Download Services - Impact Assesment

IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are undertaken to ensure the potential
environmental impacts of new developments have been sufficiently considered in the
decision making process.
ABPmer’s specialist staff have a wealth of EIA experience having contributed to and carried
out many multi-disciplinary investigations into the environmental impact of proposed marine
developments.
We can prepare formal environmental statements as well as any other
required planning and consents documents.
We have recognised expertise in Habitats Regulations Assessment and Marine Conservation
Zone Assessment and regularly support clients in the preparation of IROPI cases and the
development of compensation measures where these are required.
We also routinely
prepare Water Framework Directive assessments for coastal and nearshore developments,
when required.
Our marine focus means that we can provide the full range of marine specialisms in-house
and our knowledge is regularly applied to aggregates, cables, offshore renewables and
waterside projects.
In addition to our project level expertise we regularly undertake strategic scale marine
environmental assessment studies for public bodies, including Strategic Environmental
Assessments and Sustainability Appraisals.
RELATED MARKETS
Cables and Pipelines
Coastal Management
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Marine Conservation
OUR SERVICES

Consents and licensing

Environmental Impact Assessment

Feasibility studies

Habitats Regulations Assessment and Marine Conservation Zone Assessment

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Sustainability Appraisal

Water Framework Directive assessment
Marine Aggregates
Oil and Gas
Policy and Planning
Ports, Harbours, Marinas
Power Stations
Renewables Energy
Water Industry
Waterside Development
CAPITAL DREDGE EIA
Associated British Ports
The Port of Southampton wanted to improve access to the port to retain existing trade and
develop in line with likely future customer demand. This required both deepening and
widening the channel at various locations along the navigation route. ABPmer led the EIA
work that was undertaken for this development.
The EIA involved scoping the key issues and evaluating the potential impacts on all relevant
aspects of the marine and terrestrial environment including the physical environment, nature
conservation, ecology, water and sediment quality, fisheries and navigation.
The EIA was supported by a large resource of available literature and data, together with a
number of additional investigations, including: Hydrodynamic numerical modelling studies;
Benthic
invertebrate
surveys;
Seabed
sediment
characterisation;
Seabed
sediment
contamination analyses; Underwater noise monitoring and modelling; Bird surveys; and Ship
wash study. In addition, signposting Appropriate Assessments were produced as part of the
Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) process, which involved assessing the potential direct
and indirect impacts of the proposed works on relevant designated conservation features.
We also provided support to consultations with stakeholders and interested parties, including
Natural England, the Environment Agency, Cefas, MMO, Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds (RSPB) and local authorities. These discussions helped to identify the scope of potential
impacts and define appropriate impact reduction measures. Consent was granted in February
2013.
SEVERN ESTUARY TIDAL POWER – SEA
Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
In March 2008 the UK Government commissioned a Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study to
investigate whether it could support a tidal power scheme in the Severn and, if so, on what
terms.
ABPmer was commissioned by Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd, on behalf of DECC, to undertake a
Strategic Environmental Assessment. As the Severn Estuary has the greatest tidal range in the
UK, the assessment considered all tidal range technologies, including barrages and lagoons.
We carried out detailed appraisals of each of the scheme options and prepared issue/topic
papers for discussion with stakeholders. These papers reviewed impacts on the sediment
regime and budget; water quality; and marine ecology. We also considered the construction
and decommissioning issues for each scheme, in the context of hydraulics and
geomorphology, including flow changes and scour.
This work was carried out using a variety of methods, including literature reviews, stakeholder
engagement, GIS and extensive numerical modelling of the Severn.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Natalie Frost
Planning and Licensing Business Development Manager
+44 (0) 2380 711 850
www.abpmer.co.uk
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