The site‐specific geophysical data which have been collected in 2012 for East Anglia THREE and FOUR was also reviewed prior to the commencement of survey work to inform the 2013 benthic survey. Guidance from Limpenny et al. (2010) was used to identify and evaluating the presence of S. spinulosa reefs.
19.
The assessment of the potential impacts upon the benthos will be cross‐referenced where relevant to the assessments of physical processes and water and sediment quality.
20.
It is expected that the suitability of the data collected by EAOW for characterisation of the benthos in the EIA will be agreed in ETG meeting 1.
4.1 Potential Impacts 21.
A range of potential impacts on benthic ecology may occur during the construction, operation and decommissioning of East Anglia THREE and FOUR, with these being described in the following section. Sensitivities of the benthic communities have been judged for each of these impacts on the basis of expert judgement and reference to the work of the Marine Life Information network (MarLIN, eg see Budd, 2006 and 2007; Hill and Wilson 2008; Rayment, 2008; and Ager, 2009).
22. 23. 24.
It is expected that the list of potential impacts and methodologies for assessment used in the EIA will be agreed in ETG meeting 1.
It is expected that the initial impact assessment will be discussed and agreed (as far as possible) in ETG meeting 2.
It is expected that the impact assessment and any mitigation required will be discussed and agreed (as far as possible) in ETG meeting 3.
4.1.1 Potential impacts during construction
4.1.1.1 Physical disturbance: 25.
There is potential for direct physical disturbance of the seabed during foundation and cable installation from jack‐up vessel legs, piling seabed preparation (dredging) and cable installation. Areas affected by jack‐up operations and cable installation will be relatively small and seabed recovery is expected quickly following cessation of installation activities given tolerance and recoverability of the communities present.
Evidence Plan Benthic Ecology Method Statement
East Anglia THREE & East Anglia FOUR Offshore Windfarms
