SEA Environmental Report for the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
4.7.4 Existing Problems There is historic and predictive evidence of flooding in various locations across the City (see information on Strategic Flood Risk Assessment at Section 4.9.8). The greatest health risk from radiation in Ireland is caused by radon. The presence of radon gas, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that originates from the decay of uranium in rocks and soils, occurs across the country. It accounts for more than half of the total radiation dose received by the Irish population. As a known carcinogen, in the same category as tobacco smoke and asbestos it is a cause of lung cancer. Exposure to radon for long periods or at high concentrations can lead to lung cancer. The number of homes within the City with radon levels above the reference level is within the normal range experienced in other locations across the country 28 . Information on the status of groundwaters and surface waters is provided under Section 4.9 while compliance issues in relation to water services are detailed under Section 4.11.10. 4.8 Soil Soil is the top layer of the earth’s crust. It is formed by mineral particles, organic matter, water, air and living organisms. Soil can be considered as a non-renewable natural resource because it develops over very long timescales. It is a complex, variable and living medium and performs many vital functions including: food and other biomass production, storage, filtration and transformation of many substances including water, carbon, and nitrogen. Soil has a role as a habitat and gene pool, serves as a platform for human activities, landscape and heritage and acts as a provider of raw materials. Such functions of soil are worthy of protection because of their socio-economic and environmental importance. Soils in any area are the result of the interaction of various factors, such as parent material, climate, vegetation and human action. To date, there is no legislation which is specific to the protection of soil resources. Although a proposal for a Soil Framework Directive was withdrawn in 2014, the importance of sustainable soil management was recognised in the Seventh Environment Action Programme. Urban soils (underlying the City Centre) and brown earths 29 (to the north, south and west of the City Centre) are the two most dominant soil types in Cork City (shown on Figure 4.6). Active blanket bogs and active raised bogs are considered to be priority habitats, listed on Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive. Ombrotrophic (rain-fed) and minerotrophic (groundwater fed) peat soils are often indicative of areas that are the most sensitive to development due to ecological sensitivities and impeded drainage issues. There is an area of peat soil identified in the north-west of the City. Other soil types (shown on Figure 4.6) identified within the City include: Alluvial soils 30 (in the flood plains of rivers and streams and estuaries); Groundwater gleys 31 (in the south-east of Cork City); and Brown podzols 32 (mainly in the north, north-east and north-west of Cork City). Outcropping rock is identified within a number of locations and throughout the City area. The GSI (Geological Survey of Ireland) have a suite of data sources available that would be useful in planning and assessing individual projects with regard to the environmental topic(s) of soil and/or material assets. These include:
28 Mapping available at http://www.epa.ie/radiation/radonmap 29 Well drained mineral soils, associated with high levels of natural fertility. 30 These are associated with alluvial (clay, silt or sand) river deposits. 31 Wetland soils with slowly permeable horizons resulting in seasonal waterlogging. 32 Characterised by dark brown humus-mineral soil covered with a thin mat of partly decayed leaves.
CAAS for Cork City Council
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