4 PROCESS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF EUROPEAN AND RAMSAR SITES AND FEATURES POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY THE PROJECT
4.1 The Site Identification Process 38.
Each category of European and Ramsar site interest feature (i.e. birds, marine mammals etc.) is considered separately below for the purposes of site identification. This is because each category, due to its distribution, ecology and sensitivities to change has its own likelihood of being affected by the proposed project.
39.
It only requires one category of site interest feature to be identified in the process below for the European and / or Ramsar site to be screened in, along with all its associated interest features.
40.
This high level screening uses the conceptual ‘source-pathway-receptor’ model. The model identifies likely environmental impacts resulting from the proposed construction, operation and decommissioning of the windfarm and its supporting transmission infrastructure. This process provides an easy to follow assessment route between impact sources and potentially sensitive receptors ensuring a transparent impact assessment. The parameters of this model are defined as follows:
Source – the origin of a potential impact (noting that one source may have several pathways and receptors).
Example: Re-suspension of sediments due to cable laying activity.
Pathway – the means by which the effect of the activity could impact a receptor. Example: Settlement of re-suspended sediments causing smothering of seabed. Receptor – the element of the receiving environment that is impacted.
Example: Smothering has a direct effect on a seabed organism that forms an important part of the food chain for a site interest feature.
41. Where there is no pathway or the pathway is so long that the effect from the source has dissipated to a negligible level before reaching the receptor, there is justification for the screening out of that particular receptor.
4.2 Birds – Offshore and Onshore 42.
Sites will be screened in through this high level process related to birds potentially affected by the offshore components of the proposed project as follows:
HRA High Level Screening May 2014
East Anglia THREE Offshore Windfarm Page 12
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