Draft Sectoral Marine Plans for Offshore Renewable Energy in Scottish Waters- Strategic Environmental Assessment: Environmental Report and Appendix A

1 Non-Technical Summary

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 Marine Scotland is currently developing plans that will identify areas of Scottish marine waters that may be suitable for the development of offshore wind, wave and tidal technology. The plans will include option areas which will help to steer developers towards suitable areas for planning projects to go through a marine licensing process. The draft plans are currently going through public consultation and the submitted responses will be considered as the plans are developed. Furthermore the plans have been subject to environmental and socio-economic assessments. This Environmental Report documents the results of the Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA) which is an assessment of the effects of the plans on relevant environmental receptors ^[1] . In this assessment the effects of the plan on the following have been considered: biodiversity; flora; fauna; population and human health; water and the marine environment; climatic factors; marine geology and coastal processes; historic environment; and landscape and seascape.

1.2 What are the Plan Options and Alternatives and how were they assessed?

1.2.1 The SEA began by gathering information on the potential effects of current alternative technologies that might be developed within plan option areas in the future. This provided the following assessment of plan option areas with an overview of the potential effects of wind, wave and tidal devices. The Draft Plan Option areas which are displayed in Figure 1.1 below.

Figure 1.1: Draft Plan Options for Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy

1.2.2 The assessment of Draft Plan Options involved considering whether the potential effects of the devices, identified in the previous stage, would interact with the environmental receptors of relevance to each plan option. Information relating to the relevant environmental receptors has been collected and is presented in the separate Appendix B. Table 1.1 below provides a brief summary of some of the information that has been considered in this assessment.

Table 1.1: Summary of the environmental information collected to inform the assessments

SEA Environmental Receptor	Baseline Information collected
Biodiversity, flora and fauna	Seabed (benthic) habitats and species. Information on areas designated for nature conservation interest (including newly proposed Marine Protected Areas) and priority marine features. Information relating to relevant bird species, cetaceans ( e.g. dolphins and whales), elasmobranchs ( e.g. sharks, skates and rays), seals, protected fish species, and shellfish. Pressures on biodiversity including climate change.
Population and human health	Population distribution and change. Health risks and deprivation. Marine related employment. Recreational activity.
Water and the marine environment	Water quality and ecological status. Transitional waters. Shellfish waters. Bathing waters.
Climatic factors	Climate change emissions reduction targets and mitigation. Climate change adaptation. The interaction of climate change with other environmental receptors including coastal areas and marine ecosystems.
Marine geology and coastal processes	Coastal and marine geological designations. Vulnerabilities to climatic change. Soils, sediments and bathymetry. Coastal vulnerability and change. Dredging and disposal
Historic environment	Marine archaeology and designated wrecks. Heritage and architectural assets and coastal designations.
Landscape and seascape	Relevant areas designated for their landscape value, including National Scenic Areas and local designations. Areas of wildness and wildland.

1.2.3 The assessment of Draft Plan Options sought to identify different types of effects, such as short or long term, directly relating to the installation of devices or as a result of change brought about by their installation. Where appropriate the assessments made recommendations that might help to improve the environmental performance of the plan during as it is delivered.

1.2.4 Following assessment of the individual Draft Plan Options the cumulative (or in combination) effects of development within multiple areas was considered. This assessment also included, as far as possible, the effects of other relevant offshore and coastal activities. The information on these other activities originated from their own SEAs and from project level environmental assessments.

1.2.5 The cumulative assessment was further informed by scenarios, developed within the socio-economic assessment, for the indicative occupancy of devices across the Draft Plan Options. These are presented in Table 1.2 below.

Table 1.2: Indicative occupancy scenarios for wind, wave and tidal energy

Scenario	Wind Indicative Occupancy (%)	Wave Indicative Occupancy (%)	Indicative Occupancy (%)
Low	4.8 - 26.5	0.2 - 0.6	0.8 - 2.5
Medium	11.6 - 26.5	0.5 - 0.6	2.6
High	25.1 - 26.5	1.0	5.1

1.2.6 Given the fact that there are uncertainties involved with predicting what effects may result from projects that are not yet planned the cumulative impact assessment was undertaken under by a risk based approach. This sought to identify where higher risks of significant effects might occur, whilst acknowledging that the identification of potential effects will continue through the project level Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA) process. The approach is set out in the table below.

