18.


EN-1 Paragraph 5.15.2 continues to state that “where the project is likely to have adverse effects on the water environment, the application should undertake an assessment of the existing status of, and impacts of the proposed project, on water quality, water resources and physical characteristics of the water environment as part of the Environmental Statement of equivalent’’.


19.


Paragraph 2.6.189 of EN-3 notes that “The construction, operation and decommissioning of offshore energy infrastructure can affect marine water quality through the disturbance of sea bed sediments or the release of contaminants with subsequent indirect effects on habitats, biodiversity and fish stocks’’.


20.


Of further relevance to water and sediment quality are paragraphs 2.6.191 and 2.6.192 of EN-3 where it is stated that:


 “The Environment Agency regulates emissions to land, air and water out to 3 nautical miles (nm). Where any element of the wind farm or any associated development included in the application to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) (now the Planning Inspectorate) is located within 3nm of the coast, the Environment Agency should be consulted at the pre-application stage on the assessment methodology for impacts on the physical environment’’.


 “Beyond 3nm, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is the regulator. The applicant should consult the MMO and Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) on the assessment methodology for impacts on the physical environment at the pre-application stage’’.


21.


The principal European and International policy and legislation used to inform the assessment of potential impact on marine water and sediment quality for this project includes:





Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the Community action in the field of water policy (the Water Framework Directive);





Directive 76/464/EEC Water pollution by discharges of certain dangerous substances (Dangerous Substances Directive) and Priority Substances Directive;


 


Directive 2008/56/EC establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive);


Directive 2006/7/EC concerning the management of bathing water quality and repealing Directive 76/160/EEC (the Bathing Waters Directive); and


Preliminary Environmental Information May 2014


East Anglia THREE Offshore Windfarm


Chapter 8 Marine Water and Sediment Quality Page 10


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