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Next Steps in Ecological Impact Assessment. IEMA QMark Series. Dawn Phythian CEnv MCIEEM Ecology Team North October 2014. Todays topics. Dawn Phythian Guidance Scoping – opportunity often missed Natural England – Discretionary advice service Scale – proportionate impacts - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Next Steps in Ecological Impact Assessment
IEMA QMark Series
Dawn Phythian CEnv MCIEEMEcology Team NorthOctober 2014
www.watermangroup.com
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Dawn Phythian • Guidance• Scoping – opportunity often missed• Natural England – Discretionary advice service• Scale – proportionate impacts
Steve Jackson-Mathews
• Overview of current approach
• Reflecting emerging good practice
• Common issues
• Future challenges for EcIA
• Update on developing CIEEM EcIA guidance
Todays topics
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• Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)‘Guidelines for Ecological Impact in the United Kingdom (2006)’
• 2014 legislative change
The point of EcIA is:
To provide clear information regarding significant impacts
Guidance - CIEEM
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• Scoping report after PEA and desk study• Tool to identify and consult with stakeholders• Used as a basis for consultation into what assessment is required• The scope of the project refines the project through consultation
Opportunities to:• Get agreement on methodologies• Scope out surveys
Scoping – missed opportunities
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Preliminary Ecological Assessment• Any time of year has limitations.
Within the PEA the Desk study should include:• Appropriate distance search for sites• Appropriate distance search for species• Rule out/In HRA
Appropriate Consultees• Avoiding groups only puts it off• LPA may rely on outside consultees due to no Ecologist
What needed to effective Scoping
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• What methodologies will be used, in detail
• Timescale for assessment
• What will not be involved – scope out the insignificant impacts
What scoping needs to include
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Natural England advice service
Initial Free Advice:• “identify any significant potential impacts that need to be considered within the
application• advise on how these concerns may be addressed”
standard advice
DAS chargeable service is for:
“….More complex requests, such as the review of a draft Environmental Statement, will be charged on a per-hour basis, based on an estimate.”
Discretionary advice service (DAS)
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Should be:• Proportionate to the scale of habitat• Relevant to a species • In scale to the impact
Not:• Related to the legal protection afforded to the site/species
Valuing a Significant Impact
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Appropriate to:• Range • Feeding requirements• Resting requirements• Life span
Species scale
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• Context within the site• Size• Context within local area• Actual ecological value it might have
Habitats Scale
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Includes:
• Take scale into account• Lighting• Noise• Cumulative effects
Appropriate Impact