Table 1.3: Risk Based Approach Used in this Report

Lower Risk	Medium Risk	Higher Risk
Based on the best available information whilst the environmental receptor may be impacted, the value and vulnerability of the environmental receptor is considered to be lower ( e.g. whilst considered important the species or areas are undesignated or not considered to be of particular value or sensitivity, the environmental receptor may be considered replaceable). Based on the best available information the number and extent of environmental receptors, potentially impacted, is considered low ( e.g. species, people, designations, in light of the relative to the total size and extent of the environmental receptor). Whilst there is potentially a link or pathway between the type of renewable technology and the environmental receptor is not considered to be direct. Effects are likely to occur only in the short term ( e.g. associated with the construction phase only)	Based on the best available information the environmental receptor may be impacted, although this may not be certain, and the value and vulnerability of the environmental receptor is not considered to be particularly high ( e.g. local designations and features of interest, acknowledged importance of species, the environmental receptor is sensitive and/or difficult to replace). Based on the best available information the number and extent of environmental receptors, potentially impacted, is considered to be notable ( e.g. species, people, designations, in light of the relative to the total size and extent of the environmental receptor). There is a clear link or pathway between the type of renewable technology and the environmental receptor under consideration. Effects are likely to occur only in the short and medium term ( e.g. initial loss of features or designations but that might recover in the long term).	Based on the best available information whilst the environmental receptor will be impacted, and the value and vulnerability of the environmental receptor is considered to be high ( e.g. international level designations of species or areas containing important features, the environmental receptor is very sensitive and/or irreplaceable). Based on the best available information the number and extent of environmental receptors, potentially impacted, is considered to be notable and significant to the point that the features within any location might be lost ( e.g. species, people, designations, in light of the relative to the total size and extent of the environmental receptor). There is a clear and strong link or pathway between the type of renewable technology and the environmental receptor under consideration. Effects may occur from the short term but are likely to also be long term ( e.g. loss of features or designations that cannot recover)

1.3 What did the Assessments conclude and what were the Recommendations?

1.3.1 The SEA identifies a number of potential effects associated with the development of offshore renewables in the Draft Plan Options presented in the Plans. Detailed findings are presented in the report and are summarised below providing a brief summary of key findings from the assessment arranged by environmental topic.

1.3.2 This section also includes an overview of the key recommendations from the SEA. Recommendations include focus for the requirement for project level assessment and the targeting of further research to address uncertainties identified in the assessment process.

Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna

1.3.3 There is the potential for a range of effects on species and habitats. These include potential impacts to seabirds and diving birds from above water and submerged infrastructure, and uncertain risks to marine fauna including whales, dolphins, sharks, rays, seals and fish from the construction and presence of submerged infrastructure which includes collision and displacement. The potential for impacts is largely dependent on technology type and location. For example: some seabird collision risk is generally more to be associated with wind devices; potential for collision impacts to some seabirds and diving birds and marine mammals are likely to be associated with wave devices; and the potential for collision impacts to some diving birds and marine fauna is more likely to be associated with tidal devices.

1.3.4 Overlaps between Draft Plan Options, European level designations and proposed new national level designations of Marine Protection Areas ( MPA) have been identified in some locations. The SEA recommended that whilst co-location is possible, projects in these Draft Plan Options will need to demonstrate through project level Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA) that significant adverse effects on the integrity European designations will be avoided and that development is compatible with the conservation objectives of the proposed MPA.

1.3.5 The importance of project level assessment, EIA and Habitats Regulations Assessment ( HRA) is discussed, and the need to demonstrate avoidance of impacts on protected species and sites is a key recommendation. The existing programme of research programmes were identified as being able to provide information to address project-specific issues, targeting gaps in the evidence base and working towards addressing the uncertainties identified in the SEA. Furthermore, a Project Advisory Group to co-ordinate project level monitoring to assist in providing greater certainty for effects prediction on species and habitats at the project level. This will help to identify which species, if any, are particularly vulnerable.

Population and Human Health

1.3.6 Collision risk and potential displacement of recreational activities was identified as a key consideration of potential developments, particularly in areas such as the Solway Firth, Inner Hebrides and Orkney known as important recreational areas. The SEA recommended avoidance of areas with the heaviest commercial shipping and recreational activities where possible. It concluded that the potential significant impacts of displacement of use may be avoided by working with the recreational sector to identify patterns of use. The adoption of mitigation measures such as use of navigational aids, infrastructure lighting and exclusion zones are recommended to reduce the potential for collision and accidents.

Water and the Marine Environment

1.3.7 While the potential for impacts on the water environment were identified, particularly in the construction and installation phase of works, effects such as turbidity and pollutant releases are likely to be localised and temporary. By building standard mitigation into construction and operational procedures, avoiding and managing pollution risk, and undertaking further investigation at the project level to consider the potential for effects in susceptible areas ( e.g. hydrodynamic and water quality modelling), these impacts are considered to be manageable.

