CLIENT:
Cork City Council
PROJECT NAME:
Appropriate Assessment Screening Report
An ecological desktop study has been completed for the AA Screening Assessment of the Strategy modifications, which comprised the following elements: • Identification of European sites within 15km of Cork City's boundary with identification of potential pathways links for specific sites (if relevant) greater than 15km from the indicative charging station locations; • Review of the NPWS site synopsis and conservation objectives for European sites with identification of potential pathways from the indicative charging station locations; and • Examination of available information on protected species. The process of determining the likelihood of significant effects from a plan or a project on European sites is an iterative process centred around a Source-Pathway-Receptor (S-P-R) model. In order for an effect to be established, all three elements of this mechanism must be in place. The absence or removal of one of the elements of the mechanism is sufficient to conclude that a potential effect is not of any relevance or significance. • Source(s) – e.g., pollutant run-off, noise, removal of vegetation etc.; • Pathway(s) – ecological connectivity linkages e.g., groundwater connecting to nearby qualifying wetland habitats; and, • Receptor(s) – ecological resources supporting the qualifying habitats and species of European sites. In the context of this report, a receptor is an ecological feature that is known to be utilised by the Qualifying Interests (QI) or Special Conservation Interests (SCI) of a European site. A source is any identifiable element of the Strategy modifications that is known to interact with ecological processes. A pathway is any connection or link between the source and the receptor 3 . An important element of the AA process is the identification of the Conservation Objectives, QIs and/ or SCIs of European sites requiring assessment. QIs are the habitat features and species listed in Annexes I and II of the Habitats Directive for which each European site has been designated and afforded protection. SCIs are wetland habitats and bird species listed within Annexes I and II of the Birds Directive. It is also vital that the threats to the ecological / environmental conditions that are required to support QIs and SCIs are considered as part of the assessment. The likelihood of significant effects, including in-combination effects, on European Sites is then interrogated having regard to the nature and characteristics of Strategy modifications, environmental pathways, and the sensitivity of relevant European sites. Where significant effects are determined to be likely, or where there is uncertainty regarding the likelihood of significant effects, the Strategy modification must be subject to Stage 2 AA and the preparation of a Natura Impact Report (NIR).
3 Qualifying interest or special conservation interests of the European site in question and the known sensitivities of these key ecological receptors
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P23-206
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