5.3.2 Onshore Birds 122. The potential effects on birds were examined in the Evidence Plan process and consideration given to which should be considered in the HRA process. The potential effects were discussed in both the first Ornithology Expert Technical Group meeting on 1st September 2013 and at the second Ornithology Expert Technical Group meeting on 11th November 2013. The results of those discussions was that it was agreed with Natural England and the RSPB that the following potential effects, related to specific stages of the offshore components of the proposed project, should be considered in the HRA process.
Construction o Disturbance / displacement.
Operation o Disturbance / displacement.
Decommissioning o Disturbance / displacement.
123. For birds, the initial approach to screening is high level, with the key factor being the potential for some form of connectivity between birds from designated populations and the onshore components of the proposed project (described in Section 4 above).
124. The disturbance and displacement effects identified above are considered not likely to affect birds further away from their source than several 100’s of metres (i.e. the length of the pathway). On a precautionary basis SPAs and Ramsar sites with a bird interest feature are considered for screening if they lie within 2km of any part of the offshore infrastructure.
125. Table 5.8 below lists the SPA and Ramsar sites within 2km of the onshore cable route. The high level screening that has been applied uses a distance of 500m to identify a likely significant effect. This is based on a precautionary propagation distance for effects such as noise and light arising from construction process and a disturbance distance for birds creating by the sight of people. The same categorisation of interest feature as applied to the offshore screening is applied here.
HRA High Level Screening May 2014
East Anglia THREE Offshore Windfarm Page 48
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