythan Estuary SPA. Immediately to the north of Peterhead the Ugie Estuary and Craig Ewan are important areas for many species. Again, however, there are no bird colonies of significance within the port. Peterhead is the largest town in Buchan with a population of around 18,500. It falls under the administration of Aberdeenshire Council. The foundations of the economy of the local area have traditionally been fish and agriculture. Since the 1970s the economic base has broadened with Peterhead acting as an administrative centre, and providing servicing facilities for the North Sea oil and gas industries. The local economy now is mainly dependent on two sectors: offshore services and fishing including related processing activities. Impact assessment and mitigation The most significant beneficial impact of the proposed development is the potential for expansion of the local, regional and national economy resulting from an increase in the availability of deep water sheltered (all-weather) berthing at the port, together with associated opportunities for local commercial and industrial diversification. During the construction period local businesses will also benefit from the influx of site personnel and local employment opportunities during this time will be created. Adverse impacts are likely to be mainly transient in nature, relating from construction activities. An area of concern could be the potential impact of noise and vibration on protected bottle nosed dolphins from the Moray Firth SAC which are known to pass from time to time in the waters of the North Sea off Peterhead, although none have been reported in the bay itself. Noise and vibration will result from the blasting used to break up some of the hard granite rock prior to dredging. Specific mitigation measures are proposed in relation to these activities to minimise and negate any adverse impacts on cetaceans and the ecological, human, and physical environments. Final.docx 4 5357/04 Rev - Final 30/01/2015
Impacts on coastal processes are almost entirely confined to the port. Any effects outside will be negligible so that SPA s and SAC s will be unaffected. The new works will be constructed to the same quay level as the adjoining facilities and there will be no increased risk of flooding. Inevitably dredging operations, placing of reclamation materials and associated maritime activities will result in suspended fines in the harbour waters and sedimentation during construction. Careful selection of dredging plant can mitigate adverse effects, and the suspended material will settle relatively quickly after operations are completed. Water at the Lido area may be temporarily discoloured but pollutant levels are very low in the seabed materials which would be disturbed. During construction there will be increased traffic on roads, particularly south of Peterhead. Mitigation measures are proposed in relation to this, in relation to traffic to minimise disturbance, noise, vibration and fumes include route selection and timing of transport operations. The sea bed area immediately under the proposed reclaimed area will be lost and any non-mobile species in the area will be eliminated. Recolonisation will occur in adjacent area once construction is complete. Visual landscape will be affected with the demolition of the existing fish market, the removal of Queenie Bridge, the covering up of the historical quay wall and the construction of the new fish market. Mitigation measures are proposed ranging from undertaking a complete historical photo survey of the existing landscape and relocation of a small section of Queenie Bridge being used as a static display at the end of Bridge Street. PPA will engage with the public, prior to and throughout the construction of the works to allay any concerns the community might have in relation to the works and the subsequent operation of the enhanced facilities in the port. Recommendation In order to ensure that the mitigation measures identified in the ES are carried through to the contract for the works, a draft Construction Environmental Management Plan will be developed and will be included as part of the contract documents for the development works. It will be based on the substance of the ES and will include both a set of specific requirements for the contractors undertaking the works and a set of requirements and obligations on the part of the PPA as client. Ongoing liaison with consultees, particularly Aberdeenshire Council, SNH and SEPA, will be maintained throughout the period of the works. Adherence to the mitigation measures proposed will ensure that the project can be realised in an environmentally sensitive manner to the overall benefit of the local, regional and national communities. Final.docx 5 5357/04 Rev - Final 30/01/2015