Climatic Factors

1.3.8 Overall positive effects are likely through the support of lower carbon energy generation in the development of offshore renewables. However, there is the potential for changes to hydrodynamics and wave energy associated with some technologies, particularly wave energy devices, and this could contribute to coastal erosion and accretion, in the right location and if devices can be demonstrated to lead to change. The potential scale of effects could be influenced by changes associated with climatic factors in locations with vulnerable coastlines. Project level assessment is recommended to reduce uncertainty and to determine the likelihood and significance of coastal impacts associated with these technologies.

Marine Geology and Coastal Processes

1.3.9 While the potential for adverse impacts such as scour has been identified. This is the effect of tidal motion moving sediments and potentially undercutting foundations, particularly for larger devices such as wind turbines with large footprints ( e.g. gravity bases). Scour protection devices are available and can be incorporated into project design.

1.3.10 The assessment discusses potential for changes to hydrodynamics and coastal processes associated with some technologies. However, the significance of effects are not certain and would depend on the relationship between the type of device and local sea and coastal features. Therefore, consideration in project level EIA is recommended, through undertaking detailed assessment ( e.g. including dynamic sediment modelling) to identify the potential for impacts from specific developments, and aid in the identification of mitigation ( e.g. appropriate siting, design and arrangement of devices).

Historic Environment

1.3.11 The SEA identifies the potential for impacts on the setting of historic features, such as World Heritage Sites ( WHS) and listed coastal buildings. Furthermore, impacts from the placement of devices on submerged marine archaeology, such as designated wrecks, were identified. It was also recognised that project level site surveys might provide positive effects by identifying previously unknown archaeological effects.

1.3.12 Effects on setting can be avoided by the appropriate location of devices, for example in order to avoid adverse impacts on the Heart of Neolithic Orkney WHS. Consideration of the potential effects of devices on the setting of important features of the historic environment should form an important component of project level EIA, whilst enabling the development of suitable mitigation measures where appropriate. Projects will also undertake seabed surveys and appropriate location of devices can avoid adverse effects on

Landscape and Seascape

1.3.13 The likelihood and magnitude of effects on landscape and seascape are discussed in regards of the potential visibility of wind, wave and tidal devices, to on and offshore receptors have been discussed in the SEA. Whilst wind technologies are potentially most visible, there development is more likely to further from the coast and valued landscapes. Some wave and tidal devices may have more of their infrastructure under water or of lower height than wind devices. However these may be constructed closer to the coast and hence closer to some key receptors. The assessment has identified some of the sensitive coastal receptors.

1.3.14 Similarly, lighting of developments could have some degree of visibility, particularly at night, although evidence indicates that these may be more limited with distance from the coast.

1.3.15 The significance of effects on landscape and seascape character will depend on location within the Draft Plan Options and the design of devices and this form part of project level EIA. The SEA therefore recommends that where possible, the significant effects can be avoided or mitigated through appropriate design and location. The assessment also highlights Draft Plan Options where effects on landscape and seascape may be particularly significant.

1.4 What are the Next Steps?

1.4.1 The Draft Plans and this SEA Environmental Report, alongside the Sustainability Appraisal Report and technical HRA and socio-economic reports are subject to a 16 week statutory consultation period. The relevant documents are available on the Scottish Government's website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/Current and in hard copy from:

1.4.2 Submissions regarding this Environmental Report are invited from the public and interested stakeholder organisations. Responses are to be submitted in writing by 13th November 2013 to the above address, or emailed to: offshorerenewableenergy@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

1.4.3 Following the completion of the consultation period, the Draft Plans will be reviewed and revised as appropriate by Marine Scotland (taking account of submissions received), and a final version will be formally adopted.

1.4.4 A SEA Post-Adoption Statement will be prepared to document the process and demonstrate how issues raised during consultation have been addressed by the final Plans. Once the final Plan has been published, the monitoring framework set out within this Environmental Report will be expanded and finalised to incorporate further detail on monitoring of key technical issues, and will be used to assess the impacts of the implementation of the Plans.

1.5 Questions for Consultees

1.5.1 Consultees are invited to submit responses in a format of their choice the following questions may be helpful to provide a focus for responses:

1. To what extent does the Environmental Report set out an accurate description of the current environmental baseline (Please give details of additional relevant sources)?

2. Do you agree with the predicted environmental effects of the plans as set out in the Environmental Report?

3. Do you agree with the recommendations and proposals for mitigation of the environmental effects set out in the Environmental Report?

4. Are you aware of any additional ongoing research or monitoring that may help to fill gaps in the evidence base, particularly relating to the marine environment and its interactions with renewable energy devices (Please give details of additional relevant sources)?

5. Are you aware of any further environmental information that will help to inform the environmental assessment findings (Please give details of additional relevant sources)?