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4.1.1.1.1 Proposed method for assessment: The ZEA provides known size of area of each habitat type across the zone which can also be augmented by the 2013 survey data and applied to the specific windfarm sites.
Calculations will be made of the area of temporary disturbance using a worst case for the operations identified above
The magnitude of the impact will be quantified by calculating the maximum area of disturbance as a percentage of each habitat within East Anglia THREE and EAST Anglia FOUR that would be lost if the entire windfarm were to be built within each habitat (worst case scenario).
It should be noted that this is an unrealistic worst case scenario and that this will lead to exaggerated percentage take figures, however this is the logical way of ensuring that the absolute worst case scenario is considered.
This will then be put into the context of the wider zone.
Assessment of the sensitivities will be guided by the assessments available on MarLIN.
Currently Saballeria across the zone is concentrated in the west of zone (Figure 2) away from East Anglia THREE and East Anglia FOUR. However due to the temporary spatial nature of Sabellaria reef, unknown final foundation locations and the lead in time for construction, it is proposed that detailed mapping of potential Sabellaria reef across the windfarm sites is not appropriate. A commitment to conduct pre‐ construction surveys and to microsite turbines to avoid impacts to Sabellaria reef is proposed as a more appropriate method for minimising impacts to this Annex I habitat. This approach is in line with the SoCG agreed for East Anglia ONE.
4.1.1.2 Smothering: 26.
Sediment disturbance and deposition from construction activities, such as cable and foundation installation could have an adverse and indirect impact on the benthic communities, through increased turbidity or as a result of smothering by sediment released during the construction process. However, given the substrate at the site and dynamic conditions, it is likely that the communities are habituated to smothering from natural events and are tolerant of smothering and evidence suggests that this is indeed the case given the dominant species and communities detailed above.
Evidence Plan Benthic Ecology Method Statement
East Anglia THREE & East Anglia FOUR Offshore Windfarms